127 www.visiTnorThernmaniToba.ca
Northern Lights (pages 128 & 129) Churchill is famous for polar bears in early winter and beluga whales in summer, but its night life is a star attraction for some 300 days each year. One of the world's prime viewing areas for the aurora borealis, it attracts scientists and casual visitors to see shimmering swaths of colourful dancing "spirits" light up the night sky. Churchill Northern Studies Centre's Winter Sky Aurora tours include astronomy studies in February and March.
Churchill Northern Studies Centre p: 204-675-2307 w: www.churchillscience.ca
Thompson Winter Festival – February The wolf capital of Canada's annual Winter Festival runs throughout the month of February, when every weekend brings a new slate of activities. The bill changes every year but competitive trapper events such as fire- making and moose calling are typically on the agenda, along with children's entertainment, dog sled races, jigging and snowshoeing.
p: 204-677-7952 w: www.rec411.ca
Winter sports Take a snowshoe tour along the shore of Hudson Bay at Churchill to see Arctic Fox, Arctic Hare, ptarmigan and other winter wildlife. Snowshoeing and cross- country skiing are popular in Thompson, which has several kilometres of trails in town. And just 20 minutes from Thompson, Alpine skiers have a choice of 18 runs at Mystery Mountain Winter Park, (page 130) where snowboarders can take a turn on Manitoba's longest halfpipe.
p: 204-778-8624 w: www.mysterymountain.ca
Credit: Thompson Unlimited and Larry Hall
NOR TH O F
5 3 °
