PHOTO BY IAN CARTER PHOTO
Winter 2014-15 Newsletter Volume 32, Issue 4 ISSN 0824-5126
FORTWHYTE NEWS 3
NATURE NOTES 7
VOLUNTEERS 8
DEVELOPMENT 10
FORTWHYTE FARMS 11 www.fortwhyte.org PUBLIC PROGRAMMING 12 – 15 Connect with FortWhyte online! CONTACT INFORMATION www.facebook.com/FortWhyteAlive www.twitter.com/FortWhyteAlive www.instagram.com/FortWhyteAlive
1961 McCreary Rd. Winnipeg, MB R3P 2K9 FORTWHYTE ALIVE RECOGNIZES E-mail: [email protected] MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS ($1,000+) SINCE SEPTEMBER 2013 PH: (204) 989-8355
www.fortwhyte.org SUSTAINING PARTNERS $1,000+ The Gail Asper Family SUSTAINING PARTNERS INDIVIDUALS $20,000+ 24-7 Intouch Foundation The Prairie Summit Shop $20,000+ DAILY ADMISSION Cargill Limited Assiniboine Credit Union Kris & Shirley Benedickson Birchwood Automotive Group Thompson Dorfman City of Winnipeg, Water and The Estate of Norman Adults: $7 Ltd. Sweatman LLP. Waste Department Coghlan Trout Unlimited Canada Seniors (55+): $6 Domtar Inc. Blind Ambitions The Estate of David Skinner Students & Children: $5 Lafarge Canada BMO Nesbitt Burns Tundra Oil & Gas Ltd. Douglas Pollard & Kristie Manitoba Aboriginal & Northern Boston Pizza Winnipeg Building & Pearson Members & Children Under 3: FREE Decorating Affairs CAA Manitoba Auto Club $10,000+ Confidence Management Ltd. Manitoba Culture, Heritage & IN KIND Richard Bonnycastle WINTER HOURS OF OPERATION Tourism Dillon Consulting Bison Transport Inc. Estate of Bob Chipman Manitoba Conservation Fund Farm Credit Canada Monday – Friday: Continental Travel Group Ken & Lesley Powell Manitoba Education, Citizenship Frank Wade Wealth Estate of Robert R. Taylor 9 am – 5 pm & Youth Management Lindsey Steek & Company $1,000+ Manitoba Hydro Friesens Corporation MTS Allstream Saturday, Sunday & Holidays: Richardson Foundation Inc. Fountain Tire Scatliff+Miller+Murray Anonymous Nancy G. Cipryk & Greg 10 am – 5 pm Running Room Canada Inc. Geoffrey C. Morrow Memorial FORTWHYTE FARMS MAJOR Fund Klassen The Winnipeg Foundation PROGRAM SUPPORTERS Marion Corbett G&E Homes CHRISTMAS EVE & NEW YEAR’S EVE Wawanesa Insurance Boeing Canada Rick Corbett Global Refrigeration and Centre for Aboriginal Human John Corp & Mary Elizabeth December 24 & December 31: $10,000+ Mechanical Inc. Resource Development McKenzie 9 am – 1 pm Cambrian Credit Union Groundstar Systems (1987) The Co-operators Foundation Douglas Craig (Carole C. Canadian National Railway Ltd. Craig Fund) Graham C. Lount Family CHRISTMAS HSBC Bank Canada Kleysen Group LP Bill Elliott Foundation Manitoba Community Service MacDon Industries Ltd. R. A. (Sam) Fabro December 25: CLOSED Council Manitoba Blue Cross Intact Foundation Ken & Marjorie Grower RBC Foundation Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Investors Group Doug Harvey BOXING DAY & NEW YEAR’S DAY Shell Canada Ltd. Mann Financial Assurance MTS Future First Brian Hastings Elmer Hildebrand December 26 & January 1: TD Friends of the Environment Limited The Great-West Life Fund Maple Leaf Construction Assurance Company Jack Lazareck 10 am – 5 pm The Megill-Stephenson Company Moksha Yoga Manitoba Healthy Living, Ann Loewen Ltd. National Leasing Youth & Seniors William McGowan Geoffrey C. Morrow Memorial LOUIS RIEL DAY Parrish & Heimbecker Ltd. Thomas Sill Foundation $5,000+ Fund Pollard Banknote Ltd. The Winnipeg Foundation February 16: 10 am – 5 pm Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc. Ruth Palmour Priority Realty Winnipeg Jets True North BFI Canada Inc. J. Donald Raleigh RBC Foundation - Ryan Foundation Shirley Richardson CIBC BUFFALO STONE CAFÉ Downey Wealth J. Derek Riley deer + almond ENDOWMENT FUND Management Jim Sherrett Anonymous Honda Canada Foundation RBC Royal Bank Tony Smith National Leasing Richardson GMP Ltd. Evelyn & David Friesen Helen Steel Red River Cooperative St. Boniface Wildlife Alan W. Scarth, C.M., Q.C. Bob & Judy Stewart PH: (204) 989-8355 x 215 Stantec Consulting Ltd. Association Sheilah Sweatman Memorial Fenella Temmerman Wynn & Teddi Sweatman Teshmont Consultants LP Fund Bruce & Wendy Zimmer Hours subject to change. Café will close early for special events.
