Detailed Itinerary
Note: If you elect to tour only Saskatchewan, the tour price will be adjusted in your customized quotation. If this is your tour choice, please begin your tour on Day 3.
Day One
Departure from your city to Winnipeg, Manitoba. (we can help arrange a flight or bus transportation) from your city to Saskatoon for you if requested)
You will be met by your tour leader and air-conditioned coach to either check-in or begin with a walking tour depending upon arrival time. If you arrive in Winnipeg by bus, you will be picked up by coach to begin your tour on day two though you will meet your guide at the hotel to discuss the tour and have dinner. An orientation walking tour is possible after dinner.
Your group may meet to discuss the importance of Louis Riel in the establishment of Manitoba as a province, as well as in defending the rights of the Metis in the Red River settlement. (D)
Accommodation at: Country Inn and Suites
http://www.countryinns.com/hotels/winnican
Day Two
8:00 A.M. Breakfast at your hotel
9:00 A.M. You will meet your guide and board your bus for an orientation tour of the City of Winnipeg beginning with several Louis Riel memorials in St. Boniface. Some of the highlights will include: Riel’s gravesite at St. Boniface Cemetery; the Riel Statue at St. Boniface College; the Riel Bust at St. Boniface Museum and a chance to take a picture from Esplanade Riel – the magnificent cable stayed footbridge connecting St. Boniface to The Forks.
Lunch (on own)
1 P.M. Our first site visit today will be to Manitoba’s Legislative Building where you can view the Riel Statue and this impressive government building. Don’t forget to take a picture of the controversial “Golden Boy” on the domed roof!
2:30 P.M. We will “walk off lunch” in an easy but informative walking tour of Old St. Boniface.
3:30 P.M. You will have an opportunity to visit “Riel House” managed by the St. Boniface Historical Society. The house interprets the history of the Riel family and Louis Riel’s life and accomplishments.
5:00 P.M. Our bus will now take us to the famous “Forks of Winnipeg”. The Forks are Winnipeg's number one tourist destination at the junction of the historic Red and Assiniboine Rivers. Boutiques; home of several festivals; historic buildings and markets and restaurants highlight this trendy and historic area. You will have dinner during your visit.
7 P.M. This evening you will either board an historic Paddlewheeler for a cruise up the Red River (weather permitting) or a Haunted Winnipeg Bus Tour. (B & D)
Day Three
8:00 A.M. Breakfast at your hotel and checkout
9:00 A.M. Departure for Saskatchewan with a stop to visit the Margaret Laurence House in Neepawa, Manitoba. Margaret Laurence, an internationally renowned author was born and raised in Neepawa. Neepawa provided the letting for five later novels set in the fictional prairie town of Manawaka. The house was built about 1894 and was purchased by the Margaret Laurence Home Committee in 1986 dedicated to the literary career of the “First Lady of Manawaka”.
Noon We will stop for lunch en route to Saskatoon with an expected mid afternoon arrival.
3:00 P.M. Arrival and check in to our hotel
Accommodation at: Country Inn and Suites
http://www.countryinns.com/saskatoonsk
4:00 P.M. After sitting on the bus much of the day, we will head to the historic Besborough Hotel and walk along the S. Saskatchewan boardwalk. The view of the river and picturesque bridges is terrific. You will have a chance to see the famous “Children Playing” sculpture in the park.
6:00 P.M. Dinner tonight will be at Eastside Marios
8:00 P.M. To really ensure you are ready for a good night’s sleep, we will take a short walk in the trendy nearby Broadway district before returning to our hotel.
Note: As tomorrow night you will be sleeping in Tipis at Wanuskewin Heritage Park you may want to keep your main bag at the hotel and take just what you need for one night and a day as we will be returning in two days for another night at the Country Inn before heading south to Moose Jaw. (B & D)
Day Four
8:00 A.M. Breakfast at your hotel and checkout (storing main bags if possible)
At 10 A.M. we will arrive at the Mendel Art Gallery for a visit.
http://www.mendel.ca/
At 11:15 A.M. we will walk down to the river docks to board the Meewasin Queen riverboat for a unique “Shipwreck Luncheon Cruise”. The Meewasin Queen will linger at the shipwreck site while an expert in diving, archaeology or documentary production tells the story of the 1908 wreck of the SS City of Medicine Hat and the search for artifacts in 2008. We will then have a full luncheon while we cruise along the N. Saskatchewan highlighted by the numerous bridges that span the river within the city.
http://www.shearwatertours.com/
1:00 P.M. After our cruise, we will visit the largest of the four Western Development Museums
that offer an extremely realistic experience of a part of Saskatchewan history.
