first IKEA and Target stores,
and H&M’s announcement
to open later this year.
“When I was first elected
in 2004, the two questions I
was asked most often were
these: When are
you
bring-
ing the Jets back to Winni-
peg? And when are
you
get-
ting us an IKEA?” laughs
Mayor Katz. “The arrival of
these higher-profile inter-
national retailers reflects a
confidence in Winnipeg’s
economy. When you make
those kinds of investments,
you have an abiding faith
in our economy. We’ve got
tremendous potential, and
I’m confident we’ll continue
to attract new investments
within this sector.” Retail
sales in Winnipeg have out-
paced the national average
recently, and the city is a
popular shopping destina-
tion for those living in bor-
dering provinces.
Winnipeg is set to make a
splash in 2014, signalling
a promising future for the
flourishing city. “By all ac-
counts, this will be an excit-
ing year for Winnipeg. Our
skyline is changing, thanks to
several new downtown devel-
opments, and we’re intensely
focused on revitalization and
development,” says Mayor
Katz. “We prefer to grow up
and not out and, for the first
time in 25 years, we are see-
FEBRUARY 2014
H
business elite canada
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