Thompson's Heritage North Museum's tales
of the Indigenous Peoples of the area
(www.thompson.ca/p/heritage-north-
museum); and, in far western Manitoba, the
Inglis Grain Elevators National Historic Site
(www.ingliselevators.com) is the best
remaining example of an "elevator row" in
Canada. Winnipeg's Manitoba Legislative
Building, the Tyndall limestone-clad beaux
arts classical seat of government, opened on
July 15, 1920, on the 50
th
anniversary of
Manitoba's entry into Confederation
(www.gov.mb.ca/chc/hrb/prov/p040.html).
On hold for 2022, architectural historian, Dr.
Frank Albo, takes small groups on "Hermetic
Code" tours of the building (www.frank
albo.com/tours). In May, the Manito Ahbee
Festival in Winnipeg showcases Indigenous
culture and spectacular powwow perform-
ances (www.manitoahbee.com). February's
French Festival du Voyageur, centred in
St. Boniface, focuses on Franco-Manitoban
history and culture (www.heho.ca/en).
MUST SEE, MUST DO
Lower Fort Garry, the national historic site
just south of the City of Selkirk, shelters an
historic fur-trading fort. It is also the site
where Treaty 1, the first treaty between
colonial explorers and Indigenous Peoples,
was signed, and where the North-West
Mounted Police—the precursor to
Canada's Mounties—were first trained
(www.parkscanada.gc.ca/fortgarry).
In summer, hardy adventurers can kayak
with more than 57,000 white beluga
whales that calve and raise their babies
near the mouth of the Churchill River
(www.everythingchurchill.com).
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights,
adjacent to The Forks National Historic Site,
houses a permanent exhibit called Truth and
Reconciliation. It chronicles the findings of
the 2008 Truth and Reconciliation Commis-
sion that aimed to right the wrongs of the
residential school system in Canada
(www.humanrights.ca).
SCENIC DRIVES
Bunk in at Riding Mountain National Park's
Wasagaming townsite, and take the next day
to drive to the park for early morning wild-
life spotting, a visit to the resident bison
herd, selfie stops all around beautiful Clear
Lake and ups and downs in the park's unique
topography. Return to Winnipeg via Highway 5
and McCreary and the self-proclaimed world
lily capital of Neepawa, then take the scenic
Highway 16 Yellowhead route through vast
farmland (www.discoverclearlake.com).
From north Winnipeg, drive River Road
along the Red River to Selkirk and the
Marine Museum of Manitoba (www.marine
museum.ca), with Lower Fort Garry
National Historic Site about two-thirds along
the 60-km (37-mi.) route. Tiny Lockport, an
historic catfishing spot (rent a boat and gear)
and hot dog stand heaven, lies between the
two. From Selkirk, return to Winnipeg via
pretty Henderson Highway.
For a longer day trip, take Highway 44 east from
Lockport, through the Agassiz Provincial Forest
and all the way to Seven Sisters Falls and the
classic hydro station there, then onto Pinawa
for a visit to Pinawa Dam Provincial Park and
the picturesque town and lake. Stop to walk the
suspension bridge and hiking trails.
FAMILY FUN
Kids go wild at FortWhyte Alive, where bison
roam on prairie grasses near a pioneer sod
house, teepee encampment and prairie
dog town (www.fortwhyte.org), and at
Assiniboine Park's Nature Playground and
Polar Playground (www.assiniboinepark.ca).
Journey to Churchill is home to polar bears,
including Nanuq and Siku, rescued from the
Churchill area.
For history and fun, families can ride
the vintage steam train Prairie Dog Central
Railway from north Winnipeg to the villages
of Grosse Isle and Warren and back
(www.pdcrailway.com).
En route to Gimli, Oak Hammock Marsh
Interpretive Centre welcomes thousands of
migrating geese in the fall (www.oakhammock
marsh.ca); and, at the Canadian Fossil
Discovery Centre in Morden, see monster
fossils from prehistoric Lake Agassiz and the
15-m-long (50-ft.) life-sized replica of Bruce,
the world's biggest publicly displayed
mosasaur (www.discoverfossils.com).
MB
55
THE ST. BONIFACE MUSEUM, ORIGINALLY
BUILT AS A GREY NUNS' CONVENT, IS
WINNIPEG'S OLDEST BUILDING AND NORTH
AMERICA'S LARGEST OAK LOG STRUCTURE.
Quick Fact
National Parks and Historic Sites:
www.parkscanada.gc.ca
1-888-773-8888
Park Pick
THE FORKS NATIONAL
HISTORIC SITE
The Forks National Historic Site ranks at
the top of visitor to-do lists, thanks to its
marketplaces, Children's Museum,
Manitoba Theatre for Young People,
traditional Indigenous Oodena Celebration
Circle, Festival Park and CN Stage with
free concerts, Riverwalk and summer boat
rides along the Assiniboine. In winter, the
river becomes a skating, skiing and
snowball-throwing playground, with
warming huts designed by an assortment
of international architects. Around the
borders of The Forks is the Beaux Arts
1911-vintage Union Station rail terminal,
the post-contemporary Canadian Museum
for Human Rights, and the elegant cable-
stayed Provencher Bridge , spanning the
Red River and linking Winnipeg's French
Quarter with Manitoba's capital
(www.parkscanada.gc.ca/forks).
MANITO AHBEE FESTIVAL • TRAVEL MB