Saskatchewan boomed with economic activity from the turn of the century to 1914. Land-seekers flooded the west and towns grew almost overnight. 1910 Boomtown, the Western Development Museum's representation of a typical Saskatchewan town, captures the atmosphere and style of this bustling period. Over 30 buildings portray community life - from the general store overflowing with everything from nails to gingham, to the blacksmith shop ringing with the sound of the hammer striking the anvil. Transported yourself back to a time when the clip clop of horses filled the air. You don't just visit this museum, you live it!
3:00 P.M. Departure for Wanuskewin Heritage Park
After arrival, you will have an opportunity to explore some of the interpretive centre artifacts before watching a demonstration of dancing and drumming in the visitor centre. If time permits, we will take a walk through the valley behind the centre. We will have dinner with our hosts and then participate in story-telling and evening activities before our “night under the stars”. You will have an opportunity to take a hike and choose from one of three presentations from dancing to bannock making. (B & L)
Accommodation at: Wanuskewin Village
http://www.wanuskewin.com/
Day Five
After an early breakfast in the Interpretive Centre cafeteria, we will board our bus for the full day visit to Batoche National Historic Park (10 A.M. Arrival) and Fort Carleton Provincial Park (2 P.M. Arrival). We will take one of the few remaining river ferries (12:30 P.M.) left on the Prairies as we drive west from Batoche to Duck Lake. We will tour the Duck Lake Interpretive Centre at 1 P.M. - an iconic structure in the area.
Batoche National Park displays the remains of the village of Batoche on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River. It was the last battlefield in the Northwest Rebellion of 1885. Louis Riel selected Batoche as the headquarters of his "Provisional Government of the Northwest Territories.” Several buildings have been restored within the site. The site depicts the lifestyles of the Métis of Batoche between 1860 and 1900 - the trails they walked, their homes, their church, and the Battle of Batoche, May 9-12, 1885. Visitors can also see an award-winning half-hour multi-media show in the Visitor Reception Centre.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/sk/batoche/index_E.asp
We will have lunch then head to Fort Carleton Provincial Park.
En route, we will stop at the Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Centre. Duck Lake is one of the sites of the Northwest Resistance of 1885. The Interpretive Centre portrays the history and culture of the Willow Cree, Métis and Pioneer societies.
http://www.dlric.org/
2:00 P.M. Arrival at Fort Carlton Provincial Park
Fort Carlton Provincial Park takes you back in time to the rugged, adventurous days of the fur trade before Canada was a country. This is the original site of a Hudson’s Bay Company fur-trading post that operated between 1810 and 1885. Today, you will see a reconstructed palisade, fur and provisions store, trade store, clerk’s quarters, and tepee encampment; each of these appears much like they would have in the late 1800s. You can see, touch and smell artifacts such as buffalo hides, beaver pelts, war clubs, blankets, guns, twist tobacco, birch bark baskets and so much more. Staff will guide you through these areas, answering your questions and leading you in activities like playing the spoons or packing furs for the trip to England.
Outside the walls of the fort, you can take a short stroll to the North Saskatchewan River. You can trek along the original Carlton Trail, where you can still see the ruts left by Red River carts. Wander through our Visitor Centre displays and gift shop. There is a unique campground here as well where under the stars, you can hear the coyotes and visualize what the early settlers would have experienced.
http://www.tpcs.gov.sk.ca/FortCarlton
Following our visit, we will board our coach for the return trip to Saskatoon and will check back in to our hotel.
