Go to Winnipeg and Ontario
Winnipeg (“muddy creek” in Cree) is the capital of Manitoba and started out as a trading post for the Native American that lived in that area. Later on, a fort was put up by the French, which blossomed into a settlement around 1812. It’s been keeping up is speed in growth since then and is now one of the more influential cities in Canada.
In order to understand how it all began, your first stop should be the Forks National Historic Site. Named for the two rivers, the Red and the Assiniboine, which cross where the city lies, this museum is set by the river and runs exhibits that feature the rich and sometimes violent history of the area.
On display in nearby Assiniboine Park is a painting by Ernest H. Shepard of Winnipeg Bear, more commonly known as Winnie-the-Pooh. What came into being when Lt. Harry Colebourn purchased a bear he named after his regiment’s home town spawned a whole series of books written by A. A. Milne, who was inspired by the bear that was a favorite of his son, Christopher Robin.
Why not take in a walking tour of the St. Boniface Basilica? Unfortunately almost completely razed to the ground in 1968, the original facade is still maintained as a reminder of the old church. A new one, however, has been built on the ruins and is a fascinating place to explore.
Right beside the ruins of the old church is the St Boniface Museum, the oldest building in Winnipeg and also the biggest oak-log construction in North America. Converted from a former convent, it features exhibits on how the Basilica was established and how the Grey Nuns of St Boniface made an amazing 3,000 km journey in the middle of the 19th century to reach this place.