Hayes travel guide

Manitoba (English French /manitoba/) is one of Canada's 10 provinces, with a population of 1,190,400 (2007). It was officially recognized by the Federal Government in 1870 as separate from the Northwest Territories, and became the first Province created from the Territories. It is the easternmost of the three Prairie Provinces. The word "Manitoba" is etymologically related to the native word "manitou" which means spirit. Manitoba, in the Red River area, contained the first western colony and settlement area of Canada. Manitoba is the only Canadian Province with an Arctic deep water sea port at Churchill, along Hudson Bay. Manitoba's northern sea port is the only link along the shortest shipping route between Canada and Asia.
Its capital and largest city (containing over one half the provincial population) is Winnipeg, with a population of over 710,000 (with metro). Other cities with more than 10,000 people are Brandon (over 41,000), Thompson (over 13,000), Portage la Prairie (over 12,500), and Steinbach (over 11,000). A person from Manitoba is called a Manitoban. (...) more....