When you arrive in Canada, there will be lots to learn and sort out as you settle in. As you adjust to living in Winnipeg, Student Services staff are here to help you get settled or answer any questions you have. Visit us with your questions, concerns, experiences, or ideas for adjusting well to Winnipeg.
Contact Us
Have questions or ideas? Email, call, or visit us on campus.
StudentServices@BoothUC.ca
204-947- 6701 (ext 0)
Second floor, Petersen Hall, 290 Vaughan Street
8 a.m. - 4 p.m Monday to Friday
Manitoba Start
Manitoba Start is a government supported settlement resource that provides support for newcomers arriving to Manitoba. This free service is available in many different languages. It will connect you with community supports and services including housing, health care, employment, language training and more. For more information, visit Manitoba Start.
Housing and Rental Information
Winnipeg has a variety of different neighborhoods to choose from. Areas near the center of the city (downtown) are more densely populated and often more affordable. Neighborhoods towards the outer limits of the city tend to be less densely populated and more expensive. When choosing a place to live, consider proximity to local transportation and neighborhood safety. Be sure to do your research before signing a lease agreement.
Learn more about student housing options in our Housing Resources section. For additional housing resources for international students visit the New Journey Housing Resource Centre.
Note: Homestay is a great option for international students looking for a welcoming, affordable, and safe place to live. You'll live with a Winnipeg family that is registered through the Canadian Homestay Network or the Polar Trails Homestay program. Short term (2-4 month) options are available. The Homestay experience provides a unique and excellent way for you to quickly feel at home in Manitoba.
Adjusting to Winnipeg Culture
Settling into a new country takes a lot of energy, flexibility, creativity, and curiosity. Many of the things you rely on daily, like food, clothing, transportation, community, entertainment, and holidays, will be different from your past experiences. It helps if you come with a commitment to learn and understand as much as possible about your new home.
While everyone adapts to new cultures differently, we hope your experience is as simple as possible.
Cultural Adjustment
Culture shapes everything you know to be true about the world around you. It's how we understand each other and the world we live in. When you leave the culture of one group to experience a different culture, you might feel disoriented, confused, excited, or curious. It can take time to learn another culture, and to feel comfortable and confident in it.
What is Winnipeg culture? Winnipeg is known for its diversity. From the strong influence of the Indigenous peoples, to the settler populations that have arrived over the last few hundred years, our city and province is shaped by many different cultures. Respecting cultural differences is a necessary value to uphold in this province, which is why the City of Winnipeg "is committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and safe community for all residents".
We encourage you to use the City of Winnipeg resources for newcomers. To learn more about cultural adaptation, check out the Red River College Polytech’s Learning in a New Culture free on-line course.
Tips from Booth UC Student Services
As you adapt to life in Winnipeg, here are some tips that others have shared for dealing with culture shock.
- Stay in contact with home: make time for calling, texting, or video chatting with family and friends back home.
- Reach out to Booth UC supports: don't be afraid to engage with your peers, staff and faculty. Take the time to develop friendships, attend events and build memories.
- Find and use your supports: stay in contact with your professors, they are available to help if you're struggling with coursework. The Student Services Team is also available to talk and has many resources such as the Academic Learning Center (ALC), connections to mental health care facilities and much more.
- Develop healthy habits: make sure to get enough sleep, eat properly, find time to exercise, and get outside.
- Use the mental health supports available to you: these services are free of charge and are available anytime day or night. Connect by chat, e-mail, phone, or video to professional counselling support in a variety of languages.
- Participate in local cultural experiences or community groups: learn to enjoy the fun, beauty, and adventure of your new home! Check out these websites for ideas:
Winnipeg Weather
Winnipeg is blessed with four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. During each season, we experience significantly different temperatures.
- Spring (March-May): temperatures are unpredictable and between 0 to 20 degrees Celsius. The snow begins to melt, and rain starts. This means flooding may occur in some surrounding areas. Trees and lawns turn green. The hours of daylight are getting longer.
- Summer (June-August): hot! Temperatures are between 25 to 30 degrees Celsius (up to 35-40+ occasionally with humidex). It's generally dry with occasional thunderstorms. Enjoy daylight until after 10 p.m. Winnipeggers celebrate many different cultural festivals throughout the summer!
- Fall (September-November): temperatures are between 5 to 20 degrees Celsius. Days are sunny and warm and night are cool. Leaves turn bright yellow, orange, and red. We may get early snow which melts quickly. Daylight hours shorten. This is great weather for picnics.
- Winter (December-February): cold! Temperatures are between -10 to -25 degrees Celsius (occasionally below -30+ with wind chill). It gets dark by 4:30 p.m.. We get lots of snow, often piling high on the streets. Winnipeggers enjoy skating on the rivers and tobogganing in parks!
