I’ve responded to posts, but this is actually my first thread. I just had to vent about this because this was too weird.
So I’m in downtown Winnipeg on business for a coupla days, staying in a Holiday Inn business suite. Nice place, quite new. The gal at the front desk tells me she wouldn’t recommend me walking downtown after dark. I could easily get attacked/robbed/beat up. I shrug it off. Yeah right, this is downtown Winnipeg.
After work my colleague and I grab a bite at this little Ethiopian restaurant not far from the Hotel. Great food, and it reminded me a little like the old Electric Ave in Calgary(it’s not so electric anymore) or White Ave in Edmonton. I talk to the waitress (who was from Eritrea) and she tells me downtown Winni is not safe at night. I start to wonder. I check the mirror to make sure I don’t have gullible scrolled across my forehead. Nope.
From there it’s back to the Hotel to put on some jeans and off to see the “Matrix Reloaded”. Cool flick, Eye candy to go. I think I liked the first one better rather than this “Super Neo returns”. On the way back the cab driver says, “hmmm…downtown. Be careful, there’s some gangs in town; It’s not to safe”.
That’s it. Three totally different people in one day tell me the same thing. What’s happened to Winnipeg? Does anyone else know if there is any credibility to these stories?
I live in the ghetto of Winnipeg, just a few blocks away from where you’re staying. You are staying in the worst part of this city. Downtown Winnipeg is kind of like… well, the area across the river (to the south) is much nicer than downtown (though still ugly compared to Edmonton, 97th street excepted) so the image that has always struck me is the aristocrats pushed north across the river into the slums and tried to consolidate their position by building a downtown. Unfortunately, it seems they were put under seige immediately and cling tentatively to the little ground they gained. (Ignore the historical innacuracies, this is just a good explanation of why downtown Winnipeg is such a mess.)
I’ve never had trouble, but not many people mess with me. Did you go to the Ethiopian restaurant on Ellice (it would have businesses across the street, including the Discreet Botique lingerie store) or on Cumberland (next to a K&D mom and pop grocery store with a church across the street)? Because the two of those pretty much surround my apartment.
I moved here from Edmonton and am convinced this is the ugliest city I’ve ever been in. I hate driving here. The city is old and they never planned for certain things on their roads, like traffic. These people drive like idiots, thought I just got a speeding ticket in the mail and have been ordered to appear in court for a parking ticket I didn’t have money to pay, so it looks like I’m adapting nicely.
Big old Montreal boy (former Winnipegois) here, went out to the gay bar (the gay bar) the last time I was in Winnipeg, left, was rather startled to be told I shouldn’t walk back to where I was staying. Oh, my…
I was in Winnipeg about two years ago, and I got the same thing, people telling me to not walk around at night alone. I guess the downtown is supposed to be rough. I must say, I just ignored them all, and went for walks along the river at night. I was staying in the neighborhood to the south, near little italy. I can’t remember the name.
I also heard about enema man! I found it pretty funny. I wonder if it’s just an urban legend or something.
I’ve found that many people who live in cities are scared at night-- without any reason at all. It’s like they believe all those stories country-folk are telling 'em.
I think it’s worse in the cities that actively discourage people walking as a mode of transportation during the day, let alone at night.
Hmm , so i should not mention this to any tourists that come to Toronto in the summer. They always seem to think that hogtown is a bastion of crime and gangs roam the area constantly.
The above is said in jest , any large city is going to have some sort of crime problem and each city is unique in its variety of low lifes. If your constantly staying inside or taking cabs to go where you have to go , then the bad folks win by default.
Interestingly, Manitoba does have the second highest murder rate in Canada (behind Yukon, although I’m not sure if that can be considered statistically significant enough). From the above Statistics Canada site, the rates (murder per 100,000) by province [excluding territories] for 2001 were:[ul][]Manitoba (2.96)[]Saskatchewan (2.66)[]Alberta (2.28)[]British Columbia (2.08)[]Quebec (1.89)[]Prince Edward Island (1.44)[]Ontario (1.43)[]New Brunswick (1.06)[]Nova Scotia (0.95)[]Newfoundland and Labrador (0.19)[/ul]For comparison, Canada as a whole had a murder rate per 100,000 of 1.77 in 2000, and the United States had 5.5 (the cite for U.S. numbers doesn’t have more recent figures).
