An Essential Guide to Moving to West Broadway, Winnipeg (+Tips for Living Like a Local)
Living in a big city can be quite jarring when you’re still starting out—at least for me, it was. Early on, I made lots of bad decisions like choosing apartments based on what they looked like and cost, without researching the neighborhoods they were in.
I mostly ended up with renter’s remorse; you know, that sinking feeling you get when the landlord hands over the keys? So you don’t end up the same way, we’ve prepared a quick guide for you.
Here, we’ll walk you through the small yet bustling neighborhood of West Broadway, Winnipeg to help you understand it better.
About West Broadway, Winnipeg
— Media credit: westbroadwaybiz
West Broadway, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Winnipeg, is on the rise to becoming the trendiest. With cool restaurants, cafes, and shops all within walking distance from each other, it’s morphing into a culinary and cultural hub.
What makes it an excellent place to live in is its strong sense of community. Everyone wants to be involved in events, whether it be street festivals, bike loops, or even clean-ups.
The streets of West Broadway are highly walkable, so you can reach community activities and events on foot. But if you have a bike, you can go around safely and with ease because of the dedicated bike lanes.
Best of all, the neighborhood is a stone’s throw away from the city center and has easy access to Winnipeg’s public transportation system. This makes it a more desirable place to live for students and professionals working downtown.
Population of West Broadway, Winnipeg
According to the latest census, Winnipeg’s West Broadway has 5,590 residents. It is an ethnically diverse neighborhood, where 24.2% of its residents are of Indigenous descent, while visible minorities make up 31.9% of the community.
Visible minorities include Asian, Latino, Black, and other ethnic groups.
The majority of the people who live here are Canadian citizens; only 18.3% aren’t. Some of the largest immigrant groups come from Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Take a closer look at the 2021 census data to learn more about the residents.
With all those numbers in mind, now you probably understand why its culinary scene is popping. From salmon sashimi to creamy buttered chicken, waves of immigration have created a melting pot of culinary delights, bringing global flavors to your doorstep.
It’s no wonder residents are eager to gather and join community events. If we lived here, we’d go to every single potluck too!
Housing Options in West Broadway, Winnipeg
West Broadway in Winnipeg has a wide range of housing options, which include single-detached houses, row houses, apartments, and duplexes.
As you can expect from the oldest neighborhood in the city, most of its original structures are old. They were constructed before 1960, while only around 200+ dwellings were constructed as recently as 2016.
Surprisingly, the majority of the houses are well-maintained, including the ones built 60+ years ago.
For the entire year of 2021, records show only 3,035 instances of regular maintenance and minor repairs. There were about 340 recorded instances of major repairs in the same year.
Cost of Living in West Broadway, Winnipeg
For a rental space in West Broadway, Winnipeg, the average shelter cost, which encompasses all household expenditures like heat, water, electricity, and other municipal services is $847 per month.
The average monthly shelter cost of owned dwellings is $1,110.
In West Broadway, the average cost of a house is $356,000, which is nearly two times less than the national average—$730,600. It’s also one of the cheaper places in Winnipeg to own a house.
Healthcare in West Broadway, Winnipeg
There are several medical centers and pharmacies in Winnipeg’s West Broadway neighborhood, such as Memorial Medical Clinic, White Cross Healthcare, and Klinic Community Health.
Due to its proximity to the city center, general hospitals like Victoria General, Saint-Boniface, and Grace Hospital are a quick 10 to 15-minute drive away from the neighborhood.
Schools in West Broadway, Winnipeg
West Broadway has easy access to all the top universities in Winnipeg. The closest is the University of Winnipeg, which is a 12-minute walk from the neighborhood.
The University of Manitoba, Universite de Saint-Boniface, and other top schools can be reached by public transit in under 30 minutes.
Within the neighborhood, you’ll find Balmoral High School. It’s a private all-girls boarding school for K-12 students.
There are also alternative learning schools for adults in West Broadway. They can help older students earn a Mature Student High School Diploma and gain admission to a post-secondary program.
Things to Do at West Broadway, Winnipeg
Go on a self-guided art walk.
— Media credit: westbroadwaybiz
All year round, West Broadway is full of life and color thanks to the beautiful murals around this neighborhood. Since there are quite a few, the community created a self-guided tour of their art, which starts at Sherbrook St.
Murals from artists like Jill Stanton, Andrew Eastman, and Chloe Chafe add pops of colors and life to the dull brick walls of the buildings. As you move to Wolseley Avenue, you’ll see more art on the storefronts, others tucked away in random alleys.
To cap off your art tour, we recommend heading to the Good Neighbour Brewing Company, where you’ll find a huge, spray-painted mural covering the entire length of their wall. It’s best viewed from the patio with a glass of cold beer in your hand.
Bike around the neighborhood.
