Media in Winnipeg

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 Five things to do when you haven’t got a lot of time in Winnipeg

1. HISTORY

Get the lay of the land at The Forks – located at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers and a National Historic Site of Canada. Spend some time leisurely exploring The Forks site. Here, you can learn about the native Aboriginal tribes who traded here over 6,000 years ago, take a self-guided heritage tour, or visit the “Wall Through Time” and the Oodena Celebration Circle, where you can stand on the same ground Aboriginal people did 3,000 years ago. Take a guided tour and learn more about the history of the site. Shop at some of the nifty, one-of-a-kind shops. Have lunch at one of the award-winning restaurants on the site, such as Sydney’s at the Forks or The Current. The Forks is one of the top 10 archaeological sites in North America and was the winner of 2007’s Society of American Travel Writer’s Phoenix Award – an award that recognizes accomplishments in conservation, preservation, beautification and anti-pollution as they relate to travel.

2. CULTURE

Cross the Esplanade Riel Pedestrian Bridge into Winnipeg’s French Quarter and see one of the oldest areas in the city. (Winnipeg has one of the largest communities of French Canadians west of the Great Lakes.) See the burnt-out remains of the St. Boniface Cathedral-Basilica, which creates an impressive façade and seems to stand guard over the area. Visit Le Musée de Saint-Boniface/St. Boniface Museum, the oldest oak log structure in North America and Winnipeg’s oldest building. The museum depicts the lives of the French and Métis people and houses the largest collection of Louis Riel artifacts in the country.

3. HERITAGE

Make your way to the Manitoba Museum, located in the east Exchange District, which has been given the Michelin Green Guide’s top rating. Here you can experience many interpretive galleries, including the Parklands/Mixed Woods Gallery, where you can explore the murky bat cave. Visit a sunny Ukrainian farm; stand on the deck of the Nonsuch, a life-sized 17th century ship that had the gallery built around it after its arrival in the city; or stroll along a 1920s boardwalk and catch the latest Charlie Chaplin movie at the playhouse.

4. ARCHITECTURE

Walk to the Exchange District – an architecturally-distinct area that is a designated National Historic Site and is the original centre of commerce and the arts in Winnipeg. It is known for its collection of turn-of-the-last-century architecture, reputed to be unrivalled in North America. It’s what helped give Winnipeg its nickname “Chicago of the North” at the end of the 19th century. The Exchange has been used in movies such as Shall We Dance? with Jennifer Lopez, Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon and The Assassination of Jesse James with Brad Pitt. It’s recently been re-discovered and is now an emerging area where you can go antiquing, buy crafts from local artisans, explore hip shops and discover numerous art galleries. Some of the city’s best Modernist architecture can also be found here. This area is a great place to roam. Guided walking tours are available.

5. THE ARTS

Head to the Winnipeg Art Gallery – an architectural gem in its own right. This gallery houses the world’s largest collection of contemporary Inuit art and has interesting exhibitions throughout the year. The WAG has a fantastic boutique and gift shop where you can find unique gifts and artwork to take home. Please note that the WAG is closed on Mondays.