Will you be watching the F1 race this weekend? Did you know that you can try racing your own race car at our race track in the Science Gallery?
Learn about the science of our race track with Adriana in this video.
Did you know that fungi are a crucial part of nature’s recycling crew?
#DidYouKnow that fungi are a crucial part of nature’s recycling crew? Learn more about the fabulous fungi in Dr. Diana Bizecki Robson’s favourite diorama, the Decomposer Diorama.
Find out more about the fungus among us in Dr. Bizecki-Robson’s blog, The Fungus Among Us.
Did you know about our Nautical Balcony?
Did you know about this great view of the Nonsuch from the Nautical Balcony? Learn how to get to this spot in the Nonsuch Gallery with Corinne from our Learning and Engagement team!
Investigate Aquatic Animals
For the month leading up to Earth Day, the Manitoba Museum is celebrating water and aquatic life. In the Learning and Engagement department, Erin Buelow has worked with curators and collections specialists to bring seldom-seen specimens to the public. These preserved animals from the museum’s natural history collection come from Manitoba and beyond, including an Australian duck-billed platypus.
The diversity of aquatic life is astounding, but it can be just as interesting to notice the adaptations that animals living in water share in common.
In a few species of aquatic animals, single fathers care for their young. The giant water bug, who you can find in Manitoba, shares this trait with the seahorse. After mating, a female giant water bug lays up to 150 eggs on the back of the male! He will tend to them for a couple weeks until they hatch. These underwater dads stay close to the water’s surface to make sure their young get enough oxygen. Similarly, the male seahorse carries fertilised eggs in a special brood pouch on the front of his body.
For semi-aquatic mammals like the beaver, ringed seal, polar bear, and platypus, fur can be nearly waterproof! When submerged, their outer layer of fur, the guard hairs, form a shield to keep the animal dry and reasonably warm. Beavers spend hours a day grooming to stay waterproof, using an oily liquid that they naturally secrete from a gland near their tail.
This Australian duck-billed platypus has special sensors to help locate prey underwater. © Manitoba Museum
It’s easy to see why the name “Sawfish” was chosen for this unique creature. © Manitoba Museum
Beavers, polar bears, and ringed seals all have specialized fur that help keep them warm in their aquatic environments. © Manitoba Museum
Two aquatic animals known for their bizarre appearance are the duck-billed platypus and the sawfish, each notable for a distinctive looking snout. The long rostrum on a sawfish has what appear to be jagged teeth along its sides. These “teeth” are actually modified scales that they use to attack prey and dig through the sediment. These animals have something else in common: special sensors in their bills to detect tiny electrical currents coming from their prey! This is especially important for the platypus, whose eyes and ears pinch shut underwater.
You can learn about these amazing aquatic creatures and many more at the Manitoba Museum this April! Every Saturday and Sunday, from 1 pm to 4 pm, leading up to Earth Days @ the Manitoba Museum, you can see and touch a diverse array of shells, bones, furs, and fossils as you discover the amazing adaptations that help these animals live and thrive in lakes, ponds, rivers, and oceans throughout the world.
Did you know that most of our collection isn’t on display?
Did you know that only about 5% of our museum collection is on exhibit? Find out the importance of the other 95% in this video with Dr. Randy Mooi, our Curator of Zoology.
You can learn more in Dr. Mooi’s recent blog, A Bird in the Hand.
International Transgender Day of Visibility
In honour of International Transgender Day of Visibility, Collections Technician Aro van Dyck would like to share some of her favourite insects from the Natural History Collection! #TransDayOfVisibility
Did you know that you shouldn’t polish your silver?
Silver tarnishing is unsightly to most, with its darkened appearance and iridescent shine. To a Conservator however, we see this grey layer as a protective barrier to the valuable silver-plate below, but why is that? Silver-plated objects in your home tarnish over time when exposed to sulphur gases. Sulphur can be produced in our homes from many different things, including the paint used on the walls, to the varnish on our furniture, but also from the types of food we eat such as eggs and onions. In order to make these objects sparkle again, many people use silver polish to bring back the shine; however, these creams contain very small abrasive particles. As silver is polished over and over again, the silver-plating wears away slowly and reveals a different metal below, usually copper. To minimize this irreversible damage, it is generally best to leave that beloved silver-plated tea pot tarnished until ready to serve a hot cup!
Learn more in this video with Museum Conservator Carolyn!
Manitoba Museum’s 2023 Tribute Gala: Celebrating Community Voices
Winnipeg, Manitoba: March 24, 2023 – The Manitoba Museum will honour three prominent Manitobans at its annual Tribute Gala on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
Community leaders Stella and Edward Kennedy, long-time volunteer Nadia Thompson, and University of Winnipeg Chancellor Barb Gamey will share the honours at the gala event with proceeds supporting the Manitoba Museum’s Access for All community initiative.
