Manitoba General Information Area: 547,704 sq km (211,468 sq miles). Population: 1,113,898 (1996). Population Density: 2.1 per sq km. Capital: Winnipeg. Population: 667,209 (1996). GEOGRAPHY: Manitoba is bordered by the US states of North Dakota and Minnesota to the south, Saskatchewan to the west, Ontario to the east, and the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to the north. The province is also known as Heartland Canada. The landscape is diverse, ranging from rolling farmland to sandy beaches on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, and from the desert landscape of the south to northern parkland covered by lakes, forests and sub-Arctic tundra. Language: Although Canada is officially bilingual (English and French), English is commonly spoken in Manitoba. Time: GMT - 6 (GMT - 5 in summer). Note: Summer officially lasts from the first Sunday in April to the Saturday before the last Sunday in October. Public Holidays Public holidays are as for the rest of Canada (see general Canada section). Travel - International AIR: The following airlines run inter-provincial flights: Air Canada (AC), CanJet, WestJet and Northwest Airlines. For timetables and fares, contact the airline offices. International airports: Winnipeg International Airport (YWG) (website: www.waa.ca) is 10km (6 miles) northwest of the city centre. There is a regular bus service every 20 minutes (travel time – 20 minutes). Airport facilities include duty-free shop, post office, shops, restaurant (0600-2000), banks (0700-2100), car rental and car parking. SEA: The only major coastal port is Churchill on Hudson Bay, which is frozen from November to early June. In summer, there are services to Nunavut and Ontario. RAIL: Winnipeg is the most central hub of VIA Rail’s Canadian network. The Western Transcontinental connects Vancouver in the west to Toronto in the east, passing through Winnipeg three times a week in each direction. A thrice weekly train runs northwards within Manitoba from Winnipeg to The Pas (the interchange station for services to Lynn Lake), Thompson and Churchill. For timetables and fares, contact a local VIA Rail office. ROAD: Excellent road services connect Manitoba with Ontario (through Kenora), Saskatchewan (Regina) and the USA (Grand Forks and Bismarck, North Dakota). The road system within Manitoba is also excellent and covers over 19,794km (12,300 miles). Bus: Services are run by local authorities, and interstate services are run by Beaver, Greyhound and Grey Goose Bus Lines. For timetables and fares, contact local offices. Taxi: Available in all larger towns. Taxi drivers expect a 15 per cent tip. Documentation: National driving licences are accepted in Manitoba. URBAN: There are comprehensive bus services in Winnipeg. A flat fare is charged. There are good bus services in other towns. Accommodation Manitoba has a wide selection of accommodation, ranging from first-class hotels in Winnipeg to guest-houses and farm holiday camps among the parklands of the north. Farm vacations are controlled by their own association, ensuring high standards. Bed & breakfast accommodation is available at a reasonable price. For all accommodation details, contact Travel Manitoba (see Contact Addresses section) or the Manitoba Hotel Association, Suite 1505, 155 Carlton Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3H8 (tel: (204) 942 0671; website: www.manitobalodging.com). CAMPING/CARAVANNING: The parklands and the enormous spread of lakes and forests in northern Manitoba are major attractions. Further details on privately operated campgrounds can be obtained from Manitoba Association of Campgrounds and Parks, Box 68, St Malo, MB R0A 1T0 (tel/fax: (204) 347 5543; website: www.macap.mb.ca). For information about Manitoba’s provincial parks contact (tel: (204) 945 6784; website: www.manitobaparks.com). Camping facilities are widespread. A number of companies can arrange motor camper rentals, with a range of fully equipped vehicles. Full details can be obtained from Travel Manitoba (see Contact Addresses section). Introduction Manitoba, landlocked on three sides, comprises eight tourism regions. Most of Manitoba’s population can be found in the southern regions of the province, although Churchill, at its most northern border remains one of Manitoba’s more popular tourist attractions. THE WINNIPEG REGION: Almost equidistant from the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the provincial capital stands in the heart of the vast prairie which covers much of the southern part of the province. This ‘Gateway to the North’ at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers is one of Canada’s most culturally and racially diverse cities with a well known ballet troupe and symphony orchestra. Places of note include the Legislative Building with Manitoba’s symbol, the Golden Boy, balancing triumphantly on its dome; the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature which recreates past and present life on the prairies; and the Folks National Historic Site, a 13.6 acre park with river walks, historic port, market, theatrical tours and concerts. St Boniface is the French Quarter of Winnipeg. In the