Happy Friday, Winnipeg!
It's a special weekend ahead. Mother's Day is on Sunday, and if you've been meaning to do something nice for your mom, this is your reminder to make a plan.
Take her out for brunch, drive her around the city, sit on the porch with her, or just give her a real hug. Whatever it looks like, the time itself is the gift.
Grab your morning coffee, settle in, and let's dive into what's happening around Winnipeg.
In today’s edition:
The Letter From the Government You Don't Want to Miss
Homes of the Week
Manitoba Declares a Public Health Emergency Over Rising HIV Cases
Winnipeg's Zoning Rules Are Getting Their First Rewrite in 20 Years
9 Vintage Spots In Winnipeg Every Local Needs To Know About
50+ Events this weekend & Live Music!
— Jas Singh
News
The Letter From the Government You Don't Want to Miss
Source: Statistics Canada
If a letter from the federal government showed up in your mailbox recently, it's not junk mail.
Canada's 2026 Census is officially underway, and every household in the country is required by law to fill it out.
The census runs every five years and helps governments plan everything from schools and hospitals to transit routes and social programs.
Your answers shape what services get funded and where they go.
Here's what you need to know:
Invitation letters went out starting May 4
There are two versions: the short-form census with 20 questions, and the long-form census with 70 questions. One in four households will receive the long form
New questions this year cover sexual orientation, health status and homelessness
Deadline to complete: May 12
Households that don’t complete it can receive reminder letters, calls, visits, and fines up to $500
Most people submit the census online using the code included in their letter, but phone and mail options are available too.
And while it might feel like just another form, the information shapes a lot of the decisions that affect everyday life in communities across Canada.
P.S. Share this with your friends and family so they won't have to pay the fine!
Together with Lilax Studio!
Everything You Need to Start Sewing in One Place
Most people who want to learn how to sew have been saying it for years…
This is the easiest way to finally do it.
Lilax Studio is best known for their sewing classes, built to make sewing fun and approachable whether you've never touched a machine or just need a push to get started.
But they're also Winnipeg's newest fabric shop, with a carefully curated selection of fabrics and notions you won't find just anywhere in the city.
As they like to say, they don't have everything, but they might just have exactly what you need.
Here's what's available:
Natural fibre fabrics like linen, cotton, viscose, and other sustainable materials
Vintage and reclaimed fabrics with real character
Unique prints and textures you won't find anywhere else
Sewing kits with fabric, notions, and instructions for a finished project
They know fabrics because they sew, and that shows in everything they carry.
And if you know a mom who's always wanted to try something creative, this might be the most thoughtful Mother's Day gift you can give her this weekend.
Click the link below to explore all their kits, fabrics, and classes to find the one that's right for you!
Homes of the Week:
Home 1: Under $450k
Price: $149,900
Address: 303B 3416 Vialoux Drive / Charleswood
Details: 790 sqft / 1 Bed / 1 Bath
Built in: 1979
Parking Type: Parking Pad
Click here: To view the full house & plan your showing!
Home 2: $450k - $650K
Price: $569,900
Address: 2 234 Wellington Crescent / Crescentwood
Details: 1622 sqft / 2 Bed / 2 Bath
Built in: 2017
Parking Type: Other, Underground
Click here: To view the full house & plan your showing!
Home 3: Over $650k
Price: $4,499,000
Address: 815 Fraser Road / South St Vital
Details: 6598 sqft / 4 Bed / 8 Bath
Built in: 2021
Parking Type: Attached Garage, Tandem, Other
Click here: To view the full house & plan your showing!
City Updates
Manitoba Declares a Public Health Emergency Over Rising HIV Cases
Earlier this week, Manitoba's chief public health officer declared a public health emergency in response to a significant rise in HIV cases across the province.
New cases climbed from 90 in 2019 to 328 in 2025. Manitoba now has one of the highest HIV rates in Canada, with the largest number of cases diagnosed right here in Winnipeg.
Here are a few things Winnipeggers should know:
HIV in Manitoba is most commonly spread through injection drug use and unprotected heterosexual sex
More than half of new cases in the province are in women, most under the age of 40
Free medication that can significantly reduce the risk of contracting HIV is available through the Manitoba Enhanced Pharmacare Program
In response, the province is launching a new HIV Response Steering Committee to coordinate prevention, testing, and care across Manitoba.
