Canada Guide
Manitoba and Saskatchewan
Assiniboine Park
Opening time: Daily 9am– sunset
Price: Free
Some 8km west of the city centre, to the south of Portage Avenue, a great chunk of land has been set aside as Assiniboine Park, whose wooded lawns, gardens, cycling paths, playing fields and zoo attract hundreds of visitors every summer weekend. The park's English gardens of daisies, marigolds, roses and begonias bloom beneath columns of spruce trees and blend into the excellent Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, which contains the works of Ukrainian artist Leo Mol, who moved to Winnipeg in 1949. Dozens of his graceful sculptures – deer, bears, nude bathers and other whimsical figures – are featured here reflecting in the pond. More can be seen in the nearby glass-walled gallery (June to late Sept Tues– Sun 10am–8pm; free). Mol's studio, just behind the gallery, is also on view. There's also a zoo and popular museum on the grounds. Adjoining the park to the south, the 700-acre nature reserve of Assiniboine Forest (sunrise– sunset; free), the largest in Canada, is home to deer, ruffled grouse and waterfowl.