Manitoba Renews State of Emergency

Author

Jas Singh
July 11, 2025

Happy Friday, Winnipeggers!

It’s been a hot one out there… so we hope you’re staying cool, staying hydrated, and getting a chance to soak in some of that Winnipeg summer magic.

Every week, it feels like the city’s bursting with things to do. Dozens of outdoor markets, surprise performances popping up in parks, and free events like garden concerts, Movies Under the Stars, and even a full-on drag racing showdown this weekend.

From family-friendly fun to late-night adventures, something is happening in every corner of the city.

So grab your sunnies, make some weekend plans, and scroll down to catch up on what’s happening. Let’s make the most of these sunny days while we’ve got ‘em.

Now, in today’s edition:

  • Manitoba Renews Provincewide State of Emergency Due to Wildfires

  • MPI Warns Drivers to Replace Peeling Licence Plates

  • $1.25M Tri Hospital Dream Lottery Winners

  • Manitoba Invests Over $1M in Birds Hill Provincial Park

  • 50+ Events this weekend & Live Music!

— Jas Singh

News

Manitoba Renews Provincewide State of Emergency Due to Wildfires

Manitoba Wildlife Federation/Facebook

It’s been a heavy stretch for a lot of folks up north. Fires have already forced so many families out this season, and now, it’s happening again.

Manitoba has officially renewed its province-wide state of emergency, as wildfires continue to grow and more communities are put at risk. For some, this is the second time they’ve had to leave home in just a few weeks.

Here’s what’s happening:

  • Garden Hill First Nation, a fly-in community of 3,000+, has been fully evacuated

  • Snow Lake and Lynn Lake both issued their second evacuation orders this season

  • The emergency order helps the province coordinate resources faster

  • Officials say this is shaping up to be one of the worst wildfire seasons in recent years

It’s a tough situation, and the impact is real: disrupted lives, lost routines, and a lot of unknowns. If you’re feeling far away from it all, even small acts like checking in, staying informed, or supporting evacuees make a difference.

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Community Digest

MPI Warns Drivers to Replace Peeling Licence Plates

Source: Manitoba Public Insurance

You’ve probably seen them around: plates where the numbers are barely hanging on. But now, Manitoba Public Insurance says peeling licence plates aren’t just a small issue. They’re a growing safety risk.

If your plate’s hard to read, you could be fined. And more importantly, it makes things harder for everyone on the road, especially in emergencies or collisions.

What to know:

  • Plates must be clear and easy to read, or you could face a $113 fine

  • MPI offers free replacements if your plate is less than 5 years old

  • If it’s older, a new set costs $15

  • Don’t try to fix it yourself, markers and tape won’t cut it

  • Visit an MPI service centre or broker to get it replaced properly

So if your plate’s flaking off or fading fast, it’s probably time for a swap. It’s a quick fix that helps keep things safer for everyone.

Swan River Resident Wins $1.25M Tri Hospital Dream Lottery

Source: Tri Hospital Dream

Not a bad day to be Rick Watts. The Swan River local just hit it big as the Grand Prize winner in this year’s Tri-Hospital Dream Lottery. And now he gets to choose between $1.25 million in cash or one of five luxury home packages.

If you’ve never heard of it, the Tri-Hospital Dream Lottery is one of Manitoba’s biggest healthcare fundraisers. It supports three major hospitals: St. Boniface, HSC, and the Children’s Hospital by helping fund research, equipment, and better care for nearly a million patients each year.

Here’s the scoop:

  • Rick’s ticket (#7042389) won him the $1.25M Grand Prize or a dream home

  • Another lucky Manitoban, Rhonda Friesen from Kleefeld, won over $680K in the 50/50 draw

  • Every ticket sold supports healthcare workers and patients across the province

  • Funds raised go toward life-saving tech, medical research, and frontline care

  • All winners will be posted on their website linked below by July 14

Congrats to the winners! And if you grabbed a ticket this year, thank you. Win or not, you helped move healthcare forward right here in our province.

City Updates

Manitoba Invests Over $1M in Birds Hill Provincial Park

Source: Tourism Winnipeg

Anyone who’s ever walked the trails at Birds Hill or danced through the dust at Folk Fest knows: it’s not just a park, it’s a part of growing up in Manitoba.

And now, the province is putting real money into keeping that magic going, just in time for the 50th Winnipeg Folk Festival.

