When I lived in Winnipeg, I took in Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Canadian Football League) games and…read moreconcerts at the old Winnipeg Stadium in St. James. It has since been torn down. I finally got to visit Princess Auto Stadium (previously Investor Group Field) a couple of times last month. Canada Day celebrations were happening here for free. A few days later, I took in a Bombers game on a Friday evening. This stadium is home of Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Valour FC, and University of Manitoba Bison. It's a football sandwich with soccer as the filling. It's located on the University of Manitoba campus. Canada Day celebrations consisted of various Canadian music acts playing for roughly an hour. It was a rainy day. The rain held off when I was there for a few hours. I parked in a lot across from this stadium on Chancellor Matheson Road. Parking was free. I got a decent spot. It is a bit crazy crossing the street, as you are essentially jaywalking. Pack some patience. I entered through the nearest gate. I liked seeing the Bombers Hall of Fame names. I spent a lot of time looking at the names. Seeing Khari Jones (2008) and Milt Stegall (2009) made me happy. They were and remain the best quarterback-receiver duo ever in Bombers history. The man at the gate was nice. He said that I didn't have to show my free ticket barcode. Instead, I could just go in. Nice! The stadium is spectacular. It's so much nicer than the old one. It looked good even on a gloomy day! I found a seat and took in roughly three acts. I called it quits at around 8 pm. I had had a long day (I woke up at 4:30 am to travel to Winnipeg). There was also a threat of thunderstorms, which did affect the fireworks display at 10:30 pm. I also wanted dinner, but not from a concession stand. Before I left, I did hit a mini Bomber Store and got a t-shirt for $24. Lindy was the associate who helped me with my purchase. I paid with a credit card. I got my receipt and waved off getting a plastic bag. I thanked him and headed to my car. I was debating whether I wanted to see the Bombers play. At this point, the team had lost every single game. Would the team bomb (pun intended) again or would I be their lucky charm? It was a hot, humid day. I had to. I had paid for parking. Trying to find where to park with a gold pass was interesting. I had one staffer said to head east. I did. I parked in lot W (W for win?) and took a leisurely walk over to the stadium. There were activities for kids and tailgating fun for adults. It was cool. I entered through gate 3. I had my barcode scanned. Done! I got a level 200 seat. I didn't break the bank. I was so happy with where I was. It was shaded and I had a good view of the Bombers hitting the field and more. I took the elevator to the second floor. A male staffer was operating it. When I left the stadium, I walked down stairs. It was great. The food here was yummy and prices were decent. I wish that there were more sugar-free options. The concession stand that I visited only had Pepsi. It needs Pepsi zero or Diet Pepsi. The drink was cold. I got a bag (a heap) of popcorn for $5. It was a good deal. I didn't finish it. The bag was larger than it looked. I brought it back to the apartment. I felt comfortable in my seat. There was a holder for my drink. I find that Winnipeggers aren't great at excusing themselves so that they can walk past you. The woman next to me literally went in front of me and kicked me with her foot. When she came back, I directly told her to stop. I got up so she wouldn't kick me with likely the other foot. I was not happy and made that fact known to her boyfriend who had manners. Bombers fans are loud. They still are. It was great! It was a tight game between the Bombers and RedBlacks. The home team won its first game of the season. I was their good luck charm. I'm sticking with it! I ended up visiting the main Bomber Store after the game. Staff were super helpful and nice, asking me if I needed any help and also letting me figure out what I wanted. I got my second t-shirt from this store. I loved the feel of it. The woman at the checkout was great. She gave me a bag for my t-shirt. I paid with a credit card. The transaction was smooth. I thanked her and took my time walking back to my rental vehicle. The women's washroom was clean. There was a bit of a wait after the game. I was briefly a graduate student at this university. It felt both familiar and different as I walked to the parking lot. Things have changed building-wise, but it threw me back to being a student walking towards the Winnipeg Transit bus stops. It's how I used to get to and from the university. There was a bit of congestion getting off-campus. It was a single lane in either direction. I thought that my visiting the Bomber Store would help a bit. It still took ten minutes to reach Pembina Highway. It was cool dropping by twice. I had a terrific experiences on the whole. (303)

I went to my first Bombers game a couple Fridays ago. Living downtown, I like the location as it's…read morea straight shot on the Blue bus from home; I got to the stadium in about 20-25 mins. My first reaction to the stadium was that the concourse is very cramped. It definitely felt like the concourse at Canada Life Centre is wider than IGF, despite the capacity being over 50% less. It definitely made for a suboptimal experience when I went to find food before the game and drinks during halftime. The experience in the stands, on the other hand, was amazing. The Blue Bombers are billed as the loudest fans in the CFL, and I can see why with all the cowbells and acoustics there. I highly recommend wearing earplugs if you're prone to loud noises or hearing problems. Food options are pretty decent and, if I'm to be honest, reasonably priced for stadiums. Shawarma Khan seems to be the go-to for many fans when I was there. If the concourse was less cramped this would be an amazing stadium. Sadly given that experience I believe a 3-star rating is more than reasonable.

