Here we are in 2013. As we turned the pages of our calendars, who among us didn’t pause to reflect on the year gone by?

Even here in our cozy corner of the world, we are not immune to the effects of time or events. 2012 will be remembered, in part, as a year of tragedy and loss; our hearts go out to families near and far, and we fondly remember cherished neighbours who have moved on or have moved away.  

We also celebrate the good that came of 2012, and we extend a hand of welcome to newcomers, since it was a year of adventure and new beginnings for many among us.

There are many new spaces and new faces in Westwood thanks to new buildings and new businesses.

We welcome the residents of the apartments at 455 Westwood Dr., as well as staff and customers of several new stores, including 7-Eleven, Little Caesars and Burrito Splendido. This year will bring even more, with the anticipated opening of a Five Guys Burgers and Fries in the mall at 3380 Portage Ave., and a Vita Health Fresh Market in the former Rogers location at 3500 Portage. Five Guys is an acclaimed U.S. burger franchise with two other Winnipeg outlets while Westwood Vita Health will be the sixth location for the family-owned Winnipeg business.
It’s hard not to notice that our very landscape is changing too: the ongoing renovation of the Sturgeon Creek bridge; the construction of three credit unions on the north side of Portage; the clearing and transformation of the house/lot next to Westwood Collegiate; improvements at the Centennial Pool.

And there are still more developments on the horizon — City of Winnipeg sources confirm that two under-utilized segments of Portage Avenue commercial space have new owners. WRE Development Ltd., the company responsible for the apartments on Westwood Drive, has purchased the Car World site, while an as-yet-unknown entity has bought the empty lot at the corner of Portage Avenue and Sturgeon Road.

Sharon Pfeifer is a community correspondent for Westwood. You can contact her at sdrinteractive@shaw.ca.