Happy Monday, Winnipeg!

We’ve been working hard behind the scenes on our new city guides, and the bakery and café guides are officially done. Once we finish three more, we’ll be releasing them all together for you to explore.

One of the hidden gems featured in the bakery guide even made it into today’s edition, so keep an eye out for that.

Now, in today’s edition:

• $22.7M Restoration Planned for Winnipeg’s First Ever Library

• Restaurants of the Week: Bakery Edition

• Last Week to Golf

• $1.6M to Help Protect Lake Winnipeg

• Multiple events this week & more

Grab a warm drink, settle in, and let’s get you caught up on what’s happening around the city.

— Jas Singh

News

$22.7M Restoration Planned for Winnipeg’s First Ever Library

After more than a decade of sitting empty, one of Winnipeg’s oldest public buildings is getting a new life. The historic Carnegie Library at 380 William Avenue, first opened in 1905, is being restored to once again house the City of Winnipeg Archives.

The $22.76 million project, part of the Winnipeg 150 Legacy initiative, will give the city’s records a permanent, purpose-built home to protect and share our history.

The Archives were displaced in 2013 after heavy rainstorm damage, and now the city is finally bringing them back home:

• Renovations begin this month on the 120-year-old Carnegie Library

• The upgraded space will include a climate-controlled vault and rooms for research and public programming

• New features will support reconciliation efforts, with areas for smudging and ceremonies

• Construction is expected to finish in 2027

Once the busiest library in Canada outside Toronto, this space has always served as a gathering place for knowledge and memory.

Now, it’s being shaped into a space that reflects Winnipeg today, a city that values its past while creating space for everyone to explore it together.

Click Here: To see what the updated library will look like, what’s in store for the Archives and the history being preserved.

Together with Red River Ex!

Last Chance to Visit Winnipeg’s Most Kid-Friendly Halloween Event

Thank you to everyone who entered our Thanksgiving giveaway last week, and congratulations to our four winners on Instagram: @hthompson.36, @bram.jess, @sexsikhen, and @jkorb2014.

If you didn’t win, don’t sit this one out. This is the final week to experience Witchy Wonderland before it wraps up for the year, and it’s the kind of family event your kids will be talking about long after Halloween’s over.

It’s built for families who want the fun without the fright: bright lights, big smiles, and just the right amount of spooky.

Here’s what makes it worth the trip:

• Carnival rides, a (not-so) haunted train, and the kid-friendly Scary-Go-Round

• Themed areas like Spidey’s Lair, Ship Wrecked, and The Witches Coven

• Face painting, inflatables, roaming characters, and plenty of photo ops

• Fireworks nights on October 23, 24, and 25

📍 Red River Exhibition Park – West Gate
📅 October 23–26

If you’ve been meaning to dress up, sip something warm, and make some real family memories, now’s the time. Tickets will sell fast this week, and once it’s done, it’s done.

Advertise with us by emailing: [email protected]

Restaurant of the Week: ⁠For Us Bakery

For Us Bakery: Where French Pastry Meets Asian Flavor

There’s something special about finding a dessert that feels both familiar and brand new. That’s what you get at For Us Bakery, a spot that’s quietly become one of Winnipeg’s sweetest hidden gems.

Owner Shen Wu moved to Winnipeg from Nanjing, China. And after years of perfecting her craft at local bakeries like La Belle Baguette, she opened For Us to blend the best of both worlds: the artistry of French pastries with the warmth of Asian desserts.

Here’s what you’ll find inside:

• Cream puffs and crepe cakes that melt in your mouth (and are what they’re best known for)

• Beautiful snow skin mooncakes, tarts, and drinks that look as good as they taste

• A cozy space built around the joy of sharing good food with people you care about

📍 1-1353 McPhillips Street
🕒 Wed–Sat 11:30–7 | Sun 12–5

As Shen says, her goal is simple — to share love through desserts. And after one bite, you’ll know exactly what she means.

Click Here: To browse the menu and plan your next visit!

