The Forks

What The Forks does

The Forks is a not-for-profit public gathering destination located at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It operates as a mixed-use venue combining a food hall (The Forks Market), beverage venue (The Common with 20 craft beers and 20 wines on tap), boutique retail (Johnston Terminal), attractions (The Plaza skatepark, Market Tower, Historic Port, Winter Park, Nestaweya River Trail, public art collection), and event spaces (CN Stage, Event Space, Oodena Celebration Circle, pop-ups). The site hosts over 4 million visitors annually and 275+ third-party events, pop-ups, and activations per year. It is governed by the Forks North Portage Partnership under tri-government ownership (Federal, Provincial, City of Winnipeg) and is operationally self-sufficient without government operational funding.

The Forks generates revenue through five primary streams: commercial tenant rentals in The Forks Market and Johnston Terminal; venue and space rentals for events; parking operations across multiple parkades and surface lots under FNP Parking; long-term leases on lands and buildings including the Inn at The Forks hotel, senior residences, and office complexes; and donations/sponsorship through The Forks Foundation. Distribution is predominantly physical/walk-in traffic with secondary channels including online ordering for food vendors, venue booking systems, and parking. GTM is hybrid: event-driven through signature programming (Canada Day, New Year's, Louis Riel Day, Learn to Winter) and direct-to-consumer through the website, Instagram (@TheForksWinnipeg), the 'Friends of The Forks' newsletter, and walk-in traffic.

The Forks serves three primary customer segments: general public visitors (long-tail consumers for dining, shopping, recreation, and culture), event organizers (corporate events, festivals, private celebrations booking venues), and commercial tenants (food/retail/service providers). Partner attractions on-site include the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Children's Museum, and Manitoba Theatre for Young People. Active expansion projects include Railside community development, Alexander Docks and Historic Rail Bridge capital campaigns, the Go to the Waterfront 20-year vision, and a 2026 Indigenous Advisory Circle formalizing reconciliation governance. No proprietary technology platform or AI capability is described.

Name

The Forks

Legal name

Forks North Portage Corporation

Website

https://theforks.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Forks operates a public market, food hall, attractions, and event venues at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine rivers in Winnipeg, serving over 4 million annual visitors through its facilities and partner cultural institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tourism and Hospitality Destination

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410), Amusement and Theme Parks (71311), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food, Drink & Culinary Community Festivals (Community-Led) (MPAGAEAF), Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings (THAJAGAE)

Keywords

• Public market destination
• Food hall operations
• Event venue rentals
• Tourism attractions
• Heritage public space

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Commercial Tenant Rentals: Revenue from retail and food & beverage vendors operating within The Forks Market and Johnston Terminal buildings. Vendors include restaurants, specialty retail, and service providers.
2. Venue and Space Rentals: Revenue from renting event spaces including CN Stage and Field, Event Space (second floor of The Forks Market), Oodena Celebration Circle, Plaza at The Forks Skatepark, and pop-up spaces within The Forks Market.
3. Parking Operations: Revenue from multiple parking facilities including Investors Syndicate parkade, Place Promenade parkade, surface parking at The Forks, and The Forks parkade.
4. Donations and Foundation Support: The Forks Foundation accepts donations to maintain and enhance the site. The Foundation is essential to ensure The Forks remains a vibrant public space.
5. Leased Properties: Revenue from leased lands and buildings including North Portage, hotels (Inn at The Forks), senior residences, office complexes, and cultural institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Forks operates a year-round public destination and marketplace at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers in Winnipeg, offering a food hall (The Forks Market), a craft beer and wine venue (The Common), specialty retail in Johnston Terminal, recreational attractions including Canada's largest urban skate plaza and a 10-kilometer seasonal skating trail, heritage interpretation, and event venue rentals. The site hosts 275+ third-party events annually and welcomes over 4 million visitors per year through free public access combined with paid food, beverage, retail, parking, and venue rental offerings.

