Issue link: http://tourismwpg.uberflip.com/i/994031
4 I am delighted to support Economic Development's application for certification with the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA). Winnipeg is a growing and thriving city, with world-class attractions and events. Our city is home to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Journey to Churchill exhibit at Assiniboine Park Zoo, and The Forks – to name but a few locations that attract thousands of visitors. From every angle, Winnipeg has much to be proud of and a lot to brag about. Our city also boasts a wide array of venues to host festivals and events of any size – from our newly expanded RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg, to our 40,000-capacity Investors Group Field, to our world-class hotels ranging from large branded properties to smaller, boutique venues, and countless more. With a combination of indoor and outdoor settings, Winnipeg is ready to host festivals and events of any size, twelve months of the year. We are well-known throughout North America for our festivals, which are as diverse as our population. From Folklorama, the world's longest-running multicultural celebration, to the Festival du Voyageur, a winter celebration of French-Canadian heritage – Winnipeg offers dozens of opportunities to celebrate arts, culture, and community. Just this year, the city's downtown has been the go-to space during the National Hockey League playoffs, as we cheered on our Winnipeg Jets hockey team with an outdoor street party that attracted as many as 21,000 fans at one time. My office, and all municipal departments, are active supporters of Winnipeg's hosted festivals and events. Through OurWinnipeg, the City's long-term development plan, the City of Winnipeg has developed a 25-year vision on how to best enable city services to welcome events of all shapes and sizes. For the first time in its history, Winnipeg's population has reached 750,000, and our population is projected to grow steadily and strongly well into the future. As our city grows, our emphasis continues to be on ensuring Winnipeg is an inclusive, welcoming destination whose economic and cultural diversity are leveraged as strengths as we build a city full of opportunities to live, play, invest, and build a career. I certainly look forward to furthering our city's relationship with you as an IFEA-certified city, and will continue to build our pride, reputation, and legacy for world-class festivals and events. Warm regards, Brian Bowman Mayor, the City of Winnipeg LETTER FROM THE MAYOR