Issue link: http://tourismwpg.uberflip.com/i/998240
conversion 1 km = 0.62 mile DRIVING DISTANCE TO WINNIPEG Distance (km) Brandon, MB 200 Regina, SK 574 Saskatoon, SK 777 Edmonton, AB 1,302 Calgary, AB 1,329 Vancouver, BC 2,372 Thunder Bay, ON 702 Toronto, ON 2,079 Ottawa, ON 2,171 Montréal, QC 2,291 Québec City, QC 2,535 Located in the geographical centre of Canada and North America, Winnipeg is a culturally diverse, creative and thriving prairie city. Home to 749,500 residents, it is known for its warm and welcoming spirit. WINNIPEG EVERYTHING YOU WANT DRIVING DISTANCE TO WINNIPEG Distance (mi) Grand Forks, ND 143 Fargo, ND 217 Bismarck, ND 405 Sioux Falls, SD 457 Pierre, SD 597 Minneapolis, MN 460 Sioux City, IA 543 Omaha, NE 641 Kansas City, MO 813 Billings, MT 815 Chicago, IL 858 DISCOVER WINNIPEG'S FRENCH QUARTER ON A ST. BONIFACE DAY TOUR Winnipeg is home to the largest French- speaking community west of the Great Lakes. This tour takes you across the Red River into St. Boniface, the city's French Quarter, where the language, folklore, traditions, and history of the first French-Canadian settlers lives on. Originating with the fur trade and early settlement, Manitoba's francophone history is saturated in stories of perseverance and rebellion, and preserved through legend, laughter, music and an infectious joie de vivre that permeates throughout this charming area. Start your tour with a visit to St. Boniface Cathedral, one of Winnipeg's most- photographed locations which is the former head of the Catholic church in Western Canada. Here, you'll witness an intimate performance by theatrical troupe Theatre in the Cemetery that includes a visit to the grave of Louis Riel, the rebellious Métis leader who is the Father of Manitoba. From there, it's on to St. Boniface Museum, the former Grey Nuns' convent which is also the largest oak log structure in North America. A French-Canadian lunch is apropos, so you'll be given the option to select from a list of local restaurants for a farm-to-table experience or a private lunch at Fort Gibraltar – a full- scale trading post where costumed interpreters recreate and share with you their lives during the fur trade in 1815. Try your hand at hatchet throwing, bake bannock around a camp fire and experience what life was like for the Voyageurs and first francophone settlers who braved the Canadian wilderness – and won! Afterwards, walk over to the Tourisme Riel office, where you can view the new documentary At the Heart of Manitoba's Francophone Community – which depicts the trials, achievements and struggles of a community meant to disappear that is now a vibrant part of Winnipeg's cultural fabric. More of this history will be revealed at Maison Gabrielle Roy, a heritage building and attraction (often featuring live actors) which was the childhood home of the celebrated French-Canadian author. End your day by visiting a world-renowned chocolatier, a made-in-Manitoba fromagerie, or a quaint art gallery filled with Winnipeg treasures. Lots of surprises, discovery and plenty of joie de vivre await you in St. Boniface! Otours.net • 1.866.808.8338 Photos courtesy Mike Peters