Happy Monday, Winnipeggers!

Hope you're keeping warm with all this snow outside and making the most of the long weekend with your family! Whether you’re out enjoying Festival du Voyageur or just staying cozy at home, we’re here to help you ease into the week ahead.

Now, let’s get into what’s happening in the city—big updates, events, and a few things that might impact your plans.

But first, let’s start with something positive—some of your replies from last week! As always, our whole team is so grateful for all the love you send our way. It truly keeps us going.

Now, don’t forget to leave your comments in the poll at the end of this email! 😊

In today's edition:

• What’s Open and Closed on Louis Riel Day

• Restaurant of the Week

• Portage & Main Intersection Enters New Phase

• A Manitoba-Made App to Help You Buy Canadian

• Multiple events this week & more

— Jas Singh

News

What’s Open and Closed on Louis Riel Day

Louis Riel Day is a day to slow down, spend time with family, and celebrate Métis heritage. So, whether you’re heading to Festival du Voyageur, catching up on errands, or just looking for a cozy spot to grab a coffee, here’s what you need to know about what’s open and closed in Winnipeg today:

🛍️ Shopping & Essentials

• Malls – Most are open 11 AM - 6 PM (except Grant Park, 12 PM - 5 PM).

• Grocery Stores – Costco is closed, but Walmart and Superstore are still open till 10PM.

• Retailers – Best Buy (12 PM - 6 PM), IKEA (10 AM - 6 PM), Home Depot (7 AM - 9 PM).

🚌 City Services & Transit

• Civic Offices – Closed.

• Transit – Running on a Sunday schedule.

• Garbage & Recycling – Collection as usual.

🎭 Things to Do

• Festival du Voyageur – Runs all weekend! (Feb 14 - 23).

• The Manitoba Museum – Open from 10 AM - 4 PM.

• Canadian Museum for Human Rights – Closed.

🏊 Rec & Leisure

• Pools – Only Pan Am, Cindy Klassen, and Margaret Grant are open with limited hours.

• Arenas & Fitness Centres – Mostly closed, except Pan Am & Cindy Klassen.

Enjoy the day, Winnipeg! Whether you're embracing the winter fun or just taking it easy, make the most of the long weekend.

A message from Red River Exhibition Park!

Funding Your Future: Scholarships Made Simple

Let’s be honest—figuring out how to pay for school can be stressful. Tuition, books, living expenses... it all adds up fast. But if you’re studying agriculture, business, tourism, or even the performing arts, the Red River Exhibition Foundation has scholarships that could make things a little easier.

🎓 Opportunities for Every Path

• Agriculture & Rural Life – Whether you're a future farmer or passionate about rural communities, there’s funding to support your journey.

• Business & Tourism – If you’re diving into hospitality or business, you might qualify for scholarships that help kickstart your career.

• Performing Arts & Aerospace – From aspiring artists to those looking to fly high in aviation, there’s support available.

📅 Deadlines & Details

Most applications close on the second Friday in May, so don’t wait until the last minute. Check out the full list, find a suitable scholarship, and apply online.

Know someone who could use a little financial boost? Share this with them! A scholarship could be just what they need to focus on their dreams—not their tuition bill.

P.S. Looking to advertise in the Winnipeg Digest? Reply to this email or reach out at [email protected]!

Restaurant of the Week: Piazza De Nardi

Some places just feel like home the moment you walk in. Piazza De Nardi is one of them. Maybe it’s the smell of fresh bread baking, the rows of golden pastries, or the steady hum of people grabbing their morning espresso. Whatever it is, this place has been a Winnipeg staple for decades—and for good reason.

The bakery is the heart of it all. Fluffy focaccia, rustic ciabatta, and their famous fergasa bread (cheddar and chive perfection) keep regulars coming back. And if you’re in the mood for something sweet? Good luck picking between their tortes, cheesecakes, and delicate Italian pastries.

But De Nardi’s is more than just a bakery—it’s a full-on gourmet market. Think top-notch deli meats, fine cheeses, a cozy little café, and fresh-made meals ready to take home. It’s the kind of place you pop in for one thing and leave with a full bag.

Winnipeg, if you haven’t been, you’re missing out.📍 1360 Taylor Ave.

