Well the current provincial and federal governments are really pushing resource exploitation.

It's flat.

Winnipeg is the capital of the province.

The Red River usually floods in the spring. The last few years have been very bad for flooding.

It's flat.

Winnipeg is the country's violent crime capital.

Manitoba has the highest amount of violent crime of all provinces.

Manitoba had the highest homicide rate for the fourth consecutive year.

Winnipeg has the country's highest rate of robberies.

It's really flat.

It's cold in the winter.

Portage and Main is also called "the most windy corner in Canada" and at forty below or fifty below, exposed skin can get frostbite in less than a minute.

Canadian Forces Base Shiloh is located outside of Brandon, Manitoba.

They grow a lot of wheat in Manitoba.

It's still flat.

There are a lot of Native Americans in Manitoba, over 13.6% of the population.

The Atlanta Thrashers were bought and moved to Winnipeg in 2011 and renamed the Winnipeg Jets, resurrecting the team that was sold off to Phoenix in 1996.

More than half of the population of 1,208,268, live in Winnipeg.

The folks I know from Manitoba, love it. Many return there to live, so there has to be something going for it. :-)

Oh yeah, it's really flat!

Because they are the geographic centre they think they're the actual centre. It's cute really (just kidding, Manitobans! :P). One of the things you might want to immerse yourself in, besides just the general history, is the local slang. Stuff like booter.

More specifically though, they have the largest Native population and some of their folk heroes include Louis Riel, founder of Manitoba. Whereas in Ontario Riel is not remembered too fondly, in Quebec and Manitoba he's considered a hero.

You might want to look up historical stuff like the Red River Rebellion or the Winnipeg General Strike. I've no idea how helpful they'll be to your story but it helps you get an idea of the local culture when you know its history.

I really have no idea how helpful this will be but these maps here (2011), here (2008), and here (2006) might give you an idea of the current political landscape.

My typical experience with Manitobans is that they look down on Central Canada (Quebec and Ontario). It comes from some resentment that a lot of political power resides in the two most populace provinces.

Anyway, good luck. I'm sure some actual Manitobans will be along to help you with all your questions. If you ever need information on Ontario (north or south) I'm available.

it seems to me being a Canadian that even though you get to the border from Ontario the trees stop cold in a nice straight line LOL. Yes it is flat you can see for miles. it used to be that you could go to all the small towns on your way out west now there are all the bypasses and you see nothing. Just think of coming to a crossroad and looking in all directions and there is nothing all the way to the horizon.Yet if you travel by convertible i suggest you drop the top on a clear night and stare at the BIG SKY you see.i can remember going toward Winnipeg and seeing it in the distance yet you just don't get there. now there's a ring road that goes around it and it slips by without stopping. i am sure its built up now as its been a few years since i was out that way but if you can take a trip drive across Canada on a motorcycle you will not believe what you see or where you can go . oh and transport trucks are not the biggest things on the roads out there farm Tractors are. they disc seed fertile and cover the crops all in one shot oh to know the size the roads are 22 feet wide and the tractors are 35 feet wide LOL.So if your out and aboot we love to have ya as guests. just watch out for the moose,deer,bears,wolves,prariedogs and big carnivorous jack rabbits. Ok my rant its done as it doesn't make any sense and such so much for being cooped up in a small apartment.

rues