Assiniboine Park’s new Conservatory is getting international help.

Winnipeg’s Smith Carter and Toronto’s KPMB Architects will work with Stuttgart, Germany and Cinncinatti-based firms to design the $30-50 million building.

"We are extremely excited to be part of the rejuvenation of Winnipeg’s jewel — Assiniboine Park — with the opportunity to bring form to the Conservancy’s vision of creating an iconic, sustainable and interactive destination for the next millennium,” Smith Carter and KPMB said in a joint statement.

The project is part of the second phase of the park’s $200-million redevelopment campaign.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2012/12/18/assiniboine-park-conservatory-ready-for-its-makeover

Mark Veneziano has been in Brandon for just over a month and is learning something new about the city’s history every day.

"I didn’t know it was called ‘Wheat City’ before coming here. The way agriculture plays a part in the city is something that interests me," Veneziano said.

Veneziano is the first curator at the Brandon General Museum and Archives Inc., which opened in July 2011. The mission of the museum is to promote and preserve Brandon’s history through studying and displaying artifacts.

Veneziano said his main focus as curator is to create interactive activities and build partnerships in the community.

http://www.brandonsun.com/local/attracting-more-visitors-key-goal-for-curator-184081451.html?thx=y

Winnipeg and Ottawa are squabbling over how much money the Canadian Museum for Human Rights must pay the city to cover the cost of servicing the federal institution.

But the Province of Manitoba stands to lose out in the short term, because Broadway happens to be first in line for the cash.

Earlier this year, Winnipeg's assessment and taxation department issued the CMHR a $198,000 bill for payment in lieu of taxes, or PILT, which is money federal institutions pay municipalities in place of property taxes.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/feds-city-in-spat-over-cmhr-servicing-cost-184068331.html

Although the proprietors will not admit it, 4Play Sports Bar may be the first casualty of the great NHL lockout of 2012-13. The three-year-old sports-bar extravaganza is closing after New Year's Eve and will convert to a supper club for early spring re-opening.

Oreanna Cheater, who runs her family-owned establishment, refused to say the changes were being forced on them by the fact that half the season of busy game nights has been lost. Last year 4Play, as well as every other restaurant/bar in the area, enjoyed very busy nights on every Winnipeg Jets game night.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/sports-bar-victim-of-nhl-lockout-184068481.html

WHEN Ron White heard the news C. Kelekis Restaurant was closing, he knew he had to round up some friends and come in for The Last Supper.

That wouldn't seem so unusual if it weren't for the fact White, as well as two of his longtime buddies, Marla Minuk and Josie Distasio, live in Toronto.

They flew into town Monday and drove straight from the airport to the Main Street institution to meet up with old high school and university chums. Then they came back Tuesday for lunch and an early dinner before heading back home.

"We heard they were running out of food because of the rush of people. We thought, 'We've got to come now.' There was a bit of a panic setting in," he said with a laugh.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/home-for-the-hotdogs-184068631.html

TORONTO - Air Canada is entering the low-cost leisure travel market with the launch of its new Rouge airline in the hopes of reclaiming the market share it has lost to domestic and international competitors, Canada's largest airline said Tuesday.

The new airline will begin flying on July 1 from Toronto to Venice, Italy, and Edinburgh, Scotland, two destinations that currently aren't served by Air Canada. It will also serve Athens from Toronto and Montreal.

Air Canada's existing flights to Cuba, the Dominican Republican, Jamaica and Costa Rica will be flown by the discount carrier from Toronto.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/travel/air-canadas-new-low-cost-service-called-rouge-will-begin-flying-in-july-183997461.html

The federal government says advertised airfares for flights originating in Canada must include all relevant fees so the travelling public can easily understand the total cost.

Transport Minister Denis Lebel said Tuesday that advertised prices for the public must include all taxes, fees and other charges so that consumers can clearly see the total cost of an airline ticket, with no hidden fees.

The amendments apply to ads in any media for travel services within or originating in Canada.

Repeat offenders can be fined up to $25,000.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/12/18/pol-cp-airlines-advertising-all-in-ticket-pricing.html

With NHL owners and players preparing to battle in court over a lockout that could cancel a whole season, Canadians have already issued a resounding judgment that can be summed up in one word: Whatever.

That’s the dominant message from a new public opinion poll by NRG Research Group, which shows 58 per cent of people in hockey-mad Canada “don’t care” if the current NHL lockout is resolved.

And people in B.C. are at the high-end of the lockout-blockout scale, with 61 per cent saying they “don’t care,” NRG CEO Brian Owen said. Only six per cent of those polled in B.C. believe a deal will be struck within the next few weeks, in time to salvage part of the 2012-2013 season...   ....The only interviewee who cared about an NHL-less Vancouver was a visitor from Romania.

“I’m not a hockey fan, but I’m quite disappointed that I can’t go to the NHL, as a tourist,” Radu Dania said. “We only have two hockey teams in Romania.”

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/calgary-flames/lockout+poll+shows+cent+Canadians+care/7717550/story.html

(A complete article published originally in the WFP, Dec.  '39)

Dauphin, Man., Dec. 19. (Special) At the annual meeting of the National Park Highway association, Manitoba section, Monday night, delegates urged that an aggressive drive be put on to attract American tourists during the next tourist season. The delegates from Neepawa to Roblin and all intervening points, in a resolution to the provincial government, suggested that the Manitoba section evergreen route from Winnipeg, via Neepawa, Dauphin and Roblin be hard surfaced, pointing out that Canada would benefit by increased tourist traffic due to the war in England. Mike Baroni, of Neepawa, was elected provincial chairman, and William Voss, who presided, was elected vice-chairman.