Are You Ready to Discover Wonderful Winnipeg?

I went to Winnipeg in order to get to Churchill to walk with the Polar Bears. Click here to see my articles and videos about that bucket list experience. I was not expecting to discover a city full of treasures! It is located in the center of Canada with a population of 800,000 and was the third largest city during the height of the Railroad. What did I see and do? Watch my video: Exploring Wonderful Winnipeg

What to see and do in Winnipeg?

International Polar Bear Research Centre is located at Assiniboine Park Zoo and houses rescued polar bear cubs from Churchill. I met with Dr. Stephen Petersen to talk about the Polar Bears and how we can help the environment. Read about what he told me in Ms. Magazine.

 

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Thank you to Dr. Stephen Petersen from @assiniboineparkzoo for talking to me about #PolarBears and how we can help them. Thank you to @ms_magazine for publishing my article: “Polar Bears Can’t Vote, So You Have To!” http://msmagazine.com/blog/2018/11/05/polar-bears-cant-vote/ Thank you @carmenriosss #MsMagazine @StephenResearch #Vote for people who care about the #environment.  @churchillwildsafaris #ChurchillWild #manitoba411  #gowpg #onlyinthepeg #winnipeg #manitoba #ExploreMB #canada #ExploreCanada @tourismwinnipeg @TravelManitoba #saveourseaice #conservationcounts #assiniboineparkzoo #Polarbear http://msmagazine.com/blog/2018/11/05/polar-bears-cant-vote/ @stephenresearch

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Nov 6, 2018 at 11:15am PST

The Inuit Art Centre will open its own new building at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in 2020 and will have the world’s largest collection of public Inuit art to share with the world.

 

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Thank you to #WAG for sharing your art collection with me and taking me into my very first museum vault! I cannot wait to come back in 2020 and see these treasures displayed in your new centre! Did you know that The Winnipeg Art Gallery was founded in 1912? It is Canada’s oldest civic gallery and the 6th largest in the country!  The new building that will house the Inuit Art Centre with the world’s only glass vault and will be the world’s largest public collection of contemporary Inuit Art with over 13,000 pieces of contemporary and traditional artworks. In 2020, when the new centre opens on Manitoba’s 150th birthday, The WAG Inuit Art Centre will display half of this extraordinary collection permanently. The full collection will be shared online to help students around the world deepen their understanding of Inuit culture. @wag_ca #InuitArtCentre #inuitart #atwag #finditdowntown #art #museum #gallery #winnipegartgallery #wpgevents #manitoba411 #gowpg #onlyinthepeg  #winnipeg #manitoba #ExploreMB #canada #ExploreCanada @tourismwinnipeg @TravelManitoba

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Oct 28, 2018 at 10:52am PDT

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights opened in 2014 and is inspiring change with human rights stories from around the world. https://humanrights.ca

 

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“It always seems impossible until it is done.” Nelson Mandela At the incredible Canadian Museum for Human Rights, there is an exhibit about Nelson Mandela. I loved the entire museum. I hope that everyone travels to wonderful Winnipeg to see the first national museum to be built in nearly half a century, and the first outside the National Capital Region. The purpose of the museum is to “explore the subject of human rights with a special but not exclusive reference to Canada, in order to enhance the public’s understanding of human rights, to promote respect for others and to encourage reflection and dialogue.”[4] It held its opening ceremonies on 19 September 2014. I highly recommend a visit to this museum and to the many spectacular attractions in Winnipeg. I believe we all need to focus more on being respectful and knowledgeable about each other. @cmhr_mcdp #Winnipeg  #OnlyinthePeg #ExploreMB #canada #ExploreCanada #AtCMHR #AuMCDP  @theforkswinnipeg #HumanRights #Museum #Peace #Hope #Diversity #Inclusion

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Oct 21, 2018 at 1:24pm PDT

 

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“Trust is earned in the smallest moments. It is earned not through heroic deeds, or even highly visible actions, but through paying attention, listening and gestures of genuine care and connection.”Brene Brown Shabbat Shalom! When I was in Winnipeg at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, I learned about Viola Desmond and how she is being honored on the new $10 bill. “Desmond is the first black person — and the first non-royal woman — to be featured on a regularly circulating Canadian bank note.” “It was long overdue for a banknote to feature an iconic Canadian woman,” said Stephen Poloz, Governor of the Bank of Canada to applause in both Winnipeg and Halifax. “Desmond is often described as Canada’s Rosa Parks after she refused to leave her seat in the “whites only” section at the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow, N.S., in 1946. Desmond, 32, was dragged out of the theatre by police and jailed.”https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/cmhr-10-dollar-bill-1.4567809 @cmhr_mcdp #Winnipeg #OnlyinthePeg #ExploreMB #canada #ExploreCanada #AtCMHR #AuMCDP @theforkswinnipeg #HumanRights #Museum @tourismwinnipeg @TravelManitoba

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Oct 26, 2018 at 3:00pm PDT

Who inspired the character of James Bond 007?

Sir William Stephenson was a solder who was from Winnipeg and his code name was Intrepid.

