Happy Monday, Winnipeggers!

What a weekend. The sun showed up, the city came alive, and we just wanted to say thank you to everyone who came out to The Summer of Locals Markets. Thousands of you stopped by, and it honestly meant the world to see so many friendly faces supporting local.

Even if you didn’t make it, hopefully you got out somewhere. Maybe caught a ride at The Red River Ex, or just spent a little time with your dad for Father’s Day. That’s what these summer weekends are all about.

Now we’re heading into a new week, and it’s a busy one. From concerts to neighbourhood festivals, there’s something happening every day if you’re up for it. So grab your coffee, scroll through, and let’s get into it.

In today’s edition:

• $500,000 Action Plan to Make Downtown Safer This Summer

• Restaurant of the Week

• Winnipeg International Jazz Festival Kicks Off Tomorrow

• Connor Hellebuyck Makes NHL History

• Multiple events this week & more

— Jas Singh

News

$500,000 Action Plan to Make Downtown Safer This Summer

Winnipeg’s got a busy season ahead, from festivals/markets, Sea Bear games, patios, and not to mention the big Portage & Main reopening soon! And while the city’s buzzing, safety is top of mind.

And to keep things feeling safe and welcoming, the province is putting $500,000 into a new Downtown Safety Summer Action Plan, starting on June 17th and running for 16 weeks.

Here’s what to expect:

• 12 new officers will join downtown patrols to increase visibility and deter crime.

• More than just enforcement, the plan includes mental health and addictions support, plus community safety programming.

• A team effort - the City of Winnipeg is contributing $50K, with the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ pitching in another $25K.

Led by the Downtown Community Safety Partnership, the goal is to create a downtown where everyone feels safe to walk, work, and enjoy. Whether you’re catching a Goldeyes game or grabbing lunch on a patio, this plan aims to make our time downtown feel a little more comfortable this summer.

Click here: To learn more about the Summer Safety Action Plan.

A Message from Paragon Living!

Apartments That Feel Like Home (and are, pet-friendly)

When we start looking for a new place, most of us are hoping for the basics: something clean, modern, in a good neighbourhood, and something pet-friendly (for our furry friends, of course).

But finding all that in one spot? Not always easy.

And that’s why these two Paragon Living rentals stood out. One’s in the heart of Osborne Village, perfect if you love walkability and a little buzz. While the others in St. Vital, made for slower mornings and more space, but still just minutes from downtown!

Both offer upscale finishes, in-suite laundry, and fast WiFi. Oh, and yes, they’re pet-friendly!

Here’s what makes each one stand out:

📍 333 Wardlaw Ave – Osborne Village

• Quartz countertops, central air, and designer cabinetry

• Free high-speed internet + secure bike parking

• Surrounded by cafés, restaurants, and community charm

📍 813 St. Mary’s Rd – St. Vital (Only one apartment left!)

• Only six private 2-bed units (about 1,100 sq ft each)

• Balconies, stainless appliances, 9-ft ceilings

• Free high-speed internet!

• And just 5 mins to St. Vital Mall and 10 mins to downtown

So, if you’re ready to upgrade your space or know someone who is, be sure to click the buttons above to check pricing and book a tour! These spots won’t stay open for long.

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

Restaurant of the Week: Cibo Waterfront Café

There’s just something about summer in Winnipeg: the river breeze, the long golden hours, and a cold drink in hand. And this week, one of our own got a national shoutout for serving all that and more!

Cibo Waterfront Café just made it onto OpenTable’s 2025 Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining Spots, and it’s the only Manitoba restaurant to make the cut.

It's located right along the Red River in a repurposed industrial space on Waterfront Drive.

Known for its Mediterranean-inspired menu and unbeatable views of the Esplanade Riel Bridge and the Exchange, Cibo has one of the best food + patios in the city! Whether you’re digging into their nduja mussels, lemon alfredo, or a bruschetta with a view, this spot feels like a little vacation right in the city.

Located at 339 Waterfront Drive, they’re open every day from 11:30 AM until late!

So, if you haven’t already, this is your sign to grab a seat on the patio and soak it all in.

Click here: To see their full menu.

Community Digest

Winnipeg International Jazz Festival Kicks Off Tomorrow

Every corner of the Exchange is about to get a little louder, and here’s everything you need to know about it!

Starting tomorrow, the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival is taking over the heart of downtown with a week of live music, good vibes, and city pride. If you’ve never gone, this is the year. And if you have, you know it’s one of those can’t-miss traditions that make summer feel officially underway.

