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The Scoop by Winnipeg Parent Magazine | February 2023

February 14, 2023

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February 2023

FAREWELL FROM THE PUBLISHER

We are midway through fabulous February, my favourite winter month. We experienced some frigid temperatures, but now the weather is positively balmy. Winnipeg is at its winter best in February with so many exciting things to see and do.

Why not take the family skating, tobogganing, skiing or walk the amazing 6 km. Nestaweya River Trail? Seeing our city from the centre of our frozen Red and Assiniboine rivers is magical. So many happy people strolling, skating, biking and cross-country skiing, and visiting the warming hut exhibits, ice sculptures and community skating rinks. The sense of community and good vibes while you walk the river will lift your spirits.

You can take in the Festival du Voyageur beginning February 17th to experience francophone food, culture, music, ice sculptures and much more in St. Boniface. Why not head to Fort Whyte or Oak Hammock Marsh where you can experience wonderful family activities like snowshoeing, ice fishing, yoga and even story telling by a bonfire? If you prefer warmer climates, check out the brand-new Leaf at Assiniboine Park to experience tropical plants, a butterfly garden and more!

It’s Take your Child to the Library Days and I Love to Read month so, visit your local library branch for special events and to take out books. Library cards are still free! You can also visit the Manitoba Museum, Children’s Museum, or the Royal Aviation Museum. Visit their websites to find out what’s going on in February.

Did you know that after a 3 year pandemic break, Winnipeg Parent’s Family Fun & Learning Fair is returning on Sunday, April 23rd from 10am – 4pm at the Manitoba Museum. We are working hard to make the return of our beloved event the best ever where we will connect family-friendly exhibitors with hundreds of families offering a fun and educational experience. Stay tuned for updates on the Fun Fair on our website, in our publications and on our social.

On another note, this will be my final publisher’s column for The Scoop as I am passing the pen…(or the keyboard) to Dana Todd from Bounce Design who will be carrying on as publisher of The Scoop. I started the Scoop digital newsletter a few years ago to compliment Winnipeg Parent and further connect to, and inform our dedicated readership of families, caregivers and educators as well as provide our advertisers a way of reaching our readership with their important messages.

It has been a labour of love for me to learn how to create, build a subscriber list and action the newsletter and I know that Dana and the team at Bounce with their resources will be expanding the reach and scope of The Scoop moving it in an exciting direction.

Take Care and Have Fun!

Susan

WINTER TOP 10 ACTIVITIES – TOURISM WINNIPEG

1. Glide past zany warming huts and see so much of the city as you take to the Nestaweya River Trail, one of the world’s longest naturally frozen skating trails which stretches out from The Forks along the Red and Assiniboine Rivers.

Abby Matheson / Tourism Winnipeg

2. Breathe in that balmy biome air while observing butterflies, towering plants and Canada’s tallest indoor waterfall within The Leaf, Assiniboine Park’s newest world-class attraction.

3. Be inspired to make a difference when you journey from darkness to light through the interactive galleries of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

4. Celebrate the snow at FortWhyte Alive where cross-country skiing, snowshoe hikes, the Richardson RRRun toboggan slide and ice fishing are always on the agenda.

5. See how millions of coins from across the globe are made on a tour of the Royal Canadian Mint.

6. Navigate the icy walls of the world’s largest snow maze—as verified by Guinness— at A Maze in Corn.

7. Be whisked away across the universe in the Planetarium, stroll the boardwalk of 1920s Winnipeg, and see incredible local fossils–including a 90-million-year-old intact pliosaur at the Manitoba Museum.

8. Jig the day and night away to live music, savour all that maple taffy and French food and marvel at the massive snow sculptures during Festival du Voyageur, Western Canada’s largest winter festival. February 17 to 26, 2023.

9. Skate beneath the dazzling lights at night on the on-land trails, play some crokicurl (a game invented in Winnipeg) and do some sliding at Arctic Glacier Winter Park at The Forks.

10. Witness the internationally celebrated snow-drift like architecture that houses the world’s largest collection of contemporary Inuit art at Winnipeg Art Gallery-Quamajuq. While there, be sure to check out the new exhibit at the WAG, Red is Beautiful by influential First Nation artist Robert Houle before it ends on March 27.

MAKE MAGIC WITH COLOURED ICE GLOBES!