When I moved to Winnipeg, the city had lost its National Hockey League (NHL) franchise, the…read moreWinnipeg Jets. A couple of years before I moved to the city from Markham for graduate school, I took in a few Jets games at Winnipeg Arena. To fill this hockey void, the Manitoba Moose were established. The team was a part of the International Hockey League (IHL). The Moose were the farm team of the Vancouver Canucks back then. Sadly, the IHL faced hard times financially. It shuttered for good in 2001. The Moose moved to the American Hockey League (AHL), which is where the team is today. Winnipeg Arena no longer exists. It was demolished, as MTS Centre was built for Manitoba Moose games where Eaton's used to be downtown. The Moose still play in this building, which is now known as Canada Life Centre. I was a season ticket holder for the Moose for a year. I basically had a pack of tickets and enjoyed taking in games in section 204. I then moved back to Markham and didn't see the Moose play a game in Winnipeg until a couple of years ago. When Winnipeg got its NHL hockey franchise back, Jets 2.0, the Moose because its farm team. Both teams play at Canada Life Centre. The Moose will always have a special place in my heart. Prices are decent. Winnipeggers are passionate about hockey. They were so supportive when all the city had was the Moose. These days, they support the Jets and Moose. I own two Moose hoodies. I don't own a jersey. One of these days, I will. The Moose are in the 2026 AHL playoffs. In the first round, the team faces the Grand Rapid Griffins and the series is currently tied 1-1. Mason Shaw is the captain of the Moose. What's cool about him is that he was with the Minnesota Wild. He got traded to the Jets and has since been with the Moose. I was so pleased when he was chosen to be captain. Much deserved! Whenever the Moose play the Marlies, I try and see both teams when they play in Toronto. It's a bit cheaper than flying out to Winnipeg to attend a game! Here's hoping that the Moose do well in the playoffs. I'm happy to be an enduring Moose fan. (183)

Thanks to the Spectacular Goalie Hellebuyck who was instrumental in the United States Winning the…read moreGold Medal in the Olympics 2026! He reminded me I was going to review all the NHL teams because I love the League and every team! Facts: The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The team is owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, playing its home games at Canada Life Centre. The franchise was established as the Atlanta Thrashers on June 25, 1997, and began play in the 1999-2000 NHL season. True North Sports & Entertainment then bought the team in May 2011, and relocated the Thrashers to Winnipeg. The team was renamed the Jets after Winnipeg's original WHA/NHL team. Keep supporting this young team and maybe they will win the Stanley Cup soon!!

My first bunch of NHL hockey games that I ever attended were Winnipeg Jets home games. I attended…read morethem at Winnipeg Arena before the team moved to Phoenix and the arena was demolished. Growing up with the Leafs made me take for granted losing an NHL franchise. Winnipeggers get hockey. They are passionate about all things hockey. We ended up getting the Manitoba Moose while it was the farm team for the Vancouver Canucks, which helped fill the void up, but only partially. When the bid to relocate the Atlanta Thrashers was there, Winnipeg gained back version 2.0 of the Jets. It was a day in the making. Perhaps I am drawn to teams that lose their original franchise and get another shot at it. The Minnesota Wild have a similar script. The Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas. The Twin Cities lost biding for Jets 1.0. However, when there were room to expand the league, the Wild was born. My favourite Jets duo is Teemu Selanne and Teppo Numminen. Coincidentally, both have the same birthday as I do, but they are older, which makes me happy. Both were inducted together into the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Hall of fame. I had a Jets plushie bear that I named Teppo. Selanne, also known as the Finnish Flash, is my favourite hockey player. He still holds the record for scoring 76 goals in his rookie year and was a treat to follow his hockey career. Both were amazing to watch live and work together to score goals, with much help from their third member of their line, Phil Housley. I cherish this Jets era. Phil Housley. Dale Hawerchuck. Thomas Steen. Keith Tkachuk. Nelson Emerson. Alexei Zhamnov. Tie Domi. Bob Essensa. They were such a hard-working team. The whiteout ritual happened when the Jets were leaving the city. Fans came to the arena wearing white and cheering their team twirling white towels. They were loud. They were both sad and proud of their team. These days, when the current Jets get into the playoffs, you see whiteouts during home games. The Jets now play out of Canada Life Centre, which used to be MTS Centre. I have yet to see a Jets home game. However, whenever I'm in the Twin Cities, I try my best to see the Jets play when they play the Wild. I have been fortunate to see both teams play against each other a few times. The team these days is in decent shape. Lowry as captain has been a nice change. They will make it into the playoffs this year. Here's hoping that they go further than the second round. It's funny that I am writing this review after the Canucks won 5-0 against the Jets last night. Luckily, I find that score an outlier and does not affect my support for the team! I will always be a Jets fan. I may have more Wild apparel these days, but I own a pair of Jets sneakers. I don't own a pair of Wild ones. (106)

