STATION REPORT
CANADIAN FORCES BASE (CFB) WINNIPEG
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA

1. LOCATION. 17 Wing, Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Winnipeg is in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 65 miles north of the US-Canada border. The base is located within the city limits of Winnipeg at two sites: North Base is on the south side of the international airport and about five miles west of downtown Winnipeg; South Base is on the south side of the Assiniboine River, about 3 miles from North Base. The south site currently houses an Army regiment and some base functions such as Wing Supply. The Army regiment is transferring to Edmonton and will depart Winnipeg by 1999. The north site houses the Wing Headquarters, flightline operations, the CF School of Aerospace Studies, the Central Flying School, the CF Air Navigation School and 1 Canadian Air Division.

2. NEAREST CITY. The population of Winnipeg is 750,000.

3. CLIMATE. Cold winters, mild summers; temperatures range from -40°F in the winter to 90°F in the summer. Winnipeg usually experiences one to two weeks each season with these extremes. Snow begins in late October to early November, and remains on the ground through late April to early May. Wind speed can reach 40mph creating dangerous wind chills in the winter months. It is not uncommon to have a wind chill of -50° to -80°F.

4. PROXIMITY TO LARGE CITIES: Winnipeg is the provincial capital of Manitoba and the province's largest city. The closest, large cities are across the border to the south; Grand Forks, ND - 150 miles (Grand Forks AFB is 15 miles west of the city); Fargo, ND - 220 miles. Minneapolis, MN is 500 miles to the southeast.

5. FACILITIES:

1. Housing. Canadian government housing Permanent Married Quarter (PMQ) is available. Waiting lists can take up to six months but most families are housed in less than a month. Bedrooms are small. Most kitchens do not come furnished with stoves or refrigerators and none have dish washers. Many have basements and only a few have one-car garages. Two and three bedroom units are available based on family size. They range from 800-1200 square feet in size. The cost is approximately $700-900 Canadian/month plus utilities. USAF personnel pay the fee directly to the Canadian government out of their normal BAQ. Utilities (gas, electric, and water) average about $150-200 Canadian/month. Most are located at the south site. As in any large city, a variety of rental properties are available, but may be difficult to find as there is no Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for rental properties and Real Estate agents are reluctant to help. Most Canadian homes are smaller by US standards. A 2000 square foot home is considered an "executive" level home. Rental flyers, the newspapers, and your sponsor are the best places to begin your search. Most choices are located in the outskirts of Winnipeg, a 10-30 minute drive during rush hour. Most newer rental properties come with fully equipped kitchens, 3 to 4 bedrooms, and one or two car garages. Average rents range from $1200-2000 Canadian/month, plus utilities which run between $150-300 Canadian/month. Cable and satellite TV service is available starting at $40 Canadian/month for basic service. Additional services are available at additional costs plus the cost of buying the tuner box, usually around $100. Internet service ranges from $20-50 Canadian/month depending on dialup, DSL, or cable modem service.
    
2. Schools. Schools start in early September, just after Labor Day, and run through the end of June. Proof of age and immunization records are required for registration. Elementary schools do not have hot lunch programs and students may either go home for lunch or bring their own and stay at school in a supervised noon hour program. Generally a fee is charged for the days a child stays for lunch. There are no school buses available, children must either walk to school or arrange for their own transportation. The schools teach more American history than US schools teach Canadian history; however, it may not be sufficient to keep pace with US schools. Schools differ significantly from neighborhood to neighborhood, just as in the United States. As in the US, the economic area surrounding a military installation may not be the best in the city. Suburb schools, in the newly built developments, are usually the newest, have the best teachers, resources, and teaching facilities. Moreover, these housing areas usually attract professional people, who have transient careers like military families. Therefore, your choice of living area will determine the quality of school/education. Supplementary and home school courses are available through DODDS Europe (contact the staff office if interested).
    
3. Commissary. There are no commissaries in the Canadian Forces. Prices on most food items are comparable to grocery stores in the US. Since the commissary at Grand Forks AFB, ND is 165 miles away, cost benefits must be weighed against your family needs.
    
4. Base Exchange. There is a small Canadian Exchange (CANEX) store, similar in nature to a 7-Eleven, but with the ability to order some consumer goods at prices comparable to those on the economy.
    
5. Shopping. Numerous large malls, shopping centers and markets are available in the Winnipeg area. Prices for consumer goods and gasoline are a little higher than in the US. Meat, cheese, convenience packaged foods (canned drinks, drink boxes, snacks, etc.) and a few other items are generally less expensive when bought at stores in the US. Tax in Manitoba is 7% Goods and Services Tax (GST) and 7% Provincial Services Tax (PST). Clothing for children under the age of 14 is exempt from PST.
    
