SARA
STASIUK
9:10AM – 10:30AM
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Sara Stasiuk leads The Forks North Portage Development Corporation with over 25 years of experience in community development, business operations, culture, and music, and as a born-and-bred Winnipegger who has participated in the evolution of The Forks since its inception in 1989.
Throughout her career, she has contributed to The Forks as a meeting place both from outside the organization through her work as Executive Director of Manitoba Music and Director of Operations for the Interstellar Rodeo Festival, and from within, through her five years as the Vice President of Finance & Operations for The Forks.
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LIZ WREFORD
& PETER
SAMPSON
10:45AM – 12:00PM
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Public City is a transdisciplinary critical design studio practicing architectural and landscape architecture across Canada. The firm is committed to design excellence that emerges from collaboration, playfulness, and innovation.
In 2022, Public City was awarded the Governor General’s Medal in Architecture for ‘Forest Pavilion’ in Winnipeg and won the International design competition for the 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument in Ottawa. Their work has been featured in Canadian Architect, Azure, the Globe & Mail, Landscape/paysages, the New York Times, Canadian Art, and on CBC’s As It Happens and Day 6.
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OLIVIER
LEGAULT
10:45AM – 12:00PM
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Olivier has been studying Winter Cities for over 14 years, doing his master degree thesis on the Winter design of public spaces, based on Scandinavian case studies. He wrote several publications and booklets about Winter design and helped develop winter strategies for downtowns in several places across Québec. Cofounding Laboratoire de l’hiver (Winter Lab) in 2019.
In 2021, the city of Montréal financed 17 stations hivernales (winter stations) in order to improve the experience of local commercial streets. The Montréal Design Observatory hired the Laboratoire de l’hiver to monitor the performance of the Winter Stations. They had the chance to be out there, in the cold, in 17 different boroughs, observing 17 different takes to create a vibrant Winter placette. It was a reality check for Winter lovers.
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KATIE
THORPE
10:45AM – 12:00PM
W/ ISLA TANAKA
& ROBYN BARCLAY
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Katie is an Arts and Culture Strategist at the City of Calgary, where she leads the implementation of the Winter City Strategy. Growing up in Ontario and moving to Calgary over ten years ago, Katie has embraced Alberta’s winter culture by cross-country skiing anywhere she can – from backcountry huts to groomed trails on City of Calgary golf courses! Katie is passionate about creating vibrant communities by bringing City business units together to work better in Neighborhoods. She led the ‘This is my Neighborhood’ initiative delivering more than 200 programs, services and small-scale improvements to 24 communities. She continues to make Calgary a better place to live, work and play through her work on the Winter City Strategy.
Does your city shy away from winter? Do your residents hibernate? Join winter city strategy coordinators from Canadian municipalities that are embracing winter! Learn why we decided to create winter strategies and what each city decided to focus on. We’ll talk about some of the challenges we’ve had, what’s had the most impact in our cities, and the benefits we’re reaping.
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ISLA
TANAKA
10:45AM – 12:00PM
W/ ROBYN BARCLAY
& KATIE THORPE
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Isla Tanaka is the Winter City Planner for the City of Edmonton, where she manages the 10-year Winter City Strategy. She also sits on the international board of the Winter Cycling Federation. Isla holds a Master of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies from UNBC, where she explored the design and promotion of outdoor recreation spaces in winter cities.
She has given presentations on winter life and design in North America, Asia and Europe, and helped plan international winter cities and winter cycling conferences. Isla cycles year-round, loves cross-country skiing, and can be found in a canoe in all seasons – whether on a lake or river, or hurtling down a ski hill in Edmonton’s Flying Canoë Volant races in February.
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ROBYN
BARCLAY
10:45AM – 12:00PM
W/ KATIE THORPE
& ISLA TANAKA
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Robyn Barclay is the Coordinator of Cultural Development at the City of Regina and the former Coordinator of the Winter City Strategy for the City of Regina. Robyn is passionate about how arts and culture intersect with the concept of Winter Cities. Robyn has expertise in the non-profit sector and hospitality industry, with a background in entrepreneurship and finance.
Does your city shy away from winter? Do your residents hibernate? Join winter city strategy coordinators from Canadian municipalities that are embracing winter! Learn why we decided to create winter strategies and what each city decided to focus on. We’ll talk about some of the challenges we’ve had, what’s had the most impact in our cities, and the benefits we’re reaping.