🗓️ June 17–22
📍 Historic Exchange District
🎶 45+ performances, including daily free outdoor shows at Old Market Square.
🎷 Local and international artists, going jazz and beyond!

Whether you’re going with friends or just wandering by after your work, it’s one of the best ways to feel connected to the city while exploring new music and soaking up the summer buzz downtown.

Click here: To see the full festival schedule and plan out your week.

Manitoba Offers Tax Relief for Wildfire-Affected Businesses

Even though we haven’t mentioned them in a while, wildfires are still hitting hard.

It’s been a rough wildfire season, and for some Manitoba business owners, the impact has been more than just smoke in the air. It’s meant closures, lost income, and major stress. But now, the province is stepping in with some support.

The Manitoba government just announced tax deferrals for businesses directly affected by wildfires. That means if your business hasn’t been able to file or pay provincial taxes like retail sales tax or the health and education levy, you can apply to have penalties and interest waived until things settle down.

This kind of breathing room can make a real difference for small businesses trying to stay afloat in a tough time.

• Eligible taxes include retail sales tax, the health and post-secondary education levy, and more.

• Relief is available as soon as you're able to file, no fixed deadline.

• The goal is to give impacted businesses time and space to recover without getting hit twice.

So if you know a business that’s been affected, be sure to pass this along.

And if you’re looking to help, the province is still matching all donations to the Canadian Red Cross 2025 Manitoba Wildfire Appeal. $1 becomes $3 to support those affected.

Click here: To make your donation!

Connor Hellebuyck Makes NHL History

What a season for Connor Hellebuyck, and what a moment for Winnipeg!

Fresh off leading the Jets through one of their best regular seasons ever, Hellebuyck just pulled off something most goalies only dream about: winning both the Vezina Trophy and the Hart Trophy in the same year.

And in true Hellebuyck fashion, he found out while fishing on a lake back home in Michigan. When he docked the boat, his family was waiting with the Vezina Trophy. His third one. And a few minutes later, teammate Eric Comrie showed up with the Hart Trophy. That’s best goalie and MVP of the entire NHL!

It’s something only five other goalies have ever done. And the last time was a decade ago.

It’s a career milestone, but also a city moment. One we’ll remember long after the season fades.

Thanks for a legendary year, Connor. You make all of us Winnipeggers proud!

Click here: To catch the full story and all the career stats behind one of the most legendary seasons ever.

City Updates

Manitoba Launches Mobile MRI for Northern Communities

Starting this month, northern Manitoba is seeing a big shift in health care access. A new mobile MRI unit is now operating out of Thompson General Hospital, with plans to rotate through The Pas later this year.

The goal? Shorter wait times, less travel, and faster access to vital scans without patients having to leave their communities.

For anyone who’s had to drive hours for an MRI, this is a game changer.

• The mobile MRI unit will rotate between Thompson and The Pas

• It helps cut wait times and reduce the need for long-distance travel

• Hospital inpatients and emergency cases can now be scanned locally

• It’s part of a province-wide push for better health access and equity

And this initiative brings care closer to where people live. Especially now, with wildfires making travel even tougher for northern communities, this couldn’t come at a better time.

Click here: To read more about the Mobile MRI!

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!

• Community & Crafting | 6-8PM, June 18 (More Info)

  • Location: The Forks Market Patio

  • Description: A cozy, casual night of crafts + craft beer on the patio at The Forks. Bring your current craft project, whether it’s needlepoint, loom weaving, felting, air-dry clay, cross-stitch, jewellery making, or something else fun and portable

• Cinema Under the Stars 2025 - Attachment | 9:30PM, June 19 (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. This is a completely free event that takes place every Thursday during the summer in the ruins of St. Boniface Cathedral.

• Thursday Night Thunder | 4:30PM, June 19 (Tickets)

  • Location: Victory Lanes Speedway

  • Description: Less than 10 minutes outside Winnipeg, this WISSOTA-sanctioned track offers high-octane race nights all summer long. From stock cars to modifieds, it's dirt-track action at its most thrilling.

• Rocking & Wrestling | 6PM, June 20 (Tickets)

  • Location: Assiniboia Downs

  • Description: Get ready for an action-packed night of body slams and guitar jams at Rocking & Wrestling, where live music meets live mayhem!

• Alleyways in the Exchange 2025 | 5PM-10PM, June 20 (FREE)

  • Location: Exchange District

  • Description: Explore curated markets, live performances, and hidden gems in the alleys of the Exchange District. Featuring a market, audio performances, an art lounge, and dance performances all against the backdrop of a National Historic Site!