6. Recreation. Hunting, fishing, summer and winter sports, professional sports teams, ballet, theater and the symphony are all available in Winnipeg.
    
7. Mess Facilities. There is an Officers' Mess at CFB Winnipeg. Spouses/families are only allowed in the mess during special events or when permission is obtained from the President of the Mess Committee (PMC) or the Mess Manager. Monthly membership fee is $20 Canadian. There is no Officers Wives' Club.
    
8. Public Transportation. There is an extensive city bus system. Winnipeg is also served by rail, bus and air transportation.

6. WHAT TO BRING:

1. Appliances. Most rental houses come with a stove, a refrigerator , and some have a dishwasher. In the majority of cases, you'll need your own washer and dryer. An extra freezer is helpful for stocking up during the winter months when trips to the grocery store are not always possible due to road/weather conditions.
    
2. Car. Engine block heaters are a must. Four wheel drive vehicles are useful, but vehicles with all-season radials will suffice as most main roads in the city are kept fairly clear. Side roads in neighborhoods are only cleared a few times during the winter. Drivers' licenses and vehicle insurance: Manitoba has a vehicle insurance program run by the provincial government. Exchange personnel do not have to participate in this program and therefore may license and insure their vehicles in the US. Your insurance company must provide the minimum coverage required by provincial law. It is highly advisable to arrive with a current driver's license, proof of insurance card for Canada and current vehicle registration. Expired drivers license from the States with military exemptions will be treated as an expired driver's license.
    
3. Clothing. Good quality lined coats/parkas, insulated gloves and boots are necessary during the winter. School kids go outside for recess until the wind chill enters the dangerous range.

7. BANKING AND MAIL.

1. Banking. Maintain a US bank account with automatic deposit and open appropriate Canadian funds account with any of the many chartered banks or credit unions in town. Military identification cards are not sufficient for check cashing but stateside driver's licenses sometimes are. Major credit cards are accepted as in the US.
    
2. Mail. There is no mail service on Saturdays. Post office type services are found in various stores. Most of the newer neighborhoods have central mailboxes instead of door-to-door service. A newly developed APO service for US military members is now available, but delays are common. Some members rent a post office box in Pembina, North Dakota, at the border.

8. COMMUNITY RELATIONS. Good relationships exist with the communities of the region. English is widely spoken as is French, throughout the area. You can expect to be served in either language.

9. CHURCHES AND SYNAGOGUES. The local community supports most religions with traditional services and facilities. Numerous churches of many denominations can be found within the area. The base also supports the community with general Protestant services and Catholic mass.

10. GENERAL COMMENTS. With regards to what might be considered a normal base life in the USAF, there is quite a change here at Winnipeg. The sheer difference in size between the USAF and CF requires an adjustment in thought process. Most Canadians live within 150 miles of the US-Canada border. Easy access to US television and radio results in the populace being well informed of US national events. Driving in Winnipeg can be slightly different than in the US. Be cautious when driving as most traffic lights have green arrows, as opposed to a green light, indicating transit direction. This means traffic can only go in the direction of the green arrow (all other traffic must stop). On major streets in the city, parking in the right lane is allowed during certain hours. Therefore, don't be surprised if you are driving down the street and the car in front of you stops to park.

11. USAF EXCHANGE POSITIONS AT THIS LOCATION.

• Major/11F4 or 12F4 (Fighter Pilot/WSO/EWO); Chief, Joint and Fighter Exercises, A3/ 1 Canadian Air Division
• Major/31P4 (Security Police); Chief, Security Operations; Command Security and Military Police Officer; 1 Canadian Air Division
• Major/32E4 (Civil Engineer-ANG); Senior Plans/Requirements Officer, Airfield Engineering Operations, 1 Canadian Air Division
• Major/T12G4W (Electronic Warfare Officer); Electronic Warfare Instructor; Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Studies (CFSAS); 17 Wing
• Major/Q11A3R (Stan-Eval Pilot); Deputy Chief ICPS/Chief, Academics; Instrument Check-Pilot School (ICPS); 17 Wing
• Captain/32S4 (Civil Engineer); Staff Officer, Airfield Engineering Operations 2; Airfield Engineering Operations; 1 Canadian Air Division
• Captain/T13S4 (Space Operations); Space Ops Instructor; CFSAS, 17 Wing

Last Update: 28Mar03, Maj S.