Wind and Humidity
Manitoba is part of the prairie provinces, where the land is mostly flat. This means that wind can have a big impact on the weather. In winter, the wind combined with the cold air can make it feel even colder than normal. This is called wind-chill, a term to describe what the air temperature feels like based on a combination of cold temperatures and wind.
The prairies are a fairly dry, semi-arid region that helps to reduce the negative effects of extreme cold and extreme heat. In summer, weather forecasts often include a humidex reading which is a term to describe how hot the weather feels to the average person, by combining the heat and humidity.
Dress for the Weather
The best way to combat cold temperatures is by wearing multiple layers of warm clothes and jackets. It's important to cover any exposed skin. You will need a winter jacket that's rated for sub-zero temperatures. Other recommended winter clothing includes a warm hat that covers your ears (toque), gloves/mittens and lined boots with good treads to prevent slipping on icy sidewalks.
Winter is the most challenging season for many international students. Winnipeg is one of the coldest capital cities in the world, so it's important to know the dangers and the opportunities of this season. Temperatures below freezing can pose serious health risks, such as frostbite and hypothermia, if proper clothing and precautions are not taken. Remember to bundle up when going outside, particularly when waiting for transit. Some city bus shelters are heated, but not all.
The downtown area is connected by heated skywalks, so students can walk to various downtown conveniences while protected from the elements. As long as proper winter clothing is worn, being outside in the winter is not only safe, but also fun!
For the summer, lighter pants, shorts, and shirts will be better suited for the warmer temperatures. Picking up a water-resistant jacket or coat for the fall and spring is a good idea as some of the fall/spring seasons may have a lot of rain and cooler temperatures than expected.
The seasons and weather in Winnipeg provide a lot of opportunity for new and exciting activities (skating, snowshoeing, skiing, water-sports, etc...). So get outside and explore!
Read more about Winnipeg weather:
- Winter in Winnipeg: A Guide for New Residents, Economic Development Winnipeg
- Hot and Cold Weather Safety, The City of Winnipeg's
- Cold Weather and Your Health, Manitoba Government
Food
Most large grocery stores (Superstore, Giant Tiger, Walmart, Sobeys, etc.) carry a wide variety of products, including different cultural options. There are also many smaller and ethnic grocery stores near Booth UC:
- Chinatown: visit Winnipeg's Chinatown for a variety of cultural ingredients, restaurants, and more.
- Tindahan Food Mart: small Filipino grocery store located on Sargent Ave.
- Dino's Grocery Mart: local store with African and South Asian goods. Dino's Grocery Mart has a wide selection and will order different items for you.
There are many smaller stores scattered throughout Winnipeg, so walk around or search online to find what you're looking for.
Cell Phone/Sim Card
You can purchase a cell phone from telecommunication companies in Winnipeg, including:
- Telus
- Rogers
- Bell MTS
These companies will be able to have a SIM card and cell plan (provides cell service allowing you to use the phone without wifi) included as a part of the purchase.
You can also purchase cell phones from a variety other retailers, such as Costco, Best Buy, or Apple. But you must verify if a SIM card and phone plan are available with purchase. If not, you'll need to purchase a SIM card and phone plan from a telecommunication provider.
Regardless of who you are purchasing from, be sure to find out the details of the phone plan that you intend to purchase. Phone plans and cost vary widely depending on what options you would like included (such as amount of data). Phone plans are usually billed on a monthly basis, so be sure to shop around and find the plan that best for your needs!
Transportation
Getting around is always a question that needs to be addressed. Below are a few options that may help you in getting around including to and from campus!
Peggo Cards for Bus
Winnipeg City Transit offers a discount to post-secondary students. To receive the discount:
- Purchase a $5 Peggo Card from the University.
- We will program your Peggo card and student information directly into Winnipeg Transit’s website, which qualifies you for the discounted bus fare.
- Load your Peggo card with bus fare at any Shopper’s Drug Mart or 7-Eleven.
If you lose your Peggo card or it stops working, come see us at the Front Desk. We can replace your card ($5 fee will apply) and program it. We can also arrange to transfer any remaining bus fare from your old card.
When you ride city transit, use the Peggo card to pay for your bus fare. You will also need to show your student card. We’ve applied a sticker to your student card that lets the Driver know you’re a current student. Each September, visit the Front Desk to have that sticker updated.
Taxi Services
Here are a few of the taxi services available in Winnipeg.
- Duffy’s Taxi: (204)925-0101
- Unicity Taxi: (204)925-3131
Ridesharing
Uber ridesharing is available in Winnipeg.