Health officials are also reminding Manitobans that early testing is one of the most important steps anyone can take, and that people who get treatment early can live long, healthy lives.
Winnipeg's Zoning Rules Are Getting Their First Rewrite in 20 Years
Zoning rules might not sound exciting, but they shape everything you see when you walk around your neighbourhood.
Where housing gets built, where shops open, how streets are laid out.
And for the first time in 20 years, Winnipeg is updating those rules.
The city is inviting residents to share what's working, what isn't, and what kind of city they want to live in going forward.
Here's how to get involved:
Fill out the online survey open until Friday, June 5
Attend one of five in-person open houses starting May 19 at locations across the city, including RBC Convention Centre, St. Vital Centre, and Outlet Collection Winnipeg
Join the virtual open house on Wednesday, May 27 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. (registration required)
All in-person events run 4 to 7 p.m. and are drop-in format.
This is a real chance to help shape how Winnipeg grows. So if there's something about your neighbourhood you'd love to see change, now is the time to say so.
Click here: To take the survey or register for an open house
Community Digest
Manitoba Mosaic Awards: Nominate Someone Who Deserves Recognition
Manitoba is once again recognizing the people helping make the province more welcoming, connected, and inclusive.
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Manitoba Mosaic Awards, which celebrate newcomers, immigrants, refugees, community leaders, businesses, and organizations making a positive impact across Manitoba.
Here are a few categories being recognized:
Youth leaders helping bring communities together
Community champions creating welcoming spaces
Indigenous leaders building connections across cultures
Organizations and employers supporting newcomers
A total of 12 recipients will be recognized during Manitoba's Welcoming Week this September. Nominations close July 15, so there's still time to put someone forward.
Every city and province is shaped by the people who show up for others. So if someone comes to mind while reading this, click the link below and nominate them!
Click here: To submit your nomination before July 15!
9 Vintage Spots In Winnipeg Every Local Needs To Know About
If you've been looking for an excuse to explore a few new neighbourhoods this spring, a thrifting day might be just the thing.
That’s why we’ve put together a list of 9 local vintage and secondhand shops worth knowing about, with something for every style and budget.
A few highlights from the list:
Clothing Bakery (70 Arthur St): 70s to early 2000s pieces in a great downtown storefront
Chip's Vintage (143 Sherbrook St): colour-coordinated racks, hand-picked by the owner, fair prices
Mulvey Market (421 Mulvey Ave E): Winnipeg's largest year-round indoor weekend market, running since 2001 with over 40 vendors and a cafe inside
Old Gold Vintage Vinyl (187 Osborne St): a proper record shop in Osborne Village with a rotating selection worth digging through
And there are five more on the full list, each with their own character and worth a stop.
Whether you're after a great find or just a fun afternoon out, these spots are worth a visit.
Exciting Events: May 8th - 10th
Events marked with ($) require a ticket in advance. Please search them up before going.
Sports🏀
Winnipeg Run Club | 8AM, May 9 (FREE)
Location: The Forks
DND Run Club | 9AM, May 10 (FREE)
Location: Saintuary Cafe
Community Fun🎆
Science Rendezvous | 11AM-3PM, May 9 (FREE)
Location: Fort Garry campus, University of Manitoba
Description: Manitoba's largest hands-on science and engineering festival, open to everyone, free to attend, with no sign-ups necessary.
Birding at The Forks | 9:30AM, May 9 (FREE)
Location: The Forks
Description: Join Bird Friendly Winnipeg and Justin Rasmussen from the University of Manitoba's Indigenous Birding Club for a guided birding walk at The Forks in celebration of World Migratory Bird Day!
Mother’s Day (2016) & MAMMA MIA (2008) - A Movie at The MET
| 10AM-2PM, May 10 ($)Location: The Metropolitan Entertainment Centre
Mom’s Special Day | May 10 (More Info)
Location: Manitoba Children's Museum
Description: The Children’s Museum is welcoming all moms with half-price admission all day long – because the best memories are made together.
Markets🎡
2026 Family Fun Spring Fair | May 8-10 (Tickets)
Location: Assiniboia Downs
Description: Get ready, Winnipeg! Wonder Shows Midway is back with our Annual Family Fun Spring Fair at Assiniboia Downs — and it’s bigger, brighter, and better than ever!
