What’s up: Many holiday markets, and an evening with Peter Mansbridge

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This article was published 30/11/2023 (697 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Intricate beadwork highlights Exchange District gift ideas

First Fridays at the Exchange

• Friday, Dec. 1
• Studios and galleries in the Exchange District
• Free

Galleries and studios in the Exchange District shift into holiday mode when the calendar flips to December tomorrow.

Among the many offerings at First Fridays at the Exchange is a trunk sale presented by Women Helping Women Beadwork, which will take place at the C2 Centre for Craft, 329 Cumberland Ave.

Women Helping Women Beadwork is a non-profit collective that sells beaded jewelry from more than 40 Indigenous women at the Women’s Correctional Centre in Headingley and other prisons in Western Canada. Proceeds from all sales go directly to the makers.

C2 is also hosting a holiday ornament sale until Dec. 21, and its latest exhibition, Winpihk (Muddy Waters): A Celebration of Winnipeg Craft, which includes works by ceramicists Grace Nickel and Lini Xu, remains on display until Dec. 21.

Arts-and-crafts gift ideas dot the Exchange on Friday, including a pop-up market at the Kathleen Crosby Gallery (63 Albert St.), the 20-vendor People’s Makers Market at the Royal Albert Arms (48 Albert St.) and the 19th annual members’ exhibition and sale at Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art at 290 McDermot Ave.

A holiday twist at Albert Street Tattoo (62 Albert St.) has Krampus — the European and Asian folkloric figure who, according to legend, punishes misbehaving children at Christmas — appearing for pictures between 6 and 7 p.m.

— Alan Small

Look to Indigenous Market for holiday season gifting

• Friday, Dec. 1,5-9 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 2,10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Via Rail Union Station, 123 Main St.
• Free

Don’t panic, but there are only 25 (if you include today) shopping days left until Christmas. If you’re still looking for a perfect present this holiday season, then head out to Pitaw Mino Muskiki Indigenous Handmade Winter Market for ideas.

Founded in 2022 by Brittany Grisdale of Blackwolf Dog, Shauna Fontaine of Anishinaabe Girl Designs and Dana Connolly of Mashkiki Garden Creations, the market features about 90 Indigenous vendors showcasing their wares.

“It’s a make it, bake it, create it market for all people from all walks of life. There is everything from clothing and jewelry to homeware, textiles and pottery. We have lots of bakers selling bannock and treats of all kinds, too,” says Fontaine.

There will be entertainment both days, including author Marika Scha reading her book Stella Welcome to Your Doodem, live paintings by Linus Woods, music by DJ Kaptain and a craft area for children and families hosted by Kisa MacIssaac.

“Support local and support Indigenous handmade. You will find all kinds of treasure to bring home to your loved ones this gift giving season,” Fontaine says.

— AV Kitching

An Evening with Peter Mansbridge

• Tuesday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m.
• Knox United Church, 400 Edmonton St.
• Tickets $18-$55 at wfp.to/60p

McNally Robinson Booksellers wraps up its fall book launch/event calendar for the year with one of the biggest names in the Canadian media landscape.

Since retiring from CBC’s The National in 2017, Peter Mansbridge has kept busy with appearances on the network for special events (elections, royal stuff), hosting a current affairs podcast called The Bridge, and penning a number of books, including his recent memoir Off the Record.

On Tuesday, Mansbridge brings his new book to Winnipeg; co-written with Mark Bulgutch, How Canada Works: The People Who Make Our Nation Thrive was published by Simon & Schuster. In the book, Mansbridge and Bulgutch share the stories of Canadians working “everyday” jobs in all corners of the country, making the case that it’s the people in the country that are our greatest asset.

Owing to demand, McNally Robinson is presenting Mansbridge at Knox United Church, where he’ll be joined in conversation with fellow journalist Cecil Rosner, who recently published his new book, Manipulating the Message: How Powerful Forces Shape the News.

Tickets for the event start at $15.95 plus fees for single admission, while $50 plus fees includes both admission and a signed copy of How Canada Works.

— Ben Sigurdson

Holiday fun in West Broadway

• Friday through Sunday
• One Sixteen, 116 Sherbrook St.
• Free

One Sixteen is hosting a Holiday Market this weekend with food and drink specials, shopping, music, photos with Santa, a Christmas tree lot and bingo. Festivities are set to take place in the restaurant, the Good Neighbour tasting room next door and the courtyard adjoining the two businesses.

Kosmo’s Food Cantina will be serving up bowls of chili with all the fixings. Good Neighbour Brewing will be doling out an array of hot drinks, including brûlée beers (brews steamed with a hot poker), and bartenders from the Beer Can will be slinging holiday margaritas.

On the shopping front, Chip’s Vintage and Thom Bargen will be onsite with holiday sweaters and gifts for coffee lovers, respectively.

DJ K Chedda, DJ Santa and DJ Dad will take turns on the turntables throughout the weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, DJ Santa will also pose for photos between 2:30 and 4 p.m. Stop by for holiday music bingo on Sunday.

The events are sponsored by the West Broadway BIZ and include a monetary donation drive for Resource Assistance for Youth. Times vary; find more details on Instagram (@onesixteen).

— Eva Wasney

Fireside Book Market

• Sunday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Park Theatre
• Free

Check off all the book lovers on your holiday shopping list and support local book makers at the same time at this cosy market-meets-meet and greet.

More than two dozen Manitoba authors and artists — from genre authors (Susie Moloney, Chadwick Ginter, S.M. Beiko) to poets (Jonathan Ball, Karen Clavelle, Ariel Gordon) to visual artists (Kal Barteski, Robert Pasternak) — will be at the event, which will also feature fireside chats with several of the creators about writing, illustrating and publishing.

— Jen Zoratti

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