Winter’s here and there’s plenty to do
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/11/2021 (561 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
With the recent snowfall we received, it’s safe to say that winter is fully here for another year. When it comes to winter activities, I really like the Nordic adage that “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”
With this in mind, here are some of the fun winter activities that I’m looking forward to taking part in this winter.
• Winter walks in our city parks — Winnipeg has some real gems to explore, and winter can be a super fun way to experience our tree-lined trails. Some highlights include the off-leash path at the Maple Grove Park, if you have doggos who need to run around; the Assiniboine Forest, especially when the branches of the hundreds of trees are frost-lined; and Little Mountain Park; just off of the Oak Point Highway. Little Mountain Park just opened new washroom facilities earlier this year; in case your little ones forget to go before leaving home.
• Pleasure rinks — If you’ve got a little Hailey Wickenheiser or Sidney Crosby at home, the many outdoor rinks around the city offer a great place for your future hockey stars to practise their breakaway skills or offer an opportunity to take in a little bit of pickup hockey. However, if you’re more like me, and need to work on your skating skills without the added tripping hazard of hockey pucks, you can take in one of the pleasure rinks around the city. The City of Winnipeg parks department is still finalizing locations for this upcoming winter, but some favorite spots from previous years include Old Market Square, Lismore Park, the Forks and of course, the River Trails.
• Nature preserves — If you want to take in an outoor adventure without wanting to be in a plane or car for hours, spots such as Oak Hammock Marsh and FortWhyte Alive can provide you with what you’re looking for.
Try your hand at snowshoeing, take in some bird watching or even hunt out animal tracks in the snow. Another option is to visit the Assiniboine Park Zoo to check out the polar bears in more of their own natural habitat or enjoy a faux tropical getaway in the Toucan Ridge exhibit that features colourful birds, our primate cousins and numerous reptiles.
• “It’s too cold!” — We all know those days when it’s just too cold to leave the house. For these, I recommend checking out Manitoba Museum’s Dome @ Home. Originally launched back in the spring during COVID restrictions, Dome @ Home is a weekly series hosted by Planetarium astronomer Scott Young. New episodes go live on Thursdays at 7 p.m. and there is a back catalogue of over 30 episodes, all for free. Now you can explore the galaxy from the comfort of your own living room. Check out manitobamuseum.ca/dome-at-home for more information
Vivian Santos
Point Douglas ward report
Vivian Santos is city councillor for Point Douglas.