PS: If this made you crave something sweet, just wait. Our Winnipeg Bakery Guide with over 50 local spots is almost ready. You’ll never run out of dessert ideas again.

Community Digest

Scheifele Makes Jets History in 4-1 Win

Saturday night’s home game felt like one for the history books, and not just because of the scoreboard.

Mark Scheifele became the franchise’s all-time points leader in front of a cheering hometown crowd, helping lift the Jets to a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators at Canada Life Centre.

Here’s what went down:

• Scheifele scored early on a power play, reaching 813 career points and passing Blake Wheeler

• Nino Niederreiter, Logan Stanley, and Vladislav Namestnikov also added goals for the Jets

• Connor Hellebuyck stood tall in the net, stopping 30 shots

• The win marks four straight for Winnipeg, with our next game set for tonight in Calgary

Moments like this remind us why hockey means so much to our city.

From that first power-play goal to the final buzzer, it was a night full of grit, cheers, and a milestone Winnipeg won’t forget.

Click Here: To watch the highlights and see Scheifele’s record-setting goal.

Last Week to Golf at City Courses Before They Close for the Season

If you’ve been thinking about getting in one last round of golf before the season ends, this is your chance. Winnipeg’s public courses are set to close on Sunday, October 27, and there’s still time to enjoy a quiet fall day out on the green.

Here’s what to know before courses close for winter:

• Courses still open include Kildonan Park, Crescent Drive, and Windsor Park

• Tee times are available now, and they go quick during the final stretch

• Both 9-hole and 18-hole options are still playable, depending on the course

Fall golf in Winnipeg has its own kind of magic. The buzz of summer has faded, the fairways are quieter, and the scenery is at its best.

Whether you're chasing a personal best or just enjoying the walk, this week is your last chance to soak it in before the clubs go back in storage.

Click Here: To check courses and book your final tee time of the season!

City Updates

$1.6M to Help Protect Lake Winnipeg

If you’ve ever spent a summer day by Lake Winnipeg, you know how much it means to Manitobans. It’s where families swim, fish, and make some of their best memories. Now, the lake’s getting a little extra care, and it’s about time.

The federal government just announced $1.6 million in new funding through the Canada Water Agency to protect and restore the health of our province’s largest freshwater lake.

Here’s where the money’s going:

• Ducks Unlimited Canada is getting $150,600 to protect and restore wetlands that naturally filter water before it reaches the lake

• The University of Winnipeg will receive $218,000 to study how phosphorus runoff during snowmelt affects the Red River Basin

• The Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium will get $708,900 to continue in-lake science and operate their research vessels

Lake Winnipeg fuels local tourism, fishing, and family life across Manitoba, but it’s been struggling with nutrient pollution, algae blooms, and changing weather. This investment is a small but important step toward keeping the lake clean and healthy for generations to come.

Click Here: To learn more about the projects helping protect Lake Winnipeg’s future.

MGK to Headline Grey Cup Halftime in Winnipeg

It’s official, the Grey Cup halftime show is about to get loud. Rapper and singer MGK (formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly) is set to headline this year’s 112th Grey Cup, happening November 16 at IG Field right here in Winnipeg.

The multi-genre artist, known for hits like Bloody Valentine and my ex’s best friend, is now bringing that energy to one of Canada’s biggest stages.

Here’s what else fans can look forward to:

• Our Lady Peace, Canadian rock legends behind Clumsy and Naveed, will kick off the game

• And Manitoba’s own Catie St. Germain from Niverville will perform the national anthem

It’s shaping up to be a night where football meets music, and Winnipeg gets to be right at the centre of it all.

Click Here: To see how to get tickets for the Grey Cup.

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-9PM, Oct 22 (Tickets)

  • Location: The Leaf, Assiniboine Park

  • Description: Enjoy a relaxing adults-only atmosphere complete with live musical entertainment.

• Boo at the Zoo | Oct 22-31 (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.

• Witchy Wonderland – A (not-so) Fright Fest | Oct 23-26 ($)

  • Location: Red River Exhibition Park

  • Description: All the thrills, chills, and giggles to keep every ghost, goblin, and grandma grinning from ear to ear.

• Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics | 6:30 & 8:45PM, Oct 24 (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. Discover music inspired by Halloween at Crescent Arts Centre under the gentle glow of candlelight.

• SCREAM 2025 | 7PM, Oct 24 (Tickets)

  • Location: Assiniboia Downs

  • Description: Winnipeg’s largest & longest running Halloween event showcasing electronic dance music is BACK. Three indoor stages of music with fully decorated rooms and costumed performers. Last year sold out!

• Scattered Seeds | Oct 24-26 (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.

• Winnipeg ComiCon 2025 | Oct 24-26 (Tickets)

  • Location: RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg

  • Description: Winnipeg Comiccon is a pop-culture fan convention that showcases artists and products from entertainment genres like: Sci-fi, Horror, Anime, Gaming in all its forms, and, of course, bande dessinée and comic books.

• Fall Forest Frolics | 10:30AM & 1:30PM, Oct 25 (Tickets)

  • Location: Alloway Reception Centre

  • Description: Discover the sights, sounds, and stories of the forests in this guided forest walk. Perfect for families, these outings invite you to enjoy the changing season and try an eco-printing activity.

• Harland Williams | 8PM, Oct 26 (Tickets)

  • Location: Burton Cummings Theatre

  • Description: Comedian and actor Harland Williams is known the world over for his outlandish stand-up and sketch comedy routines and his hilarious movie roles in films such as Kill Tony, Dumb & Dumber, Something About Mary, Half Baked, and so many more.

Exciting Events: October 20th & 21st

Music 🎵

• Central Soundwave | 12PM-2:45PM, Oct 20 (FREE)

  • Location: Belle's Kitchen + Music Hall

• Blue Rodeo with Adam Baldwin | 7PM, Oct 20 ($)

  • Location: Burton Cummings Theatre

  • Description: Blue Rodeo will be hitting the road for a brand-new Canadian tour, celebrating an incredible 40 years of music.

• Midbrain Surfers/Lewsh Shaw | 7PM, Oct 20 ($)

  • Location: Sidestage Winnipeg

• Darius Rucker Live | 7PM, Oct 21 ($)

  • Location: Canada Life Centre

  • Description: Three-time GRAMMY Award winner Darius Rucker is set to bring his signature sound to Canada this fall with his ‘Darius Rucker Live’ tour.

• HOUND/Interference | 7PM, Oct 21 ($)

  • Location: Sidestage Winnipeg

• Tall Shadows (Montreal)/Discount Coffin/Ghost Twin | 8PM, Oct 21 ($)

  • Location: Public Domain

• Bernadette/Blair Hordeski/Two out of Three/Ryan Bullock | 11:45AM-11PM, Oct 21 (FREE)

  • Location: Belle's Kitchen + Music Hall

Community Fun🎆

• Watercolour Classes with Lisa Whitehouse | 6:30PM-8:30PM, Oct 20 (Tickets)

  • Location: Fort Whyte

  • Description: You will be guided through sketching out your subject and gradually adding layers of colour to create your own painting. Each class will feature a different custom design. All supplies included.

• Life of Pi Play | October 21 - November 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.

Special / Halloween Events 🎃

• Queen: Heaven Planetarium Experience | October 20 - November 15 (Tickets)

  • Location: Manitoba Museum

  • Description: Experience a tribute to the exceptional artists with original footage, images & remastered concert clips. Anthems of their band history, such as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” “I Want to Break Free,” “We Are the Champions,” and many more.

• 2025 Haunted Forest / Corn Maze | October 20 - 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.

• Liars at a Funeral Play | Oct 21-26 (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.

• Guided Meditation and Sound Bath | 7PM-8PM, Oct 21-26 (Tickets)

  • Location: Mediterranean Biome, The Leaf

  • Description: An immersive wellness experience that combines guided meditation with a sound bath, featuring instruments such as Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, Koshi chimes, and crystal singing bowls.

• Mike Green Comedy | 7:45PM, Oct 21-22 ($)

  • Location: Rumor's Restaurant and Comedy Club

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