NATURE SHOP BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Robert B. Brennan Dr. Gordon Goldsborough Justice Michel A. Monnin Sprague Richardson PH: (204) 989-8355 Junior Damianidis Dr. Nicola Koper Peter Muir Brian Thiessen For the Nature Lover! Featuring birding products, William P. Elliott Jack Lazareck Douglas E. Pollard Paul Vogt local art, nature books, clothing, toys, and more. Richard Enright Shannon Magnusson Liz Prall
2 FORTWHYTE LIFE Winter 2014–15 Newsletter Connect with FortWhyte online! FORTWHYTE NEWS www.facebook.com/FortWhyteAlive A Sustainable Future The term sustainability is commonly used these days. At FortWhyte Alive, when we talk about sustainability, we are referring to what we see as the three interdependent pillars of a sustainable community: a healthy natural environment, a healthy economic environment and a healthy and just social environment.
by IAN BARNETT, FortWhyte has always strived to be a community leader in not only teaching the cornerstones of sustainability, but also demonstrating these values in the way we operate. It is easy to become DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS complacent. But when we recently took a critical look at ourselves and asked if we could be RICH BOLTON, doing more to show leadership in this area, the answer was a resounding ‘YES’! As a result, a DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT staff committee was formed to develop initiatives that promote and enhance sustainability at FortWhyte Alive, with the vision of re-establishing ourselves as a national leader in this area. Here are some examples of the exciting initiatives that we have undertaken in just a few short months.
SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT Food Services and Catering Since November 1st, FortWhyte’s Buffalo Stone Café and all on-site food services are run by Diversity Food Services, a joint venture between the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation and SEED Winnipeg. As a social enterprise, Diversity creates menus featuring local, organic and sustainably produced foods cooked from scratch, including ingredients grown here at FortWhyte Farms. Diversity also provides meaningful employment for new Canadians, Indigenous peoples, downtown community residents and university students.
Cleaning White Gloves Cleaners now provides cleaning services for our buildings. This company has impressive sustainability standards, ensuring its cleaning products: • Are free of any known or suspected carcinogens, mutagens and endocrine disrupters; • Do not contain compounds or substances that cause or contribute to the creation of atmospheric greenhouse gases, ground level smog or ozone depletion; • Are not delivered in single use aerosol cans or cans using ozone-depleting propellants; • Do not contain petroleum derived or petrochemical blended fragrances; • Do not contain heavy metals that are toxic to humans, animal life or the environment; • Are readily biodegradable at greater than 90 percent in thirty days without needing to be run through a municipal effluent treatment process; and • Do not contain chlorine or chlorinated solvents. Continued on following page >
www.fortwhyte.org 3 FORTWHYTE NEWS
ENERGY CONSERVATION Lighting Retrofit and Energy Audit In collaboration with Manitoba Hydro’s Power Smart department and Prairie Lighting, FortWhyte assessed options for increasing the energy efficiency of our main buildings. This resulted in a major retrofit of lighting, switching incandescent, compact fluorescent and high pressure sodium lights into more efficient LED lighting. This lighting retrofit will save 15,000 watts ($3,000) of energy annually and will pay for itself in just over half of a year! [This translates into up to 80% savings.] Two additional phases of this retrofit are planned to upgrade the remainder of our lighting to LED.
WASTE REDUCTION SUSTAINBILITY PLANNING Café Composting Program Sustainability Plan In collaboration with Chef Kelly Cattani The Sustainability Committee has produced an action plan to guide us into the future. of Diversity Foods, the Buffalo Stone Café This document is grounded in the following 8 principles, and will be implemented through will now be included in the already active an annual plan to meet defined sustainability targets. composting program at FortWhyte Farms. 1. Reduce total greenhouse gas emissions This will ensure that 100% of organic waste from the Café is diverted from the landfill. 2. Reduce the intensity of energy consumption Did you know that 40% of Manitoba’s waste 3. Strive for better practices in sustainable transportation comes from organics, which are a main 4. Prioritize sustainable procurement practices contributor to the release of methane from landfills? Methane is 30 times more potent 5. Reduce solid, hazardous & electronic waste than carbon dioxide as a heat trapping gas. 6. Improve water conservation and stewardship Through this program, FortWhyte is doing its 7. Adhere to principles of green building standards part to reduce methane emissions. 8. Promote a culture of sustainability in the FWA community Electric Vehicle Charging Station In partnership with Sun Country Highways, FortWhyte has installed two electric vehicle chargers in its main visitor parking lot. These stations are both functional and educational, adding to the electric vehicle infrastructure in our province, while providing an interpretive display to educate the general public on the impact of carbon emissions that come from the tailpipes of your car. Did you know that the average passenger vehicle travels 18,214 km per year and produces 4.75 metric tons FortWhyte is always interested in receiving new ideas and ways to improve
of carbon emissions (CO2) annually? What its sustainability performance. If you have any ideas to contribute to this initiative, are you doing to reduce your GHG emissions? please feel free to send comments to Richard Bolton at [email protected].
