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If you think living
at Ministikwan
Lake in the bush is
a challenge, try the
Winnipeg downtown
core.
On a recent trip to
the newest NHL city
we were booked into
a downtown hotel.
Not being from the
city, one has to rely
on Internet or travel
agents for advice on
selecting a suitable
hotel.
After flying in
from the Bridge City
of Saskatoon, we
picked up a rental
car and headed to
the downtown. After
a short drive around the inner city we
pulled up at the curb, and within 30
seconds we knew this may not be an
environment we would necessarily be
comfortable in.
The street was not particularly dirty
but as if a new face was indeed a new
prospect, instantly there was a steady
stream of panhandlers stopping with
their various requests. It was as if they
were lined up around the corner like a
taxi stand.
This was compounded
with a number
of downtown police
vehicles (Toyota Prius)
attending to a situation
inside the establishment.
Once entering
the lobby there were,
at minimum, four
serious looking private
security individuals,
both male and female.
We managed the
check-in and sourced
out the rooms. The
elevator showed signs
of age along with some
lack of a thorough
cleaning. The walk
down the hallway
was quite similar – the
carpet had large stains,
room doors were battered and it looked
as if there had been a flood coming from
the pop machine area which extended
into the hallway, almost as if the ice
machine was dumped on the floor.
Getting past this, I put the key into
413. Upon entering, the room was like a
tiny cubicle – if you didn’t know better
you might have thought it was a retro
room. It was not.
After a quick observation I knew the
front seat of the van would be a more
comforting than four walls
I was currently looking
at, which is why I exited,
retracing my steps back
to the street, reloaded and
began a search for alternative
accommodations.
If you have seen any
newscasts or documentaries
exposing Winnipeg’s
inner city problems
and thought, ’This is not
possible in Canada’ well
it is.
Again perhaps the state
of the Goat Trail is less of
a concern considering the
tranquil environment of
Ministikwan Lake.
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