Day 23 Winnipeg

Today was our last full day in Winnipeg so there was no time to waste. Our friend Irene suggested a brunch place in downtown. One look at the online menu and it was our plan to start the day! …right after we called Natalie for her birthday! 

Darling, sweet girl! When you can't be two places at once, video chat lets you pretend!

I am so glad Irene mentioned Clementine Café as I am not sure we would have noticed the sign indicating we head below street level to this friendly, funky little spot. The menu was small allowing them to do what they did very well! We each ordered a different dish and no one was disappointed. If you are ever in Winnipeg, do yourself a favour and plan a visit to Clementine Café! 

Turkish Eggs & Mushroom Toast

Brussels Style Waffles, Fried Potatoes (with Rosemary Aioli & Pumpkin Seed Chimichurri), & Lamb Breakfast Sandwich - delicious just doesn't seem to cover it!

You very well might pass it without a stop, if you didn't have a friend Irene 💖

Having found great all-day parking we decided to walk to The Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The walk through downtown was a great chance to appreciate the architecture and capture the vibe of the city. It seemed to me that Winnipeg is a city of contradictions. There is much new and revitalizing construction, mixed with buildings that have been standing since the mid-1800s. There is an obvious homeless and drug issue, but people are very friendly. There is much vehicular traffic, yet little foot traffic. There are police cars constantly racing through downtown at crazy speeds, undoubtedly dealing with Winnipeg’s distinction of the highest violent crime rate in Canada, yet we never felt unsafe. We passed large modern office towers, during a work-day morning, but seldom saw people coming or going. It’s an interesting vibe!

Many intersections have many roads connecting like this. Some corners have a very European flavour.  

Old buildings with decorative facades.

The old Bank of Montreal building, now owned by the Manitoba Metis Federation across the street from the very modern TD highrise. 10:00AM on a Thursday and we have the sidewalks to ourselves!

Buildings reaching to the sky together!

An empty building now, but the signs remain!

Clever substitutes for the concrete columns that often separate traffic and pedestrians, here around

...the ball park!

The museum stands on the banks of the Red River looking on the Louis Riel foot bridge. The museum makes an impression long before you cross the threshold. The building itself, designed by Antoine Predock, is a masterpiece! The marble ramps that lead up the 100-metre building are a stunning visual display themselves. The displays are thought provoking and engaging. The day is somehow inspirational, disturbing, and challenging – all at the same time.

The building itself it art

An introductory display of global and historic perspectives of human rights. To the left is a life size screen that allowed people from all over the world to "step up and speak to you". Cool use of technology!

A simple, profound statement but we are still not getting it right!

The Louis Riel Esplanade

A quote from the Canadian Deputy Superintendent for Indian Affairs for almost 20 years! 😨

Interesting display representing the struggle between consumerism and human rights

The marble ramps that led from display to display. By the time you arrived at the top floors the tangle of ramps was quite something!

 

Artist Carey Newman has created the Witness Blanket. Inspired by a woven blanket, this creation contains hundreds of items reclaimed from residential schools, churches and government buildings across Canada.

 

As you leave the museum you exit through the Garden of Contemplation. My first comment was that it reminded me of the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. I then learned that the basalt columns, reflective water pools and plants was inspired by the Giant's Causeway - guess that's why it reminded me! A moment of pause and reflection is a great idea after a day like we've had.