Summer Starts Here

With an existence that dates back about 6,000 years, The Forks – which is so-named because it's positioned where the Assiniboine River intersects with the Red River – is steeped in history. Over those 6,000 years, The Forks has been part of early aboriginal settlements, the fur trade, the start of the railway era, an influx of early immigrants and the advent of the Industrial Age. At every juncture in time, it served as a central place where people could meet and socialize. And while Winnipeggers revere The Forks and love spending time there, an interesting trend occurred over the past number of years: it became more popular with tourists than locals. It's a trend that The Forks' braintrust noted, says Chelsea Thomson, manager of marketing and communications for The Forks. "That's why we began renovations in 2015," she says. "They were a conscious effort to create a place for both tourists and locals to enjoy that offered great food, shopping and a variety of other experiences." To make the area more attractive to city residents, a pair of new attractions were added to act as a complement to the amazing foods that were already available to sample at The Forks, Thomson says. "Not only did we add a lot of new food vendors (to the common area), but we also added craft beer and wine kiosks. We felt they would serve as a great accompaniment to all the great food offerings that people could choose from." Turns out, adding the craft beer kiosks was a savvy move. "There are 20 different craft beers to choose from – five local beers, and 15 that change seasonally," Thomson explains. "We source beers that you can't find anywhere else in the country. People can then compare our local beers to world class beers. It's an opportunity they really enjoy and appreciate." The same formula was also applied to the wine kiosks, which have also proven to be a popular addition. "In this case, there are 20 different wines to choose from. Those wines were chosen by a sommelier we hired to select not only the wines we offer, but the beers, as well," she says. "(The wines) are then combined with world-class food fare to create a memorable experience for patrons. The kiosks are one of the reasons increasing numbers of locals are coming to The Forks." A vibrant, festival schedule is another reason why more and more locals are choosing to spend time at The Forks. "We've worked hard to make the area a great venue for festivals and events," Thomson says. "For example, June is going to be a very busy months with the Pride Festival, Kids Festival, APTN National Aboriginal Day and Cyclovia, an event that's part of bike week." Then, The Forks' high season starts on July 1 with its traditional Canada Day Celebration "That basically marks the beginning of summer for us. We'll get even busier with more visitors than we had in June, as the kids are out of school, and more families are on holidays and looking for things to do – families from Winnipeg, and from outside the city." Once people experience The Forks' vibrant yet serene atmosphere, they're hooked, Thomson adds. "People just like being around other people, and The Forks is a collective community centre where you can gather with others while enjoying a wide range of attractions in a beautiful, natural setting. You can't get the same experience from a digital experience on your smart phone. When people come down and see all that we have to offer, they want to come back again." Which is entirely understandable, she adds. "Basically, we have something for everyone. No matter whether it's winter or summer, you could easily spend a whole day out here, there's so much to do and experience. We actually see as many people out here on a mild winter weekend as we do on a July weekend. That really speaks to how much me have to offer." "We're always looking to improve. We're going to do our best to make smart decisions about what works, as our goal is to give people what they want to taste and experience." To date, it's an approach that's paid off. "Our new initiatives are working – more locals are rediscovering The Forks, which is ironic," Thomson says. "The Forks has been a meeting place for 6,000 years and will be for as long as we exist. We're going to do our best to make sure it's a place both locals and tourists can enjoy for many years to come." ✹ A refurbished food court that now offers a diverse selection of craft beers and wine has helped breathe new life into The Forks and is helping draw more locals to the popular meeting place. PHOTOS BY DARCY FINLEY By Todd Lewys for the Free Press AS MEETING PLACES GO, THERE ARE FEW BETTER – OR MORE HISTORIC – THAN THE FORKS.

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