7:00 P.M. Dinner at a local restaurant
This evening we will have dinner near our hotel and then have an early night to pack and prepare for our journey south to Moose Jaw in the morning. (B&D)
Accommodation at: Country Inn and Suites
http://www.countryinns.com/saskatoonsk
Day Six
8:00 A.M. Breakfast
After breakfast, we will checkout and load our luggage and board our coach for our drive to Moose Jaw Saskatchewan. As we arrive around noon, we will take a group picture by the “MOOSE” that greets visitors entering the city.
We will then head to Main Street where we will have lunch in one of the many local restaurants (1 P.M.) , followed by one of the most unique experiences on the tour – a visit to the “Tunnels of Moose Jaw”. (2 P.M. Reservation)
http://www.tunnelsofmoosejaw.com/
There are two tunnel tours….The Chicago Connection and the Passage to Fortune where depending on interest and availability, we may divide into two groups to experience either the story of Al Capone in Moose Jaw or the experiences of Chinese immigrants who lived beneath the streets under extremely distressing conditions. Actor/Guides will take us through the tunnels as we “relive” the underground world that few knew existed.
When we emerge, a chocolate fudge factory awaits!
4 P.M. We will have an opportunity to see the air base where the famous Snowbirds are located and train. With some luck, you may see the famous aerial acrobats in the air!
http://www.snowbirds.dnd.ca/v2/index-eng.asp
5 P.M. We will check into our hotel (TBA) and rest before heading for the Hopkins Dining Parlor for dinner. Located in an old mansion, Hopkins Dining Parlor is a heritage site and has outstanding food after which we will be taken back to our hotel for the night. (B & D)
Accommodation at: Comfort Inn & Suites
Day Seven
8:00 A.M. Breakfast and Checkout
This morning we will check out depart for the “Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre. The centre is an educational facility dedicated to the conservation of Burrowing Owls and their prairie home. Burrowing owls are in trouble in Canada; their populations have been declining sharply for over a decade and it’s possible that there will soon be no more of these little ground owls left in Canada.
10: 15 A.M. We will depart at 10 A.M. for the Moose Jaw Visitor Centre where we will board an historic trolley owned by the Moose Jaw Trolley Company.
The Moose Jaw Trolley Company builds on the rich history of Moose Jaw by replacing one of the original electric cable trolleys that were operational from 1911-1932. This 34 passenger trolley was selected for it's likeness to the original trolleys because it showcases wide framed oak windows, curved oak seats, brass handrails and a romantic caboose. The perfectly restored interior takes you back in time adding to the historic experience.
The Moose Jaw Trolley Company offers a guided historic tour of Moose Jaw. Our tour guides will point out and provide details on historic homes and businesses, interesting facts and legends, and tour you through exquisite parkland. The trolley tour also features the beautifully painted Murals of Moose Jaw, which recount our history on the sides of our buildings.
http://www.moosejaw.ca/tourism/attraction/trolley.shtml
http://www.moosejaw.ca/tourism/attraction/muralsofmoosejaw/index.shtml
After our tour, we will stop on Main Street and have lunch
Our Moose Jaw visit will end with a 2:30 P.M. tour of the Western Development Museum that features a history of transportation with actual planes, trains and vehicles UNDER one roof along with a Snowbirds Gallery with actual planes overhead (inside the museum!)
From here, we will head to Regina for the remainder of our tour. Upon arrival, we will check-in to our hotel and go for dinner in a restaurant in the area. We will conclude a long day with a walking tour in the downtown area before returning to our hotel.
(B & D)
Accommodations at: Regina Inn
Day Eight
After breakfast, we will board our bus to head to the Saskatchewan Royal Museum
http://www.royalsaskmuseum.ca/ in Wascana Park to explore from 9 - 10 A.M. before heading for the Saskatchewan Legislature where we will have a tour (10:30) of this magnificent building.
http://www.legassembly.sk.ca/
Following the tour, we will head downtown to see the site of the courthouse where Louis Riel was tried, and sentenced to death. The park adjacent has a moving memorial to this historic figure.
Louis Riel was viewed by some as a saviour, and by some as a traitor, Riel nevertheless became the voice of the Métis people during a turbulent time in Canadian history, and was largely responsible for the entrance of the province of Manitoba into Confederation.
