For more than 6,000 years, the confluence of the Red River and Assiniboine River has served as a meeting place for merchants and traders. Today the area known as The Forks is a great place to pick up all you need for the perfect summer picnic. Between 1989 and 1994, archaeological digs turned up evidence of aboriginal trading camps, artifacts like weapons used for bison hunts. The area’s tradition as a meeting place continues today, as the Forks attracts more than four million visitors each year. In 1974 the Forks was named a National Historic Site of Canada.
In the twenty-first century, the Forks Market is still a bustling center of economic activity. We suggest venturing into the market to pack your picnic basket. What was once two horse stalls used by competing railroad companies is today a six story tower, at the top of which is a viewing platform that offers one of the city’s best views. It’s become a favorite meeting place of locals and visitors alike. The Forks Market is only a 10 to 15-minute walk from The Fort Garry Hotel. The market offers all you need to pack your perfect summer picnic basket. The first two stories are comprised of vendors selling imported fruit, local produce, fresh baked bread. You’ll also find artisans and craftsmen selling wine, cigars, and artwork. Over 300 vendors — nearly all of them local — set up shop in the Forks Market. If you’re looking to pick up a souvenir while you’re traveling, the Forks is the place for you.
Don’t have a picnic basket or red and white checkered blanket? Head across the courtyard from the Forks Market to the Johnston Terminal building, which dates back to 1930. This beautiful building, unoccupied during the ’80s and ’90s, now houses specialty boutiques and cafes. In the basement is the Johnston Terminal Antique Mall, featuring over 30 consigners and 7,000 square feet of collectibles, artifacts, and heirlooms. I bet you’ll find your blanket and basket in the Antique Mall.
Address: The Forks, Winnipeg
