Meet Me At The Forks In Winnipeg

A popular public space on the site of an ancient meeting place in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba offers modern-day shopping, dining, entertainment, historic attractions, and green space

The Forks, located at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is a top attraction for both tourists and locals. The multi-use space offers dining, shopping, recreation, green space, and attractions of historic and cultural significance. It attracts over four million visitors each year. Each time I visit the site, I am again struck by what a lovely spot it is and by how much there is to see and do here.

The Forks has been a meeting place for over 6,000 years. Archaeological investigations have revealed evidence of indigenous peoples’ activity thousands of years ago. The Forks was the hub of the fur trade in the 18th and 19th centuries. As grain production became the primary industry in the late nineteenth century, the area turned into a key railway development site. Over the last thirty years, the site has been redeveloped as a modern multi-use meeting place.

The Johnston Terminal, The Forks Market, The Forks Market Plaza, and an outdoor patio area form the hub of shopping and dining.

The Johnston Terminal was once a cold storage railway warehouse. It is now home to a restaurant, a coffee shop, an antique mall, and several other unique shops.

The Forks Market, housed in two former adjacent stables for competing railway companies, contains shops, a fresh food emporium, restaurants and a food court. The wide variety of food choices includes Caribbean, Italian, steak, all-day breakfast, sushi, fish and chips, burgers and hot dogs, Asian, pancakes, Greek, donuts, bakery goods, and ice cream. The entire two floors of the Market are licenced. The Common offers wine, a large selection of local craft beer, and non-alcoholic beer and mocktails. Shops on the second floor offer local products, crafts, and artisan pieces. Among the shops are The Forks Trading Company Maker’s Faire showcasing local makers on a rotating basis, Teekca’s Aboriginal Boutique and Manitobah. There is also a branch of my favourite bookstore, McNally Robinson Booksellers.

The space between the two original buildings has been turned into an contemporary courtyard housing the Food Hall. The space features a skylight and brick walls that were once the exteriors of the stables.

A large canopy is the central point of the The Forks Market Plaza just outside the Market building.

The entire plaza area has been newly licensed in 2019 for alcohol consumption. You can now take the beer or wine you purchased at the Common outside with your food onto the patio area. The Forks Market Plaza area includes communal tables, bistro tables, Adirondack chairs, evening lighting, and fire pits, all overlooking the river. You can sit and enjoy food and drink from one of the vendors inside the Market. Because the entire area is licensed for alcohol consumption, you can have beer or wine from The Common with your food.

During summer months, Winnipeg Waterways offers 35-minute river boat tours from the dock at the Forks.

The Riverwalk, winds its way along the riverbank at the edge of The Forks to the foot of the Manitoba Legislature building. Note that his walk can sometimes be closed in spring because of flooding due to high water levels.

The Wall Through Time, which begins at the edge of The Forks Market Plaza, contains panels of information in English, French, and Cree about the 6,000 years of history at The Forks. Some panels contain old First Nations artifacts found on the site.

The 54 acres at The Forks contain other recreational opportunities, green spaces, picnic areas, and historic and cultural features, all easily explored via walkways throughout the site.

The Forks National Historic Site, maintained by Parks Canada, is dedicated to preserving and presenting the 6,000 years of history at The Forks. Signage throughout the area provides historical information. 

A shallow amphitheatre known as Oodena Celebration Circle pays homage to the 6,000 years of Indigenous peoples in the area. Oodena is Ojibwe for “heart of the community.” It contains a sundial, interpretive signage, a naked eye observatory and a ceremonial fire pit. It is a popular spot for ceremonies and celebrations such as pow wows.

There are a number of public art pieces located throughout The Forks from paintings inside the Forks Market including artwork by five different local artists in the second floor restroom to sculptures on the grounds like the two shown in photos above this paragraph. Tansai kek totamka … Ka cis teneme toyak/ What can we do, to respect each other by KC Adams tells the story of the brotherhood between the benevolent spirit Wesakechak and the Wolf. The work asks, “What can we do to respect each other? Will the flames be healing or disastrous?” The 8th and Final Fire Prophecy by Jaime Isaac is about the Eighth and Final Prophecy of the Anishinaabe that foretold the coming of settlers to Turtle Island, the name used by some Indigenous peoples for North America. Each flame represents the 8 fires and timelines in the prophecy. Signage beside both pieces provides more information.

The Plaza at The Forks is Canada’s best and largest urban skate plaza and bowl complex. It has been sought out by prominent skaters and can be used by skateboarders and BMX cyclists. Beside the skate park, you’ll find a mural of Jai Pereira painted by world-renowned London-based graffiti artist Mr Cenz. Jai Pereira is credited with creating Winnipeg’s skateboarding scene.

There are a number of other attractions located on The Forks site. The Children’s Museum is located in the oldest surviving train repair station in Manitoba. Read about the museum in my post Creative Learning and Fun at Manitoba’s Children’s Museum. Agowiidiwinan Centre, situated at the edge of The Forks Market Plaza, teaches about the treaties between First Nations and the British Crown and Canada. Read more in my post Canadian Treaty Display At The Forks In Winnipeg. The Manitoba Theatre for Young People stages performances for children and families and offers classes for young people. There is a hotel, Inn at The Forks. At the north end of the site, you’ll find the world-class Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Read more in my post Canada Museum for Human Rights Guide.

The Forks is an all-season destination. Skate, walk, or sled on the Nestaweya River Trail, created on the frozen river. Each year a design competition results in several award-winning warming huts being placed along the trail. Read more in my post Winnipeg’s Nestaweya River Trail: Ice Skating and Artful Warming Huts. Skating paths are also created on land through part of The Fork and the Canopy becomes a skating surface. Ice skate rentals are available in The Forks Market. You can also try your hand at Crokicurl, a combination of the games of crokinole and curling.

The Forks has a free self-guided one-hour audio tour of the site. The Forks National Historic Site offers tours for a fee during the summer months. Turtle Tours, located in The Forks Market, offers 45-minute walking tours.

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