Winnipeg Starts Removing Parking Stations

Author

Jas Singh
July 04, 2025

Happy Friday, Winnipeggers!

It’s been a hot one this week and it’s not letting up just yet. But if you’re up for a little sun and fun, this weekend’s the perfect time to get out and explore.

There are markets all over the city, including our third Summer of Locals market at Outlet Collection. If you’ve got kids (or know someone who does), this is one to check out. We’re talking Batman, Elsa, and Ariel in person for photos, plus 80+ local vendors, food trucks, bouncy castles, and more. (Full details on that just below!)

And that’s just one of many things happening.

So whether you’re into live music, local eats, outdoor adventures, or just walking a market with a cold drink in hand, this is the weekend to do it. Call up a friend, round up the family, and go make the most of it.

Now, in today’s edition:

  • The City Starts Removing All Street Parking Pay Stations

  • Winnipeg’s Biggest Outdoor Local Markets Are Back This Weekend

  • Jets Sign Five Players, Including Winnipeg’s Isaac Poulter

  • Province Invests $5M to Speed Up Health Research in Manitoba

  • 50+ Events this weekend & Live Music!

— Jas Singh

News

The City Starts Removing All Street Parking Pay Stations

Source: University of Manitoba

Remember when you’d have to dig around your car for spare change just to park for 10 minutes? Well, those old machines are finally being retired for good.

As mentioned a few weeks ago, starting July 8, the City’s removing all pay stations on Winnipeg streets and in city-owned lots (except the Millennium Library parkade). By the end of August, they’ll all be gone.

Here’s what that means:

  • You’ll now need to pay using the PayByPhone app, online, or by calling 1-888-680-7275

  • Most people are already doing this: With 80% of parking payments happening through phones

  • The machines ran on 3G, which is being phased out, and replacing them would’ve cost $3.6 million

  • The city will also save about $1 million a year in maintenance by scrapping them

  • You can still pay with Prepaid Parking Booklets, available at 495 Portage and select 311 counters

But this is your sign to download the PayByPhone app ahead of time. So you can pay and top up your time without ever leaving your car.

Together with The Locals x Winnipeg Digest

Winnipeg’s Biggest Outdoor Local Markets Are Back This Weekend

This weekend’s shaping up to be one of the biggest community events of the summer. If you’ve been meaning to check out a local market, this is the one.

Summer of Locals is back at Outlet Collection Winnipeg this Saturday and Sunday, and after thousands of people showed up at the first two, this one’s expected to be even bigger.

Here’s what’s happening:

  • 80+ local vendors selling handmade goods, art, clothes, self-care, home decor, and more

  • 20+ food spots, from food trucks to cool drinks and sweet treats

  • All-day DJ sets to keep the vibes going

  • Free family fun, including face painting, bouncy castles, and surprise guests like Batman, Elsa, and Ariel (1–5PM both days)

  • Youth-run lemonade stands and button shops, all from young local entrepreneurs

It’s free to attend, easy to get to, and filled with local gems. Bring the kids, meet the makers, and spend a few hours just soaking it all in.

📍 Entrance 1 (by Old Navy), Outlet Collection Winnipeg
📅 July 5–6
🕒 Sat 11AM–8PM | Sun 11AM–7PM
☀️ Free entry!

It’s the kind of weekend that reminds you why Winnipeg’s so special. Hope to see you there.

P.S. If you’re planning to come or might in the future, please click the button above so we know you're interested! It helps more than you think.

And if you’ve got a second, share the link with a friend or family member. The more people who show up, the more we can keep putting on great free events like this for the community!

Winnipeg Sports

Jets Sign Five Players, Including Winnipeg’s Isaac Poulter

There’s something special about seeing a local kid suit up for the home team. This week, the Jets signed five players to one-year, two-way deals, and one of them is Winnipeg’s own Isaac Poulter.

He’s a 23-year-old goalie who spent last season with the AHL’s Utica Comets. And now, he’s got a shot to wear the Jets logo in his own backyard.

Joining him on the roster:

  • Kale Clague, a defenceman from Regina with 39 points last season in Rochester

  • Phil Di Giuseppe, a veteran forward who helped Abbotsford win the Calder Cup

  • Walker Duehr, a hard-hitting winger who bounced between the NHL and AHL

  • And Samuel Fagemo, a high-scoring Swede who’s led the AHL in goals since 2021

Plenty of grit, scoring power, and upside in this group. And the hometown angle just makes it sweeter.

Jets Add Veteran Forward Gustav Nyquist on One-Year Deal

Source: Winnipeg Jets

The day after the Jets added five fresh faces, they signed one more: veteran forward Gustav Nyquist. The 35-year-old from Sweden agreed to a one-year deal worth $3.25 million.

With more than 860 NHL games and 531 points to his name, Nyquist brings leadership and playoff experience to the room, plus two international medals, including gold at the 2018 World Championship.

