Back in the car, we make our way over to the Assiniboine Park, passing the Bloody Saturday streetcar, a monument dedicated to the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike which began as a silent protest but turned deadly when strikebreakers ran a streetcar into the crowd.  Once at the park, we wander through the beautiful open spaces, passing the Pavilion Gallery, which we will visit later, and heading to the English Garden with its structured plantings and statues and monuments dedicated to the Queen.

Past the garden is the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden which with what we have really come to see.  A tribute to the famous Ukrainian born sculptor who dedicated over 300 of his works to the city of Winnipeg, the garden is a beautiful place to wander and enjoy his bronze work artistry.  Bears. Deer. Boars.  Loggers.  Even a piece originally placed in Buenos Aires.  A lovely way to spend time in the afternoon, walking the loop around the pretty little pond.

At the entrance to the park there is a wonderful Lady in the Park statue that was originally owned by a local family, residing in their yard, and dressed up for the different seasons.  They donated the statue to the park to remind everyone of the Cicero quote: “If you have a library and a garden, you have everything you need.”

Deciding it was time for a coffee break, we hit the Park Café where we also indulge in the most sinful and delectable Banana Pudding on the planet.  Yes. That is soft serve ice cream with it.  Oh. Incredible.

Now it is time to move – if only to walk off all those calories and get the sugar high out of our system!  Back to the Pavilion and the Winnipeg Art Gallery which has an interesting and eclectic array of 2 local artists’ work.

Then it is downstairs for the best museum – ever!  The Winnie the Pooh Gallery!  Yes, Winnie!  A deep drive into everything Winnie the Pooh.  The whole backstory – which I did not know: Winnie was a real bear.  She was saved by a veterinarian, Harry Colebourn, who was on his way to join the WWI effort in Europe. He bought her as a cub from a hunter who just happened to be at a train station on Colebourn’s route.  He named her Winnie after his home town of Winnipeg.  They travelled together across Canada and then sailed across the Atlantic, Winnie quickly becoming the unofficial mascot of their military cavalry regiment.  Once called to the front, Colebourn knew he couldn’t take Winnie along so he donated her to the London Zoo, where he visited her after the war.  Eventually Winnie was noticed by A.A. Milne and his son Christopher Robin, who formed a friendship (seriously) with Winnie and was even allowed inside her cage area to play with her.  Winnie was so special that Milne started telling Christopher stories about her, incorporating Christopher’s favorite stuffed animals into the tales.  Yep, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo and Tigger.  And that, as they say, was that!  Winne the Pooh went on to become every child’s classic storybook.  An amazing story and a fantastic display of photos of Winnie growing up and the soldiers who cared for her. 

Back home, we decide to make it a stay in night – we have snacks (all the way from Japan, our crispy Batter-fried Squid Snacks that are in the shape of a squid! – and the Poke Mono restaurant is right downstairs.  Why go anywhere?  We order my classic Tuna Poke Bowl and Ed’s Oyako Don (Chicken and egg rice bowl) and we feast on the balcony patio in the waning light of the evening.  An excellent day exploring Winnipeg – with one more day to come tomorrow.