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We are still collecting information on the Canada Winnipeg Mission. If you served in this mission and are willing to share your experiences with us, please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.org.Snapshot of the Canada Winnipeg Mission – The mission includes the entire province of Manitoba, the majority of Saskatchewan, and a large section of northwestern Ontario. Canada’s two official languages are English and French; French is the official language only in the province of Quebec, though New Brunswick, Ontario and Alberta also hold significant French-speaking populations. About two-thirds of Canadians identify themselves as Christian, with another 24% not religiously affiliated. Canadian culture has been mainly influenced by England, France, and native traditions. Canada has lots of cultural crossover with the United States: American entertainment is popular in English-speaking areas. Many Canadian musicians, entertainers, and writers have found success internationally. Ice hockey and lacrosse are Canada’s most popular sports, though curling and Canadian football (a variant of American football) are also popular. Popular Canadian foods include Poutine (french fries covered with cheese curds and gravy), butter tarts (a dessert item), and maple syrup. Several different types of meat are hunted and eaten in more rural areas of the country, including caribou, venison, elk, and even seal. Street vendors sell hot dogs, falafel, pizza, and other fast-food-type items in major cities.
The Church has grown in the Canada Winnipeg Mission since its creation in 1935. While the mission’s area is extremely large, members tend to cluster in urban areas. Manitoba reports nearly 4,400 members and Saskatchewan has around 5,350 (according to 2013 Church Newsroom facts). There are a total of 28 congregations and 10 family history centers. The Regina Saskatchewan Temple was completed in 1999 and, in 2011, the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple was announced although the site and dates of construction have not yet been finalized.
The cuisine in Manitoba and Saskatchewan is similar to that of most of North America, although heavier on regional foods like bison and blueberries. Canadian foods like Poutine are, of course, still popular. Fresh fish and wild rice are both plentiful in this region of Canada. In larger cities with more immigrant populations the cuisine can vary widely, with a variety of Asian and Latin American restaurants. One Winnipeg local dish is beet buns: light balls of savoury dough, fried like donuts, then wrapped in beet leaves and simmered in a creamy dill sauce (see this article on cuisine in Manitoba and this one about food in Saskatchewan).
Cars are the most common mode of transportation in the Canada Winnipeg Mission. Bridges abound over the region’s many rivers and streams.
This area is extremely safe, with very low rates of crime. Be aware of inclement weather and dangerous winter driving conditions such as ice and snow; caution and common sense should help missionaries stay safe.
Livestock shows and trade fairs are both common throughout the provinces. Curling is the official sport of Saskatchewan, although lacrosse and ice hockey are also fairly common.
The culture in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan is still heavily influenced by First Nations traditions, including folklore. Other traditions stem from colonization, primarily by Americans, the British, and northern Europeans (Germans, Ukrainians, Russians, etc.).
Canadians say “Grade 8″ or “Grade 10″ rather than “8th grade” or “sophmore”; “university” is preferred to “college.”
ABM (instead of ATM) = Automated Bank Machine
Biffy = toilet
Bluff = a small group of trees in the midst of a prairie; slough (“sloo”) is a small area of marshy land isolated by prairie
Bunny hug = hooded sweatshirts (Saskatchewan only)
Chesterfield = sofa or couch
First Nations = a term somewhat equivalent to the U.S.’s “American Indian,” designating aboriginal pre-European colonization peoples indigenous to Canada
Loonie = Canadian one-dollar coin (“Toonie”= Canadian two-dollar coin)
Runners = running shoes
Serviette = napkin (French)
Timmy’s/Tim’s/Timmy Ho’s = a chain of doughnut/coffee shops named after Tim Horton, a famous Canadian hockey player.
Washroom = bathroom
Zed = the letter “Z”
Cold winter clothing, scarves, boots, etc., much of which can be purchased in-country to deal with extreme cold winter temperatures.
For more information on the history of the Church in Manitoba, this blog recounts the history up to the historic announcement of the temple awaiting completion in Winnipeg.
845 Shaftesbury Blvd
Winnipeg MB R3P 0M5
For alumni and local members: http://www.mission.net/canada/winnipeg/
**Did you serve in the Canada Winnipeg Mission? If so, we want to hear from you! Share your experiences here or by emailing us at email@example.com**