The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. More
Hey there Kindergartners. Welcome. On this website you will learn all about familiar places and landmarks in Winnipeg and Manitoba.
Do you know what a landmark is? A landmark is a thing like a statue, a park, a building, or a river, that is important to people for some reason. Maybe that thing is important to Manitoba's history. Maybe that thing helps you figure out where you are if you're lost. Whatever the reason though a landmark is important to lots of Manitobans.
Below is a list of familiar places and landmarks in Winnipeg and Manitoba. How many have you seen before? Click on the name of each item to see a photograph of that place or landmark, why it is important to Manitobans, and to see how near or far it is from your house.
This is a photograph of the Forks. Have you ever been to the Forks? What did you do there? Have you ever been inside the Forks Market? Can you find it in this photo? The Forks is where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet. The Forks is important to Manitobans because it has been a place where people meet for thousands of years. First Aboriginal Peoples and then fur traders would gather together at the Forks. Today it is Winnipeg's most popular tourist spot. Often the Red and Assiniboine Rivers flood the Forks. Does it look like the rivers have flooded the Forks in this photograph?
This is a photograph of the corner of Portage Avenue and Main Street in Winnipeg. This is one of the most famous corners in Canada and the United States. Many people have called it the windiest and coldest corner in North America. Have you ever stood at the corner of Portage and Main? Did you find it windy or cold? Does the corner look different today than it does in the photograph? If so, how?
The Manitoba Legislative Building is where Manitoba politicians, called Members of the Legislative Assembly or MLAs, meet to discuss issues that are important to all Manitobans. Inside the building is a large staircase called the Grand Staircase and two life-size bison statues. Have you ever been inside the Manitoba Legislative Building? What is the name of the statue on top of the building?
The name of the statue on the top of the Manitoba Legislative Building is the Golden Boy. The Golden Boy is holding a torch in one hand and wheat in his other hand. The statue is actually made of bronze and is painted gold. In 2002, the Golden Boy was taken down to be cleaned and re-painted. The statue is a lot brighter and easier to see now!
Winnipeg City Hall is where the Mayor of Winnipeg and other city politicians meet to discuss issues that are important to the people of Winnipeg. Do you know who the Mayor of Winnipeg is? City Hall is actually a group of four buildings, not just one. These buildings were built in 1964 after the old City Hall, which was nearly 80 years old, had to be torn down because it was not safe.
This is a photograph of the Assiniboine Park Pavilion. When you see this landmark, you know that you are in Assiniboine Park. There are lots of things to see and do in Assiniboine Park. You can walk, run, hike, bike, play, picnic, or do just about anything you can imagine outdoors. You can also look at all the pretty flowers and plants in the Conservatory, all the animals in the Zoo, and listen to music or watch a play at the Lyric Theatre. What is your favourite thing to do at Assiniboine Park?
This is a photograph of an entrance to the Assiniboine Park Zoo. The Zoo contains more than 1250 animals including polar bears, tigers, monkeys, camels, birds, and lizards. The Zoo also contains a petting zoo of farm animals. What is your favourite animal at the Zoo? Have you been to the Zoo during the holiday season to see "Lights of the Wild" or around Halloween to see "Boo at the Zoo"?
Did you know that Winnie-the-Pooh got his name from the bear in this statue? This statue is located in Assiniboine Park. It shows a soldier holding hands with a bear cub. During the First World War, a soldier who was living in Winnipeg had a bear cub as a pet. He named the cub Winnie after the city of Winnipeg. The cub eventually found a home in a London zoo where the writer of Winnie-the-Pooh saw him and named the character after this cub.
This is a photograph of the courtyard at the old Centennial Library in Winnipeg. A centennial is a celebration of a period of 100 years. The Centennial Library was built in 1976 to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday. A millennium is a period of 1000 years. To celebrate the second millennium in 2000, the Centennial Library was renovated and renamed the Millennium Library when it opened in 2005. It contains thousands of great books to read. Have you ever borrowed a book from the Millennium Library?
The Manitoba Museum features displays on the history of Manitoba's people, plants, animals, fossils, rocks, and minerals. Two popular exhibits are the 1920s Winnipeg street scene and the ship theNonsuch. The Museum's Science Gallery lets children explore science through fun experiments. The Planetarium teaches people about the sky, stars, and space by showing movies on its ceiling that make you feel like you're looking up into space. What is your favourite part of the Museum and Planetarium?
Have you ever flown on a plane or a jet? If you have then you've probably been to the Winnipeg James Armstrong International Airport. This photograph shows you what it looks like inside the airport. Hundreds of jets land and take off from this airport everyday. In fact, it is the seventh-busiest airport in Canada. It is named after a Winnipeg businessman who helped develop air travel in western Canada.
Canwest Park is the home of Winnipeg's professional baseball team, the Winnipeg Goldeyes. Have you ever been to a Goldeyes game at Canwest Park? The park opened in 1999 for the Pan American Games baseball tournament. In addition to baseball games, Canwest Park has also hosted several outdoor music concerts.
If you're a fan of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers then you've probably heard of Canad Inns Stadium. That's where the Blue Bombers play football. Have you seen a football game at Canad Inns Stadium? The stadium has also hosted the Grey Cup championship football game several times. In addition to football games, Canad Inns Stadium has also hosted the opening ceremonies for the 1999 Pan American Games and several large outdoor music concerts.
This is a photograph of a crowd watching an event inside the Pan Am Pool in Winnipeg. The Pan Am Pool often hosts swimming and diving contests. It was built in 1967 to host the swimming and diving competitions for the Pan American Games. The pool is also open to public swimming and diving. Have you ever gone for a swim or taken swimming lessons at the Pan Am Pool?
Oak Hammock Marsh is a large area of open marsh land and surrounding trees and grass. Many birds, especially ducks and geese, live in and around the marsh. Oak Hammock Marsh is a great spot to go bird-watching. This photograph is of the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre where people can learn more about the marsh and the wildlife that live in it.
Riding Mountain National Park is one of two national parks in Manitoba. The purpose of Riding Mountain National Park is to preserve the animals, trees, and plants in the park. There are lots of fun things to do in the park including hiking, biking, or swimming in Clear Lake in the summer, or skiing and snoeshowing on the trails in the winter. This photograph shows the north entrance to Riding Mountain National Park.
Have you ever been to the Winnipeg Folk Festival? Every year the festival is held in Birds Hill Provincial Park. This is a photograph of people sitting down and listening to a band during the Folk Festival in Birds Hill Provincial Park. The park is also a nice place to walk, ride your bike, or ride horses on the many trails in the park. It is also a great place to swim and camp.
This is a photograph of the dock at Nutimik Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park. Nutimik Lake is just one of several lakes in the park. Falcon Lake and West Hawk Lake are two other larger lakes in the park where you can swim or fish. Whiteshell Provincial Park is also a great place to walk, bike, hike, ski, camp, or have a picnic.
The main attraction in Grand Beach Provincial Park is Grand Beach itself. Have you ever swam in the water or played in the sand at Grand Beach? Many people consider Grand Beach to be one of the best beaches in all of Canada and the United States. The long, white sandy beach and warm weather make it a popular tourist spot for thousands of people each year.
This is is a photograph of several boats at the dock of Gull Harbour. Gull Harbour is located in Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park. One of the more famous landmarks in this park is the lighthouse at Gull Harbour. Can you see the lighthouse in this photograph? The lighthouse shines a light on the water to help boats see where they are going at night.