Winnipeg has been plagued by many floods with the worst being in 1950.

The Great Flood of 1950, the worst in 100 years, prompted definitive action.

It was estimated that another flood of the 1950 magnitude would cost the city $114 million 1958 dollars.

Premier Duff Roblin succeeded in convincing the city to build a floodway around the city to protect it's low lying areas.

The floodway is lovingly called "Duff's Ditch".

100 million cubic yards of earth was moved to build the 47 kilometer floodway, more than what was moved for the Panama Canal.

In 1968 the floodway was in operation, and has been instrumental in saving the city on many occasions.