Well, the mystery deepens! Why DID a British children's poet write such a fitting poem about Winnipeg? ...Just arrived in Winnipeg from home in Montreal for the holidays and I will go searching for that Fred Penner album ...but maybe not today. Today I'll just appreciate that in Winnipeg, many great things haven't changed from Fyleman's time....like...

In Winnipeg at Christmas they line the streets with trees-
Christmas trees lit up at night
With little balls of coloured light
As pretty as you please.

Merry Christmas! ...PS in my case, this search all started because I was (mis)quoting the poem to my 11-year-old son as we walked up McGill College Avenue in Montreal after a recent snowfall. Montreal is absolutely gorgeous at Christmas and may well rival Winnipeg :)