The Warmth of Wood Makes Winter Fun
A Big Little Project
Draw a north-south line through the middle of North America and it will pass through the heart of Winnipeg, the capital and largest city in the Canadian province of Manitoba, where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet in the center of the city.
The spring and fall are barely seasons; more like shortened blips between summer and winter. Winter can last six long months in the eastern edge of the Canadian Prairies with nothing to stop the howling winds from the west or worse, from the far north. The temperatures can dip to -40 before taking the effects of wind chill into account.
The nickname "Winterpeg" comes from the half-year season. Residents are determined to enjoy the outdoors during the long winter by putting on a pair of skates and heading out to the frozen rivers. Outdoor skating in the winter comes in three basic parts: lacing up your skates, enjoying the skating, and taking them off again. In some cases, lacing up and taking off can be fairly miserable, especially in the face of a chill wind blowing in from the Arctic.
To accommodate the safety and the comfort level for ice skaters, fairly rudimentary skating shelters were built to be hauled onto the pond or river at the beginning of winter, and hauled away before the spring melt.
John Patkua, owner of Patkua Architects grew up in Winnipeg. "I remember what it was like," he says from the offices of Patkua Architects in Vancouver. "I try to avoid Winnipeg in the winter now."
Frequently asked questions
Why is Winnipeg nicknamed 'Winterpeg'?+
The nickname comes from the city's half-year winter season. Located where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet in central Canada, Winnipeg faces howling winds from the west and north, with temperatures that can dip to -40 before wind chill.
How long does winter last in Winnipeg?+
Winter can last six long months in the eastern edge of the Canadian Prairies. Spring and fall are barely seasons, acting more like shortened blips between summer and winter.
Why were skating shelters built along Winnipeg's rivers?+
Rudimentary skating shelters were built to accommodate the safety and comfort of ice skaters, particularly during the miserable process of lacing up and removing skates in the face of chill Arctic winds. The shelters are hauled onto the pond or river at the beginning of winter and removed before the spring melt.
Who designed the Winnipeg skating shelter project?+
The project was designed by John Patkua, owner of Patkua Architects, who grew up in Winnipeg and now operates out of Vancouver.
Where do the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet?+
The two rivers meet in the center of Winnipeg, the capital and largest city of Manitoba. A north-south line drawn through the middle of North America passes through the heart of the city.