Product overview

The Forks is a mixed-use public gathering destination and attraction venue at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine rivers in Winnipeg. The offering consists of The Forks Market (a food hall and retail complex), The Common (beverage venue), Johnston Terminal (boutique shopping), The Plaza at The Forks (skateboard park), the Nestaweya River Trail and Winter Park (seasonal skating facilities), public art installations, heritage sites including the Historic Port and Rail Bridge, and partnerships with nearby attractions including the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Children's Museum, and Manitoba Theatre for Young People. The venue hosts over 4 million visitors annually across its attractions, events, dining, and retail offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Forks Market A vibrant food hall featuring local restaurant offerings on the main floor and local maker and retail options on the second floor, housed in the converted horse stables and haylofts from the railway era. The food hall hosts 20+ restaurants including Habanero Sombrero.
• The Common A beverage venue featuring 20 craft beers and 20 wines on tap, curated by Craft Beer Curator Hailey Tennant and Master of Wine Rhys Pender. Beers range from $8.50-$12 and wines from $13-$20 per glass/bottle. Open daily starting at 11 AM.
• The Plaza at The Forks Canada's best and largest urban skate plaza and bowl complex, attracting prominent skaters such as Tony Hawk and Bam Margera. Currently celebrating 20 years of operation. The plaza also hosts Pihtikwé Skatepark free skateboard lessons throughout summer.
• Johnston Terminal A four-storey building formerly a cold storage railway warehouse, now home to specialty boutiques, stores, offices, café, and restaurant. Open daily 9 AM to 9 PM.
• Nestaweya River Trail A skating, walking, running, and sledding trail presented by The Winnipeg Foundation, reaching up to 10 kilometers and connecting several communities to The Forks.
• Winter Park Seasonal skating facility featuring 1 kilometer of skating trails, shinny games on the CN Stage rink, and the light walk.
• Public Art at The Forks Over 20 pieces of public art including works by Ai Weiwei, Jaimie Isaac, KC Adams, and other local and international artists displayed across the site.
• Tours at The Forks Various guided and self-guided tours including audio tours narrated by Niigaan Sinclair, Indigenous culture tours (Turtle Tours, Treaty Relations Commission tours), human rights museum tours, and river boat tours. Some programming like soapstone carving workshops costs $125.
• The Forks Historic Port A historic port where visitors can arrive by canoe, kayak, or motorboat, docking at the location where York boats and sternwheelers once brought goods during the fur trade era.
• The Forks Market Tower A six-storey high tower with a viewing platform offering dramatic views of the junction of the Assiniboine and Red rivers and Winnipeg's skyline.
• The Forks National Historic Site A 9.0 acre (3.63 hectare) picturesque riverside park operated by Parks Canada, looking across the Red River to historic St. Boniface. Operated as part of The Forks attractions in partnership with Parks Canada.
• Warming Huts: An Art and Architecture Competition on Ice World-class design and art competition featuring huts placed along the River Trail for visitors to enjoy throughout the skating season.
• Event Venue Rentals Venue rental services for multiple spaces including CN Stage and Field, Event Space (second floor of The Forks Market), Oodena Celebration Circle, Plaza at The Forks Skatepark, and pop-up spaces. Bookings require completing an application form for a cost estimate with deposits required and a minimum three-week advance booking. The site hosts over 275 third-party events, pop-ups, and activations annually.
• FNP Parking Parking operations across multiple facilities including Investors Syndicate parkade, Place Promenade parkade, surface parking at The Forks, and The Forks parkade. Hourly and monthly parking available.

Quantifiable outcome

• $235 million annual economic contribution to local economy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, significant, core and minor.

