Happy Friday, Winnipeg!

Hoodies are out, the puddles are back, and somehow, we’re already more than halfway through October.

In today’s edition, we’ve got a mix of stories to keep you in the loop, from the $650 million Portage Place redevelopment that’s officially underway, to a new federal investment in AI right here in Manitoba, and even a new memorial garden that’s just opened.

So grab your coffee, stay dry, and catch up on what’s been happening around the city this week.

Now, in today’s edition:

• Portage Place $650M Redevelopment Officially Begins

• The 122-Year-Old Clock Inside Portage Place Will Be Saved

• $2.3M Investment to Support AI and Digital Media in Manitoba

• Manitoba Adds 3,900 New Jobs in September

• 65+ Events this weekend & Live Music!

— Jas Singh

News

Portage Place $650M Redevelopment Officially Begins

If you’ve walked or driven by Portage Avenue lately, you’ve probably seen the big fences, the construction crews, and the signs of something new in the works.

After years of conversation and planning, Portage Place is officially under construction as part of a $650 million redevelopment that will completely transform the downtown landmark into a new hub for housing, healthcare, and community life.

Here’s what’s being built in its place:

• A health and wellness hub with clinics, diagnostics, and walk-in care

• Affordable housing and student residences across 257,000+ sq. ft. of space

• New neighbourhood spaces, like rooftop gardens, a grocery store, and a community drop-in centre

• With the Prairie Theatre Exchange and the YMCA staying as part of the renewed space

The mall is still open during this phase of construction, so you can still visit while things take shape. The full transformation is expected to wrap by 2028, reconnecting both sides of downtown with public spaces, health care, and homes all in one place.

For many Winnipeggers, it’s a bittersweet change, saying goodbye to food court lunches and skylight memories, but it also marks a hopeful new chapter for downtown.

Click Here: To learn more about the $650M construction and see what’s coming to Portage Place.

The 122-Year-Old Clock Inside Portage Place Will Be Saved

As Portage Place begins its massive redevelopment, many Winnipeggers have one big question: What will happen to the historic clock inside the mall?

The 122-year-old clock, once part of Winnipeg’s original City Hall, is safe. Heritage Winnipeg, along with True North Real Estate and the City, is making sure it’s protected. The clock’s mechanisms and faces will be carefully stored until a new public home is found.

So while the mall changes around it, one of Winnipeg’s oldest symbols will continue to be part of the city’s story, just in a new place.

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It’s a simple fix that’ll make a big difference once winter hits. A clear windshield doesn’t just make driving safer; it makes those dark, icy mornings a little easier. No foggy streaks, no spreading cracks, and no last-minute stress when you’re already running late.

Get it taken care of now and head into winter knowing your view’s clear, your wipers are fresh, and you’re ready for whatever the weather throws your way.

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City Updates

$2.3M Investment to Support AI and Digital Media in Manitoba

The Canadian government is investing $2.3 million into Manitoba’s tech and digital media sector, funding that’s designed to give local businesses and creators a real boost.

Here’s what the $2.3 million funding is going toward:

• Boosting AI tools at New Media Manitoba’s StudioLab xR for more advanced digital media work

• Helping 50 local small and mid-sized businesses adopt new tech and grow

• Creating 77 new jobs and training 100 Manitobans to work in a tech-forward future

• And lastly, laying the groundwork for AI across industries, from film and TV to biosciences and construction

This kind of investment doesn’t just bring in new tools… it creates more chances for local people to do meaningful work and stay rooted here while building something exciting.

So if you know a local business owner, creator, or someone building a career in digital media, pass this along. It might be just the support they’ve been waiting for.

Click Here: To learn more about the funding and how to access support through New Media Manitoba.

Manitoba Adds 3,900 New Jobs in September

While most provinces saw job losses last month, Manitoba quietly stood out. It was one of only three provinces in Canada to see job gains in September, with 3,900 new positions added.

Here’s what stood out in the latest numbers:

• 3,900 new jobs were added in September

• Full-time positions jumped by 11,100, while part-time jobs declined

• With wages rising another 4.1% compared to last year

It’s easy to overlook these kinds of numbers, but they mean something real.

