Midweek check-in, Winnipeg 💙
Tonight’s a fun one for us. The first ever Winnipeg Dinner Club is happening this evening, and we’re so excited to see it come to life. We’ll be sharing photos from the night soon, so if you’re curious and thinking about joining a future dinner, you’ll get a real feel for what it’s all about.
Today’s edition is packed in the best way. New things happening around the city, a few big announcements worth knowing about, and some good reminders of how much is going on here, even in the middle of winter.
So grab your coffee, take a quick break, and let’s catch up on what’s new around Winnipeg today.
Now, in today’s edition:
Winnipeg Unveils the Winners of the Snowplow Naming Contest
A Free and Creative Winter Activity in Winnipeg
Ne-Yo and Akon Announce Winnipeg Concert for This Summer
Construction Begins on Four New Schools Across Manitoba
Multiple events this week & more
— Jas Singh

News
Winnipeg Unveils the Winners of the Snowplow Naming Contest

Source: City of Winnipeg
If you missed it earlier this winter, the City invited Winnipeggers to help name a dozen snowplows as a way to bring a bit of fun into the season. After weeks of voting, the winners are finally in.
Winters here can be long, cold, and relentless, so it was nice to see the City try to make snow clearing a little more exciting this year.
More than 1,700 entries were submitted, filled with local humour, pop culture references, and plenty of personality. It’s a lighthearted way to celebrate the crews who keep our streets, sidewalks, and pathways moving all winter long.
Mayor Scott Gillingham shared that the response was bigger than expected, showing just how much people leaned into the idea.
Here are a few of the winning names:
Emperor Plowpatine
Kevin ShovelSnowOff
Hellebuycket
Sled Penner
Mr. Plow
Winnie the Plow
And six more names you’ll spot around the city
All 12 names are now displayed on City-owned snow-clearing equipment and will stay there until the contest returns.
If you want to check all the 12 winning plow names, along with a named group of sidewalk and pathway clearing machines, click the link below for the full list!
Click here: To check out the full list of plow names!

Together with Red River Exhibition Park!

Spring and Summer Facility Rentals in Winnipeg
As teams and organizations start planning for spring and summer, locking in space early can make everything feel a lot easier once the season gets going.
Red River Ex offers a range of facility rentals across its sites, making it a solid option for sports leagues, practices, tournaments, and larger events. Whether you’re putting together a team schedule or planning something bigger, there are flexible spaces to fit different needs and timelines.
That includes John Blumberg Park, now managed by the Red River Exhibition Association. The outdoor venue is open for baseball and soccer bookings, giving teams a great option once the weather warms up.
Here’s what’s available:
John Blumberg Park for baseball and soccer games or practices
A large 480-acre park with flexible indoor and outdoor spaces
On-site amenities including a lower-level concession, upstairs sports bar, and washroom facilities
Exhibition Place, an indoor venue used for trade shows, sporting events, and mid-size gatherings
40,000 square feet of flexible space with multiple layout options
Year-round availability with affordable rental rates and experienced on-site support
If you’re booking for a team, league, organization, or upcoming event, planning ahead gives you the best choice of dates and spaces.
Click the link below to learn more about facility rentals, availability, and booking options.

Community Spotlight
A Free and Creative Winter Activity in Winnipeg

Source: City of Winnipeg
If you’re looking for a unique way to spend a winter afternoon, the Winnipeg Public Library is kicking off 2026 with a free creative program worth knowing about.
The Library has just named Anna Schmidt as its first Maker-in-Residence of 2026. She’s a local fibre artist and educator who works with quilting, sewing, and textile reuse, with a big focus on making these skills approachable for everyone.
From February 4 to April 30, Schmidt will be creating and teaching out of the ideaMILL at Millennium Library, inviting Winnipeggers to learn alongside her.
Here’s what you can expect:
Free weekly drop-in studio time at Millennium Library
Hands-on learning in quilting, sewing, and fibre arts
Workshops hosted at library branches across the city
And community quilt projects created together
You don’t need prior experience, special tools, or supplies to take part. Just curiosity and a bit of time.
If this sounds like something you or someone you know would enjoy, click the link below to check the schedule. Spots for workshops can fill up, so it’s a good idea to look ahead and book early, all for FREE.

