MELODY ROGAN
There’s been a lot of construction in Radisson and the surrounding area in the decade correspondent Melody Rogan has lived there.
December 2019 marked my 10th year living in Transcona, and my how things have changed here in the past decade! I had never spent much time in this area of the city prior to moving here, but soon learned all about what it had to offer.
Technically, the area I’m in is often referred to as Radisson (tucked behind Kildonan Place Shopping Centre), and 10 years ago, it was sort of a unique slice of country life in the city that won me over. Large lots surrounded by forests and grassy areas, non-stop wildlife sightings, and a sleepy secluded feel despite its close proximity to a bunch of very busy city streets were attractive features.
Over the years, development has changed the landscape. Condo and apartment buildings sprang up, entirely new communities took shape, and suddenly people were taking notice of a part of Winnipeg that hadn’t been seeing much interest. New and improved streets were constructed, and with the influx of new residents, it seemed that businesses were starting to eye commercial opportunities in the area.
In the past several years, Radisson (or West Transcona, or whatever you’d like to call it) has gained a new library, new retail developments, and new dining options, and things don’t look to be slowing down anytime soon.
Renovations at Kildonan Place have brought in new retail tenants and will also result in a new larger movie theatre space and food court area. Development at Park City Commons at the corner of Plessis Road and Transcona Boulevard is well underway, with multi-family buildings and commercial spaces already completed, and more to come.
On a smaller scale, neighbours along my street have slowly been changing as older residents move out and younger families move in. There is far more foot traffic in and around the neighbourhood than there ever was before, mostly thanks to newly added active transportation paths that are a significant improvement from the partial sidewalks and grass boulevards that used to be the only options.
The area has also seen some changes in political representation, with longtime city councillor Russ Wyatt being replaced by Shawn Nason in 2018, and James Teitsma taking over from longtime MLA Bidhu Jha in 2016, for example.
Transcona continues to surprise me and I look forward to seeing what’s next for the neighbourhood, both in the near future and in the next decade I spend here.
Melody Rogan is a community correspondent for Radisson. You can email her at preeneditorial@gmail.com
Melody Rogan
Community Correspondent - Radisson
Melody Rogan is a community correspondent for Radisson. You can email her at preeneditorial@gmail.com