We see ice sculptures going up all over Winnipeg – in Upper Fort Garry, down Broadway, throughout St. Boniface, at the Festival du Voyageur and in front yards all over the city. Join in the ice sculpting fun this February with an easy, colourful and fun outdoor craft!

What you need:

· Balloons

· Food colouring

How to make Ice Magic:

1. Fill your balloon with water

2. Add a few drops of food coloring

3. Leave them outside to freeze

4. Once frozen, pop the balloon! Instant Ice Magic!

This is a great outdoor craft for kids of all ages!

FEBRUARY IS I LOVE TO READ MONTH!

10 Reasons Why Reading is Important for Kids:

1. It expands their vocabulary.

While reading, they might come across words they have never heard – prompting them to find out what they mean. As a result, they add it to their vocabulary.

2. It makes them better at it.

Practice makes perfect, right? The best way to get better at reading is just to do it!

3. It helps build independence and self-confidence.

As they learn that they no longer have to rely on their parents to read things to them, they develop a sense of independence. Through reading, they can begin to understand the world on their own.

4. It keeps them safe.

Traffic signs have words and so do warning labels. Reading allows kids to understand when something says it could harm them.

5. It helps them make sense of the world around them.

As they learn to read they are able to determine what things around them say – from signs to stickers to labels. Being able to read helps them understand what is what and the purpose it serves.

6. It leads to their future academic success.

A child must be able to read in order to even progress through school. Reading is essential to following the instructions on the test and being able to even understand or answer the questions.

7. It enhances their imagination.

As a child reads, they can begin to imagine where the characters are. They might even create their own little world, as well. Reading enhances their imagination by forcing them to picture what the character actually looks like and who they are.

8. It entertains them.

It gives them something good to do – especially once they can start reading chapter books with no pictures, forcing them to really get into their imagination and therefore, really get into the book as well.

9. It improves their grammar.

Through reading, they can see how the author composed their sentence structure and grammar. This can also help improve their communication skills as they determine how it should be read using clues such as punctuation.

10. It improves their writing skills.

Because reading helps improve their vocabulary, communication, and grammar skills, it ultimately improves their writing skills as well.

Reading is essential to just about everything in life – from cooking to driving to just getting through school. It is important to start at a young age and teach your child the value of reading so they will grow to practice it often and value their ability to do so.

Now, go grab a good book and your child and get to reading together!

– *from Imagineforest.com

BOOK SUGGESTIONS

Pick up a book and join this year’s theme, from the Manitoba Reading Association:
Stories Connect Us: We Are More Alike Than Different

Here are their top book selections:

Picture Books

Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey – Margriet Ruurs

The Gift of the Little People – William Dumas

The 1619 Project: Born on the Water – Nikole Hannah

Middle Years/ Young Adult

Borders – Thomas King

The Fort – Gordon Korman

A Long Walk to Water – Linda Sue Park
No Fixed Address – Susan Nielsen
Refugee – Alan Gratz

Graphic Novels

Tales from Big Spirt Books – David A. Robertson
A Girl Called Echo series – Katherena Vermette

*taken from Manitoba Reading Council – readingmanitoba.org

SNOWMOBILE SAFETY BY MANITOBA HYDRO

It’s winter in Manitoba, and that means another season of outdoor fun for snowmobile enthusiasts. But just as you wouldn’t hit the trails without your helmet and other essential gear, follow these guidelines to help you get home safely.

Reduce your speed around utility poles.

Guy wires that anchor utility poles have yellow, reflective covers, so they’re easily seen, but sometimes the covers become damaged or hidden by drifting snow. Darkness, fog, or blowing snow can also make them difficult to spot.

Steer clear of downed poles and power lines.

A fallen power line can energize nearby objects. Stay at least 10 metres away from the area and report the damage to Manitoba Hydro at 1-888-MBHYDRO or 911. If someone does contact a downed power line, either directly or with their machine, don’t touch them or any objects around them. Call 911.

Stay off the ice near hydroelectric dams and generating stations.

The ice around these areas can be thin and unstable.

Avoid sledding near substations and other hydroelectric facilities.

Snow-covered rocks, barbed-wire fences, or other hazards can be present along unmarked terrain or private property.

Plan your route before heading out.

Becoming disoriented or lost is much more likely to happen at night or on a large frozen lake. Ride with people familiar with the area, and always tell someone where you’re going and when you plan to be back.

Visit hydro.mb.ca/safety for more information