  • Over $1 million is going into upgrades at Birds Hill Provincial Park

  • Expect smoother campground roads, better picnic shelters, new trees, and improved washrooms

  • A stretch of Highway 59 will now be called Winnipeg Folk Fest Volunteer Way

  • The renaming honours the hundreds of volunteers who show up year after year

  • The festival is running July 10–13 and includes a special 50th anniversary storytelling project

It’s a good reminder that the best things in this city are built by the community. And that when we take care of our shared spaces, the memories last even longer.

Exciting Events: July 11th - 13th

Events marked with ($) require a ticket in advance. Please search them up before going.

Sports🏀

  • Winnipeg Goldeyes vs Kansas City | July 11-13 ($)

    • Location: Blue Cross Park

  • Winnipeg National Bank Challenger | July 11-13 (Tickets)

    • Location: National Bank Tennis MB Hub at West St. Paul

    • Description: Every July, over 60 tennis players descend on Winnipeg to vie for tennis greatness in the Winnipeg National Bank Challenger (WNBC). This one-week event has winnings of $100,000.

  • Winnipeg Run Club | 8AM, July 12 (FREE)

    • Location: The Forks - The Canopy

  • Zumba in the Park | 10-11AM, July 12 (FREE)

    • Location: Riley Family Duck Pond

  • DND Run Club | 8:15AM, July 13 (FREE)

    • Location: The Forks (Main Elevator)

    • Description: Theme - Purple

Community Fun🎆

  • Summer Line-Up: Mosquito Life Cycle | 11AM-3PM, July 11-13 (Tickets)

    • Location: Manitoba Children's Museum

    • Description: Join us all summer long for hands-on programming inspired by the season.

  • Ai-kon 2025 | July 11-13 (Tickets)

    • Location: RBC Convention Centre

    • Description: Come connect with your favourite voice actors, writers, and artists! It’s a place to gather and appreciate everything there is to love about anime, Japanese culture, and the community of fandom.

  • Baby Bison Walk | 10:30AM & 1:30PM, July 12 ($)

    • Location: FortWhyte Alive

    • Description: Feel a connection to the herd as you see the miracle of baby bison.

  • Bison Bus Tour | 10AM & 10:30AM, July 13 ($)

    • Location: FortWhyte Alive

    • Description: See North America’s largest land mammal from just metres away, interacting in their natural habitat.

Markets/Fairs🎡🎢🎠

  • The Market at FortWhyte Farms | 10AM-3PM, July 11 (FREE)

    • Location: FortWhyte Farms

    • Description: Our summer market is the place to buy fresh, naturally grown, in-season produce, and delicious baked goods.

  • Slice of Summer 2025 | 3PM-9PM, July 11 (Tickets)

    • Location: St. Norbert Farmers' Market Location

    • Description: Kick-off summer with us and come eat delicious food, shop over 90 of your favourite makers, and dance under the sun with our live band! Children 12 and under are FREE and do not require a ticket.

  • St. Norbert Farmers' Market | 8AM-2PM, July 12 (FREE)

    • Location: 3514 Pembina Highway

  • Bronx Park Farmers Market | 9AM-2PM, July 12 (FREE)

    • Location: Bronx Park

  • Fish Festival | 11AM-3PM, July 12 (More Info)

    • Location: CN Field and Stage

    • Description: The Fish Festival is a free family-friendly event that provides an opportunity to learn about the world class fishing in Manitoba.

  • SOUL in the SQUARE | 4PM-9PM, July 12 (FREE)

    • Location: True North Square Plaza

    • Description: Live performance by Canadian soul legend Glenn Lewis, DJs, food, vendors & good vibes in downtown Winnipeg — all FREE! SOUL in the SQUARE is back for its 3rd year, and we’re bringing the most anticipated R&B, Soul, Reggae, Soca & Dancehall celebration to the heart of downtown Winnipeg.

  • Picnic in The Park | 12:30PM-4:30PM, July 12 (FREE)

    • Location: Kildonan Park

    • Description: Let’s soak up summer together! Join us for hot dogs, sodas, water games, fun activities, and good vibes all around. Bring your favorite snack to share if you want — no pressure! Can’t wait to hang out and celebrate the season as a community.

  • Food Truck Rally | 12PM-9PM, July 12-13 (FREE/More Info)

    • Location: IKEA Winnipeg

Performances🎭

  • Paranormal Cirque | July 11-14 (Tickets)

    • Location: St. Vital Centre

    • Description: A crazy yet fun fusion between Circus, theatre, and cabaret in perfect harmony with the evolution of a show that brings you back to when we dream... and when we had nightmares and fantasies.