4 FORTWHYTE LIFE Winter 2014–15 Newsletter A New Direction for the Buffalo Stone Café Introducing... FortWhyte Alive is proud to welcome its new partners, Diversity Food Services Chef Kelly Cattani! hen FortWhyte management reviewed culinary skill, while matching with our core For over a decade, Chef Kelly Cattani has Wareas where we could be doing values related to sustainability. been honing her craft in some of Winnipeg’s more to demonstrate our commitment to As luck or fate would have it, Winnipeg sustainability, our Café was identified as finest kitchens. Most recently, she was the is home to just such a company. When Chef-de-Cuisine of Diversity Food Services one area where much more could be done. FortWhyte approached Diversity Foods about Food is one thing every visitor to FortWhyte the potential for a partnership, it seemed like at the University of Winnipeg, overseeing can relate to – it is one of the things we all a match made in heaven. Diversity is a social both the on-campus and catering have in common. It is also, therefore, an enterprise that has been operating all on-site operations. Now, she will call the Buffalo area where FortWhyte can have the greatest food services at the University of Winnipeg Stone Café at FortWhyte Alive home – and educational impact. This in itself presents a for the last 5 years, including Elements: we at FortWhyte could not be more happy to challenge. We at FortWhyte are educators, The restaurant on Portage Ave. They were not restaurateurs – our expertise is not founded by, among others, Chef Ben Kramer, welcome such an accomplished Chef. necessarily suited to the unique challenges well-known in local food circles for his graduate of Red River College’s School of the restaurant industry. To meet these commitment to procuring, wherever possible, of Hospitality and Culinary Arts, Chef challenges, our pipe dream was to find a local, organic and sustainably produced food A Cattani is a founding member of the Winnipeg partner who held this industry expertise and to be used in creative and delicious menus. chapter of the Canadian Culinary Federation’s Diversity’s core values mirror the same Junior Chefs, and was a leading organizer of cornerstones of sustainability demonstrated “I love FortWhyte and grew up just a few Manitoba’s Centrex Iron Chef competition. in FortWhyte’s own mission and mandate. streets away from here. I have always She has represented Manitoba in two national The way they do business is the way we culinary competitions in addition to starring felt a strong connection to this place. want business done in the Buffalo Stone Café on the televised show The Next Great Chef. I am completely thrilled that Diversity – delicious locally sourced food made from Chef Cattani was one of the few chefs invited scratch, by employees who care about their has the opportunity to join forces with to participate in the Raw:Almond Pop-up customers, the planet and each other. FortWhyte at the Buffalo Stone Café. restaurant on the Red River last winter. She FortWhyte is excited and proud to welcome My passion in the kitchen stems from has managed catering from small scale to Diversity as the exclusive provider of food large including helping to orchestrate the my deep respect for good ingredients services and catering at FWA. feeding of 5,000 volunteers at the Winnipeg and for the farmers who dedicate Folk Festival. themselves to sustainable growing and Passionate about authentic, fresh food, production practices. I feel that our style prepared creatively and with integrity, Cattani of cooking and this beautiful setting took top honours in last year’s Gold Medal are well-suited to each other. Plates competition and represented Manitoba at the national event in Kelowna, BC I look forward to being involved last February. with FortWhyte Alive.” - Chef Kelly Cattani
Bring your herd to the Café and SAVE! Present this coupon to receive $5 off your Café purchase of $15 or more.
Coupon expires December 31, 2014. Cannot be combined with any other offer. One coupon per order. Applies only to Buffalo Stone Café purchases. No cash value. www.fortwhyte.org 5 PAGE TITLE
PAGE TITLE NEW Season Rental: The Bannock Bar! Enhance your next corporate event at FortWhyte with our fully stocked Bannock Bar. Perfect for your next group outing, enjoy a mix of toppings to create a truly custom bannock creation by the crackling fire. Try this unique twist T R AV E L R A F F L E on a campfire classic to make your event extra memorable! TO ENTER WIN! $7/PERSON, MINIMUM CHARGE OF $100 TICKETS: 3 FOR $10 Combine with a program or room rental and pay only $5/person. Call (204) 989-8355 to book. 1ST PRIZE South America: Amazon & Ecuador 2ND PRIZE Iceland: Northern Lights Living Links Trail Updates 3RD PRIZE As announced in the spring issue of Life, work is underway on FortWhyte Alive’s trail Churchill: Summer Escape revitalization project, “Living Links.” As we continue to develop interpretive nodes Tickets available at FortWhyte Alive. to be unveiled in early 2015, new areas for personal reflection and meditation Call (204) 989-8355 for more info. have already been established on site. Make sure you check out the Reflection Area, Draw Date: December 30, 2014 Wildlife Viewing Blind, and Bird Feeding Station with improved accessibility next time Raising Funds for a Non-Profit Group? you visit FortWhyte Alive. FortWhyte Alive’s Adventure Travel Raffle is a risk-free, cost-free fundraiser, Reflection Area: with 50/50 profit sharing! Do you come to FortWhyte to enjoy tranquility and get away from the hustle Contact FortWhyte at (204) 989-8355 or email and bustle of the city? If so, you’ll want to [email protected] to learn more. visit the beautiful Reflection Area that has LICENCE NUMBER: MGCC-1690-RF been set aside in our north forest. This serene, natural space is the perfect area to reflect on life and feel close to nature. Located in our north aspen forest, the Reflection Area clearing is about 12m in located at a secluded spot off the Waterfowl diameter. Seating is provided, and at each Garden Trail, and provides great opportunities cardinal direction, you’ll find plants linked for birding and other wildlife viewing. The to each season and direction. structure is built out of reclaimed wood from a torn down Manitoba barn, and when inside, • North: Winter – Flowering dogwoods you are well camouflaged and protected from with yellow and red bark outdoor elements. • East: Spring – Wild plum and cherry Better Access to Bird Feeding Station: • South: Summer – Prairie lily FortWhyte Alive is committed to ensuring its • West: Fall – Sumac facilities are accessible for everyone. As part of this mission, FortWhyte has resurfaced a Wildlife Viewing Blind: section of the Jansson Forest Song Trail with Birders and nature photographers will love limestone. This will allow it to be plowed the new Robert Taylor Memorial Wildlife during the winter, providing year-round Viewing Blind. This unique trail feature is wheelchair access to our Bird Feeding Station.
