Comments on: All Roads Lead to Portage and Main http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/2009/05/all-roads-lead-to-portage-and-main/ Sometimes people just randomly move to Manitoba. Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:29:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Geography is Destiny « Winnipeg O' My Heart http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/2009/05/all-roads-lead-to-portage-and-main/comment-page-1/#comment-4097 Geography is Destiny « Winnipeg O' My Heart Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:49:47 +0000 http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/?p=415#comment-4097 [...] This very passage is one I read ten years ago and decided that Winnipeg was a place I’d like very much live. And although when I moved here I had only one close friend in the city, I had behind me many generations of Manitobans: a vast array of aunts, uncles, cousins and a couple surviving grandparents.  Once I started dating my future husband, Michel, there would be many more opportunities for our families’ stories to intersect. The connections started presenting themselves at a somewhat alarmingly frequent rate.  For instance, we discovered that my sister-in-law’s brother had taught my cousins at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé. It also turned out those same cousins had once visited Michel’s family farm on a school field trip, and indeed eaten a meal with his parents! Another two sets of crossed paths are detailed in Aaron’s post “All Roads Lead to Portage and Main“. [...] [...] This very passage is one I read ten years ago and decided that Winnipeg was a place I’d like very much live. And although when I moved here I had only one close friend in the city, I had behind me many generations of Manitobans: a vast array of aunts, uncles, cousins and a couple surviving grandparents.  Once I started dating my future husband, Michel, there would be many more opportunities for our families’ stories to intersect. The connections started presenting themselves at a somewhat alarmingly frequent rate.  For instance, we discovered that my sister-in-law’s brother had taught my cousins at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé. It also turned out those same cousins had once visited Michel’s family farm on a school field trip, and indeed eaten a meal with his parents! Another two sets of crossed paths are detailed in Aaron’s post “All Roads Lead to Portage and Main“. [...]

]]> By: MK http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/2009/05/all-roads-lead-to-portage-and-main/comment-page-1/#comment-555 MK Sat, 18 Jul 2009 09:48:30 +0000 http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/?p=415#comment-555 I have a story for you. I moved to Winnipeg 5 years ago to go to school. I come from up north. Shortly after moving I met this other girl and we became very close friends. It wasn't until a couple months later that we found out that her dad and my mom actually dated in high school! They grew up together in Medicine Hat. She actually knew my grandma to! I have a story for you. I moved to Winnipeg 5 years ago to go to school. I come from up north. Shortly after moving I met this other girl and we became very close friends. It wasn’t until a couple months later that we found out that her dad and my mom actually dated in high school! They grew up together in Medicine Hat. She actually knew my grandma to!

]]> By: A Rat in the Sandbox http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/2009/05/all-roads-lead-to-portage-and-main/comment-page-1/#comment-224 A Rat in the Sandbox Thu, 14 May 2009 00:59:01 +0000 http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/?p=415#comment-224 I have "bumped into" 3 friends at (or near) Portage and Main. Granted, they all work in either the Richardson Building or Canwest tower.... I have “bumped into” 3 friends at (or near) Portage and Main. Granted, they all work in either the Richardson Building or Canwest tower….

]]> By: Aaron http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/2009/05/all-roads-lead-to-portage-and-main/comment-page-1/#comment-211 Aaron Tue, 12 May 2009 14:03:03 +0000 http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/?p=415#comment-211 Ian! Thanks for sharing your perspective. I think you're absolutely right about the city needing some sort of place-marker that tourists and visitors can be photographed in front of. It will provide that quintessential Winnipeg photo-op while solidifying the image of "P & M" for those who are searching for it. Ian! Thanks for sharing your perspective. I think you’re absolutely right about the city needing some sort of place-marker that tourists and visitors can be photographed in front of. It will provide that quintessential Winnipeg photo-op while solidifying the image of “P & M” for those who are searching for it.

]]> By: Ian http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/2009/05/all-roads-lead-to-portage-and-main/comment-page-1/#comment-210 Ian Sun, 10 May 2009 16:37:05 +0000 http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/?p=415#comment-210 The cultural significance of Portage & Main can't be unstated. I've often argued that second only to Bay&Bloor, the nation's financial heart in TO, P&M is one of the most famous intersections in Canada. I used shoot a lot for Ducks Unlimited, and traveled across the entire country and recently have been across the Far North. You say you're from Winnipeg, everyone would reference P&M, and it's mythical status as windiest corner in Canada. I have often been assigned the task of getting "The Portage&Main" shot but art directors calling from out of town. It's really disheartening that visually all we have to show for it is some crazy 70's style bunkers and a rusty old back lit sign that says "Portage Ave" I REALLY wish the city would do something about this, make a sign that really plays up the mythic status of the corner, heck it could even post the temperature. Can you imagine the tourists who would wanna to pose under the sign as it read -40C? people would do it for bragging rights! Anyway, enough ranting from me. Yes all roads lead back to P&M Love the blog, love reading about this city through your eyes. Makes me appreciate what we have. The cultural significance of Portage & Main can’t be unstated. I’ve often argued that second only to Bay&Bloor, the nation’s financial heart in TO, P&M is one of the most famous intersections in Canada.