He’s the kind of steady, seasoned player who can help guide the younger guys and keep the lines sharp when it matters most.

City Updates

Province Invests $5M to Speed Up Health Research in Manitoba

If you’ve ever had a loved one waiting for treatment, or hoping for access to a clinical trial, you know how much every delay matters. That’s why this latest move from the Manitoba government is a big deal.

This week, the province announced a new clinical trials office to speed up health research in Manitoba, alongside a new system called RITHIM (yep, it’s a mouthful) that makes the whole research process more efficient and easier to navigate.

Here’s what’s happening:

  • The new office will help researchers get trials approved faster

  • RITHIM is a first-in-Canada system that brings ethics, privacy, and medical review under one roof

  • Making local universities and hospitals better equipped to take on life-saving studies

  • It’s also expected to bring more jobs and investment to Manitoba’s biotech sector

  • With the province is putting $5 million into Research Manitoba to support this rollout

Manitoba’s already a hub for bioscience: as we’re the second-largest pharmaceutical exporter in the country. This just gives our researchers more tools (and less red tape) to do the work that helps real people.

Winnipeg Unveils New Plan to Improve By-Law Enforcement

We’ve all had that moment: filing a 311 complaint and wondering if anything’s actually going to happen. Whether it’s a noise issue, parking, or a property concern, the process hasn’t always been quick or clear.

That’s why the City just introduced a new strategy to make by-law enforcement more consistent, transparent, and easier for everyone to navigate.

  • One city-wide framework to guide how warnings, tickets, compliance orders, and appeals are handled

  • 32 by-laws covered, across departments like Public Works, Water & Waste, Fire & Paramedic, and more

  • Phase 1 starts this month, with better 311 triaging, standard templates, and clearer info on Winnipeg.ca

  • Each department will test one bylaw to see how the new system works in real time

  • With a full rollout expected by 2027, if all goes smoothly and the Council gives the green light

The full plan goes to the Council on July 8. The goal? To cut down confusion and make sure by-law issues are dealt with fairly and faster.

Summer Concert Series

Exciting Events: July 4th - 6th

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

Sports🏀

  • Winnipeg Run Club | 8AM, July 5 (FREE)

    • Location: The Forks - The Canopy

  • Zumba in the Park | 10-11AM, July 5 (FREE)

    • Location: Riley Family Duck Pond

  • Winnipeg National Bank Challenger | July 6-13 (Tickets)

    • Location: National Bank Tennis MB Hub at West St. Paul

    • Description: Every July, over 60 tennis players descend on Winnipeg to vie for tennis greatness in the Winnipeg National Bank Challenger (WNBC). This one-week event has winnings of $100,000.

  • DND Run Club | 8:15AM, July 6 (FREE)

    • Location: The Forks (Main Elevator)

    • Description: Theme - Blue, Red, and White!

Community Fun🎆

  • Summer Line-Up: Ice Painting | 11AM-3PM, July 4-6 ($)

    • Location: Manitoba Children's Museum

    • Description: Join us all summer long for hands-on programming inspired by the season.

  • Baby Bison Walk | 10:30AM & 1:30PM, July 5 ($)

    • Location: FortWhyte Alive

    • Description: Feel a connection to the herd as you see the miracle of baby bison.

  • Family Nature Hike | 1PM-2PM, July 6 ($)

    • Location: FortWhyte Alive

    • Description: Explore themes such as bugs, birds, or bison on these family-friendly guided walks through FortWhyte Alive.

  • Bison Bus Tour | 10:30AM & 1:30PM, July 6 ($)

    • Location: FortWhyte Alive

    • Description: See North America’s largest land mammal from just metres away, interacting in their natural habitat.

Markets/Fairs🎡🎢🎠

  • First Friday in The Exchange | 5PM, July 4 (FREE)

    • Location: Exchange District

    • Description: ​​Explore the exchange for free together artists, artist-run centres, galleries, businesses and more!

  • Ikea Family Fair | July 4-6 (FREE)

    • Location: IKEA Parking Lot

    • Description: Rides, Games & Tons of Family Carnival Fun await you at the 2025 IKEA.

  • St. Norbert Farmers' Market | 8AM-2PM, July 5 (FREE)

    • Location: 3514 Pembina Highway

  • Naija Market Day | 11AM-11PM, July 5 (FREE)

    • Location: The Forks CN Stage and Field

    • Description: Join us at The Forks for a day filled with vibrant culture, delicious food, and unique crafts from Africa.

  • Bronx Park Farmers Market | 9AM-2PM, July 5 (FREE)

    • Location: Bronx Park

  • The Summer of Locals | July 5-6 (FREE)

    • Location: Outlet Collection Winnipeg

    • Description: 80+ vendors, selling everything from the perfect gifts to your new favourite eats, and everything in between. It's a showcase of some of the best our city has to offer.