It’s more people starting new jobs, settling into steady work, and heading into fall with a bit more certainty.

Click Here: To see the full stats and read the province’s full update on Manitoba’s job growth.

Community Digest

Winnipeg's New Memorial Garden Pays Tribute to the Service and Sacrifice of Winnipeg’s Police Dogs

A new memorial garden has opened just off Durand Road in St. Boniface to honour the Winnipeg Police Service’s retired and fallen K9 officers.

Built beside the WPS canine kennels, it’s a space where the city can remember the dogs who served, and the bond they shared with their handlers.

Here’s what you’ll find there:

• A bronze statue titled Forever Faithful watching over the garden

• Four Tyndall stone pillars engraved with the names, badge numbers, and years of service of over 78 past police dogs

• A pathway of 436 memory stones, each inscribed with community messages

• And a public space beside the WPS canine kennels, open to all who want to pay their respects

The garden was brought to life through grassroots support, everything from calendars and stuffed toys to perogies helped fund the project.

Each name here carries a story: long nights, tough calls, and a quiet moment of trust between partner and pup. It’s a space to remember, and a place to say thank you.

Click Here: To learn more about the memorial garden and what it honours.

Exciting Events: October 17th - 19th

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

Sports🏀

• DND Run Club: International Justice Mission Fundraiser | 6:30PM, Oct 17 (Tickets)

  • Location: N90s Grid

  • Theme: Nineties/Graphic Tees

• Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders | 7PM, Oct 17 (Tickets)

  • Location: Princess Auto Stadium

• Winnipeg Run Club Race Week | Oct 17-19 (FREE)

  • Location: Multiple locations

• Winnipeg Jets vs. Nashville Predators | 6PM, Oct 18 (Tickets)

  • Location: Canada Life Centre

• Winnipeg Professional Wrestling - RUMBLE IN THE BURT
  | 7PM, October 19 (Tickets)

  • Location: Burton Cummings Theatre

  • Description: Shotzi Blackheart makes her long awaited returns and Former WWE Tag Team Champions and Bullet Club originals The Good Brothers make their WPW debut.

Community Fun🎆

• Corn Maze | October 17 - November 2 (More Info)

  • Location: A Maze In Corn

  • Description: Enjoy the country views while wandering through the corn maze, climb the giant bale pyramid, and visit the petting zoo.

• Sunset Goose Flights | 5:30PM-8PM, Oct 17-19 (Tickets)

  • Location: FortWhyte Alive

  • Description: Take in the sounds of the season and watch the sky come to life as thousands of geese land after sunset in this breathtaking autumn ritual.

• Witchy Wonderland – A (not-so) Fright Fest | Oct 17-26 (Tickets)

  • Location: Red River Exhibition Park

  • Description: The largest family-friendly Halloween event is here with all the thrills, chills, and giggles to keep every ghost, goblin, and grandma grinning from ear to ear. Rides, costumes, face painting and more!

Markets/Halloween🎡🎃👻

• Haunted History Ghost Tours | 6:30PM & 8PM, Oct 17 (Tickets)

  • Location: Dalnavert Museum and Visitors' Centre

  • Description: Step inside the historic house after dark and uncover the chilling tales of ghosts and specters who have made their presence known to visitors through the ages.

• 2025 Haunted Forest | October 17 - November 1 (Tickets)

  • Location: A Maze In Corn

  • Description: An interactive, outdoor experience that you won't soon forget. Enter at your own risk as our resident creatures of the forest come alive and lure you in with their haunting humour.

• Boo at the Zoo | Oct 17-31 (Tickets)

  • Location: Assiniboine Park Zoo

  • Description: All aboard, the train’s ready to go to a town where Halloween spirits roam! Welcome to a mysterious land where fall festivities are in full swing.

• Six Pines Haunted Attractions | Oct 17-31 (Tickets)

  • Location: Six Pines

  • Description: Six Pines Haunted Attractions has continuously strived to offer Manitoba’s haunt enthusiasts an ever-changing range of haunted houses since inception.

