There will plenty to keep Canada Day

revellers busy in old St. Boniface on July 1.

"Canada Day should be celebrated by everyone. It’s a tradition in St. Boniface to swing the doors open and invite people to see things we’d encourage them to visit year-round," said Norm Gousseau, executive director of Entreprises Riel.

Activities will include free guided walking tours of the area (tours start at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Tourisme Riel office at 219 Provencher Blvd.) and horse-drawn carriage rides, when there will be various pickup points, indicated by signage, including The Forks Market.

There will be free admission to the St. Boniface Museum (from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 494 Tache Ave.), La Maison Gabrielle-Roy (between 1 and 5 p.m. at 375 Deschambault St.) and Fort Gibraltar (from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the corner of St. Joseph and Messager.)

St. Boniface Cathedral (from 6 p.m. until fireworks at 190 avenue de la Cathedrale) will be the site of celebrations for all ages, including a barbecue and various performing groups, organizers say.

For the adult crowd, there will be food and live music on a licensed patio at Promenade Café and Wine (at the corner of Tache and Provencher), which will also provide a front row seat to the Canada Day fireworks.    

Gousseau noted the recent opening of a third kiosk nearby on Esplanade Riel — Crêperie du pont, which is run by the owners of Chez Sophie Bistro — that serves crepes and waffles to passersby.

"The idea is to create a gateway to St. Boniface from that side of the river. You can hear, see and taste the French language," he said.

Other events in southeast Winnipeg include free admission to Riel House (between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 330 River Rd.) and family activities at the Royal Canadian Mint (from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 520 Lagimodiere Blvd.) and a bicycle tour through St. Norbert.

For more information, visit Facebook and search for Tourisme Riel.

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com