This year the gala will celebrate a multitude of viewpoints and experiences through the theme, Celebrating Community Voices. The 2023 Tribute Gala honorees will join in conversation surrounding the diversity that helped shape Manitoba’s future through sharing stories and encouraging discovery at the Manitoba Museum. “Every Manitoban and visitor must come to the Manitoba Museum to really know this land, who we are, and where we have come from.” says honouree, Edward Kennedy.
The annual Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala supports the Access for All initiative by removing financial, social, and cultural barriers to visitation. Through your support, the Museum aims to further grow, diversify, and engage new audiences. To continually reflect and assess research, collections, exhibitions, and programs to enhance their relevance to Manitoba’s diverse populations including ethnicity, culture, age, gender, and abilities. Continuing to create a Museum that belongs to all Manitobans. One of the Access for All initiatives is providing Manitobans access to the Museum at no charge – those Manitobans who would otherwise not have the opportunity to engage in memorable learning experiences that bridge our understanding and love of history, nature, and science with today’s reality and hopes for the future.
“In 1971, my family travelled by car from Oshawa to visit my uncle in Foam Lake, Saskatchewan. I vividly recall our stop in Winnipeg and our visit to the Manitoba Museum and especially the fascinating Bison exhibit” says honouree Stella Kennedy, “I never imagined that Winnipeg and wonderful attractions like the Museum were destined to be such a part of my future life! Today, I am thankful that our community has the Manitoba Museum which brings so much to its visitors from Manitoba and afar. Like my experience fifty years ago, the Museum continues to have a memorable, almost magical quality for children and inspires us all to be aware of our Province and our possibilities as a community of Manitobans.”
2023 Tribute Gala Honorary Committee Members
- Gail Asper
- Dave Brown
- Gary Buckley
- Polly Craik
- Darryl Levy
- John Loewen
- Dan Murray
- Bill & Theresa Parrish
- Susan & Gord Pollard
- Gerry & Barb Price
- Sandy Riley
- Ross & Allana Robinson
The Manitoba Museum 18th annual Tribute Gala will take place in Alloway Hall on April 27, 2023. For information about reserving tables, buying tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and/or to make a donation to the Access for All community initiative, please visit our webpage or contact Cassidy Nicholls at CNicholls@ManitobaMuseum.ca or 204-988-0629.
2023 TRIBUTE GALA HONOUREES
BARB GAMEY
Barb Gamey is a co-founder of Payworks, a Manitoba based company and one of Canada’s largest national providers of Payroll, Human Resource, Time and Absence Management solutions, serving 29,000 customers, paying 700,000 Canadians while handling $35 billion in funds annually. Payworks currently employs 300 people in Manitoba and 440 nationwide.
Barb is dedicated to community involvement: she currently sits on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Board of Directors, the Business Council of Manitoba’s Board of Directors, the UM Properties Board and served as United Way Winnipeg’s 2018 Campaign Chair. Barb is the Chancellor of the University of Winnipeg and sits on the board for the University of Winnipeg Foundation. She is an ongoing supporter of numerous other community and charitable organizations.
EDWARD KENNEDY
Edward Kennedy is President and CEO of Eskay Partners Limited, an advisory and private capital enterprise. He is also CEO of Livlite Co. a Vancouver-based zero -waste grocery business and Chair of Manitoba Hydro. In August 2021, Edward retired after 25 years as CEO of The North West Company.
Edward is from The Pas, Manitoba and attended high school as a boarding student at St. John’s-Ravenscourt in Winnipeg. He holds an Honours Degree in Business from the Ivey School at Western University and a Bachelor of Laws Degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. Prior to joining North West, Edward practiced law briefly in Toronto and then worked in investment banking.
Edward has been a Board member of for-profit and non-for-profit entities including the Conference Board of Canada, the Canada West Foundation, Alaska Growth Fund and Norcraft Corporation. Edward has also Chaired the fundraising for community-based organizations including the United Way, Canada’s History and St. Johns Ravenscourt School. He has received national industry and community recognitions over his career.
STELLA KENNEDY
Stella grew up in Oshawa, Ontario and her parents were immigrants from Sicily and Ukraine. She holds an Honours Degree in Business from the Ivey School at Western University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. Stella worked in financial services in Toronto and then moved to Winnipeg with Edward where she held management positions with Federal Industries and Centra Gas. Stella invested the greatest time in her career caring for a growing Kennedy household and the activities of their four children, Grace, Teresa, Simone and Daniel.
Today, Stella guides the Kennedy family’s larger donation activities (including United Way Family Resource Centres, Canada’s History, Pan Am Clinic, WAG – Quamajuq, the Manitoba Museum and the United Way annual campaign). She most recently co-chaired the fundraising campaign for McDonald Youth Centre (now known as The Link: Youth and Family Supports).
NADIA THOMPSON
Nadia grew up in the North end of the city. As a visual minority growing up in Winnipeg and going to school as one of the few black children, staying connected to her roots was a challenge.