6 FORTWHYTE LIFE Winter 2014–15 Newsletter Email your wildlife shots to [email protected], and your FortWhyte Alive photo could be chosen for the cover of the next Life!
he adorable-yet-ferocious Marten is fact that most martens have been seen by Tone of the most active members of the humans in trees, which is where they typically weasel family. Martens are very similar in climb to escape predators or intruders. size to a small cat, but have shorter legs, Martens are agile climbers but take almost all a more slender body, a bushy tail, and a their prey on the ground. pointed face. They are typically found living Martens are opportunistic predators, influenced in mixed conifer/hardwood forests and by local and seasonal abundance and woodlands across Canada and northern availability of potential prey. They have an United States. extremely varied diet; they will eat whatever ON THE COVER: Marten The marten is often described as a tree they can catch. Mostly they feed on red-backed dwelling predator, but this is inaccurate. voles, deer mice, field voles, snowshoe hare, photo by IAN CARTER The misconception likely arose from the grouse, squirrels, and shrews.
NATURE NOTES Tracks in the Snow by BARRET MILLER, leave to get some sleep. He may own this SPECIAL PROGRAMS INTERPRETER pond at night, but he recognized I’m part of the day shift. eading a good story has the ability Further down the trail, parallel lines run Rto transport us to places and meet into the spruce on our little hill. In the very characters almost beyond imagination. bottom of these lines, there are heart- The most dramatic, romantic, poignant, and shaped prints, the point of the heart toward engaging story I know is written fresh each the trees. A deer, dragging its feet with night in the snow here at FortWhyte Alive! fatigue, came by this way just after the Coyote Tracks Nature’s scripts are written in tracks. Each snow stopped falling last night. The thick track is a word – a footprint, a piece of scat, spruce growth gave it refuge from the wind, a bit of hair or feather – all have meaning. and the elevation of the hill meant the Trails of tracks string into sentences. deer could spot and respond to any danger Step back, look around, and the story (like the coyote on the pond) in good time. can come alive. Energetic deer walk with a prance, and The sun is just peaking over the frozen leave clear, distinct footprints. As the winter February horizon as I start my walk this sun smolders towards night, the deer tire morning. It snowed late in the afternoon and aren’t as conscientious about lifting the yesterday; this morning, the low angle sun legs. I call the result “railroad tracks”. illuminates the fresh snow in shades of The sun is getting higher, it’s almost time to pink, purple, and orange. FortWhyte’s wild get ready for school programs. I briefly stop Deer Tracks residents have been busy overnight, and by the big oak tree, where there is a trace of my walk is a chance to catch up on the rabbit and a spot of blood. What happened news of the day. here? I look up, and see a branch plastered A male coyote was watching the parking with white guano, fur stuck to the rough lot–and recently! A line of tracks comes bark. This sentence is a bit smudged, but I out of the woods, up the hill between the can make out enough words to understand water and building, then circles, and heads that a bird, probably an owl, picked off an north. The dog-like prints show a trot as unsuspecting rabbit and had a feast high the animal came through the willows onto in the tree. the ice, and a small yellow sprinkle on the The best way to learn a language is snow tell me this was a male. The animal immersion – go for a walk in the woods left with a bounding, long stride; I wonder if with the intent of tracking and you’ll be Rabbit Tracks the coyote saw me drive in, or felt he should amazed at what you read! www.fortwhyte.org 7 Presenting... the new fortwhyte.org! Our new website features a fresh new look, more user-friendly navigation, and is up- to-date with the very latest news and information from FortWhyte Alive. Check out some of the great new features fortwhyte.org has to offer: • Our “Hot on the Trail” blog features weekly wildlife updates from FortWhyte’s trails. • The Events Calendar allows you to add FortWhyte’s public programming events to your own personal calendar application. Finding out what’s going on at FWA has never been easier! • Tickets for FortWhyte Alive and Buffalo Stone Café Fundraising Events can now be purchased right from our website. Visit and explore our new site – we hope you find it informative and easy to use. We’d love to hear your feedback; send us your comments to [email protected]!
VOLUNTEERS
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Al Ross by SHARYL EAGLESHAM, VOLUNTEER RESOURCES MANAGER
Al Ross spent a year catching up on all his jobs around the house after being employed for 22 years at Bristol Aerospace as a Process Planner. It was then that he realized a need for something new to do because he was retired from work, not life. A Metro One ad for a School Program Leader at FortWhyte caught his eye. He had no experience with public speaking, but loved the outdoors and enjoyed working with youth. After some training and shadowing, he soon fit comfortably into the new volunteer role of School Program Leader.
