Summer Starts Here

STARTS HERE 02 Our beloved Winnipeg Jets may not have gone as far as expected this spring, but local sports fans will have plenty to cheer this summer. The summer sporting scene in Winnipeg has become a little more interesting thanks to the addition of Valour FC (valourfc.canpl.ca). The fledgling soccer club has already built up a solid base of supporters in its inaugural Canadian Premier League season. Local footy fans have had plenty to cheer early on thanks to the work of coach Rob Gale and his crew, which boasts a number of talented homegrown players including Marco Bustos, Dylan Carreiro and Tyson Farago. Expectations are sky-high once again for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (bluebombers.com) with many fans thinking this could finally be the year the club finally ends its Grey Cup drought. The CFL team returns a number of key players this season including quarterback Matt Nichols, running back Andrew Harris, linebacker Adam Bighill and defensive lineman Jackson Jeffcoat. The Blue and Gold got their 2019 season started June 15 on the road against the B.C. Lions and return to IG Field June 27 for their home-opener against the Edmonton Eskimos. And they're off. Horse racing season is well underway at Assiniboia Downs (asdowns.com), one of Canada's most storied tracks. It offers live racing Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and select Sundays until Sept. 8. One of the highlights of the race season is the prestigious Manitoba Derby, which has been run since 1930. This year's event will take place Mon., Aug. 5 and will offer a purse of $75,000. If you are planning to check it out make sure you bring along some stylish headwear, a must-have for Derby goers. If man-made horsepower is more your thing, check out Red River Co-op Speedway (redrivercoopspeedway.ca). Located five minutes south of Winnipeg on Highway 75, it's the largest oval dirt track in Central Canada and offers bumper-to-bumper auto racing from the end of May until the end of September. The Winnipeg Goldeyes (goldeyes.com) are looking to return to their winning ways that saw them claim back- to-back American Associations championships in 2016 and '17 but miss the playoffs in 2018. The Fighting Fish have a number of key veterans back this season including outfielders Reggie Abercrombie and Kevin Garcia and pitchers Kevin McGovern, Mitchell Lambson and Victor Capellan, who should make things interesting once again at Shaw Park this season. If you haven't already gotten your tickets for the Canadian national men's basketball team's game versus Nigeria, you better move quick. The two teams will meet Aug. 9 at Bell MTS Place as a warm-up for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup. Team Canada's roster could include the likes of NBA stars Andrew Wiggins, Tristan Thompson, Jamal Murray, Chris Boucher and Kelly Olynyk. SUMMERTIME SPORTS By Wendy King Looking to do a little time travel this summer? You won't need Dr. Who's physics-bending phone booth to transport you. Instead, let the time-savvy tour guides at The Forks take you on a trip back in time as part of the 6,000 Years in 60 Minutes! tour. The good news is you can be back in an hour – and the cost is a totally affordable $3.90. "The Forks National Historic Site plays an important role in helping Canadians connect with history and learn about our collective heritage," says Jodi Duhard, a public relations and communications officer with Parks Canada, which is responsible for protecting important examples of Canada's natural and cultural heritage. The popular tour has been offered for more than a decade. "The 6,000 Years in 60 Minutes! tour is led by one of Parks Canada's knowledgeable guides who walk visitors through this fascinating history," Duhard says. "The story of The Forks is brought to life through a variety of artifacts and objects, including furs, photos, maps, chalk and...a rope!" The tour is family-friendly with interactive fun designed to engage all participants. "A key emphasis is on Indigenous pre-history," Duhard says. "It's a feet-on-the-ground opportunity to explore various items le behind by the different groups of people who spent time at The Forks site over 6,000 years." The Forks is located at the heart of North America where the Assiniboine River and the Red River meet. This national historic site is recognized as crucial to the history and development of Canada. Today, it is also a bustling marketplace and an expansive and inviting green space ideal for biking, walking and all kinds of outdoor fun including free summer concerts at the outdoor theatre. Canada's Indigenous peoples were using this strategic location as early as 4000 BC, long before European explorers arrived here, as a stopping and meeting place. It was a perfect spot to strike camp, gather needed provisions, fish, celebrate, socialize and engage in trade amongst tribes. Much later, it became the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Canadian West. Moving forward, it would became the cradle of the province of Manitoba and the centre of the city of Winnipeg, which boomed to become the "Gateway to the Canadian West." Visitors who want to find out more about this ancient site can hop on the 6,000 Years in 60 Minutes! tour Monday through Friday by reservation. Bring your friends along as it is designed for groups of 10 or more. Tours depart from the Parks Canada desk located at the Travel Manitoba Information Centre at The Forks. Visitors can reserve their spots by phoning 204-983-6757. More information about the 6,000 Years in 60 Minutes! tour and other Forks-related activities can be found online at www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/mb/forks In addition to the tour, Parks Canada is offering even more family fun and programming at The Forks National Historic Site this summer. "Visitors will discover the newly refreshed Fort Parka playground and splash pad, designed so that children of all abilities and ages can enjoy the outdoor space at this picturesque site," Duhard says. "And you can find anything you might need for a summer's day at Parks Canada`s Adventure Store – from sunhats to popsicles!" The splash pad is open to the public daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. between June 29 and Sept. 2. The Adventure Store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Thursday to Monday from June 27 to Sept. 2. VISITORS TO THE FORKS CAN EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF THE SITE FIRST-HAND AS PART OF THE POPULAR 6,000 YEARS IN 60 MINUTES! TOUR THAT IS COORDINATED BY PARKS CANADA. PHOTOS COURTESY PARKS CANADA. Take a trip back in time

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