  • Winnipeg Folk Festival | July 11-13 (Tickets)

    • Location: Birds Hill Park

    • Description: This internationally acclaimed festival features over 70 acts, nine stages, an award-winning family area, camping and delicious local and organic food all in a beautiful prairie park setting.

  • Rock of Ages | July 11-12 (Tickets)

    • Location: Rainbow Stage

    • Description: The broadway musical Rock of Ages tells a love story between a small-town girl and a city boy set against the backdrop of 1980s Hollywood’s Sunset Strip.

  • Postmodern Jukebox | 8PM, July 12 (Tickets)

    • Location: Burton Cummings Theatre

    • Description: Concertgoers can expect to enter a parallel musical universe where modern day earworms and iconic pop hits alike are reimagined in classic genres like 1920s jazz, Swing, Doo-wop and Motown, and brought to life by a cast of some of the world’s best singers, dancers, and instrumentalists.

  • Grease Lightning | July 12 & 13 (Tickets)

    • Location: Destination Dinner Stage

    • Description: This immersive dinner theatre performance reimagines the world of Grease twenty years later, with classic rock and roll vibes, fun twists, and a hearty dose of nostalgia.

Comedy❗

  • Brian Posehn | July 10-12 ($)

    • Location: Rumor's Restaurant and Comedy Club

    • Description: Brian Posehn has been busy for a while. As a writer/actor/stand-up comic, he doesn’t have a ton of down time. He just recorded his fourth hour-long stand-up special.

  • Abdullah Usman | 8:30PM, July 11-12 (Tickets)

    • Location: The Basement Comedy Lounge

    • Description: Highly acclaimed comedian and writer Abdullah Usman headlines The Basement!

Special Events/Concerts 🥂

  • Tunerbash | 5PM-10PM, July 11 (Tickets)

    • Location: Red River Exhibition Park

    • Description: Stop light drag racing with a car show! Tunerbash is a private track rental event that combines street style drag racing with a high energy all age environment. Think of a crazy car meet with racing, but all legal.

  • 2025 Corydon Avenue Concert Series | 7PM-10PM, July 11-12 (FREE/More Info)

    • Location: Lilac Street S and Hugo Street N

    • Description: Bring a lawn chair and sit back and enjoy the warm Winnipeg nights with the sounds of Jazz, Rock, Pop, Soul and Blues music (or hit the dance floor and practice your best moves).

  • Cinema Under the Stars 2025 - With Fanfare | 9:30PM, July 12 (FREE)

    • Location: Ruins of St. Boniface Cathedral

    • Description: Movies Under the Stars offers screenings of French-language films, accessible to all thanks to the presence of English subtitles.

  • Garden Concerts: Benjamin Hill | 11AM-12PM, July 12 (FREE)

    • Location: The Leaf - Assiniboine Park

    • Description: Join us for Garden Concerts at The Leaf, part of Assiniboine Park's Summer Entertainment Series! All concerts are FREE!

  • Driven Canadian Aftermarket Car Show | 1PM-7PM, July 12 (Tickets)

    • Location: Red River Exhibition Park

    • Description: This ONE DAY show will host show cars, exhibitors and special guests from Canada and beyond. We are also excited to bring back Pro Drift Demos in the Exhibition Place parking lot!

  • Latin American Festival | July 12-13 (Tickets)

    • Location: Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain

    • Description: Experience two full days of Latin American Music, Culture, Food and Drinks and so much more.

  • Jazz in the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden: Danny Carroll | 12PM-1PM, July 13 (FREE)

    • Location: Assiniboine Park

    • Description: Join us for Jazz in the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, part of the Assiniboine Park's Summer Entertainment Series!

  • Paint 'n' Sip Morning | 10AM, July 13 (Tickets)

    • Location: Dalnavert Museum and Visitors' Centre

    • Description: Painting en plein air is the practice of painting outdoors with your subject right in front of you. Join us for a beginner-friendly watercolour tutorial, then relax in Dalnavert's beautiful garden with a mimosa while you create your plein-air masterpiece!

  • Summer Concert Series: Brazilian Vibe curated by Folklorama | 7PM-9PM, July 13 (FREE)

    • Location: Lyric Theatre, Assiniboine Park

    • Description: Join us for the Summer Concert Series at the Lyric Theatre, part of the Assiniboine Park's Summer Entertainment Series! All concerts are FREE!

Music 🎵

Events marked with ($) require prior ticket purchase. Other events may require the purchase of food.

Thanks for reading The Winnipeg Digest! Let’s chat again on Monday!