fter 22 years of volunteering and ecosystem during yearly update training provide assistance for unforeseen questions Aleading over 700 school programs, Al with the education staff. Volunteers then or concerns.” still enjoys seeing the childrens’ excitement share ideas and teaching techniques with as they stop and watch a caterpillar inch each other and with new volunteers that I Volunteer... across the path. His favorite school shadow their programs. Al Ross is a calm, Because I’m retired from work, not life. programs are “Getting Ready for Winter” natural leader, ready with a good story and Because I have experience to share. and “People of the Prairies.” Al gets big smile. “Make everything a game,” Al Because I like learning. satisfaction from sharing his experience says, “especially if you want the group to Because the exercise is good for me. and helping the children learn the different be quiet at the bird feeding station.” Because I’m appreciated! ways that plants and animals cope with “If you are thinking of volunteering at ...and because it’s fun! changing seasons. He has continued to FortWhyte,” Al says, “Go for it! It’s learn about the connection between the wonderful to feel appreciated by the staff FWA Volunteer Program Sponsor: people of Manitoba’s past and the prairie and you always have good resources to
8 FORTWHYTE LIFE Winter 2014–15 Newsletter
FACES OF FORTWHYTE: Logs and branches scavenged from pruning Presenting... the new fortwhyte.org! trails produce reindeer decorations. Ian Carter Q. What question do you get asked the most while at work? SITE SUPERINTENDENT, FORTWHYTE ALIVE A. Rarely a day goes by that I don't hear, Ian started working at FortWhyte Alive "Can I have a ride?" I cover a lot of ground nearly seven years ago, fulfilling his each day in the Gator and it seems everyone wants to go for a drive! quest for interesting and diverse outdoor employment. He brought with him a lifelong Q. What’s your average day like? love and knowledge of nature. Originally A. Every day is a little different, some more interesting than others. I never really hired as seasonal maintenance staff for know what to expect. One day I could the summer, Ian quickly transitioned to be cleaning out wood duck boxes, and working on the farm and in the café over the next, setting up a tipi. The changing the winters. He is now working full time as seasons bring changing dimensions to my work schedule. The springtime is always FWA’s Site Superintendent. busy tidying up from winter and prepping Q. What’s the best part of working at FWA? for all the upcoming visitors and activities. With summer comes lots of grass cutting A. I love to spend time outside and working and poison ivy to watch out for. Fall brings with my hands so FWA has been a perfect the geese, which I spend a fair bit of time fit. Being at FWA enables me to have direct cleaning up after… interaction with nature and inspires my photographic and carpentry interests. I have Q. Whats the strangest thing you’ve seen at had the privilege of designing and building FortWhyte? special projects such as the insect display A. One year in the fall, I was taking my case and bannock bar for FWA. Working rubber boots off a shelf in the garage but here gives me the opportunity to express my they seemed heavier than normal. Turns out creativity in many different ways. Some of a squirrel had been using them as a winter my photography is sold in the Nature Shop, cache. One boot was full of peanuts, and the in frames I made from reclaimed barnboard. other acorns!
Green Gift Guide NATURE SHOP Give the gift of sustainability this holiday season! ortWhyte’s Nature Shop carries a wide variety of 1 4 Fbird feeders, bird seed and bird books, giftware, locally made food products (like jams, honey, and wild rice), handmade pottery, candles, and jewellery. 5 By purchasing your gifts at the Nature Shop, you are not only supporting local artisans – proceeds from the shop also benefit Environmental Education programs at FortWhyte Alive. Check out some of the sustainable gifts that are available at the Nature Shop: 2 3 6 1. Go Natural Goat’s Milk Soap 2. Sweet Impressions Nut-Free Chocolate Bison 3. Murray Watson Carvings 4. Saturday Morning Mugs by Deb Brown 5. Reddline Jewellery 6. Ian Carter Creations Photo with Barnwood Frame
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DEVELOPMENT
he Co-operators is a co-op insurance company that was established in 1945 by a FortWhyte Farms Tgroup of Canadians that had experienced significant losses from the Great Depression. The company was launched so a small group of farmers could take care of themselves and their communities. It has now grown into a thriving business with over one million Gives a clients across the country. The Co-operators’ commitment to community and its prairie heritage continues today. Big Thanks to It is therefore not surprising that they came on board as one of FortWhyte Farms’ most significant supporters in 2014, with a donation of a $20,000 in support of our youth The Co-operators! leadership programming. We are so grateful to receive this generous support, especially when it comes from a company that found its start in supporting prairie farmers. On behalf of FortWhyte Farms staff, volunteers, and youth participants, thank you for your support!
Winter Workshops at the Farm
True To Type Planning Your Summer Garden USC Canada representative Kenton Let FortWhyte Farms staff help you Lobe will speak about the importance design your summer garden to get the of seed biodiversity and ways we can most of your space. strengthen food security, communities Thursday, January 15 2 – 3:30 pm and ecosystems by growing and eating Fee: $5. Register at (204) 989-8355 these diverse crops. Taking place at FortWhyte Farms Thursday, January 8 2 – 3:30 pm Free Admission. Register at (204) 989-8355. Taking place at FortWhyte Farms
10 FORTWHYTE LIFE Winter 2014–15 Newsletter FORTWHYTE FARMS FortWhyte Farms Harvest Supper by JANNA BARKMAN, FARM PROGRAM COORDINATOR itting down to eat together is both a “ Food is our common ground, Ssymbolic and a utilitarian tradition that humans share, transcending culture, a universal experience.” language, and geography. At FortWhyte Farms, we noticed that so many hands – James Beard went into the planning, planting, growing, feeding, harvesting, preserving and season, and of the simultaneous growth of preparing the food here, yet these hands food and community that is seen every day at did not always have an opportunity to come the Farm. In attendance was FWA staff, 12 together to celebrate and experience the youth interns who were employed throughout products of their labour. the summer, Farm volunteers, CSA members, Hence, the inaugural Harvest Supper was program funders, and community supporters. held on September 23rd at the Farm, and Funds raised at the Harvest Supper were featured fresh food harvested from our used to purchase a commercial dishwasher fields. The meal was catered by Diversity for the Farm, which will allow the kitchen Food Services, and staged among the to meet public health requirements to sell crops, lakes, flocks of geese, and of course, food and products outside of the Farm. This the Tamworth pigs. The menu included is extremely exciting, not just as a business FortWhyte Farms’ free run chickens venture, but as an opportunity for youth in roasted with fresh herbs, wilted kale and the program to learn more about preparing swiss chard with fresh lemon and local and preserving healthy foods, to provide hempseeds, cabbage, celery and radish experiences for interns to learn about food slaw with apple vinaigrette, and apple and procurement and entrepreneurship, and to raspberry crumble for dessert. share the food and Farm philosophy beyond It was a warm – albeit windy – autumn the FortWhyte community. evening, and included farm tours, live FortWhyte Farms would like to thank entertainment by Manitoba musicians Bud volunteers Louise Evans, Victor Bock, Gordon and the God Awful Gospel, as well Amy Passmore, Joanne Rex, and as a bonfire and bannock bar along the lake. Glenn Souva, as well as Cramptons, The supper was indeed a celebration of Diversity Foods, CBC Radio One, and food, of the tremendous work put into the CTV Morning Live for their support!
