Site Accessibility Information Access Key 1 to Skip to Top Navigation Access Key 2 to Skip to the Three One One link Access Key 3 to Skip to City of Winnipeg Main Menu Access Key 4 to Skip to Left Navigation Menu Access Key 5 to Skip to Content area Access Key 6 to Skip to Right Sidebar content area Access Key 7 to Skip to Footer Links
Search History of Winnipeg:
Pathways to Winnipeg history
PastForward: Winnipeg's digital history
History of Winnipeg

About the Flood

The courage and determination of Winnipeg residents during and after the Flood of the Century will not be forgotten, nor will the memories and stories.


Thank you volunteers sign is displayed in a front yard

It had been a long, cold winter. April was finally here. The snow was melting and the weather was warming up.

Then the Blizzard of the Century hit.

Flood forecasters predicted another spring of high river levels. In 1996, the Red River had peaked at 19.4' James Avenue datum and the City had succeeded in protecting every Winnipeg home. We could do it again.

But then there were those unforgettable scenes of downtown Grand Forks, with its flooded streets and fire-ravaged buildings. No one had ever seen a flood of this magnitude. What would happen in Winnipeg? We had the Floodway for diverting floodwaters from the South…but would it be up to the massive task. By working hard, we could ensure that Winnipeg was as well-prepared as possible. The rest was up to Mother Nature.

This Special Section looks back at the "Flood of the Century", the tremendous efforts of all City of Winnipeg employees and the incredible teamwork that protected our city. We all played an important role - either by continuing to provide City services or by working on flood-related activities.




Chronology of Flood Events

A chronology of events from when the first flood forecast was issued on February 26 until the last evacuees and the military personnel returned home in late June, 1997.

Flood Scenes - 1997

A pictorial view of the flood of 1997.

Flood Scenes - 1950

A pictorial view of the flood of 1950.

1997 Flood Facts

Facts from the number of sandbags produced to the number of people evacuated from their homes during the 1997 flood.

Going Home

As big a job as it is to evacuate a neighbourhood over a 24 hour period, sending people back to their homes and businesses is a far more complicated task, as the City's Flood Re-entry Team discovered.

Reflections

City employees reflect upon the Flood of the Century.

James Ave Datum

James Avenue Datum is a reference or scale used to measure elevations within the city of Winnipeg.

Last update: June 6, 2022

Was this information helpful?

How can we make this web page better?

Information collected will be used to improve our website. Do not use this form to submit a request for service or information because it will not be forwarded to departments for response. To submit a request for service or information, contact 311.

This form is not intended to collect personal information; however, any personal information you choose to include in your comments is collected by the City of Winnipeg under the authority of section 36(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of improving our website and will not be used or disclosed for any other purposes, except as authorized by law. Contact the Corporate Access and Privacy Officer by mail (City Clerk’s Department, Susan A. Thompson Building, 510 Main Street, Winnipeg MB, R3B 1B9) or by telephone (311) if you have any questions about the collection of this information.

Ces renseignements sont-ils utiles?

Comment pourrait-on améliorer cette page Web?

Les renseignements recueillis serviront à l’amélioration de notre site Web. Prière de ne pas se servir de ce formulaire pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, car la demande ne sera pas transmise au service en question. Pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec le 311.

Le présent formulaire ne vise pas à recueillir des renseignements personnels. Cependant, les renseignements personnels que vous choisissez d’inclure dans vos commentaires sont recueillis par la Ville de Winnipeg en conformité avec l’alinéa 36(1)b) de la Loi sur l’accès à l’information et la protection de la vie privée dans le but d’améliorer son site Web et ne seront ni utilisés ni divulgués pour d’autres raisons, sauf dans les cas où cela est autorisé par la loi. Communiquez avec l’agent de l’accès à l’information et de la protection de la vie privée de la Ville par courrier au Bureau du greffier, immeuble Susan-A.-Thompson, 510, rue Main, Winnipeg (Manitoba) R3B 1B9, ou par téléphone au 311 si vous avez des questions sur la collecte de ces renseignements.