Stepping Out With Style

of Winnipeg’s Downtown, the home of former Manitoba Premier, Police Magistrate, and lawyer Sir Hugh John Macdonald, son of Sir John A. Macdonald. Dalnavert Museum & Visitors' Centre is a national historic site that is one of the finest examples of Queen Anne revival architecture in western Canada. (Pre-booking is encouraged. Dalnavert Museum & Visitors' Centre, 61 Carlton St)

On the other side of the Red River, Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum opened to the public in 1967. The original Grey Nuns’ Convent has been home to many people over the course of its more than 100 years of use. Housed in one of the oldest buildings in Winnipeg, Le Musée is a keeper of Francophone and Métis heritage, and a wonderful part of Winnipeg’s cultural landscape. Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum, 494 Taché Ave

In another part of town, another fine historical collection: The Historical Museum of St. James-Assiniboia is home to three buildings: a two-storey 1856 Red River Frame House, the 1911 Municipal Hall with artifacts from residents of the St. James-Assiniboia area, and an interpretive centre. The museum is open for limited hours this season on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and tours must be booked in advance. The Historical Museum of St. James-Assiniboia, 3180 Portage Ave

Every one of the exhibitions at the

Canadian Museum of Human Rights

tells a unique story in the diverse world of human rights. Witness Blanket: Preserving a Legacy explores a powerful art installation created by master carver Carey Newman which bears witness to the truths of residential school Survivors. It takes the form of a cedar “blanket” and includes over 800 pieces of Indian residential school history, contributions donated by residential school Survivors and their families, band offices, and friendship centres, including letters, photos, stories, books, clothing, art, and fragments of buildings. Those responsible for the school system – churches and the Canadian federal government – have also donated pieces for this installation. (to May 01, 2022) ARTiculate Our Rights assembles and shares over 100 artworks by Manitoba students expressing their views about human rights for themselves, their families and their communities. Their thought provoking artwork covers a range of issues inclu-

THEATRE

The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre

presents The Lifespan of a Fact, by Jeremy Kareken & David Murrell and Gordon Farrell on the John Hirsch Mainstage. Based on a true seven-year battle between an innovative essayist and a tenacious fact checker, it’s a sharp, thought-provoking, and often hilarious search for truth. A magazine intern has a simple task: check the facts, meet the deadline, end of story. But the facts come up against a famous writer, who’s more interested in the essence of truth. (Feb 9 to March 5, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, 174 Market Ave) Down the road at the Tom Hendry Warehouse, it’s Sea Sick, written and performed by Alanna Mitchell. A prairie girl who’s afraid of water, Mitchell might not be the most obvious person to talk about the ocean, but she’s also an award-winning journalist, and like all good reporters, she follows her curiosity. With hard science and delicate wit, and inspired by an international bestselling book, this play is a cornerstone of The Bridge: A Festival of Ideas. (Mar 2 to 19, Tom Hendry Warehouse, 140 Rupert Ave)

Prairie Theatre Exchange introduces you to Bad Parent by Ins Choi, a co-production with Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (vAct) and Soulpepper Theatre Company. Norah and Charles are trying to navigate their life as parents of a toddler but are still trying to figure out who they are in relation to their son, to each other, and to the audience in this honest, no-holds-barred portrait of young parents struggling to find their way. (Mar 23 to Apr 10, Prairie Theatre Exchange, 3rd Floor, Portage Place, 393 Portage Ave)

Also at the PTE space, Shakespeare in the Ruins brings something different, a movie of a play shown in a theatre: Macbeth, an Original Feature Film. Shot in and around Winnipeg between September and October 2020, Macbeth features more than 40 local actors, and dozens of artists behind the screen. Conceived, directed, and edited by Michelle Boulet and Sarah Constible, this film is inspired by the late 1800s theatre aesthetic of Anton Chekhov, and was shot digitally in black-andwhite. Ray Strachan and Julie Lumsden play the royal couple. (Feb 5 to 13, Prairie Theatre Exchange). Winnipeg Jewish Theatre presents the Canadian premiere of Caleen Sinette Jennings's Queen's Girl in the World. A chronicle of the misadventures of bright-eyed, brown-skinned Jacqueline Marie Butler, and her sudden transfer from a protective, middle-class late-1950s upbringing in Queens to a progressive, predominantly Jewish private school in Greenwich Village, it’s a comedy with a soundtrack of classic Motown. (Feb 5, 10, 13, evening and matinee performances, Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, Berney Theatre, C 148123 Doncaster St)

Can’t decide between dinner or a play? Why not do both at Celebrations Dinner Theatre? Rockin’ The Jukebox finds some local teens in the sleepy town of Lakewood dying of boredom. Then one day they wander into the old boarded up diner and find a strange looking device sitting in the corner, covered in dust. Could it be a jukebox? (to Feb 6) Next, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. On August 1, 1981, popular music changed forever because of MTV. Featuring the music, fashion, and style of Cyndi Lauper, Annie Lennox, Madonna, Tina Turner and many more (Feb 11 to Apr 17. Both shows at Celebrations Dinner Theatre, Canad Inns Fort Garry, 1824 Pembina Hwy)

SPECIAL EVENTS

Need inspiration and ideas for a home project? The Winnipeg Renovation Show is here to lend a helping hand. Featuring HGTV Canada star Todd Talbot (host of Love It or List It Vancouver) and presentations by Winnipeg designers and reno experts, with Kat Renoand of the Winnipeg Free Press, it has what you need to make your home goals happen. (Jan 14 to 16, RBC Convention Centre, 375 York Ave)

Don’t hibernate, celebrate! Festival du Voyageur will soon be here. The 53rd edition of western Canada’s largest winter festival will once again transform the landscape of the city and bring exciting programming, beautiful snow sculptures, and talented artists to Voyageur Park. Dust off your dancing boots and get ready to discover Voyageur culture alongside friends and family members. (Feb 18 to 22. Watch for details.)

As usual in these times, things are subject to change even more than usual. Confirm safety protocols. And support the arts and event sponsors.