Foolishness at The Forks

 Photo by Leif Norman

As a parent, coming up with ways to keep the kids entertained during Spring Break is challenge. So many hours to fill with healthy and fun activities, so much energy to burn off!

For the past few years, I have brought my two young girls to The Forks to 'help' me at Festival of Fools. I am a part of the Winnipeg International Children's Festival (which spearheads the Festival of Fools), and the event always ends up being a chance to 'bring your kids to work week' - a week we all get to have some fun.

Photo by Leif Norman

The kids get to see incredibly funny circus performers like Gustavo the Impossibilist, The Silly People, The Street Circus Show, Mr. Mark, The Magic of Anders, magician Ron Pearson and many others.

They also get to participate in Circus Workshops, where artists like juggler Isaac Girardin teachs kids to use circus tools like juggling sticks, diabolos and spinning plates. There are even Trapeze Workshops available to kids aged 8+.

Other parents like Jennifer Lesley, who belongs to the Kidsfest Facebook page, agree Festival of Fools is a great family-friendly event.

"My sons, 6 and 7, still remember their first experience at the Festival of Fools last year," Jennifer wrote. "Watching (Karl Saliter from Karl's Circus Comedy) getting 'swallowed' up by a giant balloon was, by far, their favourite part of the program. I also loved the incredibly realistic skeleton and lion my boys were transformed into after a visit to the magical face painters!"

It's a win-win - and the best part is: totally free. 
For helping mommy out, our kids get rewarded with treats from the Festival of Fools General Store, and Skinner's French Fries. They can't wait for Spring Break so they can head down to The Forks!

Guest post by: Lisa Saunders,

mother of two and enjoyer of all things foolish!

Click here for a full schedule for Festival of Fools.

Photo by Leif Norman

From The Farm to The Forks

You might not always stop to think about it, but every day you connect with the farm. The salad you munch on, the bread you butter and the meat you eat all has been produced with care on farms across Manitoba! Not only that, but many of the things you use every day also come from a farm; your clothes, crayons and even candles! Agriculture is key when it comes to all of our lives. That`s why you need to come and discover Ag in the City this weekend.

Come see this two-day event in the Centre Court of The Forks Market on March 20-21. Talk to farmers and ag industry people to help you understand how food gets from the field to your fork, come see a food fight put on by The University of Manitoba, and learn to make cinnamon buns with local wheat from Tall Grass Prairie!! There is so much more to discover, so click here for a full schedule of events.

Here's some fun farm facts:

• 1 in 8 Canadian jobs are in ag and agri-food 
• Agriculture employs over 2.1 Million Canadians
• 98% of farms are family farms
• The world will need 60% more food by 2050 
• Canada is the #1 world producer of canola, #2 world exporter of malting barley, and produces more than 700 varieties of cheese.

Fun facts by: agriculturemorethanever.ca

And if that weren't enough- check out what farming means on the Peterson family farm.

'Til Next Time, Old Friend

It's a sad day, but after nine and a half weeks the time has come for the Red River Mutual Trail to say adieu. It has been a great season out on the ice with a few new additions and exciting events. We were able to reach new communities by going further down the Red River, we've added some extraordinary Warming Huts, we had an art gallery, restaurant and denim dome on the ice, and we met many skaters, hikers, bikers and skiers who ventured out to enjoy the trail on a daily basis.

In honour of the 2015 Red River Mutual Trail (RRMTrail), we thought we'd share some facts with you:

• Opening day: January 1, 2015
• Open for a total of 68 days
• First time ever to St. Vital Bridge
• Gallons of water used to flood the RRMTrail: 630,000
• Approximate number of skaters: 285,000

• Warming Huts on the RRMTrail: 16 
• Countries represented from new Warming Huts: Mexico, Canada, Norway
• Most photographed Warming Huts: Hygge House and Recycling Words 
• Most selfies taken with a Warming Hut: Mirror Cloaking 
• Longest selfie stick used on the RRMTrail: 22''  (thanks @RonCantiveros)
• Most "pushed around" Warming Hut: Recycling Words

• Gourmet meals and cocktails were consumed at the RAW:almond restaurant: 3200
• Total of Memberships sold at RAW Gallery: 1080
• Meters of denim used to make the Denim Dome: 130
• Number of ping pong tournaments in a Denim Dome: 1
• Number of art galleries on the RRMTrail: 1

• Total number of hearts painted on the RRMTrail: Over 100
• Marriage proposals on the RRMTrail: 3 (that we know of)
• Hockey pucks recovered from berms around the Historic Port Rinks: 153
• Number of Christmas trees used on the RRMTrail: 250
• Number of Videos made on this year's river trail: We've counted more than 7... but there are probably more. Here are a few of our faves: 

•  Number of RRMTrail crew members: 16
• Number of dogs on the RRMTrail crew: 1
• Gallons of coffee consumed by the RRMTrail Crew: 420
• Special thanks to FXR who outfitted our Winter Crew. The crew experienced zero cases of frostbite.

It's been a great season out on the Red River Mutual Trail and we can't thank you enough for joining us this season.

'til next time...

International Women’s Day at Museum counts down to FIFA Women’s World Cup

Soccer is played in almost every nation of the world, which gives it great potential to promote global awareness about equality, respect and human rights for all.

That’s one reason the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is partnering with FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada on Sunday, March 8 – the 40th anniversary of International Women’s Day. A special event in the Museum will highlight the contributions of women in sport who have worked to overcome barriers to gender equality and helped shape positive attitudes.

 Photo: Canada Soccer / Hana Asano

March 8 marks exactly three months until the first Winnipeg match kicks off in FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ – the largest women’s sporting event in the world. Women in sport have overcome many rights issues but continue to face challenges today.

From 12 p.m. to 4 p. m., the Museum will host special family activities, panel discussions and speakers from the world of soccer, including Sylvie Béliveau of Canada Soccer, former head coach of the Women’s National Team. Béliveau is not only a celebrated figure in national and international women’s soccer, but works in Québec with Égale Action, an organization that promotes participation in sport for women of all ages.  

 Photo: Canada Soccer / Martin Lussier

To provoke thought and discussion about the Right to Play (an article of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child), one of the many family activities in the Museum on March 8 invites visitors to make soccer balls out of plastic bags. This hands-on activity is inspired by a story featured in the Museum about young people in parts of Africa who can’t afford sports equipment, so scour garbage dumps for plastic bags and string to transform trash into soccer balls.

Visitors can also find powerful stories about women’s rights and female human right defenders located throughout the Museum’s galleries. Regular admission fees apply for Museum gallery access. There is no charge for the activities in Bonnie & John Buhler Hall or the panel discussions in the Manitoba Teachers’ Society Classrooms. Seating for the panel sessions is limited.

Photo: CMHR

Guest Post by Canadian Museum for Human Rights