MY WPG is a series introducing you to Winnipeggers who share our passion for supporting local, spreading positivity and celebrating the city we call home.
In the latest edition, we catch up with community advocate Emma Durand-Wood. In addition to her work as a freelance writer and editor and her extensive volunteerism in the Glenelm neighbourhood (from leading the re-establishment of the Glenelm Neighbourhood Association and serving as vice-chair of the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation to helping to develop the Elmwood Business Coalition and collaborating as one of the original co-founders of both Safe Speeds Winnipeg and the Trees Please Winnipeg Coalition), she's currently running for city councillor in the upcoming Elmwood East-Kildonan byelection, which will be held on Oct. 25.
My story. I was born in BC, and grew up a pretty shy kid in southern Alberta. My extended family was almost all here in Winnipeg, so I grew up road-tripping to Manitoba almost every summer. I always thought I might move here some day; it just felt like somewhere I was supposed to be.
I got my Library & Information Technology diploma at SAIT in Calgary, then worked in the legal field in Vancouver for five years. I loved Vancouver, but I knew I'd never be able to afford to buy a home there, so I started thinking about my next adventure.
I chose Winnipeg because a very good friend of mine had recently settled here, I had family here, and it seemed affordable. I lined up a new job, hopped on a plane, and the rest of the pieces just sort of fell into place. I started dating my future husband and set out to embrace my "chosen hometown," even writing a blog about the experience of moving to Winnipeg! Everything about Winnipeg was delightful and quaint and wholesome to me... for the first few years.
Then, reality set in :)
Eventually I realized that Winnipeg has similar challenges to most places, but we have the most passionate, interesting, loyal people here, and that's what really makes this city so special. I started getting to know many of these folks when I helped to set up a neighbourhood association here in Glenelm. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was involved with lots of different grassroots groups, trying to make our neighbourhoods and our city a better place. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine myself running for office, but I had so many neighbours, friends and fellow advocates ask me to run, and say they wanted to support me to run a campaign... so here I am!
My hood. I live in Glenelm, the western-most part of Elmwood, between the Red River and Henderson Highway.
My go-to takeout. Mango salad from Watt Street Bistro.
My ideal date night. A double-date bike ride to Nonsuch or Kilter.
My guiltiest of guilty pleasures. Unhurried browsing for nothing in particular at Winners or Marshalls.
My favourite local patio. Langside Grocery.
My favourite local coffee shop. Modern Coffee on Main.
My favourite local brunch spot. Lately, it's JC's Tacos - they have a Salvadoran breakfast menu and the chilaquiles (with the amazing house-made green hot sauce) is my favourite dish!
My favourite local event or festival. Elmwood Night Market or Alleyways (tie!).
My best-kept secret about Winnipeg. Elmwood Cemetery is one of the most beautiful places in town. It might seem weird to suggest a stroll through a cemetery, but this one is so lushly treed, with wide paved paths that are cleared all winter. It's such a peaceful, special place to take a walk or a chill bike ride.
My ideal day off. It probably doesn't sound all that exciting, but with three kids and an election campaign keeping me very busy, what sounds like absolute heaven to me is a day to sleep in, putter around the house listening to podcasts, then go to the movies and eat popcorn for dinner!
My favourite local band/musician. Faouzia.
My favourite splurge. Thermea. There's nothing like it, and it's a different and awesome experience every season.
My favourite place to take out-of-towners. The Grant Park location of McNally Robinson. Large, independent bookstores are a rare thing these days, and McNally has something for everyone!
Best bang for my buck. Kildonan MCC Thrift Store.
One place I can't walk into without buying something. Forks Trading Company.
My favourite day trip/weekend away. Pineridge Hollow.
One thing I want everyone to know about Winnipeg. One of the most endearing things about Winnipeg is that it has this "big small town" feel. But at the same time, because we actually are a big city, we also get the good things that come from sharing a place with a huge group of people and all their diverse interests and passions!
It drives me crazy to hear comments about Winnipeg being boring or dead, because it couldn't be further from the truth... there's always so much cool stuff going on. Whatever you're into, there's probably a community or a group or an event for you to check out or get involved in, on any given day of the week.
I feel like we get the best of both worlds here: layers and layers of small-town-esque connections, and also the rich, something-for-everyone culture of a big city.
