What is it about Wolseley?

Fort Garry

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/08/2024 (489 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After living in several other neighbourhoods before returning to Wolseley in April I’ve really come to appreciate the time and effort that many residents invest in beautifying the area. I love that so many people here put heart and soul into creating beauty not only for themselves but for all to enjoy. Creative little gardens and displays are everywhere. An invitation to stop, slow the pace and take it all in.

Yards and streets and boulevards are decorated with lush plants, flowers, and benches for resting— everything so vibrant and full of life and colour.

Sure, other neighbourhoods show great creativity, but there’s something uniquely artsy about Wolseley.

It’s a little rougher than it was over a decade ago when I last lived here, but the strong sense of community remains. It’s gratifying to know it still exists in a city that doesn’t always come with the best reputation. Just a few weeks ago the police swarmed neighbouring properties on foot, by car and air, eventually arresting two suspects just a few doors down, but overall it’s peaceful and quiet.

I look forward to my walks to De Luca’s to pick up stuffed grape leaves and gluten-free gnocchi, and to Organic Planet for vegan goodies from the deli.

I could easily write an extensive list of reasons to love Wolseley but instead I asked some friends who’ve lived here a long time for their own.

“Neighbours meet on the street and chat,” said Nancy. “They connect even if it’s just with a quick wave or a smile. It’s like a nature break right in the middle of the city. I’ve seen deer, fox, beavers, coyotes, heron, eagles, owls, rabbits and skunks. On the little footbridge in the park, it’s calming to stand and watch Omand’s Creek flow into the river,” she said, adding that, upon returning from elsewhere, she can feel the energy shift. “The calmness is palpable.”

Kevin said it’s the neighbourliness:

“Our street has a Facebook page. People post when they have leftover gravel or if their cat is missing.”

He told me about an incident when his wife realized her phone was missing after returning from a wool shop errand. They retraced her steps but still nothing. “I posted a plea on the Facebook page, and within minutes someone posted that they had turned a phone into the juice bar beside the wool shop. Voila! (By the way, how many suburban or exurban neighbourhoods have both a wool shop and a juice bar within walking distance?)”

Pat said her 32-plus years in Wolseley is the longest she has lived in one place.

“I feel quite comfortable in this neighbourhood. The people are very friendly, easy to say hello to whether you know them or not. In the summer I appreciate the greenery of the area. It actually gives me a cottage vibe when I sit in my veranda. I have the privilege of having great neighbours close by.”

Wolseley has been home for Amanda since 1994.

“I felt, for the first time in my adult life, that I had moved into a neighbourhood where people saw each other and talked to each other,” she said. “Since then, I have put down roots here – both figuratively and also literally with my front-yard gardens. I like nothing more than chatting with passersby who appreciate the blooms of my flowers.”

It’s diverse, charming, centrally located and home again for me and my little family.