Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail presents free programming and fun activities on the weekends for the whole family. Skate, walk, run or sled along the Guiness World Record-holding longest naturally frozen skating trail in the world and enjoy the picturesque sights of Winnipeg as you’ve never seen it before, from the frozen Assiniboine River. Beginning at the heart of the city, The Forks and managed by the Festival du Voyageur inc. for close to twenty years, the Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail is a winter family tradition. Assinibione Credit Union River Trail is about more than just skating. Take the opportunity to participate in a variety of outdoor activities: walking, curling, hockey, family activities, historic interpretation, cycling, broomball, and more. We also offer special programming for the whole family every weekend free of charge.
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Skate and Helmet Drop Off
United Way of Winnipeg, in partnership with The Forks Market and AMJ Campbell Van Lines, is collecting used skates and helmets to be distributed through our network of agency partners and community groups to create opportunities for everyone to stay active and enjoy our winter. You can drop off your gently used skates and helmets in Centre Court of The Forks Market.
The Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail is officially open to the public. New sections will open shortly. Be sure not to miss our special family programming on the weekends between noon and 4 p.m. It’s free! Unless otherwise stated, all events listed are in The Forks Historic Port or close by. All schedules and activities are subject to change and some may be affected by weather conditions.
Click here to download the 2010 Assiniboine Credit Union River Trails’ events calendar and descriptions.
Friday, January 8, 2010 - Cancelled due to extreme weather condtions.
5 :30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.
Trail by Fire
The trail is “glowing” to enhance your outdoor experience. Also performances by the Fire Pyxies really set things on fire.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Noon - 4:00 P.M.
Ice Carving
Show your creativity through chunks of ice. This is a unique experience that will bring out the artist in you.
Ice Painting
Help us paint the frozen river. What better way to celebrate winter than on a giant ice canvas.
Voyageur Camp
Main location is at The Forks Historic Port and the second encampment changes location every weekend. Come visit the historic Voyageurs and share some stories, bannock and hot chocolate by the fireside.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Noon - 4:00 P.M.
Inukshuk
Express your creativity and mark your trail with colourful building blocks.
Burling
A fun and colourful bowling / curling sport combination with a twist!
Fish Toss
Feed the unique penguins and polar bears of the Assiniboine River.
Voyageur Camp
Main location is at The Forks Historic Port and the second encampment changes location every weekend. Come visit the historic Voyageurs and share some stories, bannock and hot chocolate by the fireside.
Friday, January 15, 2010
5 :30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.
Trail by Fire
The trail is “glowing” to enhance your outdoor experience. Also performances by the Fire Pyxies really set things on fire.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Noon - 4:00 P.M.
Ice Carving
Show your creativity through chunks of ice. This is a unique experience that will bring out the artist in you.
Ice Painting
Help us paint the frozen river. What better way to celebrate winter than on a giant ice canvas.
Voyageur Camp
Main location is at The Forks Historic Port and the second encampment changes location every weekend. Come visit the historic Voyageurs and share some stories, bannock and hot chocolate by the fireside.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Noon - 4:00 P.M.
Inukshuk
Express your creativity and mark your trail with colourful building blocks.
Burling
A fun and colourful bowling / curling sport combination with a twist!
Fish Toss
Feed the unique penguins and polar bears of the Assiniboine River.
Voyageur Camp
Main location is at The Forks Historic Port and the second encampment changes location every weekend. Come visit the historic Voyageurs and share some stories, bannock and hot chocolate by the fireside.
Snow Trek - 1st Annual Winter in Motion
It promises to be a fun-filled afternoon for the whole family to get outside for some cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skating, togogganing and walking. No experience, No problem! We are offering FREE cross-country ski instruction and snowshoe guided hikes. No Equipment, No Problem! We will have a limited supply of Free cross-country skis & snowshoes for you to use (ID required) at all four locations. Too Young, Too Old! No such thing…everybody welcome! For more information and a detailed schedual check out www.winnipeginmotion.ca or call Winnipeg in Motion at 204-940-3648.
Friday, January 22, 2010
5 :30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.
Trail by Fire
The trail is “glowing” to enhance your outdoor experience. Also performances by the Fire Pyxies really set things on fire.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Noon - 4:00 P.M.
Ice Carving
Show your creativity through chunks of ice. This is a unique experience that will bring out the artist in you.
Ice Painting
Help us paint the frozen river. What better way to celebrate winter than on a giant ice canvas.
Voyageur Camp
Main location is at The Forks Historic Port and the second encampment changes location every weekend. Come visit the historic Voyageurs and share some stories, bannock and hot chocolate by the fireside.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Noon - 4:00 P.M.
Inukshuk
Express your creativity and mark your trail with colourful building blocks.
Burling
A fun and colourful bowling / curling sport combination with a twist!
Fish Toss
Feed the unique penguins and polar bears of the Assiniboine River.
Voyageur Camp
Main location is at The Forks Historic Port and the second encampment changes location every weekend. Come visit the historic Voyageurs and share some stories, bannock and hot chocolate by the fireside.
9:00 A.M - 12:00 P.M.