Winter Warmer Movie Night in the Greenhouse Come for a Farm Tour and learn about Get out of your house and warm up what FortWhyte Farms is planning this in a balmy atmosphere, surrounded by year! You will see our pastured pig newly sprouting seeds and earthy soil. operation, rabbitry, learn about the passive Enjoy popcorn and a warm bevy while solar greenhouse and see what's cookin' in we cozy up in FortWhyte Farms' passive the FortWhyte Farms’ Kitchens. This is a solar greenhouse on a starry night, great way to get to know farm staff, what watching movies! programs we offer, and see how Thursday, January 29 6 – 8 pm you can volunteer. Fee: $5. Register at (204) 989-8355 Thursday, January 22 2 – 3:30 pm Taking place at FortWhyte Farms Free Admission. Register at (204) 989-8355 Taking place at FortWhyte Farms www.fortwhyte.org 11 PUBLIC PROGRAMMINGPAGE TITLE DECEMBER / JANUARY / FEBRUARY WINTER HOURS OF OPERATION Monday – Friday: ACTIVITIES & WORKSHOPS 9 am – 5 pm Saturday, Sunday & Holidays: Father Christmas in the Forest 10 am – 5 pm Winter Rentals Father Christmas will be at FortWhyte to hear CHRISTMAS EVE & NEW YEAR’S EVE Snowshoes (per pair): your holiday wishes. Bring your own camera December 24 & December 31: $3, Members: FREE to snap a family shot! 9 am – 1 pm Nordic Walking Poles: Sunday, December 7 11 am – 3 pm $2, Members: FREE Fee: $7, Members: $5 CHRISTMAS Ice Fishing: $2, Members: FREE December 25: CLOSED Pine Cone Reindeer Ornament Ice Fishing Kit: $5 Create your very own Rudolf to hang on BOXING DAY & NEW YEAR’S DAY the tree. December 26 & January 1: Sunday, December 7 11 am – 3 pm 10 am – 5 pm Holiday Shopping Event FREE with regular admission DON’T Give a gift inspired by nature. Join us FORGET! REGISTRATION for a more relaxed shopping experience Breakfast with Santa Registration is required for complete with refreshments, draws, free Share your Christmas wishes in person gift wrapping and savings. when Santa visits the Buffalo Stone Café. FortWhyte Alive public programs. Saturday & Sunday, December 6, 7 Saturday, December 13 10 am – 1 pm Please call (204) 989-8355 or Members save 20%, Guests save 10% Adults: $15, Children under 12: $8 (plus tax) email [email protected] Excludes sale and consignment items Members: 15% off
DECEMBER View FortWhyte’s online events calendar at www.fortwhyte.org/events/calendar SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Holiday Shopping Event Nordic Walking
1 2 3 4 5 6 Holiday Shopping Event Nordic Walking Father Christmas in the Forest Breakfast with Santa Pine Cone Ornament Sod House Pioneers Guided 2 O’clock Walk 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Sod House Pioneers Nordic Walking Naturescape: Christmas Bird Count for Kids Guided 2 O’clock Walk 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Sod House Pioneers Winter Day Camp: Winter Day Camp: Christmas Eve: Christmas Day: Closed Boxing Day: Nordic Walking Guided 2 O’clock Walk Wilderness Adventure Camp Hunger Camp Open 9 am - 1 pm Open 10 am - 5 pm Frosty Family Fun Days:
Snowshoe Orienteering Scavenger Hunt Marshmallow Roast
21 22 23 Christmas Eve 24 Christmas Day 25 Boxing Day 26 27 Sod House Pioneers Winter Day Camp: Winter Day Camp: Christmas Eve: Guided 2 O’clock Walk Voyageur Ventures Green Science & Open 9 am - 1 pm
Frosty Family Fun Days: Fun-gineering Jam Pail Curling Frosty Family Fun Days: Snowshoe 28 29 30 New Year’s Eve 31
12 FORTWHYTE LIFE Winter 2014–15 Newsletter JANUARY View FortWhyte’s online events calendar at www.fortwhyte.org/events/calendar SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY New Year’s Day: Winter Day Camp: Snowshoe Saturday Open 10 am - 5 pm Arctic Animals Nordic Walking New Year’s Day Sleigh Rides Frosty Family Fun Days: Voyageur Games New Year’s Day 1 2 3 Sod House Pioneers True To Type Snow Trek Mitten Craft Guided 2 O’clock Walk
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Sod House Pioneers Planning Your Summer Snowshoe Saturday Biography of a Bat Garden Nordic Walking Guided 2 O’clock Walk
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Sod House Pioneers Winter Warmer Snowshoe Saturday Naturescape: Winter Birds Nordic Walking Suet Feeder Craft Learn to Cross-Country Ski Guided 2 O’clock Walk Learn to Fish Ice Clinic 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Sod House Pioneers Movie Night in the Snowshoe Saturday Storytime and Bannock Greenhouse Nordic Walking Guided 2 O’clock Walk Learn to Fish Ice Clinic
