Saskatchewan-Manitoba

"We have great potential for both oil and gas," said Gary Vidal, an accountant and mayor of Meadow Lake. "Some say we could be the next Fort McMurray.

When Calgary-based Cenovus Energy Inc. snapped up junior Oilsands Quest for $10 million last year, it renewed rumours across northern Saskatchewan that Meadow Lake, pop 5,100, is on the cusp of becoming the next big western resource play.

Winnipeg is ranked among the top eight Canadian cities to watch for real estate investing in 2013, according to a global study by the U.S.-based Urban Land Institute (ULI).

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.