• Wondershow Carnival | June 20-22 (Tickets)

  • Location: IKEA Winnipeg

  • Description: Enjoy a weekend of thrilling rides, tasty treats, and unforgettable family fun. Plus, IKEA Family members enjoy an exclusive 10% off on unlimited rides admission!

• Sesame Street Live! Say Hello | 1PM, June 21 (Tickets)

  • Location: Burton Cummings Theatre

  • Description: Round Room Live and Sesame Workshop are proud to announce a new live show, Sesame Street Live! Say Hello. The live show will bring the beloved characters from the iconic Sesame Street to life in a brand new interactive production.

• Homeland of the Red River Métis: Downtown Winnipeg Walking Tour 
  | 2PM, June 21 (Tickets)

  • Location: Dalnavert Museum and Visitors' Centre

  • Description: Step into history with the Dalnavert Museum’s Metis history walking tour! Learn about the beginnings of the Métis Nation during early colonial period.

• Paint 'n' Sip Morning | 10AM, June 22 (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!

Exciting Events: June 16th & 17th

Sports🏀

• Exchange Summer Fitness – Yoga in Stephen Juba Park
  | 12-12:45PM, June 17 (free/learn more)

  • Location: Stephen Juba Park

• Live Horse Racing | 7:30PM, June 17-18

  • Location: Assiniboia Downs

• Winnipeg Goldeyes vs Sioux Falls Canaries | 6:30PM, June 17-19 ($)

  • Location: Blue Cross Park

Music 🎵

• Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs | 8PM, June 17 (Tickets)

  • Location: Park Theatre

• 2025 Downtown Sounds Concert Series | 12PM-1PM, June 17 (FREE)

  • Location: The Forks - Johnston Terminal Steps

  • Description: Hungry for good music with your lunch? Enjoy free live performances every Tuesday from June 17 to August 26 at the 2025 Downtown Sounds Concert Series!

• Jane Fuentez | 8PM, June 17

  • Location: The Osborne Taphouse

• Winnipeg International Jazz Festival | June 17-21 (Tickets)

  • Location: Exchange District

  • Description: As the city’s largest music event, it transforms the heart of downtown’s historic Exchange District into a vibrant hub of live music. Drawing tens of thousands of festival-goers each year!

Family Fun🎆

• The Ex 2025 | June 16-22 (Tickets)

  • Location: Red River Exhibition Park

  • Description: Discover the most thrilling rides, delicious food, incredible performers and attractions, and the best local music all in one place!

• Park Tots | 10-11:30AM, June 17 (Tickets)

  • Location: Acorn Room, Qualico Family Centre

  • Description: Designed for children ages 3 -5 and their adult companion, each week we'll cover a seasonal nature topic with early childhood development professional Kim Crockett to teach both adults and children interesting lessons and hands-on experiences about nature.

• Paddle Nights | June 17 & 19 (Tickets)

  • Location: Fort Whyte Alive

  • Description: Spend an evening paddling before sunset for the perfect summer night. Paddle Nights are a 45-minute session with a canoe or kayak, with help available to get you started. No experience is required.

Special Events 🎨

• Macbeth, by William Shakespeare | June 16 - July 5 (Tickets)

  • Location: Trappist Monastery Provincial Heritage Park

  • Description: This popular ‘Shakespearean noir’ is exciting as a murder mystery, but it is its palpable and sensual atmosphere that really grabs us. For gloomy intensity, there’s nothing like it in all of Shakespeare.

• $10 Shoe & Clothing Warehouse Sale | 10AM-9PM, June 16-17 (Learn more)

  • Location: RBC Convention Centre

  • Description: Get ready to stock up on your favorite shoes and apparel for just $10 or less! We’ve got truckloads of NEW clothing for all seasons, including trendy pieces and everyday essentials for men, women, and kids.

• Workshop: Tree Identification | 6PM, June 17 (Tickets)

  • Location: Crescent Drive Park-Site 3

  • Description: Environmental Educator Carly Gray as she shares her journey into exploring and identifying native Manitoba plants and trees.

• Waiting for Godot at Shakespeare in the Ruins | June 17 - July 6 (Tickets)

  • Location: Trappist Monastery Provincial Heritage Park

  • Description: SIR’s 2025 season embraces the theme of destiny.

    Samuel Beckett’s absolute masterpiece, and one of the most important texts of the last century: Waiting for Godot has surely become one of the most canonical and enigmatic plays since Shakespeare.

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