City Updates

West Winnipeg is Getting a New Costco

As a lot of you know, a new Costco is coming to West Winnipeg, and for anyone in the area, this means bulk groceries, cheaper gas, and fewer cross-city Costco runs. But when will it actually open? As reported by CTV News, here’s the rough timeline:

• Construction is already underway near the Red River Ex and Assiniboia Downs.

• The store will be 166,000+ square feet and include nearly 1,000 parking spots plus a gas station.

• Developers are aiming for a late 2025 opening—possibly in time for the holiday shopping season.

That’s still a while away, but it looks like West Winnipeg will finally get its own warehouse sooner rather than later.

Portage & Main Intersection Enters New Phase

If you've driven through downtown lately, you know the constant construction that's been happening at Portage & Main. But the big news? The barricades are finally gone, and the city is moving into the next phase of turning the intersection into a pedestrian-friendly space.

Here’s what’s happening now:

• Crews are working underground to sort out utilities before rebuilding the center medians.

• The lane closures you’ve been dodging aren’t changing just yet, but more are coming in April.

• The city is still on track to open the intersection to pedestrians by July 1, 2025—but of course, opinions on the project are still mixed.

Some see this as a big step toward a more walkable downtown, while others aren’t convinced it’s the right move. Either way, changes are coming, and this is just the beginning.

Another New School for Winnipeg!

If it feels like you keep hearing about new schools being built lately, that’s because you are. The Manitoba government just announced a third new school—this time in West St. Paul—and it’s proof that the city is growing fast.

The K-8 school will be built in the Meadowlands development and will hold 600 students, plus 74 child-care spaces for infants and preschoolers. That means more kids will get to stay closer to home instead of heading into the city for school.

Construction is set to begin in 2026, but the demand is already there. The province even spent $1.5 million last year on temporary modular classrooms to handle the overflow.

For families in the area, this is big. More schools mean fewer packed classrooms, shorter commutes, and more space for kids to learn and grow.

Community Digest

A Manitoba-Made App to Help You Buy Canadian

With all the talk of tariffs and trade tensions, supporting Canadian products has never been more important. And thanks to CanMade, a new app created by a Brandon developer, it just got a whole lot easier.

As reported by The Winnipeg Sun, the app, which has already reached the top 10 in Canada’s App Store lifestyle category, lets you scan grocery items to see if they were made in Canada. It even goes beyond that, showing where a product was packaged, who owns the company, and whether it was grown or distilled here.

The brains behind it? Hashim Farooq, a recent Brandon University grad who wanted to give Canadians a way to support local products with just a quick scan.

With over 4,400 product scans in just four days, it’s clear Winnipeggers (and Canadians) are on board. And honestly, it’s amazing to see this kind of talent coming straight out of Manitoba.

So if you're looking to support Canadian, be sure to download their app!

Events coming up this week:

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 Leaf After Dark: Adults Only Nights | 7PM, Feb 19 (Tickets)

  • Location: The Leaf Assiniboine Park

  • Description: Enjoy a relaxing adults-only atmosphere complete with live musical entertainment, wine, beer, and more!

• University/College Open Houses | Feb 19-20

  • Red River College - 9AM - 2PM | Feb 19th

  • University of Winnipeg - 9AM - 2PM | Feb 19th 

  • University of Manitoba - 9AM - 3PM | Feb 20th

• Colin James: Chasing the Sun 2025 Tour | 8PM, Feb 20 (Tickets)

  • Location: Burton Cummings Theatre

  • Description: Colin James has 20 studio albums, 8 Juno Awards, 31 Maple Blues Awards and multi-platinum record sales.

• Samay Raina - Unfiltered Tour | 7:30PM, Feb 20 (Tickets)

  • Location: Centennial Concert Hall

  • Description: Get ready for a night of raw, unfiltered, and unapologetic comedy with one of India’s biggest stand-up comedians. (In Hindi)

• The Manitoba Tattoo Expo | Feb 21-23 (Tickets)

  • Location: Assiniboia Downs

  • Description: Whether you're a tattoo Artist, fanatic, or looking to get your first tattoo. This is for everyone interesting in anything tattoos.

• Winterfest | 1-3PM, Feb 22 (More Info)

  • Location: Central Park

  • Description: Enjoy live music, snow painting for kids, skating lessons, cozy bonfires, and delicious food as we embrace the magic of the season.