Nadia graduated from Glenlawn Collegiate in 1995. After having her daughter, she went back to school to attain her Business and Office Administration Diploma from CDI College. She started her career with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority in 2007 in which she has been in various administrative positions and is currently a scheduling clerk for the Downtown West Community Homecare Nursing team.
Nadia is passionate about giving back to her community, focusing on our youth and promoting volunteerism and strengthening her community. Nadia has held volunteer positions with the Congress of Black Women, Folklorama, and the Jamaican Association.
Nadia is dedicated to the promotion of Black Culture and History throughout Winnipeg. She joined the Black History Month Celebration Committee in 2009 helping organize various events throughout the city. She continues to work with multiple organizations to promote diversity and culture in Winnipeg, connecting with various community groups to build a better connection in our city.
Past Tribute Honourees – Michael Redhead Champagne (2022), Anne Mahon (2022), Flor Marcelino (2022), Abdikheir Ahmed (2021), Hilary Druxman (2021), Jaimie Isaac (2021), Niigaan Sinclair (2021), Hannah Taylor (2021); Winnipeg Free Press (co-owners Robert Silver & Ronald Stern) (2019); Abdo (Albert) El Tassi & Samira El Tassi (2018); Gregg & Mary Hanson (Ambassadors for Canada 150 Celebration in 2017); Sanford H. Riley (2016); The Winnipeg Foundation (2015); Doug Harvey (2014); Susan Lewis & United Way Winnipeg (2013); Kerry Hawkins (2012); Ambassador Gary Doer (2011); The Chipman Family (2010); Babs & Gail Asper (2009); Kevin & Els Kavanagh (2008); Lawrie Pollard (2007); Murray Taylor & Investors Group Inc. (2006); and George T. Richardson (2005).
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Media Requests:
Charwin Dahl
Director of Development
Manitoba Museum
204-988-0656
CDahl@ManitobaMuseum.ca
Did you know that Lake Winnipeg is an endangered lake? #WorldWaterDay
Too much of a good thing! Nutrients are the building blocks of all life, but in excess they have a destructive side.
This World Water Day, learn why Lake Winnipeg is named internationally as one of the most endangered lakes in the world and what we can do about it with Mike, our Science Gallery & Planetarium Programs Supervisor.
Learn more about the importance of water in our Lake Winnipeg Shared Solutions exhibit in the Manitoba Museum Science Gallery!
Water: The Source of Life
Mika Pineda, Learning and Engagement Producer for Youth Climate Action at the Manitoba Museum, shares her thoughts on one of Earth’s most precious resources – water. Learn more about the importance of water with month-long water-based programming at the Manitoba Museum kicking off this World Water Day, March 22.
I always find water magical. It runs without any feet; it falls without getting hurt; it is a substance that exists in three different states: solid, liquid, and gas; and it makes up almost 60 percent of a human body!
Water is something that we all need to survive, and we use it every day. It quenches our thirst, cleans our clothes, allows us to cook food, and the list goes on and on.
As our weather begins to warm up and snow starts to melt, you’re probably starting to think of fun activities that you could do under the sun – from water balloon fights, soaking in the swimming pool, to kayaking at the lake – water allows us to enjoy all these things and many more!
In the summer months, water-based activities such as kayaking are a popular past time. ©Brandi Hayberg
This long-spine porcupine fish can’t be found in Manitoba’s lakes or rivers, but you can meet him at the Manitoba Museum this Spring Break! ©Manitoba Museum
Premiering March 22 and running throughout Spring Break is our new Planetarium show, The Enchanted Reef. ©Science Center der Region Heilbronn-Franken gGmbH, Pixable Studios/Mastersolution AG.
You see, water is all around us; it covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface! It’s something that we use whether we want to have fun or to meet our basic needs.
While summer is still a few months away for us to enjoy all the fun water activities, there’s no better time than now to start learning about this valuable resource with engaging programming at the Manitoba Museum!
First, come celebrate World Water Day 2023 with a viewing of our brand-new Planetarium show, The Enchanted Reef, premiering March 22 and running throughout Spring Break!
When their home reef is destroyed by a fishing trawler, three brave fish set out on a quest across the polluted ocean to find the “Enchanted Reef” — a legendary pristine haven under the sea. Full of humour and imagination, this film for the whole family is an undersea adventure that raises awareness about the impact of pollution on our oceans.
Continue the fun and join us for Spring Break running from March 25 to April 2. You’ll be able to see and touch a diverse array of shells, bones, furs, and fossils as you discover the amazing adaptations that help these animals live and thrive in lakes, ponds, rivers, and oceans throughout the world.
Try folding a jumping origami frog, make a fishy crayon rubbing, and learn how to tell the age of a fish using the power of microscopes! Then stop into our Auditorium to watch “H2WOAH!” science demonstrations and learn all about the wacky science of water.