Saskatchewan-Manitoba

Five years ago most folks didn't set foot in Winnipeg's Central Park unless they were buying or selling drugs. But since a recent $5.

It's been a bad year to be a fan of independent restaurants in Winnipeg. Last January Alycia's, a Ukrainian perogy house that was actor John Candy's favourite restaurant, shut its doors.

In arguably the most anticipated retail opening in the city's history, IKEA finally christened a nearly 400,000-square-foot store on Kenaston Blvd. in south Winnipeg late last year.

A former jewel of downtown Winnipeg has been restored to its former glory. In fact, you could be excused if, upon entering the completely revamped Metropolitan Theatre, you thought you'd entered a time warp.

The oil and gas industry alone generates 15,000 direct jobs in the region and supports an estimated 500 businesses. And it could get much bigger, due to expansion of horizontal drilling in the giant Bakken oilfields.

Corus Land Holdings, an affiliate of agricultural giant Ceres Global Ag. Corp. recently bought the entire hamlet of Northgate, a village close to the U.S.

It's not often that a forecast calling for a 7 per cent decline in housing starts is seen in a positive light. But that's what can happen when the current year is on pace to hit a 25-year high. According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.

Investors, both domestic and from Alberta and B.C., are driving up the price of Winnipeg apartment buildings in what has become a bidding war.

Winnipeggers have said their final goodbyes - for the second time - to Canad Inns Stadium. The home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the last 60 years played host to its final event last month.

Last month's arrival of Winnipeg's first Victoria's Secret location saw 250 people line up a couple of hours before the store's opening.