I am forever grateful for Winnipeg having MTC. They truly put together year after year a variety of…read moreamazing, talented, entertaining & inspiring preformances. They add some sunshine for the cold & dark Winnipeg fall-spring season. The Mtc is very decent size theater which is located downtown. One issue is parking which can be quite costly. I joined the annual subscriber program with a friend about 5 years ago. During the last two years another friend of mine has also joined in with us. I have the cheapest seats in the subscriber program. It is affordable & even though it is the cheapest seats you can comfortably and perfectly view the preformance. The subscriber program is a great way to see all preformances at a bit of a cheaper cost; instead of buying indivdual tickets. The subscriber program allows you to change dates if you are unable to attend without a fee. Also you get a discount on purchasing extra tickets if you want to bring a friend/family member. I find I use this option alot. I like to buy tickets as birthday or christmas gifts for friends or family. It makes for a great night out! The season runs from Oct to May with about 6 preformances. The preformances vary each season. The themes for preformances also vary from serious, classic, fantasy, new formed plays, musicals, holiday themed, dramas & comedies. The sets, costumes and visual effects during the preformances are always exceptional. You can truly see the effort, detail, passion & dedication. The actors and actresses are very talented and bring each preformance to light. The ushers and staff at MTC are always friendly and helpful. There is a small canteen to purchase alcohol and some snacks. MTC awakened my soul & brought love for live theater. It has brought many memories with my family and friends. I recommend to check out the shows online and head out to see one!

We joined the annual subscriber program when we moved to the city 17 years ago and have never…read moreregretted the investment. The six plays throughout the year are often varied and wonderfully done. For us there is about one play a year that is difficult to stay for the second act; however the other five more than make up for it. Each year there is at least one play that goes on our all-time favourite list and you can see the staff work hard on variety and quality. The sets are wonderfully done and the behind the scenes tour is outstanding. A true gem in our city!

I just wish we had an institution celebrating human rights in the USA. Yeah...., we have a…read moreHolocaust Museum, an African American History Museum and others. But we lack a place where we can see not only the triumphs but also the history of oppression. Which in the US, it is being whitewashed - pun intended. Entering the facility the visitor sees the inaugural exhibit of the museum's opening by HM Queen Elizabeth II in 2010. Inlayed on the exhibit is a stone from the meadows of Runnymede at the place where the Magna Carta was signed, the precursor of constitutional government in modern Western Civilization. Thee institution then offers several exhibits depicting the progress of human rights in Canada. One in particular is the Purge of LGBT People in Canada. Of particular interest is that LGBT people had been a part of Native American culture for thousands of years, and a part of the subjugation of Native cultures was to extirpate tolerance. Sexual diversity, long practiced by First Nations, became a crime. Part of the exhibit is information about how Canada, same as the US, did everything possible to eliminate Native cultures by forcibly removing Native children from parents and sending them to schools where they would be stripped of their cultures. The exhibit on LGBT purges continued throughout Canadian history, its association with the U.S. during the Cold War, and additional developments until full incorporation on all citizens into Canadian life. An amazing historical institution.

