As I get ready to leave Winnipeg, it feels only right to offer a final, deeply subjective assessment of the city. This is not a tourism ad, and it is not a takedown either. It is just an honest list of what I have loved, what has driven me crazy and what I will end up defending once I am gone.

Let’s start with the obvious thorn, because leaving it out would feel dishonest. The winters are brutal. Waiting for a bus in -30 C weather feels like some sort of punishment, and it is even worse when the bus is off schedule or late. Then, once you finally get on, you go from freezing to sweating almost immediately, still bundled up in all your winter gear, which ends up making the commute worse. 

Then there is the way the city is laid out. Winnipeg can feel so spread out, and the transit system (or lack thereof) does not make navigating it any easier. Living near the university often means that getting downtown, or to plenty of other places worth going, takes longer than it really should. The urban sprawl and car dependence can make the city feel less connected than it ought to be. There were definitely moments when I thought, surely getting places should not require this much logistical planning. 

Another thorn, and this is just the Atlantic Canadian in me talking, is the lack of that easy coastal escape. Can this be fixed? No. Am I still going to complain about it? Yes. Not because every city needs an ocean, but because once you grow up with that kind of access to water, it is hard not to miss it. So yes, I am using this moment for a quick pitch. If you are looking to avoid the U.S. or elsewhere, come visit Atlantic Canada. There are the red sand beaches of Prince Edward Island, the wineries of Nova Scotia, the puffins of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Bay of Fundy tides in New Brunswick. I had to sneak that in somewhere. 

It also took me a while to meet people here at first. The U of M, being such a commuter school, can make social circles feel fairly established and sometimes a bit closed off when you are new. That is not unique to Winnipeg, but I did feel it.

And finally, on a much less serious but still emotionally real note, the wasps. Enough said. 

Still, some of the biggest thorns are tied to one of the things I admire most about Winnipeg. There is often a feeling that the city does not live up to its full potential. You can see the effects of underinvestment, and you can feel the frustration of what Winnipeg could be with more care, more investment and more follow-through. But what stands out just as much is how many people are actively trying to make it better. There are so many NGOs, advocates, organizers and community groups doing real work to improve the city for everyone. This is one of the reasons it is hard not to root for Winnipeg. 

Now for the roses.

The Winnipeg Jets have been a huge one for me. Getting to see my favourite NHL team play in person over these past three years has been so much fun. Even when this reason has been, at times, a little rough, there is still something incredible about the energy around the team. Also, I am holding out hope that Winnipeg gets a Professional Women’s Hockey League team someday. When that happens, you’d better support them. 

I also need to mention the pelicans. I had never seen them before moving here, I did not know that Winnipeg had them and was delighted to find out that it does. Seeing them during summer walks around a nearby pond makes those walks much better. The same goes for the geese, and yes, I know that one may be divisive, but I love watching them. They are one of those things that make me slow down and notice what is actually around me.

The Forks is another rose. It is one of those places that feels like Winnipeg at its best — lively, scenic and designed for people to enjoy being there. It is one of the spots in the city that always feels like a safe bet, whether you want to walk around, meet up with friends or just be reminded that Winnipeg is genuinely charming. 

Now for the more important roses, which are the friends I have made here, and the Manitoban, of course, for letting me write and for being such a great part of my year. Both gave shape to my time in Winnipeg in ways that matter more than any favourite place or minor complaint, and both are a big part of what I will miss when I leave.

So that is Winnipeg to me — a place with real frustrations, real charm and plenty worth carrying with me when I go.