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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Freebie festivities for Winnipeg families

By: Staff Writer

30/06/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

WAYNE.GLOWACKI@FREEPRESS.MB.CA Enlarge Image

On the last day of school this morning, students and staff at Kent Road School celebrated Canada's birthday with a parade around the neighbourhood while waving flags.

CANADA Day is expected to be sunny with lots to do.

Winnipeg families will again be able to visit the Assiniboine Park Zoo for free on July 1 with the city covering the cost of admission as part of the Mayor's Family Day at the Zoo.

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Mayor Sam Katz first supported free admission to the zoo in 2004 to mark its 100th anniversary and it has become part of the annual Canada Day celebrations at Assiniboine Park hosted by Canad Inns. An average of 18,500 visitors attend the Mayor's Family Day each year.

Assiniboine Park is serving free birthday cake at 3:30 p.m., with activities and entertainment all day including the Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Papa Mambo, Eagle and Hawk and fireworks to top it all off.

Parks Canada offers free admission to all national parks, Parks Canada-administered national historic sites and national marine conservation areas. In Manitoba, that includes Riding Mountain National Park and Lower Fort Garry.

The Forks is hosting a day-long birthday party starting at 1 p.m. with clowns, musicians, buskers, crafts and entertainment. Starting at 2:45 p.m. at the Scotiabank Stage, up-and-coming high school bands, three of Manitoba's finest indie bands, and Winnipeg's Duhks perform, followed by the full Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and fireworks at 11 p.m. to cap off Canada's birthday.

On Canada Day, Winnipeg Transit will operate a Sunday holiday schedule along with special service and re-routes to accommodate Canada Day activities. A free Canada Day shuttle service will run from noon until midnight. The shuttle will run from Osborne Village through the downtown area to The Forks.Buses will operate every 10 minutes throughout the day.

As part of the Osborne Village Canada Day street festival activities, Osborne Street will be closed between River and Gertrude from 5 p.m. Tuesday until 1 a.m. Thursday.

All civic offices will be closed Wednesday.

Recycling and garbage will not be collected Wednesday. Collection will resume on Thursday, July 2 -- Day 5 on the five-day cycle.

There will be extra Canada Day Portage Avenue buses for convenient travel to and from The Forks and Assiniboine Park. Service will run noon to 11 p.m. Regular transit fares apply. For more information, call Winnipeg Transit at 986-5700 or visit www. winnipegtransit.com.

All indoor pools will close, except the Pan Am Pool, which will be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please visit the website at www. winnipeg.ca for pool schedules, or call 986-SWIM (7946).

All outdoor pools will be open. Pool times vary, but most pools open noon-7:30 p.m.

Weather permitting, the following 16 wading pools will be open: Amherst Park, Brock Cordova Park, Central Park, Dakota Water Park, Elmwood Park, Home Playground, Keenleyside Park, Kildonan Park, McKittrick Park, Norquay CC, Northwood CC, Pascoe Park, Pirates Park, Vimy Ridge Park, Westdale Wading Pool and Winakwa CC

Hours vary, but most are open 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For schedule information, please call 986-7900 for pools in the south and west areas, call 986-7901 for pools in the central area, and 986-7902 for pools in the north and east areas. The 2008 Wading Pool Guide is available at all indoor pools and online at www.winnipeg.ca.

Also open are five unsupervised spray pads: Fort Rouge Park, Lindenwoods CC, Provencher Park, River Heights CC and St. Norbert CC. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to Sept. 1, including holidays.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 30, 2009 B2

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