Coronavirus fears have resulted in cancellations, closures and postponements across Canada and the world, and Manitoba is not immune.
See below for a list of COVID-19 related news for Winnipeg and the rest of the province when it comes to sports, entertainment, civic services and more.
This list will be updated as the situation progresses. If we have missed something or something has changed, please email it to elisha.dacey@globalnews.ca.
Civic and Health
- All City of Winnipeg recreation centres, including pools and libraries, will be closed to the public as of Monday March 16.
- All leisure guide programming has been cancelled as of Monday March 16, and spring/summer registration has been postponed.
- The public galleries of the Manitoba Legislative Building are closed, and tours are cancelled until further notice.
- The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) will postpone all events until further notice and encourage each Manitoba First Nation to consider further health and safety options.
- The Royal Canadian Mint has closed its Winnipeg boutique until further notice.
- Manitoba Public Insurance has cancelled all road tests until further notice.
- MPI has also cancelled all vision and knowledge tests, and all enhanced ID interviews.
- City Hall is still open to the public but those who are ill are asked to stay home.
- Riding Mountain National Park offices will be closed starting March 18.
- Fraud Café, events planned at two Winnipeg malls to provide info about scams (March 18 and 25) have been postponed.
- The WSD by-election on March 21 has been suspended.
- The town of Stonewall has closed their office, the Heritage Arts Centre and the Veterans Memorial Sports Complex.
- The St. Boniface Hospital is restricting access to two designated entry points – the Everett Atrium and the South Entrance (Cancer Care and cardiac patients only).
- Most of the city’s front-line service counters will be closed starting March 20.
- Animal Services adoptions will be by appointment only by calling 311.
Education
- Manitoba schools will suspend classes for three weeks starting March 23.
- The University of Manitoba is limiting on-campus events and making some courses available online. There will be no classes Monday and Tuesday, and no in-person classes on Wednesday.
- Red River College’s is implementing a study week while they decide what to do.
- The University of Winnipeg has suspended on-campus classes and cancelled many on-campus events. Instruction is continuing online.
- Brandon University is suspending classes and postponing campus events.
- A number of Winnipeg schools are cancelling after-school clubs and activities.
- The Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada’s annual prestige lecture has been postponed.
- Science Rendevous at the U of M is cancelled this year.
- The Alliance Française du Manitoba is closing to the public until April 13.
- Brandon University has cancelled spring convocation ceremonies.
Sports
- The Winnipeg Jets’ season is on pause after the National Hockey League’s decision to suspend play.
- The Manitoba Moose won’t play until further notice due to suspension of the American Hockey League season.
- The Western Hockey League officially cancelled their season as of March 18.
- Hockey Manitoba has cancelled all sanctioned games and programs.
- The 2020 U Sports men’s and women’s volleyball championships are cancelled.
- Football Manitoba is indefinitely suspending its Bison Prep Camp and spring sixes sessions.
- The Manitoba Junior Hockey League has cancelled the 2020 playoffs.
- The Manitoba Major Soccer League has cancelled its games.
- Winnipeg Youth Soccer is also suspending its games.
- Canada Soccer has announced suspension of all sanctioned soccer.
- Basketball Manitoba has cancelled tournaments and is advising teams to cease operation.
- Manitoba Ringette has postponed its provincial tournaments.
- The Manitoba/Saskatchewan Open swimming championship has been cancelled.
- The national softball umpire school, scheduled for early April in Winnipeg, has been cancelled.
- Sport Manitoba has cancelled their coaching awards.
- The Winnipeg Golf Expo has been cancelled until further notice.
- Public operations of the U of M’s sport and recreation facilities have been suspended.
- The Canadian Premier League (Valour FC) has put a hold on all pre-season training.
- All upcoming Cheer Manitoba events have been cancelled, including provincial championships in April.
- The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division is suspending all classes and programs from March 23 to April 12.
- The RWB School Recreational Division is also suspending all classes and programs from March 14 to April 12.
- The Canadian Sport Centre will be discontinuing operations at its University of Manitoba and Sport for Life Centre locations until further notice.
- Club Regent Casino has cancelled its 2020 Spring PlayNow Poker Championship.
- All events at Investors Group Field are cancelled until April 15.
- Pan Am Boxing is closed until further notice.
- Goodlife Fitness has closed across the country.
- Yoga Public is cancelling classes for the time being.
- Rady Fitness Centre closed on March 16 for the forseeable future, and all programming is cancelled until April 30.
- Fit4Less and the Seven Oaks Wellness Centre are closed for the forseeable future.
- The Falcon Lake Winter Fish-off on March 21 has been cancelled.
- Assiniboia Downs has closed its facility to the public.
- Canadian Wrestling Elite has cancelled its Manitoba events for now.
- Stony Mountain Ski Hill has now closed for the season.
Entertainment
- The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in Brandon has been cancelled.
- Cinematheque remains open but will use extra precautions.
- The RWB School Recreational Division suspended all classes and programs effective Saturday, March 14, 2020 for a period of four weeks.
- The RWB Aspirant’s Manitoba On The Edge Tour has been cancelled.
- The RWB Company’s United States Oz Tour has been cancelled.
- The RWB’s 80th Anniversary Ballet Ball – Pretty in Pink has been cancelled.
- The RWB’s Home Coming event has been postponed until October 23-25, 2020
- All Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra performances have been either postponed or cancelled until May 31.
- The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre is cancelling all performances of A Thousand Splendid Suns which was scheduled to run March 18-April 11.
- Rumours Comedy Club is limiting its capacity and increasing cleaning services.
- A number of concerts and events at Bell MTS Place and the Burton Cummings Theatre have been cancelled or postponed.