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JOJO DELOS
REYES
12:15PM – 1:15PM
W/ JOHN GUNTER
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Jojo is the Research Program Manager at Red River College Polytech’s Research Partnerships & Innovation office. He has over ten years of industry experience with a solid background in system-level testing, hardware integration, and R&D. He oversees applied research and development initiatives related to heavy vehicle emissions improvement, performance testing, and vehicle electrification, working closely with the industry.
Explore how collaboration between Frontiers North Adventures and Red River College Polytechnic is helping attract a new category of travellers to northern Manitoba. They will be speaking on past and future cold weather projects such as the EV Tundra Buggy, dining beneath the northern lights and a new winter fat biking program. Presented by RRC Polytech’s Jojo Delos Reyes and Frontiers North Adventures’ John Gunter.
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JOHN
GUNTER
12:15PM – 1:15PM
W/ JOJO DELOS REYES
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John Gunter is the President & CEO of Frontiers North Adventures, a Certified B Corp travel and tourism company that operates in the Canadian subarctic, whose purpose it is to share in the stewardship of the communities and environments in which they operate. Frontiers North Adventures hosts guests primarily in Churchill, Canada to dine beneath the shimmering northern lights, navigate amongst curious beluga whales, and to lock their gaze with wild polar bears.
Explore how collaboration between Frontiers North Adventures and Red River College Polytechnic is helping attract a new category of travellers to northern Manitoba. They will be speaking on past and future cold weather projects such as the EV Tundra Buggy, dining beneath the northern lights and a new winter fat biking program. Presented by RRC Polytech’s Jojo Delos Reyes and Frontiers North Adventures’ John Gunter.
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CHRIS
TURNER
1:30PM – 2:45PM
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Chris Turner is one of Canada’s leading voices on climate change solutions and the global energy transition. He draws on his reporting of the state of the art in renewable change, cleantech, and urban design to paint a vivid portrait of a new, sustainable world order that will allow individuals and businesses alike not only to survive but thrive in like twenty-first century economy.
An award-winning author, Turner has published several bestselling books. Writing on energy, climate, and technology have appeared in The New Yorker, The Guardian, the Globe and Mail, Maclean’s and many other notable publications.
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MEIK
WIKING
9:10AM – 10:30AM
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Why are some people and places happier than others? How are winter cities improving quality of life – and how can we measure something as intangible as happiness? In this talk Meik Wiking takes a deep drive into science, the politics, and the architecture of happiness.
Meik Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute and is a New York Times and The Times best selling author. Meik has been called the Indiana Jones of Smiles and probably the World’s happiest man by The Times. Besides his work at the institute, he is a research associate for Denmark at the World Database of Happiness, member of the policy advisory group for the Global Happiness Policy Report, and creator of the Happiness Museum in Copenhagen.
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PETER
HARGRAVES
10:45AM – 12:00AM
W/ LAURA CABAK,
DAVID PENSATO
& NATALIE THIESEN
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When we moved into Osborne Village, our kids started to skate on the river trail. They would plop down into a snow bank and we would tie skates – it just seemed practical that there should be shelters. When I thought about the idea, I knew they needed to have an art component. When world renowned architect, Antoine Predock (designer of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights) volunteered to do one the first year, we knew we had something. Due to climate extremes, we have to come up with creative solutions to problems that other parts of the world don’t even have to think about! You have to be very good at what you do here to pull things off. If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere!
Since 2009, Peter and the team at Sputnik Architecture have collaborated closely with The Forks to grow the Warming Huts idea into an internationally successful design competition with submissions from designers, architects and artist from around the world. The project exemplifies Peter’s conviction that there is rich potential in developing community based projects the encourage inputs from all realm using the simple rule that being generous with our ideas will always lead to something better for all.
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LAURA
CABAK
10:45AM – 12:00PM
W/ NATALIE THIESEN,
PETER HARGRAVES
& DAVID PENSATO
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In 2009, the Assiniboine Park Conservancy unveiled an ambitious plan to save one of Winnipeg’s most cherished community assets from decades of neglect and return it to its rightful place as one of the greatest urban parks in North America. Today, the Park is once again a safe and vibrant gathering place where people can connect with nature and each other in every season.
As a member of the Assiniboine Park Conservancy’s marketing and communications team, Laura has been sharing the story of the Park and its unique attractions and experiences with Winnipeggers, Manitobans, and visitors from around the world for over a decade. Whether she’s promoting an outdoor concert series, telling the tale of a rescued polar bear, or welcoming media to Canada’s newest horticultural attraction, Laura considers it an honor and privilege to come to work each day in a place that means so much to so many.