suburbs, the Royal Canadian Mint, with its high-tech building, and Lower Fort Garry, an old fur-trading post, are both worth visiting. Paddlesteamers offer excursions through Winnipeg’s urban and residential areas on the Red and Assiniboine rivers. The famous Winnie the Pooh was named after Winnipeg. A status commemorates the bear in Assiniboine Park along with the only known oil painting of the cub. Additionally, Winnipeg offers the zoo, sculpture garden, English gardens and conservatory. THE CENTRAL PLAINS REGION: West of Winnipeg the highway cuts through the wheat belt. Fort la Reine Museum and the Pioneer Village at Portage la Prairie reconstruct the town’s days as an 18th-century trading post. THE INTERLAKE REGION: On the eastern edge of the Interlake Region is Lake Winnipeg, with good sandy beaches and boats for hire. The western shore of the lake was once New Iceland, a self-governing area settled by thousands of Icelanders fleeing volcanic eruptions in their homeland. Gimli, the major town, still has a large Icelandic population, which stages an annual Icelandic festival in August. Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park, a group of wooded islands on the lake, offers a resort and conference centre as well as good hiking, golfing and camping facilities. THE EASTERN REGION: East of the capital along the Trans-Canada Highway is the German-speaking Mennonite town of Steinbach. The Mennonite Heritage Village provides a close-up view of early Mennonite life. Whiteshell Provincial Park has over 2500 sq km (1000 sq miles) of wilderness and the Alfred Hole Goose Sanctuary nearby is home to four different species of wild geese. The more developed resort towns of Falcon Lake and West Hawk Lake have good facilities for swimming and sailing. THE PARKLAND REGION: En route to the great northern wilderness, Riding Mountain National Park is a vast recreational area providing golfing, backpacking, horseback riding and 300km (190 miles) of hiking trails. Bison still roam the range near Lake Audy in the park. Ukrainian immigrants colonised the farming area around Dauphin in the 1890s and their influence is still felt in the cuisine and costume of the area, notably during the annual National Ukrainian Festival. THE WESTERN REGION: Densely wooded parklands are home to moose and wood bison, the Spirit Sands, a 5 sq km tract of blowing sand dunes towering over 30m, the International Peace Garden dedicated to the long-standing peace between Canada and the USA located at the North Dakota border and Canada’s longest free suspension foot bridge in Souris. THE NORTHERN REGION: Just north of the fifty-third parallel, is the town of The Pas, a jumping-off point for trips to the lakes and rivers of the northern interior. Further east, near the border with Saskatchewan is the mining and lumbering town of Flin Flon, noted for its abundant fishing opportunities, and Grass River Park, a huge granite wilderness with excellent canoeing adventures. Churchill, a sub-Arctic seaport in the far northeast, is best reached by air across the vast flatlands running into Hudson Bay. It is known for its bird-watching opportunities and the beluga whales that congregate at the mouth of the Churchill River in the summertime. It is an ideal spot to view the aurora borealis (northern lights) in winter and to take an organised tour by tundra buggy in the autumn, and see why the area is known as the polar bear capital of the world. Wapusk National Park is a remote area with a severe sub-Arctic climate and home to one of the world’s largest known white bear den sites, in addition to hundreds of thousands of waterfowl and shorebirds. THE PEMBINA VALLEY REGION: Panoramic valleys and rolling hills recapture the centuries-old past of the North West Mounted Police. The rough and tumble of the Manitoba Stampede is as exciting as Morden’s Corn and Apple Festival is appetising. Sport & Activities Outdoor pursuits: The easternmost of the ‘prairie provinces’, Manitoba is dominated in the south by its two huge lakes, Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba. Altogether, the province has over 100,000 lakes and 175 provincial parks. There are ample opportunities for all types of watersports on the lakes and rivers. Rivers offering particularly good canoeing include Bloodvein River in Atikaki Provincial Wilderness Park, which flows through wild rice marshes into Lake Winnipeg; and Seal River in the north, one of the most challenging canoe routes in Canada. Fishing for trout, northern pike, walleye, channel catfish and Arctic grayling is especially popular. Several of the northern lakes are only accessible by air, and remote fly-in lodges are the answer for an angler’s wilderness dream. There are some excellent beaches around the lakes, the best known being Grand Beach on Lake Winnipeg, one of North America’s top ten beaches. Backed by high, grass-topped sand dunes, the beach is a favourite swimming spot amongst local people, owing to its shallow water and easy access from Winnipeg. Sailboarding, windsurfing and sailing are also available here. In the northern part of the province, there are unique opportunities to observe wildlife. Churchill, on