ICE Donkey Winter Adventure
The ICE Donkey Winter Adventure is here! HOT 103 and The Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail with Swamp Donkey Adventure Racing want you…To join in the fun at the first fantastic frosty event of 2010! Participate as a team of three, solo or the “Family Fun Relay” category in the 2-3 hr winter triathlon style event that will test your mettle in snowshoeing, ice-biking, x-country skiing and skating. Compete against others and challenge yourself for ultimate abominable domination. Special winter challenges may include : tobogganing, snowman building, Inuksuk making or whatever Mother Nature may throw at us! We are Winnipeggers after all and this kind of adventure is what we were made for! Why wait for spring to get out and get moving when winter is just around the corner? Come support Heart and Stroke and the Humane Society and celebrate the snow. We’ll see you there …come blizzard or come shine! For more information call (204) 288-1138 or REGISTER ONLINE at www.swampdonkeyAR.com .
Friday, January 29, 2010
5 :30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.
Voyageur Sled Dog Classic
Racers and their dog teams from all over Canada and United States will converge onto Winnipeg to test their skills and endurance once again. Sled Dog education seminar and demonstration at 1pm on Saturday with the Voyageur Sled Dog Classic Race starting at 10am on Sunday. For more information visit manitobahomecoming2010.com
Trail by Fire
The trail is “glowing” to enhance your outdoor experience. Also performances by the Fire Pyxies really set things on fire.
6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
RiverPond Classic Shinny Hockey Tourney
This annual event is an old-fashined shinny hockey tournament that focuses on recreational values and hockey etiquette. For more information or to register a team, please contact gdepape@gmail.com or visit http://riverpondclassic.webs.com/ .
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Noon - 4:00 P.M.
Ice Carving
Show your creativity through chunks of ice. This is a unique experience that will bring out the artist in you.
Ice Painting
Help us paint the frozen river. What better way to celebrate winter than on a giant ice canvas.
Voyageur Camp
Main location is at The Forks Historic Port and the second encampment changes location every weekend. Come visit the historic Voyageurs and share some stories, bannock and hot chocolate by the fireside.
9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
RiverPond Classic Shinny Hockey Tourney
This annual event is an old-fashined shinny hockey tournament that focuses on recreational values and hockey etiquette. For more information or to register a team, please contact gdepape@gmail.com or visit http://riverpondclassic.webs.com/ .
Sunday, January 31, 2010
9:00 A.M. - START
Frostbite River Run
Click image for larger map: 
Please check back often for updates. TOP THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE SKATING THE TRAIL
1. ACCESS AND EGRESS THE TRAIL ONLY AT APPROVED ACCESS POINTS. THE RIVERBANK CAN BE UNSTABLE ALONG CERTAIN SECTIONS.
2. Check this website for updated conditions, grooming reports and closures. It will be updated daily.
3. Know your limits. 9 kilometres is a long way and will take an hour to skate or more. Remember it is also 9 kilometres back.
4. Check the wind direction, you may not feel the wind if it is at your back and may be an issue when skating in to it.
5. Slow down when approaching the bridges. Sand from the streets above can sometimes fall on to the trail.
6. Remember the River is a moving organic entity. Surface cracks can appear anywhere along the trail. Be vigilant.
7. On snowfall days please stay off the trail until we can clear it. Packed snow is very hard to remove.
8. Keep back from the flooding machines, tractors and Zambonis.
9. Respect private property and stay away from outfalls and thin ice signs.
10. Keep your litter with you and dispose of it properly.
11. Keep your dogs on-leash and ensure you clean up after them.
We now have six access points on the Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail: three on the Assiniboine River and two on the Red River. Unfortunately, due to unstable ice conditions, we will not be able to go west past the Hugo Dock this year.
The Forks Historic Port Skating Rink - Open
The Forks - Legislature/Louis Riel Park - Open
Legislature/Louis Riel Park - Osborne Village - Open
Osborne Village - Hugo Street Dock - Open
Norwood Dock - Now open!
Churchill Dock - Now open!
The ice surface may be rough today due to the recent weather conditions. The crew will be working to smooth it throughout the day. Please skate with caution.
Note: Conditions last updated at 3 pm Monday, February 8, 2010 .
Are you looking for conditions in Arctic Glacier Winter Park? Click here.
To conduct interviews please contact: FESTIVAL DU VOYAGEUR INC. Emili Bellefleur Director of Marketing and Communications 233, Provencher Blvd. Winnipeg (Manitoba), R2H 0G4 Tel: (204) 237-7692 poste 269/ext.269 Fax: (204) 233-7576 THE FORKS NORTH PORTAGE PARTNERSHIP Clare MacKay Manager, Marketing and Communications 200-350 Portage Avenue Winnipeg (Manitoba), R3C 0C3 Tel: (204) 987-4360 Cell: (204) 291-9151
The Forks event hotline: (204) 957-7618
Skate Rentals - The Forks: Skate Rentals are available at the Mini Donuts Factory located in The Forks Market. Rates are $2.00 for children and seniors and $4.00 for adults. For group bookings, call Roy at 253-7600. Programming Contact: Karen Mott, Ugly Duckling Productions (204) 779-6173 karen@uglyducklingproductions.com
Festival du Voyageur
http://www.festivalvoyageur.mb.ca/
The Forks
Environment Canada
Thanks to the participation of many partners, sponsors and community associations, seven weeks of free programming is offered on the Assiniboine River.
This project is managed by:
With: 
Title Sponsor
Media Sponsors
CTV . Winnipeg Free Press . La Liberté
Official Sponsor
Winnipeg Environmental Remediations Inc.
Participating Sponsor
Downtown Winnipeg Biz
Government Partners
Riverbank Management Committee