 

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Did you know that the real life James Bond, Sir William Stephenson, was from Winnipeg? His code name was “Intrepid.” I learned about him on the #Winnipeg trolley tour. People have been gathering at The Forks where the tour starts for 6,000 years. Maybe you should visit too! I loved learning about the history of Winnipeg and the stories of the people. I cannot wait to go back to this great city! It was so much fun! I highly recommend it. @WinnipegTrolley #winnipegtrolley #assiniboinepark #innattheforks #travelmanitoba #tourismwinnipeg #winnipegtrolley #citytour #meetmeattheforks #OnlyinthePeg #ExploreMB #canada #ExploreCanada  #007 #jamesbond #jamesbond007 https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2015-featured-story-archive/the-intrepid-life-of-sir-william-stephenson.html The Intrepid Life of Sir William Stephenson Pilot, prisoner, inventor, spy – Sir William Stephenson lived a courageous life full of adventure and derring-do. (Many people consider him one of the real-life inspirations for James Bond.) In honor of his 118th birthday last month, here are a few tales of one of WWII’s most infamous intelligence officers, the man code-named “Intrepid.” Stephenson, born in Winnipeg, Canada on January 23, 1897, distinguished himself at a young age. In WWI he was a fighter pilot in the Royal Flying Corps, bringing down 12 German aircraft. Shot down and captured on a mission, Stephenson managed to escape in October 1918. After the war ended, Stephenson became an entrepreneur and inventor, but he grew concerned about the growing power of Nazi Germany. He was a friend of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who sent Stephenson to New York City in 1940 to run the British Security Coordination Office, the operational and liaison arm of UK Intelligence in the US. The job made Stephenson Britain’s top intelligence officer in the United States.

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Oct 23, 2018 at 11:38am PDT

Where to relax?

I had my first Scandinavian Spa experience at Thermëa – Winnipeg. It is very close to the city but feels 1000s of miles away. As they say, “Discover Thermëa: The ultimate relaxation experience!” There are 4 outdoor baths, 4 saunas including one with Eucalyptus and an indoor/outdoor restaurant. You can make s’mores and relax in a hammock.

 

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As I have told you before, I really loved my time in Winnipeg. I had my first Scandinavian Spa experience at Thermëa – Winnipeg. It is very close to the city but feels 1000s of miles away. As they say, “Discover Thermëa: The ultimate relaxation experience!” There are 4 outdoor baths, 4 saunas including one with Eucalyptus and an indoor/outdoor restaurant. You can make s’mores and relax in a hammock. See you there! @thermeawinnipeg #thermëa #coldplunge #spa #hotcoldrelaxrepeat #hotandcold #relax  #winnipeg #manitoba #eatinyourrobe #refresh Open 9a-10pm all year round – except Dec 25th.www.thermea.ca

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Oct 27, 2018 at 8:07am PDT

Where to see art and meet the artists?
First Fridays in The Exchange

 

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As an artist, I love to see other people’s studios and talk with them about how they create. Cheryl took me to First Fridays in Winnipeg and I saw where her photography is exhibited at Warehouse Artworks. I also met Lennard Taylor and saw his designs and shop. Marielle, Lennard, Cheryl and I talked about how important it is NEVER GIVE UP “Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” Harriet Beecher Stowe “Positivity, confidence, and persistence are key in life, so never give up on yourself.” Khalid The world needs more art and peace and creativity. Thank you to all the artists and galleries for a wonderful night in the Exchange. https://www.warehouseartworks.net/ https://www.firstfridayswinnipeg.org/ https://lennardtaylor.com/  #manitoba411 #gowpg #onlyinthepeg  #winnipeg #manitoba #ExploreMB #canada #ExploreCanada @tourismwinnipeg @TravelManitoba

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Oct 30, 2018 at 11:21am PDT

Where to stay?
I loved Inn at the Forks and was lucky enough to have drinks with local writer, Shel Zolkewich at SMITH.

 

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“As soon as I saw you, I knew a grand adventure was about to happen.” – Winnie The Pooh This quote from Winnie the Pooh is so appropriate! I met Shel at Travel Classics in Montreal and was thrilled to spend time with her in Winnipeg. I learned that the story of Winnie the Pooh was based on a bear who lived in the London Zoo who was from Winnipeg so his name became Winnie. A boy named Christopher used to visit the bear with his father who wrote a story about them! There are so many incredible places to see in Winnipeg. I loved my first visit! #OnlyInThePeg #Winnipeg #ExploreMB #ChurchillWild  #explorecanada #canada #meetmeattheforks

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Oct 20, 2018 at 11:00am PDT

 

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As election fever takes hold of the United States, I wanted to share another post from Winnipeg and the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. What Are Human Rights?https://humanrights.ca/exhibit/what-are-human-rights How do you put human rights in a museum? You have to tell the stories of the people. Come experience the exhibits and think about what has happened on our continent, across our globe and what is happening right now. The goal is to illuminate human rights and leave uplifted and inspired. School groups are welcome and there is a special family day on Sundays. Right now, they have these exhibits: Nelson Mandela: Struggle for Freedom: Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years, but he never gave in to hate. Walk in the footsteps of the man they called Madiba and learn the legacy of his struggle for freedom. Witness the struggle for freedom that changed everything. One Woman’s Resistance: Viola Desmond’s Story How far would you go to fight for your rights? By refusing to change seats and by fighting her conviction in court, Viola Desmond directly challenged segregation in Canada. She will be on the new $10 bill in Canada read more: http://bit.ly/2PIwgcM I hope that we can achieve what Nelson Mandela wished for: “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.” @cmhr_mcdp #Winnipeg  #OnlyinthePeg #ExploreMB #canada #ExploreCanada #AtCMHR #AuMCDP  @theforkswinnipeg #HumanRights #Museum #Peace #Hope #Diversity #Inclusion

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Nov 4, 2018 at 10:50am PST

Read Polar Bears Can’t Vote, So You Have To! on Ms. Magazine

Do you want to walk with the Polar Bears?

Read and watch all of my Churchill Wild Adventures:
Part One: Do You Want to Walk with Polar Bears?
Part Two: Are You Ready for an Adventure? Walk with Polar Bears
Part Three: How Do You Get To Churchill Wild?