Winnipeg is a city with a population of approximately 750,000 people located in the geographical center of Canada. The Winnipeg airport is James Richardson International Airport (YWG). Most international flights enter Canada through Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal. Winnipeg is approximately 2 hrs 40 minutes flying time from Vancouver and Toronto and approximately 3 hrs flying time from Montreal. Domestic flights within Canada can be arranged through either Air Canada or Westjet, both with numerous connecting flights daily.

Canadian Currency is the Canadian Dollar. Its value fluctuates mildly. At the time of this posting it was trading at 1.016 $CD /$ US. One dollar ($) equals 100 cents (₵).

Canadian domestic electrical service operates at 120V at 60 cycles.

Canada uses the standard North American non-grounded socket.

Winnipeg is in the geographical center of North America at 50 degrees of latitude. The city experiences a continental climate and at this latitude, this means very warm summers and very cold winters. It is not unusual for temperatures to reach the mid-thirties in the summer and to approach – 35 degrees C in the middle of winter.

The ISSF will be happening during the first week of May. This part of the year is considered to be early spring. The weather can be quite variable with average daytime high temperatures around 15 degrees C. Historical weather data show significant variations in both directions from this average. 

Because of the distance North from the equator, there are significant seasonal differences in daylight hours from summer to winter. During the week of the ISSF, the sun will rise at approximately 6:00 am and set at 20:45 – almost 15 hrs of daylight. On the longest day of the year (June 22) there are 16.5 hours of daylight and on the shortest day (December 22) there are only 7.5 hours where the sun is up.

Many of our guests at the 8th ISSF are coming from climates that are warm year round. As the weather may be on the cool side, it is best to come prepared. The various buildings being used by the fair are quite close together, so not much time need be spent outside if the weather is unpleasant, however, a few tips on how to dress for the weather in a cooler climate mght be helpful:

1.       Always dress in layers. Several thin layers are warmer than one heavy layer. You can always remove or add on layers as you need and therefore you can better regulate your core body temperature.

2.       You can lose a lot of body heat through your head so it is important to wear a hat and one that can cover your ears if needed.

3.       Wearing a scarf around your neck will provide a level of comfort. A lot of heat can be lost from your neck area.

4.      When the weather is chilly, wearing mittens and socks will protect your hands and feet from the cold. You are more likely to feel cold if your hands and feet are cold.