the shore of Hudson Bay, is known as the ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World’. The best months to see them are October and early November. Special trips in ‘tundra buggies’ enable visitors to view the bears and other creatures (including Arctic foxes, birds and caribou) at close range. In summer, thousands of beluga whales congregate in the mouth of the Churchill River and in Hudson Bay, and some 200 species of birds use the environment as a nesting habitat during spring. The northern lights (aurora borealis) can best be seen here between January and April. Other sports on offer include golf (there are over 125 golf courses in Manitoba, 27 of these in Winnipeg) and hiking. Cross-country skiing is available throughout the winter months at the provincial and national parks. For general information about sport and activities in Canada, see the main Canada section. Social Profile Food & Drink: Winnipeg offers opportunities to experience cuisine of the many and diverse cultures that typify the city. Rural Manitoba also offers a wide choice of restaurants from the very expensive to the moderately priced with good home cooking. It is customary to tip waiters 15 per cent of the bill. The minimum age for drinking is 18, but those under 18 can drink with a meal if it is purchased by a parent or guardian. Off-licence alcohol is available only from government outlets. Opening hours are generally 1100-2100. Nightlife: Winnipeg’s nightlife is vibrant. The National Film Board of Canada screens top films once a month in the Planetarium Auditorium; admittance is free. Many other cinemas, theatres, clubs, restaurants and bars also provide entertainment. Winnipeg is home to a mixture of performing arts: the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Opera and several theatre, dance and music companies. The city also offers dining and moonlit dancing cruises aboard riverboats on its scenic Red and Assiniboine rivers. The main stages at Club Regent and McPhillips Street Station casinos also feature entertainment. Shopping: There are several nationally known department stores in Winnipeg, with branches throughout Manitoba. City and provincial centres have a variety of unusual shops and boutiques. North of The Pas is a Native American handicraft shop where visitors can watch Native American women making moccasins, mukluks, jackets and jewellery. At the Rock Shop in Souris, costume jewellery made from rock from a local quarry can be bought, and the visitor may obtain a permit to collect his own rock. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0930-2130, Sat 0930-1800, Sun 1200-1800. Special Events: For a complete list of special events, contact Travel Manitoba (see Contact Addresses section). Listed below are a Feb 12-16 Northern Manitoba Trapper’s Festival. selection of special events celebrated in Manitoba during 2003: Feb 14-23 Festival du Voyageur, Winnipeg. Mar 31-Apr 5 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. Jun 5-8 Winnipeg International Children’s Festival. Jun 7-8 Winnipeg International Airshow. Jun 11-15 Manitoba Summer Fair. Jun 13-21 Jazz Winnipeg Festival. Jun 19-28 Red River Exhibition, Winnipeg. Jun 27-Jul 1 Flin Flon Trout Festival. Jun 28 Manitoba Highland Gathering, Selkirk. Jul 3-6 Dauphin Countryfest (country music festival). Jul 9-12 A Taste of Manitoba, Winnipeg. Jul 10-13 Winnipeg Folk Festival. Jul 17-20 Manitoba Stampede and Exhibition, Morris (rodeo). Jul 17-27 Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival. Jul 20-27 World Lily Festival. Jul 23-27 Manitoba Threshermen’s Reunion and Stampede, Austin. Jul 25-27 Manitoba Sunflower Festival, Altona. Jul 31-Aug 2 St Pierre Frog Follies, St Pierre-Jolys (Canadian frog jumping championships). Aug 1-3 Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival, Dauphin. Aug 1-4 Steinbach Pioneer Days. Aug 1-4 Islendingadagurinn, Gimli (Icelandic Festival of Manitoba). Aug 3-16 Folklorama, Winnipeg (Canada’s Cultural Celebration). Aug 17-23 Opaskwayak Indian Days, The Pas. Aug 22-24 Morden Corn and Apple Festival. Sep 12-13 Pembina’s Threshermen’s Reunion, Winkler. Sep 18-27 Oktoberfest, Winnipeg. Oct 10-12 Miami Fun and Fiddle Festival. Nov 13-15 Manitoba Livestock Expo, Brandon. Nov 19-23 Signatures Craft Show, Winnipeg. Business Profile Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, 227 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2A6 (tel: (204) 948 0100; fax: (204) 948 0110; e-mail: mbchamber@mbchamber.mb.ca; website: www.mbchamber.mb.ca). Conferences/Conventions: For information on conferences and conventions in Winnipeg, contact Tourism Winnipeg, 279 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2B4 (tel: (204) 943 1970 or (800) 665 0204 (toll free in USA and Canada); fax: (204) 942 4043; e-mail: wpginfo@tourism.winnipeg.mb.ca; website: www.tourism.winnipeg.mb.ca). Climate Summers are warm and sunny. Winters are cold, particularly in the north. Rainfall is highest in May and July. Required clothing: Light- to mediumweights during warmer months, heavyweights in winter. Waterproofing is advisable throughout the year. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.