Cerowyn, from your link it’s quite shocking when you do consider the rate of some of the territories though;
– NWT - 9.79
– Nunuvut - 10.65
That’s exponentially higher than the other provinces and even the Yukon territory, which comes in at 3.35. I wonder if there could be any connection to Seasonal Affective Disorder and the higher homicide rates in the far north? Would make for interesting research.
Manduck, I could not use the link you provided. Perhaps it’s my browser, but it wouldn’t work for me. Shux.
Muffin, I must admit I thought you were being facetious when you first mentioned the enema guy…until Stephi mentioned about hearing about him too. Maybe it is just an urban legend, somehow I can’t comprehend how someone could assault someone else with an enema. Wait… ::snicker::
[roleplay]
“This is a stick up/in. I’ll struggle to get your pants off and you hold still long enough for me to gently feed this tube into your chute and plunge you with barium…expect some slight cramping”
[/roleplay] :eek:
I’ll be going to the 'peg again over the next month. I’ll see if anyone else has heard of this enigmatic assmaster. I’ll be ready for him; I’ll be armed with my slingshot and a pocket full of suppositories.
Thanks for the insight! I have worked in the Edmonton area for most of the last 8+ years and I like it alot. I spent almost the same amount of time in Calgary as well. I seem to like Edmonton better.
The cab driver in Winnipeg said that he had just moved there from Burnaby BC. I said, “Burnaby to Winnipeg; seems an interesting choice. Why?” He said it was the cost of living. He does have a point there. I was pleasantly surprised when it cost me only $8 and change at Silver City! I think it costs like $13 at the Silver City in WEM.
It’s nothing compared to $2300 to rent a house in Fort McMurray though.
I can’t remember the street the restaurant was on, but we did cross the bridge to get to it. It was about a 15 minute walk from our Hotel. Had to climb a set of stairs to get to it. We were sitting on the patio overlooking the street. The sign said, “Eritrean and Ethiopian Cuisine”. Across the street was a tattoo and piercing place with a green sign. There was a Thai restaurant accross the street and down a little, as well as some type of club I think. I could also see the steeple of a large older church I think one block over. That’s about all the details I can remember about it.
Far be it for me to start an urban legend. I was being facetious about the enema attacker. (Unfortunately, I was serious about TBay’s Simpson Street.)
I have a cousin who moved to Winnipeg and was dissapointed.
She was born and raised on Baffin Island in the arctic, and since then has lived on Sable Island in the Atlantic and on the MacKenzie River in the North West, so she is quite used to wildlife wandering about, but is not used to so many people and cars. She says that when she moved to Winnipeg, she chose to live on a street named Deer Run, hoping to see lots of deer, but instead about all she sees running is a lot of cars and the occasional jogger.
I’m not sure is she is pulling my leg or not about expecting deer on Deer Run Drive.
I live in Winnipeg. I think it is a great place to live. Having said that, I would still not venture out at night downtown by myself. But I am sure there are areas of Montreal, Toronto, or any other large city that would not be safe to wander alone at night.
Sadly, it seems “gang” related crimes are on the rise and seem to be focused on the downtown area…which could be the reason for the warnings you received. Hope you enjoyed your visit just the same
Anal; I have actually met you. You could safely walk downtown at night, I doubt anyone would hassle ya!!!
ReBusEniGma; I am hurt!! You were here and did not stop by for coffee!
Awwww… don’t feel hurt Runadoc, it was totally unintentional . We could have a mini dopefest in the 'peg next time! I should be returning for a day or two within the next few weeks if you’re interested. You, me, Anal Scurvy, and any other that wanted to meet up for coffee. Ya’ll would be the first dopers I’ve met IRL. Cool!
I guess, but I can’t think of any you’d have a reason to be in at night in the first place, if you were a tourist. We always have people on the street at night. I’ve never been afraid in downtown Montreal at night.