— Media credit: westbroadwaybiz
When you’re in West Broadway, it’s always a great day for a bike ride. With dedicated bike lanes spread throughout the neighborhood, even novice riders will feel safe, confident, and comfortable riding on our busy streets.
On Bike Week, you can join fellow bikers on a tour around Winnipeg. Since this area is also connected to the city’s central bike loop, it will be much easier for you to move to other neighborhoods.
One of the pitstops on this tour is at West Broadway, just on the corner of Wolseley and Sherbook. There, you can indulge in free snacks, hot coffee, and fun conversations while listening to live music.
Buy fresh produce at the farmers’ market.
— Media credit: westbroadwayfarmersmarket_wpg
The West Broadway Farmers’ Market pops up for a few hours every week to bring the community freshly harvested produce, packed meats, baked goods, handmade crafts, and more.
It’s much cheaper than shopping at supermarkets! If you’re new to the neighborhood, it’s also a great way to get to know the community.
Oh, and did I mention that they have live music?
Attend free workshops.
— Media credit: broadwayneighbourhoodcntr
Other than being the site of the farmers’ markets, the Broadway Neighbourhood Centre hosts all kinds of community activities, such as arts and sports programs.
Occasionally, they will host free yoga sessions and other group fitness classes, which are geared toward older adults and people with mobility issues. Still, everyone is welcome to attend, so take the whole family with you if you can.
Join the Spring clean-up.
— Media credit: broadwayneighbourhoodcntr
Spring clean-ups are an important annual event in West Broadway. By volunteering a few hours of your time to pick up trash, you can help maintain a clean, healthy, and safe environment for everyone to live in.
Since the event organizers provide all the tools and supplies, all you need to do is show up on time. As a reward for your efforts, you get to eat a delicious lunch for free and maybe a West Broadway shirt (if you’re early).
Attend SnoBall, a Winter Carnival
— Media credit: westbroadwaycommunityorg
SnoBall is a fun-filled carnival that families look forward to year after year. With ice skating, horse-drawn sleigh rides, fireside storytelling, and other outdoor activities, it’s an incredible way to experience the magic of the winter season.
Like most community events, it usually takes place at the neighborhood center. It’s completely free, so you can take the whole family with you.
Don’t forget to bundle up before setting out. Once you’re there, you can stay warm by sipping hot chocolate, which they will also serve for free!
Join the Good Food Club
— Media credit: good_food_club_wpg
One of the things you should do if you move here is join the Good Food Club. Since 2002, they’ve been focused on improving the community’s access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food.
They play a huge role in West Broadway’s farmers’ markets. By working closely with local farmers, contributing labor, and providing direct market access, they can offer freshly harvested fruits and vegetables at more affordable prices.
Throughout the winter months, they even host large-scale dinners. They prep and serve nutritious food, giving the members of the community a chance to gather around and catch up amid the harsh winters of Winnipeg.
Where to Eat at West Broadway, Winnipeg
Thom Bargen Coffee Roasters
— Media credit: thombargen
Website: http://www.thombargen.com/
Location: 64 Sherbrook Street
Phone: +1 204 284 0031
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7 am to 5 pm, Sat-Sun 8 am to 5 pm
Like moths to a flame, the cool kids flock to Thom Bargen to sip their colorful lattes with non-dairy milk while they take aesthetic photos for Instagram. Surprisingly, this buzzy spot is worth the hype because the food is good, and their coffee is even better.
Our favorite thing about this place is that the owners carefully source the coffee beans they use and sell, so you can have a guilt-free brew with rich, complex flavors every morning.
Charisma of India
— Media credit: charismaofindia
Website: http://charismaofindia.ca/
Location: 83 Sherbrook Street
Phone: +1 204 222 7878
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:30 am to 9 pm, Sun 3 pm to 9 pm
Charisma of India still feels like a hidden gem, known mostly to the residents of West Broadway. They serve a buffet of authentic East Indian flavors and dishes, one of the best we’ve been to in Winnipeg.
Starting at $19.99, you can choose from a variety of dishes, ranging from boneless buttered chicken to crispy, delicately spiced samosas. They also have an a la carte menu so you get to pack any leftovers.
Shorty’s Pizza
— Media credit: shortyspizza
Website: http://www.shortyspizza.ca/
Location: 53 Maryland Street
Phone: +1 204 779 7968
Opening hours: Daily 11:30 am to 10 pm
Shorty’s is the go-to neighborhood pizza joint. Serving New York-style pizza, they serve hand-tossed pies with thin crusts and crispy edges, which they cut into wide pieces that are big enough to fit a single plate.
You can grab the classics: pepperoni, NY cheese, and Margherita. But don’t shy away from the spicy homemade sausage pizzas topped with hot honey, chili oil, and grand Padano cheese.
Slices and whole pies are available at this pizzeria.