• IBTIDA – A Theatrical Experience | 7PM, Feb 22 (Tickets)

  • Location: Rachel Browne Theatre

  • Description: A show that brings together movement, music, and storytelling. This show will feature dancers – whether from a bhangra, giddha, or classical background. Come experience a night filled with rich culture and heritage!

• Wonderful Wedding Show | Feb 22-23 (Tickets)

  • Location: RBC Convention Centre

  • Description: The largest single source of information available about local wedding services, featuring all of the city’s leading wedding professionals.

Exciting Events: Feb 17th & 18th

Sports🏀

• Manitoba Moose vs Milwaukee Admirals | Feb 17 (Tickets)

  • Location: Canada Life Centre

Music 🎵

• Mitchell Stewart Klyne | 12-2:45PM, Feb 17

  • Location: Belle's Kitchen + Music Hall (1212 Nairn Avenue)

• Festival du Voyageur | Feb 17-18

  • Location: Multiple Locations

• Derek Robertson| 12-2:45PM, Feb 18

  • Location: Belle's Kitchen + Music Hall (1212 Nairn Avenue)

• Lyka Sallong | 6:30PM, Feb 18

  • Location: The Handsome Daughter

Family Fun🎆

• GameFest Winnipeg | Feb 17 (Tickets)

  • Location: RBC Convention Centre

  • Description: Play games, listen to live music, shop local and more all in one place.

• Worlds Largest Snow Maze | Feb 17 - March 30 (Tickets)

  • Location: A Maze in Corn

  • Description: Enjoy warming areas with bonfires, slide down the giant snow mountain, relax in the warming barn or hop on a sleigh ride!

• Yellowstone: A Wild West Musical! | Feb 17 - March 20 (Tickets)

  • Location: Canad Inns Destination Centre Fort Garry (1824 Pembina Hwy)

  • Description: Saddle up for a wild ride as Destination Dinner Stage takes you on a hilarious journey through the untamed wilderness of family drama, ranching antics, and a hearty dose of cowboy humor.

• Indecent Play | Feb 14 - March 8 (Tickets)

  • Location: John Hirsch Mainstage

  • Description: Told through music, song, dance and comedy, Indecent is an arresting play about forbidden love, artistic censorship and the enduring power of theatre.

• Free Entry to Manitoba Parks | Feb 17-28

  • Location: Multiple Locations

• CIAO - Dine About Winnipeg | Feb 17-23 (More Info)

  • Location: Multiple Locations

  • Description: For two weeks, top restaurants heat up the season by offering signature three course, prix-fixe meals at a special price!

• Festival du Voyageur | Feb 17-23 (Tickets)

  • Location: Whittier Park

  • Description: This festival showcases the arts of several disciplines, including music, dance, sculpture and visual arts, while prioritizing francophone and indigenous artists. (75,000 festival-goers per year)

• $12 Tuesdays at the Zoo | 9AM - 4PM, Feb 18

  • Location: Assiniboine Park Zoo

  • Description: Enjoy all that the Zoo offers and discover the wild winter days! Plan your visit and take advantage of this limited-time offer.

Special 🥂

• Four Season RV Show & Sale | Feb 17 (Free)

  • Location: Red River Exhibition Place

  • Description: Manitoba’s largest RV show and sale, presented by Four Seasons, is back!

• Louis Riel Day at Fort Whyte | Feb 17 (More Info)

  • Location: FortWhyte Alive

  • Description: You are invited to take part in story reading, crafts, free ice fishing, free snowshoe rentals, and bannock baking as supplies last.

• Louis Riel Day at the Forks | Feb 17 (More Info)

  • Location: The Forks

  • Description: A day filled with free family fun, from music and dancing to creative activities and winter magic!

• Winnipeg Real to Reel Film Festival | Feb 18-23 (Tickets)

  • Location: 1315 Gateway Rd

  • Description: Features cool, clean, and compelling feature films, documentaries and shorts from around the world in a multi-theatre style format.

• Spencer Adamus Comedy | Feb 18-19 (Tickets)

  • Location: Rumor's Restaurant and Comedy Club

CHEERS!

Thanks for reading The Winnipeg Digest! I’ll see you again on Wednesday!

P.S. Want to sponsor our newsletter? Email us at [email protected].