• Manitoba Museum: The province’s largest attraction features nine interpretive galleries tracing Manitoba’s natural and human history, a planetarium and science gallery.
• Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site: Restored heritage buildings and extensive grounds along the Red River, with costumed interpreters, a blacksmith’s shop, native encampment, fur loft and Governor’s residence. Near Selkirk.
• Mennonite Heritage Village: Interpretive displays of craftspeople at work, authentic Mennonite dishes, and theatre presentations. Pioneer Days is celebrated each August. Steinbach.
• The Royal Canadian Mint: Take a tour of the Winnipeg plant and see how Canada’s circulation coinage – as well as coins from more than 60 other countries – is made.
• The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum: Dedicated to those who trained under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan from 1939 to 1945. Brandon.
• Winnipeg Art Gallery: Western Canada’s oldest public gallery is home to the world’s largest collection of contemporary Inuit art.
Events
• Le Festival du Voyageur (February), Winnipeg
• Manitoba Highland Gathering (July), Selkirk.
• Winnipeg Folk Festival (July)
• Folklorama (August), Winnipeg.
• Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival (August), Dauphin.
Places
• Assiniboine Park: This 62-hectare park contains several Winnipeg attractions – including a zoo, conservatory, English gardens and the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden – plus picnic areas and trails for walking, cycling and cross-country skiing.
• Churchill: The “Polar Bear Capital of the World” is the only human settlement where polar bears can be observed in the wild, in October & November. Summer brings 3,000 beluga whales to the water of the Churchill River mouth.
• Hecla Provincial Park: Comprised of a series of islands between the east and west shores of Lake Winnipeg, approximately 165 kilometres north of Winnipeg, this year-round natural playground offers several hiking and cross-country ski trails, as well as a championship 18-hole golf course, a resort and conference centre, cabins and a campground.
What’s New
• Fairmont Winnipeg Renovation: Phase Two of the hotel’s multi-million dollar renovation is complete. Floors 11 through 17 now feature a new upscale décor and feel, while Fairmont Gold, the “distinctive hotel within a hotel for discerning travellers” is open on floors 18 and 19 and features a private lounge, executive boardroom, complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, cocktail hour canapés and dedicated concierge service. Also recently renovated are The Lobby, Velvet Glove, Lounge at the Fairmont and Health and Fitness Centre.
Fast Facts
Provincial Motto: Glorious and Free
Provincial Flower: Crocus
Provincial Bird: Great Gray Owl
Geography: Comparatively level, Manitoba generally ranges from 150 metres to 300 metres above sea level. Agricultural land lies in a triangle, bordering Saskatchewan and the U.S., cutting diagonally across Lake Winnipeg. The northern three-fifths of Manitoba is Precambrian Shield. In northernmost Manitoba lies tundra and permafrost.
Climate: Warm, sunny summers and cold bright winters characterize Manitoba’s climate. Afternoon temperatures in July and August average 25 C, while midwinter daytime readings almost always remain well below freezing. More than half of the annual precipitation falls in the summer months in the form of brief heavy showers. Most of southern Manitoba receives 110-140 cm of snow annually, with the heaviest snowfalls occurring in the northeast.
Scheduled Air Service: Air Canada, Calm Air, Perimeter Airlines, WestJet
Contact: Travel Manitoba 1-800-665-0040 www.travelmanitoba.com