  • Tyndall Community Market | 3PM-9PM, July 5-6 (FREE)

    • Location: Tyndall Park Community Centre

    • Description: Enjoy food trucks, local vendors, free Zumba, games, music, and more—featuring The Food Park. Free admission and great vibes—don’t miss it!

  • Hobby Con Winnipeg | 9AM-6PM, July 6 (FREE)

    • Location: South Winnipeg Community Centre

    • Description: Pokémon cards, Funko Pops, TCG, Sports Cards, Anime Merch, Comics & Crafts — this is the summer show you want to be part of.

Performances🎭

  • Paranormal Cirque | July 4-14 (Tickets)

    • Location: St. Vital Centre

    • Description: A crazy yet fun fusion between Circus, theatre, and cabaret in perfect harmony with the evolution of a show that brings you back to when we dream... and when we had nightmares and fantasies.

  • Rock of Ages | July 4-12 (Tickets)

    • Location: Rainbow Stage

    • Description: The broadway musical Rock of Ages tells a love story between a small-town girl and a city boy set against the backdrop of 1980s Hollywood’s Sunset Strip.

  • Waiting for Godot at Shakespeare in the Ruins | July 4-6 ($)

    • Location: Trappist Monastery Provincial Heritage Park

    • Description: 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.

  • Macbeth, by William Shakespeare | 2PM & 7:30PM, July 5-6 ($)

    • 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.

  • Grease Lightning | July 5-6 ($)

    • Location: Destination Dinner Stage

    • Description: This immersive dinner theatre performance reimagines the world of Grease twenty years later, with classic rock and roll vibes, fun twists, and a hearty dose of nostalgia.

Comedy❗

  • Daniel Simonsen | July 4-5 ($)

    • Location: Rumor's Restaurant and Comedy Club

    • Description: Norwegian/Chilean stand-up and writer. He was named New York’s Funniest at the 2022 New York Comedy Festival, won UK’s So You Think You’re Funny, and received the Best Newcomer Award at Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

  • Jared Nathan | 8:30PM, July 4-5 ($)

    • Location: The Basement Comedy Lounge

    • Description: Jared Nathan has risen from his humble beginnings in Winnipeg comedy to the heights of the industry, recently appearing on Netflix as part of The Killers of Kill Tony.

  • KENNY VS SPENNY | 7PM, July 6 (Tickets)

    • Location: Exchange Event Centre

    • Description: The Infamous Canadian Comedy Duo Is Coming Back To Winnipeg!

Special Events/Concerts 🥂

  • Summer Concert Series | 7PM-9PM, July 4 & 6 (More Info)

    • Location: Lyric Theatre, Assiniboine Park

    • Description: Join us for the Summer Concert Series at the Lyric Theatre, part of the Assiniboine Park's Summer Entertainment Series! All concerts are FREE!

  • 2025 Corydon Avenue Concert Series | 7PM-10PM, July 4-5 (FREE)

    • Location: Cockburn Street S and Hugo Street N

  • Paranormal Investigation | 8PM-11:30PM, July 5 (Tickets)

    • Location: Historical Museum of St.James-Assiniboia

    • Description: Try to capture the sounds of children laughing or the glimpse of a former prisoner in the holding cell. A single location brimming with history awaits your exploration.

  • Gardens of Distinction | 9AM-4PM, July 5 (Tickets)

    • Location: Fort Whyte Alive

    • Description: Join us for a great day of visiting the yards of talented gardeners, along with a plant sale at Fort Whyte Alive. The self-guided tour features 14 gardens in South Winnipeg and beyond.

  • Garden Concerts: Rachel Colman | 11AM-12PM, July 5 (FREE)

    • Location: The Leaf - Assiniboine Park

    • Description: Join us for Garden Concerts at The Leaf, part of Assiniboine Park's Summer Entertainment Series! All concerts are FREE!

  • Cool Gardens Launch + Block Party on Graham Ave | 1PM-3PM, July 5 (More Info)

    • Location: Graham Avenue between Donald and Smith

    • Description: Experience three new installations — Anything for a Breeze (with a hands-on wind streamer workshop), The Living Shore, and Tawnday pe’ oototayan? — while DJ Crease plays live. The first 150 guests will receive free ice cream from Fête Ice Cream Coffee.

  • Jazz in the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden | 12PM-1PM, July 6 (More Info)

    • Location: Assiniboine Park

    • Description: Join us for Jazz in the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, part of the Assiniboine Park's Summer Entertainment Series!

  • 2025 Manitoba Pet Expo | 10AM-4PM, July 6 (More Info)

    • Location: St. Norbert Community Centre

    • Description: Come on out and see local animal rescues/shelters, advocacy groups, pet food companies, pet supply companies, pet service companies such as groomers, dog sitters, doggy daycare, veterinarians and more.

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!