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Naturescape: Christmas Snowshoe Orienteering Frosty Family Fun Bird Count for Kids Work off the holiday feasts and tackle Become a citizen scientist and come our Orienteering Course on snowshoes. Days! out to count the birds at FortWhyte. Complete the course and get a prize! The information gathered will help Friday, December 26 12 – 3 pm December 27, 29, 30, January 2 1 - 3 pm researchers learn more about birds and FREE with regular admission FREE with regular admission how to protect them. Snowshoe Rental: $3, Members: FREE Sunday, December 14 1 – 3 pm Saturday, December 27: Scavenger Hunt Search our forest to complete a winter FREE with regular admission Marshmallow Roast Get toasty by roasting scavenger hunt, then warm up by the fire and Winter Day Camp! marshmallows over the fire! roast marshmallows. Theme days: Friday, December 26 Monday, December 29: Jam Pail Curling 12 – 3 pm December 22: Wilderness Adventure Camp Jam pail curling on the rink! Bring your December 23: Survival Camp FREE with regular extended family and play an end or two. admission December 29: Voyageur Ventures Tuesday, December 30: Snowshoe December 30: Green Science & Fun-gineering Come for a snowshoe. Rentals are free with January 2: Arctic Animals admission today. After you hang up your Non-Members: $40/day, Members:$35/day ‘shoes, cook some bannock over the fire. For children ages 6-11 at the time of camp. Registration for Winter Camp opens December 1, Friday, January 2: Voyageur Games 2014, at noon. Please visit www.fortwhyte.org/ Play a round of voyageur games, then come day-camp/winter for more information. and try maple taffy on snow at the sod house.
www.fortwhyte.org 13 PUBLIC PROGRAMMING Warm up to Winter Wednesdays Ever get the winter blues? Our series DECEMBER / JANUARY / FEBRUARY of winter experiences will leave you feeling rejuvenated and ready for whatever winter throws at you! ACTIVITIES & WORKSHOPS February 4: Ski Lessons with Katrina February 11: S’mores & Snowshoes New Year’s Day Sleigh Rides Suet Feeder Craft February 18: Yoga by the Fire with Janna Ring in the New Year with a horse-drawn Build a creative bird feeder that you can fill February 25: Wilderness Survival Skills sleigh ride through our winter wonderland. with suet for the woodpeckers, nuthatches & Bannock Roast Warm up with hot chocolate after your ride. and blue jays to enjoy. Wednesdays in February 6:30 – 8 pm Thursday, January 1 12 – 3 pm Sunday, January 18 2 pm Members: $40, Non-members $55 Adults $15, Children $5, Members 25% off FREE with regular admission Register for all four sessions by calling (204) 989-8355 Mitten Craft Winter Warmer Make a pair of mittens to hang in your window. Thursday, January 22 2 – 3:30 pm Sunday, January 4 1 pm View FortWhyte Farms event details on Page 11 Snowy Owl Craft FREE with regular admission Make a snowy owl out of a pinecone. Learn to Cross-Country Ski Sunday, February 1 1 pm True To Type Are you new to skiing or looking to improve FREE with regular admission Thursday, January 8 2 – 3:30 pm your technique? CANSI-certified instructor View FortWhyte Farms event details on Page 10 Katrina Froese will cover the basics of Road Ready Workshop kick and glide, and leave you with tips Manitoba can be a tough place to drive in 6th Annual Snow Trek and tricks to improve your balance, your the winter. Road Ready will equip you to Get in motion at Snow Trek! endurance and most of all, your enjoyment. prepare yourself and your vehicle for winter Try x-country skiing with free equipment Saturdays, January 24 & February 21 driving. Participants get a CAA Manitoba car rentals and instruction all afternoon. Join 10:30 am, 1 pm kit, as well as extras, to keep safe during a guided snowshoe hike through our forests, Open to ages 8 and up. Members: $10, winter travels. and bring along your skates for a spin on Non-members: $20 (includes admission). Sunday, February 8 1 – 3 pm the rink. Cap off your day with a cup of hot Rentals: $5 Members, $10 Non-members. Fee: $5. Call (204) 989-8355 to pre-register. chocolate and marshmallows by the fire. Register for lessons/rentals at (204) 989-8355 Saturday, January 10 11 am – 4 pm French Public Walk Learn to Fish Ice Clinic FREE admission all day! Parlez-vous français? Explorer le sentier nord Join experts from Cabela’s for a beginner avec un interprète bilingue. Suivant votre Naturescape: Biography of a Bat lesson in the sport of ice fishing. marche, gôuter le bannock et le cidre. U of W Professor Dr. Craig Willis will share Saturday, January 24 & 31 10:30 am Dimanche, le 8 fevrier 14:00 his bat wisdom. He’ll cover bat biology and Registration for this program can be done FREE with regular admission behaviour, as well as which species can be through the Leisure Guide or by calling 311. found in Manitoba, and the threats facing bats. Naturescape: Sunday, January 11 1 pm Storytime and Bannock Great Backyard Bird Count FREE with regular admission Sunday, January 25 1 pm Become a citizen scientist! This Bird Count FREE with regular admission is an annual four-day event that helps Planning Your Summer Garden researchers track where birds are flying. Movie Night in the Greenhouse Thursday, January 15 2 – 3:30 pm Friday – Sunday, February 13 – 15 All Day View FortWhyte Farms event details on Page 10 Thursday, January 29 6 – 8 pm FREE with regular admission View FortWhyte Farms event details on Page 11 Naturescape: Winter Birds Valentine’s Day Sleigh Rides Learn which birds brave the cold and which Nature Shop: Valentine’s Day Draw Enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride with your ones get out of town. Take a closer look on a Make a Nature Shop purchase of $10 or sweetheart. Warm up with hot chocolate walk to the bird feeding station. more and be entered to win a Valentine’s after your ride. Sunday, January 18 1 pm Gift Basket valued at $100. Saturday, February 14 12 – 3 pm FREE with regular admission Enter to win: February 1 - 14 Adults $15, Children $5, Members 25% off
