Earth Day takes place on Tuesday, April 22 this year –– so most attractions that are celebrating it, are doing so on the weekend of the 26th-27th.
Outside of special upcoming activities, these eco-friendly attractions always educate, provide insight and above all, inspire –– offering the perfect way to celebrate Earth Day, everyday.
FortWhyte Alive
Winnipeg's greenest attraction's motto is, “connecting humans with nature,” which is evident everywhere you look. Spread out over 660 acres you'll encounter several small lakes; marshlands; hiking and biking trails through beautiful aspen forests; stretches of prairie that are home to North America’s largest urban bison herd; and a handsome Interpretive Centre with a farm-to-table restaurant and patios overlooking the lakes. As of April 23, FortWhyte Alive will also unveil Manitoba’s most climate resilient building, Buffalo Crossing, that you can access off a new entrance on McGillivray Boulevard
While Earth Day is officially on Tuesday, April 22, FortWhyte Alive will be hosting its annual Earth Day celebration on Sunday, April 27. Along with being able to explore the stunning new Buffalo Crossing, you and the family can enjoy numerous eco-themed activities and workshops covering everything from gardening to urban forestry and ecological education. They will of course have plenty of interactive activities for kiddos, including crafts, too. Best of all, admission to FortWhyte Alive will be free from April 23 to 27 to celebrate the opening of Buffalo Crossing.
FortWhyte Alive is located at 1961 McCreary Road, and is open everyday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Assiniboine Park Zoo & The Leaf
While celebrated for breathtaking experiences like watching polar bears dive and swim right over your head, the zoo is also a noted conservation and research facility. At a glance, Assiniboine Park Zoo participates in Manitoba species conservation by creating habitats for grassland butterflies and helping burrowing owl populations recover, while internationally they participate in Saving Animals from Extinction (SAFE) initiatives.
You can learn all about this on Saturday, April 26 as the zoo begins its Party for the Planet series. That Saturday, free tours will detail conservation in action at the zoo, along with providing inspiring stories on animals from across the world. Advance registration is not required and these hour-long walking tours will run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the hour, each hour.
The Leaf, particularly its abundant outdoor gardens, is all about celebrating plants and tree species. Literally, Winnipeg's newest world-class attraction couldn't be greener. The striking conical glass building that holds these thousands of plant species, along with all the winged inhabitants of its butterfly garden, is Gold LEED certified for sustainable design too.
On now until June 1, The Leaf is featuring the Green Thumbs, Green Future: The Sustainable Garden exhibition in the Babs Asper Display House. The colourful, winding exhibit is all about creating eco-friendly and eco-enhancing natural retreats.
As part of the park's Party for the Planet series, The Leaf will also host a Window Curtain Workshop on Saturday, April 26 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The workshop will be all about songbirds, detailing what the park is doing to help them and what you can do at home –– staring with a window curtain. Registration is a must, as this experience will fill quickly.
The Forks
Manitoba’s most-visited tourism destination is also a champion of sustainability. Even the bustling Forks Market –– where you’ll find authentic culinary options that span the globe –– has countless green practices in place, from water conservation to composting and reusable service ware, to turning deep fry oil into biofuel for The Forks’ buggies, ice resurfacer and truck. Both the Market and Johnston Terminal use geothermal heating, the Forks grounds features orchards and bee sanctuaries that soon will be blooming and buzzing, while each new initiative is scrutinized under its Target Zero goal of zero garbage, zero water waste and zero carbon emissions.
Many of the retail shops also sell eco-friendly products in The Forks Market, with special mentions to Planet Pantry –– a shop dedicated to eliminating plastics and Tall Grass Prairie –– one of North America’s first organic bakeries; a delicious spot that mills local heritage breeds of wheat onsite and labels every farm it works with on a large map of Manitoba.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) takes visitors on a journey through the evolution, celebration and future of human rights –– all within an awe-inspiring LEED® Silver certified building with numerous green features. Rainwater harvesting, multiple living roofs, high-efficiency heating and cooling and draught resistance grounds brimming with traditional prairie grasses are just a few of the reasons the CMHR has won awards including the Leadership Award for the Advancement of Accessible Environment Design and the Award of Excellent in Accessible Environmental design.
Within its galleries several exhibits examine the link between human rights and the environment.
Opening (soon) after Earth Day
Oak Hammock Marsh
The mission here is to introduce people to wetlands, which happens almost instantaneously when you look out over the vast marsh from the new Oak Hammock Marsh Wetland Discovery Centre (scheduled to reopen in May after massive upgrades). Perched above the marsh on its observation deck, you’ll hear sounds emanating from upwards of 300 species of birds, countless amphibians and dozens of mammals who call this place home. Inside you’ll find interactive exhibits dedicated to the region’s flora and fauna.
This globally significant Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) was designed to be a key migratory habitat and waterfowl-breeding centre. You can learn all about it on a Bird in the Hand Experience where you'll feel the feathers of a newly banded songbird flutter in the palm of your hand before releasing it into the wild (all part of important migratory research). Of course, you can also enter the wetlands wearing fishing waders, or traverse them in large canoes while the smell of blooming wildflowers and close encounters with colourful birds perched on cattails are on the agenda. It’s equal parts adventure and ecology, but all at a super chill and tranquil pace.
Sustainable fashions
Across the city, numerous Winnipeg stores and makers pride themselves on their sustainable fashions using eco-conscious materials.
Just south of Osborne Village is where you’ll find Anne Mulaire Boutique, featuring sustainable and size-inclusive fashions by the local Métis designer. In her own words, Mulaire has “hacked the fashion game to bring you truly circular garments that speak volumes in both looks and principles” all while creating “chic, cool, and zero-waste" collections. All of Mulaire’s eco-friendly designs utilize organic materials like hemp, bamboo and organic cotton.
In a swish newly updated location on Sherbrook Street, local designer Lennard Taylor makes wearable art out of sustainable materials. Using natural fabrics like lyocell, linen, organic cotton, Mirum and dead stock that would otherwise have ended up in a landfill, Taylor creates circular collections for both men and women, with each garment produced right here in Winnipeg.
Sarah Sue Design offers modern, minimalist clothing in sizes XS-5X, using eco-friendly fabrics like linen, hemp, and bamboo. Committed to zero waste, Sarah repurposes fabric scraps into new designs or donates them. She also provides garment alterations to prolong longevity of garments and hosts vintage pop-up sales. Designed and produced in Winnipeg, pieces are available online and at markets year-round.