Community Digest
Ne-Yo and Akon Announce Winnipeg Concert for This Summer

Source: ENERGY106FM
Winnipeg is getting a big throwback concert this summer. NE-YO and Akon have just announced a co-headlining tour, and Winnipeg is officially on the list.
It’s the kind of show built around songs everyone knows by heart. The ones that still come on at weddings, house parties, and late nights out.
Where: Canada Life Centre
When: 8:00 pm on June 23, 2026
Presale: Thursday, Jan 29 at 10 am (password: INTRO)
General sale: Friday, Jan 30 at 10 am
The night is set up as a shared, back-and-forth performance packed with era-defining hits, from So Sick and Closer to Smack That and Lonely.
If you’ve been waiting for a reason to plan a big night out next summer, this might be it.
Tickets for this concert are expected to sell out fast, so be sure to click the link below and set your alarm to get tickets early!
Click Here: To get all the show details before the presale!
Winnipeg Begins Mailing 2027 Proposed Property Assessments
A new round of property assessment letters is going out across Winnipeg.
The City is mailing out proposed assessed property values for 2027 to more than 200,000 residential properties as part of its Residential Preview Program. This gives homeowners time to review their assessment before values are finalized later this spring.
Here are a few helpful things to know:
This letter is not a property tax bill
Property values are reassessed every two years
The 2027 assessment reflects market conditions as of April 1, 2025
A higher assessed value does not automatically mean higher taxes
Your actual 2027 property taxes will depend on city tax rates and how your home’s value compares to the average change across Winnipeg.
The preview period runs until April 10th. Final assessed values will be available online on May 11th, with mailed copies following in June.
And if you didn’t know this already, you can also check your current and proposed property value online at any time.
Click Here: To check your home’s assessed value online!
City Updates
Construction Begins on Four New Schools Across Manitoba
Work is officially getting underway on four new schools across Manitoba, and it’s a positive step for families and workers across the province.
Construction has started on three schools in Winnipeg, with site development also beginning in Brandon. All four schools will be built at the same time using a shared design, helping move projects along more efficiently.
Here’s where the new schools are being built:
Devonshire Park and Prairie Pointe neighbourhoods in Winnipeg
The Meadowlands area in West St. Paul
And Southwest Brandon
These projects are being built under the Manitoba Jobs Agreement, which prioritizes hiring Manitoba workers and ensures fair wages, benefits, and strong safety standards.
Beyond new classrooms, these projects support skilled trades and help create steady work for people building our communities.
It’s the kind of investment that strengthens neighbourhoods now and helps set up Manitoba for the future.

Events coming up this week:

Event: Lights on in the Exchange
This section includes only the major events happening soon. For a complete list of all events, you'll have to wait for future editions!
The Snow Maze Opens | Jan 30 (Tickets)
Location: A Maze in Corn
Description: Home of the Guinness Book of World Record's Largest Snow Maze! Enjoy warming areas with bonfires, slide down the giant snow mountain, relax in the warming barn or hop on a sleigh ride!
At the Heart of this Land Art Exhibition | Jan 30 - Feb 13 (More Info)
Location: Manitoba Legislative Building
Description: This inaugural Indigenous art exhibition honours and amplifies Indigenous voices through creative expression, showcased within the heart of Manitoba’s legislative institution.
Tad and Birdy Play | January 30 - February 7 (Tickets)
Location: Manitoba Theatre for Young People
Description: Tad, a bird-voiced tree frog tadpole, and Birdy, a lovebird who knows everything except how to be happy, form an unlikely friendship. As Tad emerges into the world, they find themselves in a messy bedroom, where Birdy has been living for much longer.
Candlelight Concerts | Jan 30-31 (Tickets)
Jan 30-31: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles
8:45PM, Jan 30: Best of Bridgerton on Strings
6:30PM, Jan 31: Best of Joe Hisaishi
Location: Crescent Arts Centre
Description: Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Winnipeg.
Saturday Guided Snowshoe in The Park | 10AM-11:30AM, Jan 31 (Tickets)
Location: Riley Family Duck Pond Shelter
Description: A member of our Education and Programming team will guide you through one of Manitoba's iconic winter wonderlands, while educating you along the way. We will provide snowshoes, but you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.
Learn to Winter Activities | January 31 - February 1 (FREE/More Info)
Location: The Forks
Description: Skate and Snowshoe Lessons, DJs by The Canopy, Yoga, Ice Basketball, Warming Hut Tours and more!
Soda Pop! - A Pop-Up Improv Show | 7PM-9PM, Feb 1 (Tickets)
Location: The Saint Restaurant and Bar
Description: A new show has appeared! Hosted by Club Soda Improv and Friends, Soda Pop! is a brand new night of comedy made-up-on-the-spot based on the suggestions YOU provide.
Guided Family Snowshoe | 1PM-2:15PM, Feb 1 (More Info)
Location: FortWhyte Alive
Description: Explore the trails and lakes of FortWhyte Alive by snowshoe, guided by a volunteer interpreter, and search for animal tracks and wildlife along the way. Drop by to try it out, or make snowshoeing part of your weekend routine.
Current Events: January 28th - 29th
Events marked with (Tickets / $) require advance purchase. Double-check dates before heading out!
Sports 🏀
Duckworth Challenge | Jan 29-31 (Tickets)
Location: Investors Group Athletic Centre
Description: It's the clash of the province's largest post-secondary institutions. The University of Manitoba Bisons and University of Winnipeg Wesmen face off in the annual Duckworth Challenge, a storied competition between the two schools that dates back to 1991.
Community Fun🎆
WAG Wednesday Nights | 5-9PM, Jan 28 (More Info)
Location: Winnipeg Art Gallery—Qaumajuq
Description: Enjoy weekly free admission to the galleries and more from 5-9pm. WAG-Qaumajuq transforms Wednesday nights into an after-hours experience designed for people who want more from their week — more creativity, more connection, more inspiration.
Lights on the Exchange | January 28 - March 21 (More Info)
Location: Various Venues in the Exchange District
Description: From brick and terracotta building facades, to storefronts and alleyways, Lights On the Exchange – Allumez le quartier invites you to explore our iconic neighbourhood and engage with a collection of artwork by over 30 contemporary Canadian and Manitoban artists, featuring installations, large-scale digital projections, and live performances and events.
Performances🎭
Murder on the Orient Express Play | Jan 28 - Feb 7 (Tickets)
Location: John Hirsch Mainstage
Description: Detective Hercule Poirot is aboard the Orient Express when a fellow passenger is murdered. As the famous detective investigates, he encounters a cast of intriguing passengers, including the glamorous Mrs. Hubbard and the enigmatic Princess Dragomiroff.
Big Stuff | Jan 28 - Feb 1 (Tickets)
Location: Prairie Theatre Exchange
Description: Keep, or toss it out? Real-life married couple and celebrated comedy duo (who met while performing with Toronto’s Second City) Baram and Snieckus take on all of the “stuff” that accumulates in our lives..
Winnipeg New Music Festival (WNMF) | Jan 28-29 (Tickets)
Location: Centennial Concert Hall, Desautels Concert Hall
Description: The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s annual Winnipeg New Music Festival (WNMF) is one of Canada’s premiere cultural events dedicated to contemporary art, and the largest festival of its kind in Canada dedicated entirely to contemporary art music.
Happy Daze Again | January 29 - April 12 (Tickets)
Location: Destination Dinner Stage
Description: Arnold’s is the hottest spot in town—jukebox blaring, milkshakes swirling, and everyone ready to tear up the dance floor. But this isn’t just any night, it’s the annual talent show and under the glow of a full moon, the energy’s electric, the music’s wild and something in the air has everyone acting a little… strange.
Special Events🥂
Spirits with Spirits | 7-9PM, Jan 28 (FREE)
Location: The King's Head Pub
Description: Spirits with Spirits is back again!!! Co-hosted with The Winnipeg Paranormal Group we will be discussing the haunted history of Ouija Boards!!! Come for the food....stay for the Paranormal stories!
Those Who Made The Winter - Walking Tour At The Forks | Jan 28 - Mar 31 (Tickets)
Location: The Forks - Explore Indigenous Space
Description: Those Who Made the Winter is an Indigenous-led walking tour at The Forks that brings winter survival to life.
Steve Furey | Jan 28-31 (Tickets)
Location: Rumor's Restaurant and Comedy Club
Description: Steve Furey is quickly emerging as one of the sharpest stand-up comedians in the comedy world. Fresh off a three-year run performing in arena tours as the opener for Bert Kreischer, Furey is a paid regular at The World Famous Comedy Store, the Hollywood Improv, and Joe Rogan’s Comedy Mothership in Austin.
Oyster Nights Under Patio Lights! | 5PM-8PM, Jan 29 (FREE)
Location: The Forks Market
Description: Patio season doesn’t have to end in summer. Join us every Thursday this winter for fresh oysters and seafood paired with a drink from The Common. Whether you are skating in or stopping by, settle in by the fire and enjoy the winter ambiance.
Mid Canada RV & Boat Sale | January 29 - February 1 (Tickets)
Location: RBC Convention Centre
Description: Whether it’s hitting the open road in an RV, cruising the river in your very own boat or touring the lake on a brand new sea-doo, start your journey by comparing different options here. Your journey begins at the Mid Canada RV & Boat Sale!
Music 🎵



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