14 FORTWHYTE LIFE Winter 2014–15 Newsletter WEEKENDS AT FWA Valentine’s Dinner at Café Louis Riel Day Festivities Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a romantic Try out our Voyageur games and build your Snowshoe Saturdays dinner, in the beautiful setting of FortWhyte balance, aim and strength. Enjoy bannock Explore FortWhyte by snowshoe with a Alive. The Café will be creating a special and choose from a selection of toppings at guided group. three-course meal for you and yours. Dinner the FortWhyte Bannock Bar! Starting Saturday, January 3 10 – 11:30 am includes a complimentary glass of Prosecco; Monday, February 16 1 – 3 pm beer and wine will be available for purchase. FREE with regular admission, snowshoe rental $3 FREE with regular admission Saturday, February 14 Cost: $100 /couple. Call (204) 989-8355 to reserve Hypothermic Half Marathon Brave the cold and run in our annual Nordic Walking Heather Hinam’s Animal Attraction Hypothermic Half! This frosty 13.1 mile Nordic walking builds your endurance and Dr. Heather Hinam will share a special (21km) course starts and ends at FortWhyte, cardiovascular health, while being kind to presentation on how wildlife celebrate where participants are invited to enjoy a your knees and joints. Valentine’s Day. Adults only! delicious post-race brunch from the Buffalo Every Saturday 10 – 11:30 am Saturday, February 14 8 pm Stone Café. Proceeds from the race benefit FREE with regular admission, pole rental $2 environmental education programs. FREE with regular admission Sunday, February 22 7 am Naturescape: Start your Presented by Running Room. Details at Sod House Pioneers own Native Seeds www.fortwhyte.org/event/hypothermic-half. Take a step into the past with our pioneers Kelly from Prairie Originals will give you in the sod house. the 101 on planting native seeds. She’ll Every Sunday 12 – 4 pm cover seed treatments, when to plant, how FREE with regular admission to water, lighting needs, and how/when to move your plants outdoors. Participants will plant and take home a 32-plug tray with a Guided 2 O’clock Walk variety of seeds. Take a guided hike and learn about FortWhyte Sunday, February 15 1 – 2:30 pm from one of our volunteers. Naturescape Members: $15, Every Sunday 2 pm Members: $17.50, Non-members: $20 FREE with regular admission FEBRUARY View FortWhyte’s online events calendar at www.fortwhyte.org/events/calendar
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Sod House Pioneers Warm up to Winter: Snowshoe Saturday Snowy Owl Craft Ski Lessons Nordic Walking Guided 2 O’clock Walk
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sod House Pioneers Warm up to Winter: Great Backyard Bird Count Great Backyard Bird Count Road Ready Workshop S’mores & Snowshoes Snowshoe Saturday Guided 2 O’clock Walk Nordic Walking French Public Walk Valentines Day Sleigh Rides Valentine’s Dinner 8 9 10 11 12 13 Animal Attraction 14 Great Backyard Bird Count Louis Riel Day Festivities Warm up to Winter: Snowshoe Saturday Sod House Pioneers Yoga by the Fire Nordic Walking Naturescape: Start your Learn to Cross-Country Ski own Native Seeds Guided 2 O’clock Walk 15 Louis Riel Day 16 17 18 19 20 21 Hypothermic Half Marathon Warm up to Winter: Snowshoe Saturday Sod House Pioneers Wilderness Survival Nordic Walking Guided 2 O’clock Walk
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www.fortwhyte.org 15 Changing how youseeourworld.Making aworldofdifference. In sodoing, FortWhyte promotesawareness andunderstanding ofthenaturalworld andactionsleading tosustainableliving. FortWhyte Aliveisdedicated toprovidingprogramming, naturalsettings andfacilitiesforenvironmentaleducation, outdoorrecreationandsocialenterprise. FortWhyte Aliveisaprivately operated,not-for-profit projectofTheFortWhyte Foundation Inc. Registered CharitableNo:119298123RR0001 A sustainablefutureisinyourhands. To make adonation,pleasecall(204)989-8355ext.205,orvisit www.fortwhyte.org/donate Greenspace andWildlife Habitat,andSocialEnterprisePrograms atFortWhyte. EnvironmentalEducation, This holidayseason, thatsupports giveagift to surpassthatnumber. FortWhyte Alivecontinuestocountonyoustrive. End-of-Year Campaignraisedapproximately$50,000,andthisyearwehope individuals like youaccountedfor22%ofourtotaldonations.Lastyear, our FortWhyte Aliveisproudtobemorethan80%privatelyfunded.In2014, Your supportmakes adifference. WINNIPEG, MANITOBAR3P2K9 1961 MCCREARY ROAD
PHOTO BY IAN CARTER