Local

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Zoo opens polar visitor centre, restaurant on suitably chilly day

By: Larry Kusch

Posted: 02/1/2013 12:06 PM | Comments: 0

Enlarge Image

The new polar facility at the zoo features interactive displays. (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

Enlarge Image

Winnipeg City Councillor Paula Havixbeck tries out the polar bear slide at the new arctic enclosure and interpretive centre at the Assiniboine Park Zoo. (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

The people who run the Assiniboine Park Zoo picked a fittingly cold day — minus 31 C no less — to unveil part of its new polar bear attraction.

Today marks the official opening of the new Tundra Grill & Polar Playground, a $6.8-million building that will serve as one of three locations from which Winnipeggers and tourists will be able to view the bears.

People will be able to enjoy a snack in a 150-seat restaurant and watch as the bears come right up to a bank of three-metre-high windows along a 30-metre wall.

The facility also features interactive displays, two slides for kids and two birthday party rooms that will accommodate 24 kids each. There’s also a gift store.

It’s part of the Assiniboine Park Conservancy’s $200-million zoo redevelopment program.

Organizers of a media tour had planned to have a busload of kids come to try out the indoor playground, but they couldn’t make it. It was too cold to run the school bus.

City Coun. Paula Havixbeck, one of three city councillors on hand for this morning’s opening, said the zoo redevelopment will be a tremendous showpiece for the city.

"Together with all of the other projects happening throughout our city, the park and the zoo will be yet another draw to put Winnipeg on the map and on the tourists’ radar," Havixbeck said.

Fact Check

Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.

* Required

In which story did you find the error? *
Please post the headline of the story or the title of the video with the error.
What was the error? *
Please post exactly what was wrong with the story.
What should we have written?
Please indicate your source for the correct information.
Who else should we interview to improve this story?
Please include any contact information you may have.
Can we contact you in the future for advice on stories about this topic?
Yes

No
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E–mail Address: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Phone: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Colour:
Are you blue? If you can see this, leave it blank and get some CSS support.
Enter the words that you see: * This is to prevent our forms from being filled out automatically.
You have failed to correctly identify the words in the box above. Please try again.

More Local

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.