Manitoba is a cultural hotbed, with plenty to offer from the arts to festivals, along with a rich dose of historical landmarks. Here are some of the necessary stops on any cultural tour of the province.
Cultural hubs
The Winnipeg Exchange District is a National Historic Site and definitely one of Winnipeg's cultural hubs, housing a vibrant restaurant, theater, museum and nightlife scene. What really makes the Exchange District stand out is the architecture. Here you can bask in ornate early 20th century architecture that is strongly reminiscent of Chicago. This old-world architecture meets the ultra-modern at the Cube, a performance stage enclosed by an interactive metal-mesh cube covered in colored lights, in the district's Old Market Square. This unique outdoor space is home to a variety of music festivals and performances--everything from the Winnipeg Folk Festival to the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Sitting where the Red River and the Assiniboine come together is a 6,000-year-old meeting place. The Forks in Winnipeg is a district that holds incredible historical significance and is now home to lovely markets, inspiring museums and gardens. Originally horse stalls for the rail companies, the Forks Market is a welcome stroll among inviting boutiques and restaurants. If you're visiting the Forks in winter, lace up your skates and glide along the more than 5 miles of the breathtaking frozen Red and Assiniboine River. Then head into one of the many nearby museums.
Museums
One of the most eye-catching buildings in the entire country is Winnipeg's Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The shining structure of curved steel and glass is really something to behold on its own, but it also houses a powerful collection of 10 core galleries housing exhibits that force you to think about the human experience and your own place in it. This is the only museum in the world devoted solely to human rights awareness and education, and during your visit you'll come to learn about Indigenous perspectives on rights, the Holocaust and other genocides, how to break the silence and inspire change, and more, all through a uniquely Canadian lens.
Over 24,000 pieces make up the collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG), the oldest civic gallery in the country. These works span just about all eras and forms, from Ancient Greek statues to Renaissance paintings to modern photography displays. The gallery also features some of the greatest ever Canadian art, and includes the world's largest collection of contemporary Inuit art.
The Manitoba Museum is the largest museum in Winnipeg, and its scope is a big as its collection. Nine permanent galleries showcase everything from a full-size 17th century ship that you can actually explore to a recreation of early bison hunts. Regular touring exhibits also ensure a fresh, unique experience every time you visit.
Lastly, located in Brandon, Manitoba, the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba is deeply rooted in the local community and has been since 1907. With an emphasis on Manitoba art, the gallery exhibits contemporary art of regional, national and international significance. The fantastic gift shop features Manitoba artists in paint, jewelry, ceramics and textiles.
Experiencing Manitoba culture and history
Do you really want to get your metaphorical hands dirty with cultural experiences? Head to Manitoba's Birds Hill Provincial Park for the Winnipeg Folk Festival, a four-day celebration of musical genres such as folk, blues, bluegrass, roots, gospel, Celtic, French Canadian, world and country, as well are arts, food and community spirit. Sway to the sweet sounds from the main stage, where world-renowned artists perform every evening. Meet accomplished musicians face-to-face. Browse the artisan shops. Dine on sumptuous cuisine from 25 different food vendors. Camp out on-site and let the good times last throughout the night.
Any mention of dance companies in North America has to begin with the longest continuously operating company on the continent: the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. When you see a production from the RWB, you are certain to be enchanted by creativity, beauty and technical skill. Granted 'royal' status in 1953 by Queen Elizabeth II, if you have even a casual interest in dance, a performance by the RWB must be at the top of your list.
While we're on the subject of dance, you'll have a hard time sitting still during Winnipeg's Manito Ahbee festival. From the moment the drummers strike up a pounding rhythm, and the women in fancy shawls spread their butterfly capes, you know you're in a special place. Manito Ahbee is named after a sacred place in Manitoba's Whiteshell Provincial Park and is an Ojibway word meaning "where the Creator sits." From this traditional gathering place grew this festival, where pow wow performers in feathered headdresses share the spotlight with Aboriginal hip hop musicians who wow the red carpet crowd. Feel your whole body move as Cree, Ojibway, Dakota Sioux and more Aboriginal dancers spin and sing at one of North America's top pow wows. And when the "intertribal dance" is called out, don't be surprised if you join in.
From Aboriginal we move into European. Dubbed "The World's Largest Kitchen Party," the Festival du Voyageur is a chance to experience food, fun and French Canadian heritage on the snowy streets of Winnipeg. Tour a re-created 19th century fur-trading outpost, take a swig of traditional fortified wine, and enjoy dozens of live music performances at a variety of venues. Taking place for 10 days every February, this annual celebration of Manitoba's fur trader history is not to be missed.
For more on these early explorers, head out of the city and follow the Pathways of the Voyageurs at Manitoba's Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge. Learn the secrets to wilderness fishing and how to prepare a traditional shore lunch. Then hike along a historic portage where fur traders once walked. Along the way you see ancient pictographs and learn about the history of Aikens Lake, the Gammon River and the Bloodvein River, as you follow in the footsteps the Voyageurs.
This is only the tip of the cultural iceberg. Discover more uniquely Manitoba experiences with the help of Travel Manitoba.
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