• HEEBIE JEEBIES | Oct 17-31 (Tickets)

  • Location: Heebie Jeebies, 53071 La Salle Road

  • Description: One of the most terrifying Halloween experiences and haunted houses near Winnipeg, Heebie Jeebies is back for its annual scare-fest.

• Ghost Tours at Lower Fort Garry | Oct 17-25 (Tickets)

  • Location: Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site

  • Description: Listen to stories that unveil the dark past; discover unexplained phenomena; visit locations where disturbing and significant events have taken place and may possibly still be haunted….

• Scattered Seeds | Oct 17-19 (Tickets)

  • Location: Red River Exhibition Park

  • Description: Winnipeg’s largest fall market. Each weekend hosts its own set of over 160 vendors.

  • Note: Use code WINNIPEGIDGEST for the cheapest tickets.

• St. Norbert Farmers' Market | 10AM-2PM, Oct 18 (FREE)

  • Location: 3514 Pembina Highway

Performances🎭

• Candlelight: Kings of R&B: Usher, Mario, and More ft Del Hartley | Oct 17 (Tickets)

  • 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.

• Life of Pi Play | Oct 17 - Nov 8 (Tickets)

  • Location: Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre - John Hirsch Mainstage

  • Description: Based on the best-selling novel, this epic story of courage, faith and survival roars to life with riveting storytelling and stunning puppetry.

• Liars at a Funeral Play | Oct 17-26 (Tickets)

  • Location: Prairie Theatre Exchange

  • Description: A hilarious comedy about family & falsehoods

    How do you get your dysfunctional, estranged family together in the same room? Pretend you’re dead and invite them all to your funeral, of course! Mavis, the matriarch of a family of misfits, fibbers, schemers and identical twins, has a plan to reunite them once and for all.

• Wonderful Joe Play | Oct 18-26 (Tickets)

  • Location: Tom Hendry Warehouse Theatre

  • Description: Joe and his dog Mister lose their home, and facing separation, head into the world for one last grand adventure. The world seems broken, but Joe sees magic in the mundane, beauty amid brutality, and life in the lost and lonely.

• Gather Play | 7PM, Oct 18-26 (Tickets)

  • Location: Manitoba Theatre for Young People

  • Description: When their town goes into a deep freeze and everyone is stuck inside, people start to lose their connection to the world and to each other.

Comedy❗

• Topical Storm | 7PM-10:30PM, Oct 17 (Tickets)

  • Location: The Basement Comedy Lounge

  • Description: One of Winnipeg's longest-running (and most popular) theme shows, Jon Wilson's Topical Storm features the city's best comedians dishing on current events. It's easily the funniest way to find out what's in the news.

• Paul Haywood | Oct 17-18 ($)

  • Location: Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club

  • Description: Paul has been a fixture on the national scene since winning the Toronto New Comic Search in 1998. Over his 20 years he has done it all from packed theaters of 1000 people to 25 people in a man-cave garage.

• Erica Sigurdson Comedy | Oct 17-18 ($)

  • Location: Rumor's Restaurant and Comedy Club

  • Description: Erica is most recognizable from over 50 appearances on CBC Radio’s hit show The Debaters.

• Jokes On Us Comedy Tour | 8PM, Oct 19 ($)

  • Location: The Basement Comedy Lounge

  • Description: Nigerian - Canadian based Comedians take their One night of hilarity show on the road featuring special guests

Special Events/Concerts 🥂

• Strauss, Dances & Dreams | 2PM, Oct 18 (Tickets)

  • Location: Centennial Concert Hall

  • Description: An afternoon filled with elegance, energy, and charm! PLUS, a birthday celebration fit for ‘The Waltz King’ – Johann Strauss, Jr!

• Wine Tasting and Latin Music - Ague' Coco Band | 8PM-11PM, Oct 18 (Tickets)

  • Location: Shrugging Doctor Beverage Company

  • Description: Entry 23 into the "Sip & Strum" series where we highlight Manitoban music in the winery. Come enjoy local wine, cocktails and beer on tap.

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!