Page 75 - DreamScapes Magazine | Winter 2024/2025

C I T Y S P O T L I G H T
Peg Your Heart
to Winnipeg
COME FOR THE FOOD,
STAY FOR THE ART BY SHEL ZOLKEWICH
Venture to the centre of Canada and be
rewarded with a treat for your cultural
heart. Winnipeg’s artistic soul meanders
through music and movies (it’s a hub for pro-
duction), galleries and museums, history and
architecture and not to be overlooked—food!
CULTURAL IMMERSION:
LET THERE BE ART AND LIGHT
Begin an eye-opening exploration at Qaumajuq
where the planet’s largest collection of contem-
porary Inuit art lives. The three-storey glass
vault, filled with a selection of pieces, will
undoubtedly grab your attention—it’s called
Iluvat and means “our relatives” in Inuktitut.
Then amble to the Winnipeg Art Gallery for
inspiring new exhibitions. For art’s sake, do not
miss the gift shop.
It’s called The Leaf and the name couldn’t be
more fitting. Four biomes offer endless colour,
texture and fragrance inside this impressive
horticultural addition to Assiniboine Park. Do a
deep dive into botany with the daily Gardener
Chat. Then grab a lunch of smoked Arctic char
and chorizo spiced tacos at Gather, the green-
house’s restaurant.
WHY GO NOW?
With the opening of The Leaf,
Qaumajuq at the Winnipeg
Art Gallery and the Royal
Aviation Museum of Western
Canada, it’s fair to say that
Winnipeg is having a
moment. Paired with a crop
of inspired new restaurants,
local designers creating chic
looks and entertainment
galore, The Peg is showing
off its small city vibe with big
city charm for visitors, yes
even in winter!
ROOMS WITH A VIEW
It’s impossible to miss the colourful vertical
tubes that surround Mere, a boutique hotel,
nestled in the east Exchange District. Style and
simplicity here, with spacious rooms, sump-
tuous showers and real coffee cups! Take a few
steps to Cibo Waterfront Café, order the pickerel
fritto and watch the flowing Red River.
A CITY OF GOOD EATS
There’s something about brunch, and Clemen-
tine does it right. So right, this year, the eatery in
the Exchange District made the coveted Canada’s
100 Best Restaurants list. Find pork belly chi-
laquiles, rhubarb jam with whipped vanilla goat
cheese toast and really, really great coffee.
Meanwhile in the St. Boniface neighbour-
hood, Chef Dean Herkert draws on the old ways
to bring something entirely new at Bistro on
Notre Dame. With Metis morsels on the menu,
start with Zaayoon, a herbed bison broth
flavoured with caramelized onions and extra
old red wine cheddar, then take your pick from
Kanaar + Krep, that’s a plate of smoked duck leg
wedged on a wild rice waffle or Pwasoon +
Paataak, a decadent dose of crispy beer-battered
whitefish with duck fat fries.
FEEL THE VINYL
Hear the floorboards creak in the historic
building that houses Into the Music, Winnipeg’s
browsing bonanza for those who love to flip,
flip, flip through the albums.
DS
TRAVEL PLANNER
To start planning your visit, see tourismwinnipeg.com
WINTER 2024/2025 DREAMSCAPES 75