If you haven’t read my post on Part 1 of my trip, be sure to check that out first.

Day 7: Friday, April 20

In the morning I caught a flight from Vancouver to Winnipeg. This wasn’t my first time in Winnipeg. I briefly caught a connecting flight in Winnipeg from Vancouver to Toronto 6 months ago. However, this time would be different. Since I was spending 3 days there, I would actually get to explore Winnipeg and learn about its history.

Taking in Game 5 of the Jets vs. the Wild with a die-hard Jets fan, Kate Morrison.

While I don’t mind travelling alone, it helps if you have a friend to show you around, especially if you’re going to somewhere new. I didn’t know anyone in Winnipeg until I met a lovely young lady named Kate Morrison. I met Kate at last year’s Canadian Personal Finance Conference. Funny enough, Kate was already familiar with me since she saw my mortgage-burning segment on CBC’s the National. Kate and me hit it off and became friends, staying in touch since then (just one of the many wonderful friendships I’ve made through CPFC). When I mentioned I was travelling to Western Canada and she graciously offered to show me around Winnipeg, making a stopover there was a no-brainer.

Despite living in Toronto, the centre of the hockey universe,  I had never been to an NHL game. (I don’t feel like taking out a second mortgage on my house to see the Maple Leafs lose.) That all changed this evening. Kate was nice enough to get us tickets to the Winnipeg Jets game. But not just any game. It was Game 5 of the first round playoff series between the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild. The Jets were up 3 games to 1 in the best of 7 series. The stakes were high. If the Jets won, they’d be heading off to the next round of the playoffs. I went all out for the tickets and splurged. I spent $450 on my ticket. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I might never be in Winnipeg again when a playoff game is happening.

I had heard that Jets fan were the best fans in the world, but to actually experience it in person was surreal. The entire city of Winnipeg was rallying between the Jets. There were Jets hockey jerseys and the colour white (Winnipeg’s colour) as far as the eye could see. The Jets Whiteout was in full force! Seeing the crowd of white on the streets and in the arena was amazing! After experiencing this firsthand, I can say that Jets fans truly are the most loyal fans in the world (after all it’s that loyalty that brought the Jets back to Winnipeg).

The game was amazing! The Jets dominated throughout, scoring 4 goals in the first period alone. The final score ended up being 5-0 for the Jets, marking the first playoff series win for Winnipeg in 31 years. Wow! Words can’t describe how amazing it was to experience this moment firsthand. To be there with Kate, a diehard Winnipeg Jets fan, made it that much more special. What a way to cap off my first day in Winnipeg!

Day 8: Saturday, April 21

Everyone was behind the Jets – even the Ledge!

I started the day off by meeting Kate for lunch at Stella’s in Osborne Village. Kate promised me some authentic Winnipeg food and boy, did she deliver! The food at this restaurant was tasty. There were plenty of vegetarian options, too.

In the afternoon Kate and me went on a tour of the Mint. I noticed a bunch of flags outside. Kate mentioned that the Amazing Race did some filming there. It was during an activity where the racers had to match 10 international coins with their country’s flag (this is one of the many benefits of exploring a new place with a local). The tour of the Mint was quite interesting. I learned that the majority of coins that we use every day are made in Winnipeg, while the Mint in Ottawa mainly does commemorative coins. (Fun fact: Winnipeg was chosen as the location of the Mint since it’s the centremost major city in Canada.) The Mint in Winnipeg also makes coins for other countries. After the Mint, Kate took me on a driving tour of Winnipeg. We drove through some of Winnipeg’s most posh neighbourhoods and stopped by Assiniboine Park, a large urban park with a zoo.

Towards the end of the afternoon, Kate dropped me off at the Museum of Human Rights. The building was beautiful on the outside and even more interesting inside. (If you want to save money, show up an hour before closing to get in for half price.) My favourite exhibits were the FLQ and holocaust ones. Learning about the history of human rights was so interesting and made me realize how fortunate we truly are to live in a free society. This is a must-see museum if you’re ever in Winnipeg. No trip is complete without seeing it!

I finished off my first full day in Winnipeg by going on a self-guided tour of the Manitoba Legislative Building (or “the Ledge” as the locals call it). The architecture inside the building was quite impressive. Next time I’m in Winnipeg, I’ll be sure to go on a tour when parliament is in session.

Day 9: Sunday, April 22

Inside the Forks Market.

I couldn’t believe my trip was almost over. I wanted to make the most of my last few hours in Winnipeg, so Kate and me headed to the Forks. (In case you’re wondering, it’s called “the Forks” because it’s where the Red River and Assiniboine River meet.)

After enjoying the gorgeous weather, we went for lunch at the Forks Market. This reminded me a lot of Granville Island. There were so many delicious food options to choose from. After lunch, sadly my time in Winnipeg was over. Kate was nice enough to drop me off at the airport, as I headed back home to Toronto.

Final Thoughts

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to visit Western Canada again. I got to experience some new things in Vancouver and got to explore some new places in Northern B.C. and Winnipeg. I had such a great time in Winnipeg. It was easily my best trip ever, right up there with San Fran. I can’t thank Kate enough for showing me such a good time.

I enjoy travelling so much. The best part is that now that I’m financially free, I don’t have to feel guilty while doing it. The year is still young. I’m looking forward to booking my next travel adventure in early June to New York City and Boston.

Sean Cooper is the bestselling author of the book, Burn Your Mortgage: The Simple, Powerful Path to Financial Freedom for Canadians, available now on Amazon and at Chapters, Indigo and major bookstores, and as an Audiobook on Amazon, Audible and iTunes.