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DAVID
PENSATO
10:45AM – 12:00PM
W/ NATALIE THIESEN,
PETER HARGRAVES
& LAURA CABAK
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The Exchange District has grown into a destination neighbourhood in large part because Winnipeg’s history is on full display with its unparalleled collection of preserved heritage buildings. By establishing a light-based art and design festival in 2023, the Exchange District BIZ is creating an entirely new draw for tourism in the National Historic Site while expanding the histories that are told.
David is a place management professional with a background in public engagement, strategic planning, and brand strategy with a career spanning a wide range of client work in both the private and public sector. In his current role as the Executive Director of the Exchange District Business Improvement Zone in Winnipeg, he has been directly involved in advocating, leading, and creating a broad range of initiatives related to urban development, visitor attraction, and community partnership. As an innovator, strategic planner, and branding expert, David’s eye for detail and ability to continually see the big picture (and beyond) compliment his love for the area, making him the ideal person to engage and interact with the Exchange’s many member businesses, residents, and visitors.
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NATALIE
THIESEN
10:45AM – 12:00PM
W/ PETER HARGRAVES,
LAURA CABAK
& DAVID PENSATO
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As Western’s Canada largest Francophone event, Festival du Voyageur has been promoting Manitoba’s rich French language community for 53 years. As an marquis festival in Manitoba in the heart of winter, this session will share some the evolution of the festival and best practices on running a reputable and successful winter event.
Natalie is past Chair of Festival du Voyageur, the largest francophone event in Western Canada and an iconic Winter celebration. Natalie has also recently been appointed a member of the Destination Canada board of directors. She holds a Master of Arts in Tourism Management from Royal Roads University, a Bachelor of Commerce from the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University.
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CURTIS
ROSS
12:15PM – 1:15PM
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Curtis Ross is currently the CEO/CDO of the Thompson Regional Airport. He is also an entrepreneur and long-time business owner involved in commercial development and infrastructure related to winter weather testing in Thompson.
The presentation will introduce the new Winter Weather Testing Campus (WWTC) at the Thompson Airport along with some of the assets on site. It will show case some of the other exciting economic development staking place at the Thompson Airport. Speaking to the importance of our northern airport to the region and where it ranks nationally amongst regional airports. Lastly, the presentation will show the challenges and impacts of climate change and how we deal with it at our airport.
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SHIRLEY
MUIR
1:30PM – 3:00PM
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Shirley Muir is the co-founder and volunteer for Holiday Alley, a festival of light, sound, art, creativity and culture that takes over downtown Selkirk for to launch winter. By day Muir is the President of The PRHouse a communications consulting firm. She is the former principal of AuthentiCity, an urban development practice based in Toronto and was the Director of Communications for the City of Winnipeg during its most progressive downtown renewal period in early 2000s. She combines her passion for urban planning, community engagement, communications and her love of winter to volunteer for her adopted hometown.
Holiday Alley’s co-founder lays out 10 lessons learned over a decade on how to engage citizens, volunteers, artists, private businesses and municipalities to create dozens of art-driven activities every year during Canada’s darkest and coldest days.
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CHERYL BUHLER,
JULIANNA ROBERTS
& KIM GIESBRECHT
1:30PM – 3:00PM
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Did you know that ice fishing villages migrate? As a community on the shores of beautiful Lake Winnipeg, whose population explodes in the summer months, winter is a challenge to bring tourism and its economic spinoffs into the community. Tourism, Recreation and Heritage all interplay in this session, where they discuss the success and challenges of putting together a plan to implement outdoor recreational pursuits, including an ice fishing village, that will attract new people to the community as well as provide an outlet for local residents to enjoy the outdoors and all that our frozen Lake Winnipeg has to offer during the winter months.
Kim, Cheryl and Julianna are all a part of the Destination Brand Committee, a sub-committee of the Gimli Chamber of Commerce. This committee was born out of a branding initiative in partnership with Travel Manitoba. Each speaker brings strengths to the planning and implementation of this project. Kim, Cheryl and Julianna all work in the community and call it home. They are excited to share with others about this project. Julianna is the Executive Director of the New Iceland Heritage Museum. Cheryl is the owner of Robin’s Donuts, Kim is the Owner of Inn on Centre and Right Choice Realty.
