Closed physically, but open virtually, virtually any time of day. That’s what we have on offer during COVID lockdown week seven.
Wash those hands and start exploring these Winnipeg attractions with those keys:
There’s merriment in the air and at the wetlands of Oak Hammock Marsh these days, with a good deal of it being presented in “Marsh Minutes” on its Facebook page. These cheeky videos answer the call of the wild (along with email and FB queries) while showcasing the birds, turtles and mammals who call the wetlands home.
Manitoba Museum is now hosting virtual field trips, including Strike 1919 on Friday, May 1 at 10 a.m. Up to 100 people can join their Zoom feed, which will provide a virtual field trip focused on the Winnipeg General Strike. They will also be streaming the experience on Facebook.
On top of this, the museum is offering plenty of MM@Home, including Planetarium shows like Dynamic Earth (narrated by Liam Neeson) and The Zula Patrol: Down to Earth.
FortWhyte Alive will still set you on course for some outdoor adventures, even though it might not be in this brilliant nature reserve. The FortWhyte At Home site shows you how social distancing doesn’t have to mean disconnecting from nature. It features "Neighbourhood Hike"r guides, "Backyard Birding" downloadable guides and other Walden-like goodies and tidbits of info.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights has two new virtual experiences since we last checked in. “A View from the Top” guides you through the Inspiring Challenge Gallery, followed up with some views from the Tower of Hope.
The latest experience, which was published on April 22, gives viewers a near five-minute tour of architect Antoine Predock’s design, from the landscape surrounding its exterior, to its iconic alabaster ramp ways and the Garden of Contemplation.
The website also features a page where you can share your COVID-19 acts of kindness, which they are also highlighting on Instagram.
The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada now offers the opportunity to explore over 20 virtual cockpits from its roster of planes. We went in the the Junker 52, and like its name, it doesn’t really exude confidence, while the Lockheed Electra would surely hit our style and comfort needs in the air.
Needless to say, after taking our virtual tour, we are now even more excited to see all these aircraft in the brand new museum when it opens in 2021.
Festival du Voyageur was one of Winnipeg’s few marquee festivals that COVID-19 did not affect, as it took place in February. To keep the community tight during the pandemic, they’ve created this Party de Cuisine - COVID-19 Virtual Manitoba Kitchen Party page, which is full of more blazing fiddles than one can imagine. New songs are being uploaded daily, providing a showcase for Francophone folk tunes, Métis jigs and some comedic performances too.
While we’ve highlighted it before, we can’t help but share again all the cool stuff the Winnipeg Art Gallery is currently doing during COVID-19 via WAG@Home. We really hope they continue with the "Colouring the Collection" downloadable colouring pages (great for kids and adults too!), while the art-inspired activities and WAG word searches are great for all you parents out there looking for a fun way to homeschool.
Assiniboine Park Zoo continues to stay connected with twice-weekly “Creature Features,” featuring animals from wolves, to stingrays, polar bears and llamas. This new Earth Day One, featuring red pandas, is a personal favourite.
And speaking of sporty animals, Winnipeg's AHL Manitoba Moose created fun activity booklets for kids - which you can download here. The team is also putting out a call to nominate your local COVID all-star, so they can spread the love on social media.