• Indigenous Advisory CirclemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The Forks is seeking Indigenous leaders, knowledge keepers, and community members to join the Indigenous Advisory Circle to guide strategic direction and provide advice to the Board and Senior Leadership team.
• Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries CorporationsignificantGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the new Entertainment Kiosk at The Forks, a multi-use piece of infrastructure located near the lower patio that houses Winnipeg entertainment programming.
• Parks CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates The Forks National Historic Site (9.0 acre/3.63 hectare park). Collaborates on heritage interpretation, including the Canadian Heritage River designation for the Red River and supporting the Heritage Advisory Committee.
• Railside at The ForksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRailside is a community development initiative at The Forks focused on the Railside lands. The initiative is guided by reconciliation principles with deep ties to Indigenous communities, operating from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation water.
• Canadian Museum for Human RightsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at The Forks, the first museum solely dedicated to human rights. Offers virtual and on-site guided and self-guided tours as part of The Forks attraction offerings.
• Manitoba Children's MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at The Forks in the Kinsmen Building, home to twelve permanent galleries. Offers day camps and special events including Motion Mania exhibit running May-September 2026.
• Manitoba Theatre for Young PeoplemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at The Forks, creating and presenting professional theatre for children and families since 1982. Hosts Kids Fringe Festival events at the venue.
• Inn at The ForkssignificantChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe first and only hotel located at The Forks, offering hospitality and accommodation. Partners with Urban Garden for vegetables and herbs integrated into their menu.
• Travel ManitobasignificantGTM or Marketing PartnerVisitor information centre located at The Forks, open 7 days a week. Provides tourism information and promotes The Forks as a destination.
• Pihtikwé SkateparkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Nation-owned skatepark offering free skateboard lessons at The Forks skatepark throughout summer. All ages welcome with equipment provided.
• Turtle TourssignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Nation-owned, Indigenous-led tourism company offering guided tours and experiences helping visitors understand Indigenous history and presence. Located at Explore Indigenous/Turtle Tours space at The Forks.
• Treaty Relations Commission of ManitobasignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the Agowiidiwinan Centre at The Forks, offering balanced understanding of Treaties between First Nations and the Crown. Provides guided and self-guided tours.
• Explore IndigenoussignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative of Indigenous Tourism Manitoba aiming to foster awareness of Indigenous Tourism industry and drive business to Indigenous operators. Hosts programming including soapstone carving workshops.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ponce City Market: Atlanta's Ponce City Market is a historic Sears, Roebuck & Co. building converted into a mixed-use destination with food hall, retail, offices, residential, and rooftop entertainment. Comparable as an indoor-outdoor food/destination venue with multiple on-site attractions.
• Time Out Market: Time Out Market operates curated food hall destinations in Lisbon, Miami, NYC, Boston, Chicago, Montreal, and elsewhere — combining chef-curated kitchens with bars and event programming. Comparable to The Forks' Common/The Forks Market as a curated food & beverage destination with strong event programming.
• Distillery District: Toronto's historic Distillery District is a Victorian-era industrial site repurposed into a pedestrian village of boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and event venues. Direct peer in concept: heritage adaptive-reuse destination with food/retail/event programming on a compact footprint.
• Chelsea Market: Chelsea Market in NYC is a food hall, retail, and office destination housed in the former Nabisco factory, drawing millions of visitors annually. Comparable as an adaptive-reuse food retail destination with strong curated vendor mix and tourist traffic.
• Pike Place Market: Historic public market in Seattle spanning nine acres with hundreds of farmers, fishmongers, craftspeople, and food vendors; signature tourist draw with curated local vendors and community events. Mirrors The Forks' market hall–plus–public–gathering model with curated tenants and strong visitor footfall.
• Granville Island: Granville Island is a public federal property in Vancouver operating as a peninsula destination with a public market, food vendors, artisan retailers, theater, art galleries, and event programming. Closest analog to The Forks: publicly-operated destination market combining food/beverage, retail, attractions, and events.
• Faneuil Hall Marketplace: Historic Boston marketplace comprising Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, and surrounding buildings with shops, food vendors, and street performers. Direct peer to The Forks as a heritage marketplace tourist destination with curated food/retail tenants and event-driven traffic.
• South Street Seaport: Historic waterfront district in Lower Manhattan combining restored 19th-century buildings with shops, restaurants, and a maritime museum. Comparable to The Forks as a historic waterfront destination with food/retail/event tenants and proximity to cultural institutions.
• Harbourfront Centre: Toronto's Harbourfront Centre is a waterfront cultural campus hosting festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, craft markets, and food vendors year-round. Comparable to The Forks as a publicly-trusted waterfront destination combining arts/culture, programming, and food & beverage tenants.

Regional players

• Lonsdale Quay Market: Public market at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver with food vendors, retail, and a community bus exchange. Comparable as a publicly-oriented regional destination market with food stalls and public gathering function, though smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/TheForksWinnipeg
• Facebookfacebook.com/theforks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-forks-north-portage

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Forks