When most people hear the name Winnipeg the first thing that pops into their head is “Winterpeg”. Yes, it can pretty “cool”. January and February are no strangers to -40 degrees. We can get a lot of snow. Yes, we do have to plug-in our cars. No, polar bears don’t roam our streets, but if you head north to Churchill, Manitoba, there may just be some there.
What a lot of people may not know is that Winnipeg is home to some well-known Canadian companies that are leaders in the manufacturing, aerospace and insurance industries. New Flyer, founded in 1930, makes transit buses and motor coaches that travel across U.S. and Canadian streets and highways on a daily basis. Boeing Canada and StandardAero, leaders in the aerospace industry, are an integral part of Winnipeg. StandardAero was founded in our great city more than 100 years ago. Great-West Life and Investors Group are also based right in Winnipeg, just to name a few.
Winnipeg has many competitive advantages for business:
- Low Business Costs
Winnipeg has some of the lowest business costs in land, labour and utilities. In KPMG’s Competitive Alternatives (2016) report Winnipeg was ranked No. 1 for the lowest overall business costs in Western Canada (also lower than every U.S city surveyed). - Supportive Business Community
Deals get done in Winnipeg. From a strong Chamber of Commerce to associations such as Economic Development Winnipeg and YES! Winnipeg, business leaders have numerous opportunities to connect with their peers. Winnipeg is also a member of the World Trade Centers Association. - Workforce
Winnipeggers are committed to helping their city succeed and are dedicated, educated and hard-working. Labour costs are the lowest among Canada’s 12 largest cities. Winnipeg’s labour force is younger than the national average and speak over 100 languages. - Transportation & Location
Located in the geographic centre of North America, Winnipeg is home to Centreport Canada, the largest inland port in North America and the only trimodal inland port in Canada. - Research & Development
Winnipeg is home to the University of Manitoba and over 30 R&D institutions. Numerous federal and provincial tax incentives are available, making the city attractive to companies with significant R&D components. - Energy
Manitoba Hydro is one of the lowest-cost providers of electricity in Canada. Nearly all (98%) of the energy generated in Manitoba comes from self-renewing water power. Manitoba’s clean energy offers a clear financial advantage with the introduction of carbon-tax legislation. - Quality of Life
Live, Work and Play. Winnipeg is a big city with a “small-town” atmosphere. Winnipeg has ranked third among the best places to live in Canada (large cities) by Moneysense.ca in 2016.
From low business costs to a dedicated and hard-working labour force, Winnipeg offers businesses (and its residents) a supportive and affordable business community, right in the heart of North America. Come visit us and see what we have to offer.
Sandy G. Shindleman, CCIM, SIOR, FRICS
President & CEO