- The West End Cultural Centre and other concert venues are taking extra precautions.
- The Park Theatre has cancelled or postponed all shows for the immediate future.
- The 2020 JUNO Awards, which featured a number of Manitoba nominees, have been cancelled.
- The Canadian Museum for Human Rights has closed for the forseeable future.
- There are several cancellations and postponements at the RBC Convention Centre – please check their website for more information.
- A number of upcoming concerts at the Club Regent Event Centre have been postponed.
- The Centennial Concert Hall has postponed a number of upcoming shows.
- The Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain has suspended its programming until at least Monday.
- The Winnipeg Art Gallery will be closed effective March 14 until further notice.
- World of Wheels Winnipeg has cancelled their 2020 show, scheduled for March 27-29.
- The Manitoba Agricultural Museum closed its doors on March 16, but staff are still available by phone or email.
- The Assiniboine Park Conservancy will close all facilities including the Zoo, Park Cafe, and Pavilion as of March 18.
- The Metropolitan Entertainment Centre is closed as of March 17.
- The Loch Gallery is closed until further notice
- Manitoba Conservatory of Music & Arts will suspend on-site operations from March 20-April 6.
- The Winnipeg Theatre Awards AGM is postponed.
- The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club show (April 4-5) has been cancelled.
- The Winnipeg Classical Guitar Society is suspending all events until the end of April.
- Oak Hammock Marsh will close to the public until further notice.
- The Winnipeg International Children’s Festival will cancel programming until April 3.
- The Winnipeg Home + Garden Show, originally set to take place April 16-19 will now happen Oct. 1-4, 2020 at the RBC Convention Centre.
- Cineplex is closing all theatres across the country until April 2. The newly-opened Rec Room in Winnipeg will also be shut down until that time.
- The Winnipeg Winter Club is closed as of March 17.
- Manitoba Opera’s Carmen, to run at the end of March and beginning of April, is cancelled.
- The Costume Museum of Canada is closing until further notice.
- Prairie Theatre Exchange has cancelled the remaining performances of By Grand Central Station and their next show, The Gingerbread Girl.
- Fort Whyte Alive remains open but larger programs with 50 or more people are cancelled.
- Manitoba Chamber Orchestra’s March 24 concert (Golden Thread) is cancelled.
- The Transcona Museum is closed until further notice.
- Organizers of the Winnipeg Comedy Festival are rescheduling the festival to August 23-29.
- The Transcona Hi Neighbour Festival is cancelled.
- The Prairie Canada Carving Show and Competition scheduled for April 18 – 19 is cancelled. As well all carving workshops scheduled for before, during, and after are cancelled.
Retail
- Many stores and shopping malls are altering their hours; please check their websites or social media for updates.
- Thermea Spa is closing starting March 16.
- Manitoba Children’s Museum will be closed temporarily.
- Landmark Cinemas is closed indefinitely as of March 17.
- Mountain Equipment Co-op is reducing their hours and cancelling all events and community rooms.
- Shelmerdine remains open but spring events are cancelled.
- Bare Body Sugaring is temporarily closing their three locations.
- Portage Place mall has cancelled its 2020 Easter egg hunt, scheduled for April 9.
- Kid City will close their two locations from March 17-27.
- Bath and Body Works as well as The Body Shop is closing for now.
- Lake House in Clear Lake is closed until further notice.
- CAA Manitoba is closing all stores for now, but phone and online services are still available.
- Under Armour closing stores March 16-28.
- Edward Carriere Salon will close from March 23- April 13.
- Third and Bird’s Spring Market scheduled for April 18-19 has been postponed
- Sephora and Rocky Mountain Soap Company are closing their doors until further notice.
- Diamond Gallery will work with clients by appointment only.
- The Bay at Polo Park and St. Vital will be closed by end of day Tuesday, March 17.
- Tommy Gunn barbershops is closing its Winnipeg locations until further notice.
- The Bomber Store at Investors Group Field is closed until April 15.
- Appelt’s Diamonds will temporarily close their doors starting March 19.
Food, Liquor and Cannabis
- Manitoba Liquor Mart’s Bottle & Cork is temporarily closed until further notice.
- ERA Bistro at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is closed until further notice.
- SkipTheDishes and DoorDash are offering ‘contactless delivery’.
- Starbucks is removing tables from their stores – delivery or to-go only.
- The King’s Head Pub will close until April 2.
- Tim Hortons restaurants will close in-store seating but maintain drive-thru service as of March 17.
- The Forks Market is closed until further notice.
- Stella’s has closed dining room seating and will shift to delivery from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily.
- La Roca is closed until further notice.
- The Keg Steakhouse + Bar locations are closed as of March 17.
- Santa Lucia Pizza is closing their dining rooms, pizza will be for delivery and pick up only.
- Tokyo Smoke and Tweet retail locations will close across Canada at 5 p.m. March 17. Online orders only.
- The Portage Place food court seating area closes March 18 at 7 p.m.
- Oh Doughnuts will close as of March 21.
- Le Garage will close its doors effective March 18.
- Most fast food restaurants are now take out or delivery only.
Religious Services and Charity Events
- Suspension of all public masses in the Archdiocese of Winnipeg until and including April 26, 2020.
- The inaugural AllStar Jam-uary fundraiser scheduled at the Met for March 21 is postponed.
- What is Possible – SMD Invites You to Answer the Challenge is postponed.
- Children’s Hospital Foundation has cancelled their annual book market.
- The annual Teddy Bears’ Picnic has been cancelled.
- The Rady JCC Ken Kronson Sports Dinner is cancelled.
- The THNFI fundraiser on April 25 is cancelled.