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JORDAN
RIEMER
1:30PM – 3:00PM
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Jordan is an urban planner with DIALOG from Edmonton who seeks to help make cities more sustainable, fun, and functional for everyone. Having recently worked on the Winter City Strategy for Beaumont, Alberta, he is passionate about working with communities to transform their perspective and approach to winter. Jordan strongly believes that an optimistic, collaborative and intentional approach to winter cities can turn their cold days and dark nights into opportunities for communities to express themselves in unique ways and build community as they face the season’s challenges together.
The frigid Canadian winter brings more than just snow and ice to our cities; it highlights a stark inequity in our transportation networks. In this interactive session, participants will be taken through how to apply an equity lens to winter city mobility and create a toolset that will allow them to engage and represent equity-seeking people in their decisions. The session will be a time to come together and discuss ways we can empower community, political, administrative, and operational action towards a more equitable winter transportation system.
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NIC
DEMSKI
1:30PM – 3:00PM
W/ JEFF MAYO &
ADAM PAULS
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Nic Demski, 29, born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Nic was drafted in the CFL, 6th overall in 2015 by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He played there in 2015-2017, then in 2018 the slot back signed as a free agent to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played there since, receiving 2 West all-star nods and winning 2 Grey Cup championships as well.
Nic has been born and raised in the prairies and remains in Winnipeg as home base! From playing hockey on the outdoor rinks as a kid to playing football in the snow as an adult, the Winnipeg winters have been something Nic has never shied away from! From the blazing summers to snowy winters and everything in between, Nic will share his childhood in this beautiful city and discuss why Winnipeg has always been home!
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JEFF
MAYO
3:30PM – 4:45PM
W/ NIC DEMSKI &
ADAM PAULS
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We often forget to take a moment to invest in our physical and mental well-being. The 2000-year-old practice of thermotherapy was brought to the Canadian Prairies by Groupe Nordik’s founders in 2015 and was an immediate hit with all those who visited Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature. As Groupe Nordik continues to grow across Canada, thermotherapy continues to become more popular with a large following as a winter activity. Hear how our Artisans create unique experiences that are a perfect complement for any winter city.
Jeff Mayo is the Senior Director, Regional Spa Operations for Group Nordik, and General Manager of Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature in Winnipeg – the premiere Thermotherapy Spa on the Canadian Prairies.
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ADAM
PAULS
3:30PM – 4:45PM
W/ NIC DEMSKI &
JEFF MAYO
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Growing up in Manitoba we often tend to think of our province as overlooked, and not necessarily Canada’s crown jewel. And yet, when we look closer there are many things Manitoba is known the world over for.
Join Adam Pauls, co-owner and CEO of Churchill Wild as he zeroes in on Northern Manitoba and some of the experiences found north of the 53rd found nowhere else on planet earth. Churchill Wild is a 30-year-old ecotourism company with multiple luxury eco-lodges on the Hudson Bay. World renowned for walking with the polar bears and spectacular beluga expeditions they’ve become the “go-to” destination for on-the-ground wolf tourism as well. Aside from ecotourism, Churchill Wild has worked with companies like National Geographic and the BBC to produce nature documentaries we stream on such services as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime.
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PETER
HARGRAVES
9:10AM – 10:30AM
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Peter founded Sputnik Architecture Inc. in 2008. His love of architecture began in his boyhood on a farm in South Africa. Upon arriving in Canada at the age of eight, Peter applied his energy to both sport and academics that resulted in a Bachelor of Environmental Design at the University of Manitoba and a Master of Architecture degree at the University of Oregon. Peter’s understanding of architecture and its meaning in the broader context of society, and the world in which we live.
Peter lived and worked in Toronto, Portland, Montreal before returning to Winnipeg with his wife Lisa, and daughters Dorothy, Emily and Anne. Shortly after launching Sputnik Architecture, Peter proposed to The Forks the installation of creatively design warming huts on the Rivertrail. Since 2009, Peter and the team at Sputnik Architecture have collaborated closely with The Forks to grow the Warming Huts idea into an internationally successful design competition with submissions from designers, architects and artist from around the world.
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MONICA
GIESBRECHT
Construction and Programming
10:45AM – 12:00PM
W/ MITCHELL HALL,
LEE MCCORMICK &
DAVID BOWICK
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Monica Giesbrecht is a principal with HTFC Planning & Design, an interdisciplinary landscape architecture, urban design, and land planning studio working across Canada’s prairie, boreal and tundra biomes. Monica arrived in Winnipeg in -32˚C weather as a nine-year-old refugee. She quickly experienced the magic of deep winter on the prairies for the first time. A nature lover and an avid figure skater, she soon discovered various other winter activities, making winter one of her favourite seasons.
