OPTIONAL TOURS
Winnipeg and the surrounding area offers many experiences within a short walk, 10 minutes to a 1-hour drive.
The Congress Committee will host a reservation/ help desk
to assist you from Wednesday afternoon through to Saturday morning.
Heartland Travel (Skalleague Jayde Finkbeiner) is coordinating optional tours for Saturday AM & PM.
Organized Optional Tours Saturday
Book and pay directly [email protected] 1-866-890-3377
The Heart of a Nation City Tour
Saturday May 04, 2024 – 8:30am – 11:30am
Experience the most incredible sites and stories Winnipeg has to offer on our award-winning Heart of the Nation City tour. Learn why Manitoba’s capital should be called ‘Secret New York’, where to visit Winnipeg in outer space, and our city’s shocking connection to James Bond. We share a side of Winnipeg you’ve never seen before, and we love using games and trivia to do it. If you want to find out which cartoon character is an honourary Winnipegger (no, it’s not Winnie the Pooh), reflect at one of the last residential school buildings in the country, see the house where Neil Young grew up, and learn the inspirational story of a Winnipegger whose decision to go for a run changed Canada forever, this is the tour for you.
Highlights include:
St. Boniface, Winnipeg’s charming French Quarter
The Exchange District houses North America’s largest collection of turn-of-the-century architecture
Canada Life Centre hockey arena, home of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets hockey team
The community club where rock legends The Guess Who got their start
The grand 400-acre Assiniboine Park
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the world’s only human rights museum; and
The Manitoba Legislative Building is one of Canada’s most mysterious architectural wonders.|
Cost: CAD $65 per person tax inclusive
The Royal Canadian Mint & Centre of Canada
Saturday May 04, 2024 – 8:30am – 11:30am
Visit this high-tech, high-volume manufacturing facility where coins from more than 75 countries around the world have been made. Every single coin in Canadian circulation gets it start here, resulting in billions being made every year. Sign up for an insightful tour of the facility to fully appreciate the nuances of the minting process. Visit the interactive coin museum and boutique that allows visitors to strike their own coin, purchase rare collector coins, and get up close a pure gold bar worth over $700,000. Check out the Olympic medal display – The Royal Canadian Mint helped manufacture the hardware for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Every tour is personally led by one of our knowledgeable guides who will walk you through the production process, offer insights on our major milestones and entertain you with unique stories about the Mint.
After touring the Mint, you are transferred to the Centre of Canada. The Centre of Canada Park sits at the longitudinal Centre of our beautiful country at 96° 48’ 35” W, on Highway 1 East near Provincial Trunk Highway 206 East.
Tour Highlights
- Get a bird’s eye view at our production floor
- Learn about the state-of-the-art technology used to mass-produce circulation coins
- Learn about the skill and precision that goes into coin design
- Learn about our record-breaking “Million Dollar Coin”
- Get up close and personal with the 2010 Vancouver medals
Included:
Admission to the Mint
Behind the scenes Guided Tour of the Mint
Trip to the Centre of Canada
Roundtrip Transportation from Delta Hotel
Cost: $75 CAD per person tax inclusive
Manitoba Museum
Saturday, May 04, 2024 – 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Experience Manitoba’s stories and explore worlds beyond your imagination at the Manitoba Museum. Through its three core attractions, a human and natural history museum, planetarium, and science gallery, the Museum engages and delights visitors of any age, and provides hours of enjoyment for all in one easy-to-access location.
Set off on a thrilling voyage of excitement and discovery in the Museum Galleries, where you can travel through time, explore a 17th-century full-scale replica of the Nonsuch (Henry Hudson discovered Hudson Bay), stroll through fields and forests, and hear stories of the people and events that shaped our province.
The Planetarium shares the wonders of the universe with visitors of all ages. We recreate the current night sky, highlight the latest space discoveries, and follow the developments of the space program. Enjoy feature productions, imaginative children’s shows, and interactive multimedia experiences.
Included:
Admission to the Manitoba Museum
Guided Tour of the Galleries
Roundtrip Transportation from Delta Hotel
Cost: CAD $90 per person tax inclusive
The WAG-Qaumajuq
Saturday, May 04, 2024 – 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
WAG-Qaumajuq has grown into one of the country’s leading visual art museums with an international reputation! Founded in 1912, the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) is one of Canada’s first civic art galleries, housed in an iconic modernist building in the heart of downtown Winnipeg. Opened in 2021, Qaumajuq (the Inuit art centre) is a contemporary architectural landmark that connects to the WAG building on all four levels.
WAG-Qaumajuq features an impressive collection of over 27,000 artworks spanning centuries, cultures, and media, including the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world. We are at the forefront of promoting Manitoba and Canadian artists nationwide and abroad. Our exhibitions are supported by a diverse mix of programs, events, and partnerships.
The Gallery Shop at WAG-Qaumajuq features unique pieces from Manitoba and Canadian artists including inspired jewelry, home décor, books, artwork, and much more. As always, all purchases support WAG-Qaumajuq and artists in Canada.
Included:
Admission to the WAG & Qaumajuq
Guided Tour of the Galleries
Roundtrip Transportation from Delta Hotel
Cost: CAD $90 per person tax inclusive
MORE optional experiences that you can explore!
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
5 – 10 Minute Walk
Winnipeg Art Gallery – Qaumajuq Gallery
The gallery houses the worlds largest collection of Inuit art with over 13,000 pieces. See the new gallery with the glass curating vault.
The Forks/ Johnson Terminal
National Historic Site. Shops, dining, River Walk, National Park, Indigenous history, antique shopping, and much more
15 – 20 Minute Walk
5 minute ride
Manitoba Museum
A human and natural history museum exploring Manitoba’s history. Also, board the Nonsuch, a full scale replica of the ship Henry Hudson sailed when discovering Hudson Bay
Exchange District
Protected Heritage area with over 100 buildings from the 1880’s era. Often used in major movies as a backdrop for old Chicago. Walking tour, shops, galleries, dining and more!
St Boniface Museum
Originally built in 1847, it was the first hospital, orphanage, and senior residence in Western Canada. It was converted into a museum in 1963. It houses the rich history of the Francophone and Metis communities with 30,000 artifacts. The building itself is an artifact as the largest oak log structure in North America.
20 minute ride
Royal Canadian Mint
Minting coins for Canada and for over 80 countries around the world. See the full production system & visit the gift store.
Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
Explore the history of opening the north, trans-Canada flight, and Aerospace research, and see the Aero Avrocar project designed by Avro Canada with the US Airforce. A FLYING SAUCER? (Only 2 exist in the world: Winnipeg and the Smithsonian Washington)
RECOMENDED TO BOOK SERVICES SEVERAL WEEKS IN ADVANCE
The ultimate relaxation experience
This relaxation and healing center is mainly focused on thermotherapy and relaxation techniques. It offers a multi-sensory experience in an immersive natural setting and is aimed at contributing to the health and well-being of its guests.
45 – 60 minute drive
Narcisse Garter Snakes
The worlds largest gathering of snakes from miles around for winter hibernation. In the spring, an estimated 70,000 snakes emerge from the den over a 3 week period in May to bask in the sun and mate. You can visit the area and see literally thousands of snakes in mating balls.
Fort Whyte Alive
A unique environmental, education, and recreation facility on the edge of the City. Up to 40,000 geese use this waterway as a staging area for their spring and fall migration. You might not see all the geese, you can take a ride right into the middle of a herd of wild bison!