I used shoot a lot for Ducks Unlimited, and traveled across the entire country and recently have been across the Far North. You say you’re from Winnipeg, everyone would reference P&M, and it’s mythical status as windiest corner in Canada.

I have often been assigned the task of getting “The Portage&Main” shot but art directors calling from out of town. It’s really disheartening that visually all we have to show for it is some crazy 70′s style bunkers and a rusty old back lit sign that says “Portage Ave”

I REALLY wish the city would do something about this, make a sign that really plays up the mythic status of the corner, heck it could even post the temperature. Can you imagine the tourists who would wanna to pose under the sign as it read -40C? people would do it for bragging rights!

Anyway, enough ranting from me. Yes all roads lead back to P&M

Love the blog, love reading about this city through your eyes. Makes me appreciate what we have.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/2009/05/all-roads-lead-to-portage-and-main/comment-page-1/#comment-208 Aaron Fri, 08 May 2009 15:41:36 +0000 http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/?p=415#comment-208 No Michel, that's not weird. What would be weird is if you got onto Fermor/Ste-Anne's Rd/ St-Mary's Rd/Queen Elizabeth Way/Main St/Broadway/Portage Ave...and forgot to get off. This would constitute driving along Portage Ave all the way to Vancouver, and therefore represent a reverse reimagining of the trek Emma, Laurel, and I took to get here. Although, in all fairness, the ladies did <strong>fly</strong> this trek and I am the only one who drove (at least the second half, from Lethbridge to Winnipeg). If you do accidentally drive to Vancouver, please take pictures. We'll need them for the blog. That is all. No Michel, that’s not weird. What would be weird is if you got onto Fermor/Ste-Anne’s Rd/ St-Mary’s Rd/Queen Elizabeth Way/Main St/Broadway/Portage Ave…and forgot to get off. This would constitute driving along Portage Ave all the way to Vancouver, and therefore represent a reverse reimagining of the trek Emma, Laurel, and I took to get here. Although, in all fairness, the ladies did fly this trek and I am the only one who drove (at least the second half, from Lethbridge to Winnipeg). If you do accidentally drive to Vancouver, please take pictures. We’ll need them for the blog. That is all.

]]> By: Michel http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/2009/05/all-roads-lead-to-portage-and-main/comment-page-1/#comment-207 Michel Fri, 08 May 2009 14:43:21 +0000 http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/?p=415#comment-207 Pat J (and Aaron)... it is in fact true that you can get to Vancouver on Portage Avenue. Truth be told, if you made that trip, you'd also go through Kamloops, Calgary and Regina (albeit in the reverse of that order)! This is all due to the wonderful fact that Portage Avenue is an official part of the Trans-Canada Highway (well... most of Portage Ave, anyway. The TCH actually runs through Winnipeg via Fermor, Ste-Anne's Rd, St-Mary's Rd, Queen Elizabeth Way, Main St, Broadway, Portage Ave). Is it weird that I find that extremely cool and fascinating?? ;-) Pat J (and Aaron)… it is in fact true that you can get to Vancouver on Portage Avenue. Truth be told, if you made that trip, you’d also go through Kamloops, Calgary and Regina (albeit in the reverse of that order)! This is all due to the wonderful fact that Portage Avenue is an official part of the Trans-Canada Highway (well… most of Portage Ave, anyway. The TCH actually runs through Winnipeg via Fermor, Ste-Anne’s Rd, St-Mary’s Rd, Queen Elizabeth Way, Main St, Broadway, Portage Ave).

Is it weird that I find that extremely cool and fascinating?? ;-)

]]> By: Aaron http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/2009/05/all-roads-lead-to-portage-and-main/comment-page-1/#comment-206 Aaron Thu, 07 May 2009 22:28:12 +0000 http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/?p=415#comment-206 That's a good tip Linds...and one I'll take to heart. I really wouldn't want to trash-talk someone to their cousin! It's also a good piece of regional advice. I haven't heard that about any other part of the country yet. That’s a good tip Linds…and one I’ll take to heart.
I really wouldn’t want to trash-talk someone to their cousin!

It’s also a good piece of regional advice. I haven’t heard that
about any other part of the country yet.

]]> By: linds_c_m http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/2009/05/all-roads-lead-to-portage-and-main/comment-page-1/#comment-205 linds_c_m Thu, 07 May 2009 22:13:50 +0000 http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/?p=415#comment-205 It's often said, don't say anything bad about anyone in Winnipeg because you're talking to their cousin. It’s often said, don’t say anything bad about anyone in Winnipeg because you’re talking to their cousin.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/2009/05/all-roads-lead-to-portage-and-main/comment-page-1/#comment-204 Aaron Thu, 07 May 2009 16:36:36 +0000 http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/?p=415#comment-204 Pat J - you're probably right...maybe somebody should test that theory one day? Marianne - sounds good! You, me, cold Bronsons and Bar I...August '09, is it?! & Shannon...hopefully your road will lead through Winnipeg sometime in the next year (or sooner!). Pat J – you’re probably right…maybe somebody should test that theory one day?

Marianne – sounds good! You, me, cold Bronsons and Bar I…August ’09, is it?!

& Shannon…hopefully your road will lead through Winnipeg sometime in the next year (or sooner!).

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