These childhood experiences now drive Monica’s passion for creating welcoming, supportive and inclusive landscapes for all people in all seasons. Her ongoing investigations into the social, physical and psychological relationships between landscapes and youth, immigrants, marginalized groups, and seniors, serve as a foundation for her progressive work creating healthy communities, integrated recreation networks, liveable neighbourhoods, inclusive urban environments, sustainable landscapes, and culturally sensitive lands.
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DAVID
BOWICK
Construction and Programming
10:45AM – 12:00PM
W/ MONICA GIESBRECHT, MITCHELL HALL &
LEE MCCORMICK
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Since joining Blackwell in 1990, David’s inventive approach to design has made him sought-after, particularly when a project calls for innovative solutions. He is a four-time recipient of the WoodWorks building the Future engineer award, and has received awards for his work in wood, concrete, architectural steel, and tensile fabric structures. He was the Principal in Charge for The LEAF at Assiniboine Park project. Dozens of projects he has worked on have been granted awards in the field of architect, including Governors General Awards, OAA awards, Canadian Architect Awards and RAIC Awards.
David is a licensed professional engineer in every Canadian Province and Territory except for Quebec. He is a member of the Canadian Standards Association Technical Committee on CAN/CSA-086, Engineering Design in Wood and a member of the Technical Committee responsible for the Engineering Guide for Wood Frame Construction. He sits on the boards of the Canadian Wood Council and the Fabric Structures Association.
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LEE
MCCORMICK
Construction and Programming
10:45AM – 12:00PM
W/ MONICA GIESBRECHT, MITCHELL HALL &
DAVID BOWICK
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Growing up in small town Northern Manitoba, Lee learned from an early age requirements for good design in winter cities where the climate can impact people’s wellness during temperatures extremes and significant reductions in daylight hours.
Lee is a registered architect with more than 30 years of experience in the profession. Currently Managing Principal of Architecture 49 Inc. in Winnipeg, his roles include: leader of local Transportation sector, chair of the Contracts Committee, and leader of Community Impact projects. Lee believes strongly in collaborative design processes and is skilled at creative idea generation and analytical problem-solving, as well as working within the constraints of a project’s requirements and budget.
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MITCHELL
HALL
Construction and Programming
10:45AM – 12:00PM
W/ MONICA GIESBRECHT,
LEE MCCORMICK &
DAVID BOWICK
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Mitchel Hall is recognized for his passion and commitment to architecture as a vehicle for improving the human condition. He believes that architects must offer agency-acting in the best interests of people and place – to help make a better world. He challenges existing paradigms to create buildings and spaces that actively promote wellness, cultivate community building and address the pressing challenges of our time, from climate change to population growth.
Joining KPMB in the formative years of the practice, Mitchell worked on seminal award-winning projects such as Woodsworth College and Kitchener City Hall. He is notable for his diverse design and leadership experience, directing interdisciplinary teems to deliver large, complex projects in the sectors of culture, hospitality, and education.
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ISLA
TANAKA
10:45AM – 12:00PM
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Isla Tanaka is the Winter City Planner for the City of Edmonton, where she manages the 10-year Winter City Strategy. She also sits on the international board of the Winter Cycling Federation. Isla holds a Master of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies from UNBC, where she explored the design and promotion of outdoor recreation spaces in winter cities.
She has given presentations on winter life and design in North America, Asia and Europe, and helped plan international winter cities and winter cycling conferences. Isla cycles year-round, loves cross-country skiing, and can be found in a canoe in all seasons – whether on a lake or river, or hurtling down a ski hill in Edmonton’s Flying Canoë Volant races in February.
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SHEILA WATT-
CLOUTIER
12:15PM – 1:15PM
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Nobel Peace Prize nominee Sheila Watt-Cloutier is in the business of transforming public opinion into public policy. Experienced in working with global decision-makers for more than a decade, Watt-Cloutier offers a new model for 21st century leadership.
She speaks with passion and urgency on the issues of today – the environment, the economy, foreign policy, global health, and sustainability – not as separate concerns, but as a deeply interconnected whole. At a time when people are seeking solutions, direction, and a sense of hope, this global leader provides a big picture of where we are and where we’re headed.
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