Manitoba

“From golden prairie fields to northern lakes and wilderness, Manitoba is a province full of natural beauty, rich traditions, and surprising possibilities.”

Manitoba—More Than Meets the Eye!

Some places invite you to admire the scenery. Manitoba, I suspect, would also ask whether you have eaten. Between a community fall supper, a plate of perogies, and an Icelandic cake that comes with a family history, we might need to loosen our belts before this visit is over.

This week, our journey across Canada takes us to a province with more variety than its prairie reputation suggests. Southern fields give way to lakes, ancient rock, and boreal forest, then farther north to tundra and the shores of Hudson Bay. Somewhere between the wheat fields and the beluga whales, any simple picture of Manitoba begins to grow considerably more interesting.

Let’s begin at the table

Manitoba’s food tells us something about both its landscape and the people who have made their homes there.

Freshwater pickerel, known elsewhere as walleye, is a regional favourite. Pan-fried fish beside the lake where it was caught sounds like a fine introduction to the province. Ukrainian traditions bring us perogies and kielbasa, and Manitoba even has a Perogy Trail. I appreciate a trail where lunch is part of the destination. Then there is honey-dill sauce, a local favourite with chicken fingers and a reminder that a province’s signature food needn’t be complicated to inspire loyalty.

We should leave room for dessert. Icelandic settlers brought vínarterta, a layered cake with spiced prune filling that became part of Manitoba’s culinary heritage. Winnipeg’s Jewish community gave us another favourite, schmoo torte, with light cake, pecans, whipped cream, and caramel. Choosing between them might require a second cup of tea.

Food tastes better with company

At this time of year, Manitoba’s fall suppers offer another way to get acquainted. Churches and community halls host meals that bring people together and raise money for local causes. For anyone who enjoys growing, cooking, and feeding people, there is something immediately familiar about that invitation. A harvest becomes a meal, and a meal becomes an occasion to gather.

The Manitoba social carries a similar spirit. Often held to help a couple with wedding expenses, it combines a fundraising party with music, dancing, and community support. Socials also raise money for charities and other causes. Practical help, delivered with an evening out—there is a good deal to like about that arrangement.

The music carries a story

The Red River Métis have a central place in Manitoba’s cultural life. Fiddle music and the quick footwork of the Red River Jig carry traditions between generations. These are living expressions of identity and belonging, shared at gatherings where the music invites people to participate. With energy as our theme this week, a lively fiddle tune seems appropriate.

In Winnipeg’s Saint-Boniface, French language and Franco-Manitoban heritage remain part of everyday cultural life. Each February, Festival du Voyageur brings people together to celebrate that heritage and its connections to Métis history. Manitoba has found plenty of reasons to put on a warm coat and head out into winter.

Along Lake Winnipeg, Gimli offers a different chapter. Founded by Icelandic settlers, the lakeside community celebrates its roots through festivals, museums, and public art. It is a place where our slice of vínarterta belongs to a much larger story of leaving one home and creating another.

That story continues with the many communities that contribute to Winnipeg’s Folklorama. Every August, food, performances, and cultural displays give people an opportunity to share their heritage with their neighbours. That’s a great way to learn about one another: listen to the music, ask a question, and try something delicious.

Farther north, the horizon is changing

Then we come to Churchill, on Hudson Bay, where the seasons bring remarkable visitors. Belugas arrive in summer, polar bears gather in autumn, and the northern lights draw eyes skyward. The landscape sets a very different rhythm here.

Churchill is also attracting attention for its growing role in Canadian trade. The clearest signs of growth are in its port activity, railway investment, and expanding overseas connections.

In 2026, grain exports returned through Churchill for the first time since 2020. The initial shipment involved approximately 30,000 tonnes of Canadian durum wheat bound for Europe. Arctic Gateway Group also added a weekly freight train to support northern communities and growing demand along the railway.

The idea behind this northern route is straightforward: move Western Canadian goods north by rail to Churchill, then ship them through Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait towards overseas markets. It gives producers another way to reach customers and helps broaden Canada’s trading connections. The port also supplies communities in Nunavut, so its importance reaches well beyond exports.

On September 28, 2026, Arctic Gateway Group announced an agreement with the Port of Rotterdam to develop trade between Western Canada and Europe. The focus includes critical minerals and energy products. Churchill’s shipping season has already included grain, zinc concentrate, Manitoba-produced potash, and northern resupply vessels—a wider mix of business for this northern port.

There are ambitions to go further, including year-round shipping. Research announced in August found that modern ice-capable vessels could make year-round navigation possible. Turning that possibility into regular service still involves investment, planning, consultation with Indigenous rights holders, and environmental assessment. It is a developing opportunity, with substantial work ahead.

There is an important community connection here, too. The port and railway are owned through OneNorth, a partnership of 29 First Nations and 12 northern communities. For the people who live along this route, its future is tied to livelihoods, reliable supplies, and opportunities close to home.

There is something hopeful about a place that carries its roots into the future. In Manitoba, the traditions shared around a kitchen table and the possibilities arising with a northern port belong to the same unfolding story. Knowing where we come from can give us the confidence to imagine where we might go—and the courage to build something new.