On Location: Summer in

Globe hopping 18 / On location

Magical Manitoba

Katie Ellis, Product Executive for North America at Travelbag/Dnata, explores Manitoba in the summer and discovers wildlife beyond its famous polar bears

It might be best known for its resident big white bears but even in the summer months there’s still plenty of wildlife to spot in Manitoba, known as ‘Canada’s heartbeat’.

We began our six-day adventure in Churchill – AKA, the polar bear capital of the world – but as we were visiting during the summer season, the main focus was the beluga whales.

Located on the Hudson Bay, the small town of Churchill is a welcoming community that live side by side with some of Canada’s most incredible wildlife.

From here, we took a boat trip out to the Prince of Wales Fort where we learned about the indigenous history of the area, and had our fi rst glimpse of the whales as they inquisitively circled our boat.

For an up-close encounter I would recommend a kayaking excursion across the Churchill River which got us within touching distance of these graceful creatures.

Next, we headed to Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, which sits on the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. Here we indulged in some retail therapy at The Forks shopping centre and enjoyed the buzzing bar and restaurant scene.

A city tour with the Winnipeg Trolley Company is a must and the best way to discover all the city sights. The historicallyinspired trolleys are also good fun and great for groups.

Our tour continued with a dose of history at The Canadian Museum for Human Rights which off ered thought-provoking exhibits. The building itself is architecturally beautiful.

For those who enjoy the great outdoors,

Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg is a wonderful space with manicured gardens, a conservancy zoo, and the soon-to-open Leaf – a glass dome which will house trees, plants and butterfl ies. Our last stop was Riding Mountain National Park, a three-

hour drive north-west of Winnipeg. With breathtaking views across Clear Lake, sweeping prairies and wetland teeming with wildlife, it’s worth the drive. A guided tour with Parcs Canada gave us an understanding of the history of the area and the chance to learn more about the TRAVEL MANITOBA animals and plant life. The main town of Wasagaming is right on Clear Lake, and off ers some great dining options and lots of watersports. Sitting in the sunshine enjoying a drink at the waters edge was the perfect way to round-off our trip to this beautifully wild part of Canada. I’ll just have to come back for the bears! TRAVEL MANITOBA

TRAVEL MANITOBA

TRAVEL MANITOBA

MANITOBA