Moms & Makers Market | May 8-9 (FREE)
Location: Hargrave Street Market
Description: This thoughtfully curated market brings together female entrepreneurs, local makers, and small businesses for a weekend of shopping, dining, and community.
The Veiled Raven Presents A Mad Hatter’s Market and Tea Party
| 11AM-5PM, May 9 (More Info)Location: Deer Lodge Community Centre
Description: Step into a realm where shadows dance with intricate designs and where every creation tells a story steeped in the mystery and intrigue.
Scattered Seeds “Mother’s Day Special” | 10AM, May 9-10 (Tickets)
Note: Use code WPGDIGEST15 at checkout for 15% off!
Location: Exhibition Place at Red River Exhibition Park
Description: Just in time for Mother’s Day, this special edition of our market brings together a beautifully curated lineup of makers offering one-of-a-kind finds you won’t see anywhere else.
St. Norbert Farmers’ Market | 10AM-2PM, May 9 (FREE)
Location: Le Marché St Norbert Farmers Market
Description: For more than thirty years the St.Norbert Farmers’ Market has been serving Winnipeg and the surrounding area with fresh farm foods and handcrafted goods made in Manitoba.
Performances🎭
Rubaboo - A Métis Cabaret | May 8-23 ($)
Location: John Hirsch Mainstage
Description: Métis singer-songwriter Andrea Menard's feast for the senses blends master storytelling with the beauty of Métis culture through music, dance and visual art.
Otosan | May 9-17 ($)
Location: Manitoba Theatre for Young People
Description: Featuring puppets, real wildlife footage projections, highly physical storytelling and an original score, Otosan is based on playwright Skizuka Kai’s real life experiences of trying to connect with her father, a dedicated wildlife documentary videographer.
Comedy❗
Jesse Singh | 8:30PM, May 8-9 ($)
Location: The Basement Comedy Lounge
Description: Back at The Basement after a sold out run last year, Jesse Singh brings his sharp and hilarious stand up to Winnipeg.
Jason Cheny - CONCERT SERIES | May 8-9 ($)
Location: Rumor's Restaurant & Comedy Club
Description: Jason Cheny is a Taiwanese American stand-up comedian based in Los Angeles. Jason has toured all over Asia — including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan — as well as comedy clubs all across the US.
Ron James | 7:30PM, May 9 (Tickets)
Location: Burton Cummings Theatre
Description: Canada’s #1 stand-up road warrior Ron James, is in the driver’s seat once again and bound full throttle for the ‘big wide open’ with his new show, ‘The Noise Between Our Ears’.
Sooshi Mango | 7:30PM, May 10 (Tickets)
Location: Burton Cummings Theatre
Description: Sooshi Mango is an Australian comedy troupe founded in 2015. The group consists of two brothers, Joe and Carlo Salanitri, and their best friend, Andrew Manfre.
Special Events🥂
Summery Magical Sips at 474 main | 6PM-1AM, May 8 (FREE)
Location: 474 Main St
Description: Open again for this Friday! cocktails by @bennybenois for the evening along with live sets by @qube.music, @___context, @drayyyyy & @djinflo. Come thru & enjoy your evening with us!
20th Annual Manitoba Metalfest 2026 | 6:30PM, May 8 (Tickets)
Location: The Park Theatre
Description: Two nights. One anniversary. Maximum volume. Manitoba Metalfest returns to The Park Theatre for its 20th year, stacking the bill with heavy hitters and future favourites for a full weekend of chaos.
Winnipeg International Jewish Film Festival | May 8-23 (Tickets)
Location: Various venues
Description: This year’s lineup is filled with powerful documentaries, heartfelt dramas, and feel-good comedies from around the world, along with special events that make every visit to the theatre something more.
Geneviève in Rainy Day In Paris / French Chanson & Jazz Night | 8:30PM-11PM, May 9 (Tickets)
Location: Garrick Hotel Bar
Description: Welcome to the French Chanson & Jazz Night at Garrick Hotel - the most unique up close and personal music experience in Winnipeg.
Red River Valley Swap Meet | 6:30AM-4PM, May 10 (Tickets)
Location: Near the West Gate at Exhibition Park
Description: The Show and Shine is open to all vehicles 25 years and older, street rods, modified, and special interest vehicles.
Music 🎵
Events marked with ($) require prior ticket purchase. Other events may require the purchase of food.
