St. James-Assiniboia

"St. James-Assiniboia" refers to the community area defined by the 2016 Canadian census, "St. James," on the other hand, is the electoral ward used by the Winnipeg City Council for local governing purposes. The 2018–2022 councillor for the St. James Ward is Scott Gillingham. • contrast to St. James-Assiniboia, the St. James ward includes the neighbourhoods of Polo Park and West Wolseley, St. James-Assiniboia area Located in the western section of Winnipeg, it is bounded on the north by the Rural Municipality of Rosser and the Canadian National Railway's Oak Point line, on the south by the Assiniboine River, on the west by the Rural Municipality of Headingley, and on the east by the Canadian Pacific Railway's La Riviere line.Commence at Sturgeon Road and Portage Avenue; Westward on Portage Ave to the Perimeter Highway; Northward on Perimeter Hwy to city limit (Perimeter Hwy and Saskatchewan Ave); Northward, following along the city limit to Brookside Boulevard; Northward on Brookside to north limit of Lot Z21 Plan 34260; Southward on North Limit of Lot Z21 Plan 34260 to Notre Dame Avenue; Eastward on Notre Dame Ave to Lariviere; Southward on CPR Lariviere to the Assiniboine River; Westward on the Assiniboine River to west limit of Lot 30 Plan 20337; Northward on the west limit of Lot 30 Plan 20337 to the north limit of Lot 30 Plan 20337; Eastward on the northwest limit of Lot 30 Plan 20337 to Harris Boulevard; Northward on Harris Blvd to south limit of Lot 1 Block 1 Plan 599; Westward on south limit of Lot 1 Block 1 Plan 5996 and its easterly extension to the west limit of Lot 6; Block 1 Plan 5996; North on the west limit of Lot 6 Block 1 Plan 5996 and its northerly extension to the point of commencement. ==History==

Historically, the area was a farming community along the north bank of the Assiniboine River populated by an Anglo-Métis, or mixed Scottish/English and Indigenous population, compared to the French-speaking Métis people who settled further upriver at St. François Xavier, Manitoba and along the east banks of the Assiniboine River. Before the province of Manitoba was created in 1870, Assiniboia—named after the river that runs by it, itself named for the Assiniboine First Nation—was governed by the Council of Assiniboia (1835–1870). Following the creation of Manitoba, the area of the Parish of St. James was administered by the provincial government; municipal incorporation soon followed. This new municipality encompassed the former parishes of St. James, Headingley, St. Charles, and part of St. Boniface. The development of these communities as residential suburbs of Winnipeg began in the early 20th century and was greatly enhanced by the extension of streetcar service to Deer Lodge in 1903, the opening of Assiniboine Park in 1904 and its location along Portage Avenue, and proximity to downtown Winnipeg. In 1921, the RM of Assiniboia was partitioned, wherein it maintained its rural parts while its more urban area was incorporated as the Rural Municipality of St. James. The area grew rapidly from 1945 to 1970 with the construction of the Silver Heights and Birchwood subdivisions in the 1940s and 1950s, and Westwood, Crestview, and St. Charles in the 1960s. In 1956, the RM of St. James became the City of St. James. The first council for the new City of St. James-Assiniboia met on 7 January 1969, with Alfred William Hanks as mayor. However, by the 2011 census, it had increased to 61,764. The City of Winnipeg Archives holds the St. James-Assiniboia Fonds, which includes by-laws and minutes. Former reeves and mayors Prior to the amalgamation of Winnipeg in 1971/1972, the St. James-Assiniboia area was its own municipality (City of St. James-Assiniboia), preceded by other smaller municipalities, all of which had their own reeves (for rural municipalities) or mayors (for cities). == Demographics ==

St. James-Assiniboia is primarily residential and is mainly a middle-class area but there are poorer pockets in the eastern part of St. James, and wealthier areas near the St. Charles Country Club, and along the Assiniboine River. Historically, the area was a farming community along the north bank of the Assiniboine River populated by an Anglo-Métis, or mixed Scottish/English and aboriginal population, compared to the French-speaking Métis people who settled further upriver at St. François Xavier, Manitoba, and along the east banks of the Assiniboine River. ==Notable people==

• Bob Brown, Wrestler • Brent Fitz, Musician • Bif Naked, Singer • Maurice Smith, sports editor of the Winnipeg Free Press • Harry Taylor, Professional hockey player ==Sports, recreation, and leisure==

There is some industrial development in the Murray Industrial Park in the north central part of the neighbourhood and near the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, which is located in St. James. There is substantial commercial development along Portage Avenue, the area's main thoroughfare, and near the western edge of the community near the Perimeter Highway, where the Unicity Shopping Mall once stood. Junior hockey teams * refers to championships won while playing in St. James St. James Civic Centre The St. James Civic Centre is a public recreation complex that serves the western part of Winnipeg. The complex, which was built in 1967, features an indoor ice hockey arena, swimming pool, and auditorium, and is owned and operated by the City of Winnipeg. It is home to the St. James Canucks of the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League and previously home to the St. James Canadians and Winnipeg Saints of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. ==See also==