The Red River Settlement land-surveying episode set in motion the irrevocable rise in tensions between the Métis and the federal authorities. The need for the Métis to organize themselves became obvious and Riel assumed the leadership of the movement.
The political organization of the Métis continued as a convention of representatives from the Métis and Anglophone population was set up. Four "Lists of Rights" were drafted. These constituted the basis of the negotiations leading to the entry of Manitoba into Canadian confederation.
On March 22, 1870, a fourth and final version of the List of Rights was drafted and sent to Ottawa by the trio of Ritchot, Black and Alfred H. Scott, all chosen by the committee to represent the provisional government. At that time, Riel played a more secondary role in the events that were taking place in Ottawa. He was devoted above all to the affairs of the Red River Settlement.
Following many years of stress, Riel suffered mental exhaustion, which in 1876, forced him to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Montréal, then in Beauport, close to Québec.
From 1877 to 1884, he stayed in the United States, between Keeseville, N.Y. (close to Montréal) and Montana, and obtained American citizenship in 1883.
On returning to Saskatchewan in 1884, he found that the Métis and the First Nations in southern Saskatchewan had a number of grievances. After many attempts to vindicate what the federal government, according to him, owed the First Nations and Métis, Riel, convinced that many hundreds of men in the North West Mounted Police were advancing towards them, formed a provisional government in Batoche, Saskatchewan.
Those actions angered English Canada, which, not willing to understand the validity of the Métis' and First Nations' claims, called on the Macdonald government to act. It sent the Canadian militia to Batoche, Calgary and Battleford, Saskatchewan. The Indian and Métis resistance could not survive against the strength of the Canadian militia. On May 12, 1885, the rebellion ended. Riel gave himself up to the North West Mounted Police. Accused of treason, he was tried in Regina where he was found guilty and sentenced to death.
Louis Riel was hanged on November 16, 1885, in the North West Mounted Police quarters in Regina.
Noon: Lunch
1:00 P.M. After our walking tour which will include an interesting historic sports museum adjacent to the park, we will board our coach and head to Wascana Park to visit the Saskatchewan Science Centre. The Science Centre is hands-on and interactive. It will be a challenge to get the group out of the museum in time for the continuation of our Waskana Park tour.
Located in the centre of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, this park (officially known as Wascana Centre, covers a total area of 2300 acres (930 hectares) . Land 2000 acres (810 hectares), Water 300 acres (120 hectares). One of the largest urban parks in North America, (before you ask, Central Park in New York City is 834 acres) has been witness to the changing times of not only the city and the province, but the nation as a whole.
The fact that this park exists is credit to those who saw the potential of creating what can be described of as an oasis on the prairie. The park, as well as the City of Regina, has gone from a treeless spot on a map, to a place of wonder. Those of us who have grown up with the park cannot truly appreciate the changes, as those who are returning after years of absence experience.
http://www.wascana.sk.ca/about.html
2:00 P.M. We will next visit the First Nations University of Canada – a unique facility housed on the University of Regina campus features the remarkable architecture of Douglas Cardinal.
http://www.firstnationsuniversity.ca/
First Nations University of Canada was established in 1976 as the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC) through a federated partnership with the University of Regina. The University is independently administered offering post-secondary education in a culturally supportive First Nations’ environment.
The First Nations University of Canada offers its programs and services on three campuses: Prince Albert (Northern Campus), Regina, and Saskatoon, in addition to various communities across Saskatchewan and Canada.
The First Nations University of Canada offers undergraduate and graduate degrees within an environment of Indian culture and history combining First Nation-oriented and standard areas of study in all programs.
3:15 P.M. After our visit, we will drive to the RCMP Heritage Centre and national training centre for our RCMP officers. There is a museum that we will have a chance to visit to see some of the remarkable heritage and artifacts of this national institution.
5:00 P.M. Return to our hotel
6:00 P.M. Dinner at a local restaurant.
After dinner, you will have the time to pack for your trip home in the morning and to debrief with your teachers the fascinating week spent along the “Louis Riel Trail”.
(B & D)
Accommodations at: Regina Inn
Day Nine
After breakfast, departure by bus for home or transfer to the Regina International Airport for your flight home or departure by bus. (B)