The joy of walking in nature

Charleswood

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/02/2025 (285 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I love walking.

There’s nothing like getting out of the house, moving my body, refreshing my mind and spirit, and filling my senses with the sounds and sights of nature. It’s also a favourite way for my husband and I to stay connected. Somehow, it’s so much easier to talk when you’re walking.

I’m a farm girl who moved to Winnipeg from Saskatchewan in 2000. After a brief stint in Fort Rouge, we moved to West Kildonan for a few years and then spent a good chunk of time in the North End, where we essentially raised our kids. Even there, we found a good walking route by heading across the river and down a quiet street.

In 2020, we were given the opportunity by generous friends to move to a suburb in the northeast corner of Winnipeg. What a gift it was in those crazy days to have walking trails, a lake and a park nearby.

This past year, we got to enjoy a sabbatical from the city, renting a spacious bungalow surrounded by evergreens and backing onto the Seine River near Lorette, Man. Walking on that little frozen creek in winter with snowy trees on either side was magical. Even walking the gravel road in summer was a delight, especially in the early morning or at sunset.

When it was time to move back to the city, a big concern of mine was finding a place where we could walk in nature. I had realized over the past four years, especially, how important it was to my wellbeing and our marriage.

The prospects seemed dismal as we looked at houses in our price range. I was starting to drop my ideals and just accept whatever we could find and make the best of it. And then my husband came across a property in Charleswood that needed a lot of love. I was totally against it. Which was a sign that this was likely the one (I always seem to at first resist the houses we move to).

It was the one. And after a lengthy process with many obstacles to overcome, we purchased our house in November, moved in December and are still settling in and doing renovations as I write.

I am amazed and grateful that we get to live here. It truly feels like a miracle. My prayers for a walkable neighbourhood have been answered above and beyond what I dreamed. Besides the quiet residential streets, there are walking paths and forest just west of us, the Assiniboine River to the north, Harte Trail to the south, and Assiniboine Park and Forest to the east. I want to get a map and mark all the places I explore/

I look forward to many happy hours walking in my new neighbourhood, meeting the deer and all the lovely people here. If you have more suggestions for where to walk in Charleswood, please let me know.