Ok. I love museums and history. Checking this place out was on a list while in Winnipeg. Check…read moreout the special free days. Kids under 17 are also free. Located at the Forks with tons of paid parking available. There's gonna be plenty of walking when you come here. 6 levels of ramps with wide open spaces. Exhibits were interesting but minimal compared to the spaces they were in. I was expecting huge exhibits from eras gone by but left looking for more. Especially from the early civil rights and holocaust timelines. There's a great view of the city from the top observation deck but it's not for the faint of heart walking up those stairs. Take the elevator down to avoid the long walk out. Nice place to check out but for most people it's gonna be a one and done.

The place to meet - it is very popular with families and adults. Winnipegs latest place to go to…read moremeet friends and show out of town guests.

Tip: It gets humid at The Leaf, so wearing lighter clothing is recommended…read more The Leaf is an indoor horticultural display at Assiniboine Park that showcases distinct biomes: - Tropical (Hartley and Heather Richardson) - Mediterranean - Horticulture (Babs Asper display house) - Butterfly garden (Shirley Richardson) The Leaf is a nice addition to the park, with the Assiniboine Zoo nearby. It is a fairly new attraction, having opened in December 2022. The gardens around The Leaf opened the previous year. It's nice that you can visit the gardens whenever you'd like, as it's open 24 hours every day. It's free. There is plenty of parking in front of the building. I was picking up a couple of friends who were here (they took my recommendation) on our final full day in Winnipeg. The funny thing is that I am so used to parking in the lot and walking in that I parked. I then realized that I should be heading to the passenger pickup area... haha! If you are pressed for time, admiring the building itself and taking photos of it externally is a decent option. The roof is stunning. It's translucent for the plants inside to get some sunlight and looks like a blossoming flower that's unfurling. As a math fan, I learned that The Leaf's design stems (I'm so punny that it kills me) from nature and the Fibonacci sequence, specifically nautilus shells and sunflowers. Cool! I like butterflies. The butterfly garden is worth the price of admission. The variety of butterflies are incredible. They are beautiful and I learned so much doing a self-guided tour. It does get hot and humid in this building, as you'd expect with tropical plants and butterflies. Wearing lightweight clothing is recommended. Otherwise, you'll be sweating buckets. You do need a ticket to enter The Leaf. It's roughly $16 for an adult before taxes. You select a thirty-minute window to show up at The Leaf. You can stay as long as you want, even until closing time if you'd like! The Leaf has a gift shop to get souvenirs. I like the handmade items. You can also get tea and snacks. If you're hungry, it has a restaurant and a cafe. I haven't visited either of them yet. I hope to when I revisit this lovely venue. If you visit The Leaf often, consider getting a membership. There are various types of memberships, from family, to individual. You can also bundle it with the zoo. My friends enjoyed coming here. I was so pleased that they took my suggestion to visit The Leaf. I highly recommend it if you like horticulture and butterflies. (306)

The Saint-Boniface Museum isn't huge or fancy. I was surprised that none of the locals seemed to…read morehave ever gone there. It's a very easy museum to visit. There's plenty of street parking nearby. It's just outside of downtown. You don't need to dedicate a day to go through everything. You can just pop in and see everything in an hour or two. Admission is by suggested donation, so it's not going to be an expensive afternoon unless you're feeling particularly generous. The museum is located in Winnipeg's oldest existing building, which is a former convent. The Gray Sisters were brought in from Montreal in order to serve the tiny frontier community of Winnipeg, which meant providing everything they saw a need for: education, eldercare, nursing, boarding. If you're a local, you're already familiar with the institutions that have their roots in this building. I'd read about the history of Winnipeg and the ways Metis and Francophone cultures shaped Manitoba. It was still different to consider it in the restored building, looking at artifacts. I also spent a lot of time trying to make sense of the cult of personality around Louis Riel, which inspired quite a bit of reading and pestering my friends with questions. The museum is well worth a visit.

I work at The Forks, so I get plenty of questions from tourists about what there is to see in the…read morecity and The Winnipeg Railway Museum is a place that I always recommend. I visited in the middle of winter last year and it was fantastic. They've turned the old docking shelter for trains next to the station right into a rich tapestry of Winnipeg's past as a central shipping hub for North America. Rates are low--especially for students--and the sheer volume of detailed displays, preserved vehicles and train equipment, and interesting information is well worth the price of admission. There are multiple preserved trains cabs that you can explore inside of, my experience inside them brought me back to being a kid in the Children's Museum back before it was renovated. If you go in the winter, bring a coat! The interior is far too large and too old of a building to keep it heated, so it gets chilly!

Interesting museum with lots to see and read. Give at minimum 1 hour to walk through it all and do…read moresome reading. Good value for $7 entry fee.