5 Spots to Visit in Winnipeg for International Women’s Day

Major events in human rights history, past and present, from around the world are presented in thoughtful displays at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The first national museum outside of Ottawa, many of its permanent exhibits highlight Canadian stories. Learn about the women throughout history who have fought for their rights and stood up to injustice at exhibits like Ododo Wa: Stories of Girls in War. Learn more about the CMHR here.

Manitoba’s legislative assembly meets at the grand old Tyndall-stone Legislature building in Winnipeg to govern the province. As one of the first provinces to gain the right to vote for women, Manitoba has a strong history of women in government. Soak in the history on a free self-guided tour, and check out the Trailblazers Wall on the second floor, which features the province’s pioneering women in government.

Canada’s oldest English-language regional theatre is known for mounting thought-provoking plays. On now, catch Women of the Fur Trade, a fresh, youthful take on Manitoba’s history that centres women’s stories. Written by local playwright Frances Koncan, this award-winning comedy follows three 19th century women in the rapidly changing world of the Canadian fur trade. Snappy 21st century dialogue enlivens this story of life, love and Louis Riel that explores women’s power in the past and present. Find more information here.

This downtown contemporary art gallery is always home to cutting edge exhibitions. Get inspired on International Women’s Day by NeuroSpeculative AfroFeminism, a solo exhibition by international art collective Hyphen-Labs. This mind-bending exhibition presents works that explore an otherworldly imagination of a future version of the United States, built on a revolution defined by women of colour who use the domain of the beauty salon as an underground network for a radically new system of communication. Learn more about the exhibit here.

This historic house is the birthplace of Gabrielle Roy, renowned French-Canadian author. The home where she lived, worked and dreamed is now a museum in her memory, a historic recreation of what the house would have looked like in Roy’s time. A literary icon and giant of Franco-Manitobain culture, Roy lived in the home for 28 years and set her famous novel Rue Deschambault within its walls. Guided tours by appointment (museum opens for set hours April 1). Visit the museum’s website for more information.