Over the last couple of days I asked two questions about Manitoba on Twitter, I was just curious to see what types of answers I would receive. I thought my blog readers might like to weigh in on the questions and answers too.

My Question: Hey Manitobans, what is your favourite thing about Manitoba?

Various Answers By Various Tweeters: I am terrified of hills. The now leaving sign. My family, also the Exchange District and its flourishing arts culture scene. Unpretentious, friendly. If you love Manitoba then you always have a difficult time articulating why. The land, it’s pretty amazing. The abundance of nature so close to civilization. The big, open sky. Prairie sunsets. The relatively cheap cost of living. If you get a good job here, and budget carefully, you can be financially secure and have a good disposable income here. The cabin life. Big skies. Fresh berries and local produce. The DIY aesthetic and activist history. Variety: we have prairie, boreal and deciduous forest, small ponds, big lakes, desert, hills, coastline, marshes, cities. The sunshine, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Fort Whyte Alive, the Canadian Shield and Experience Manitoba! It’s a short drive to Saskatchewan! The fact that it never changes. Wide open spaces/skies, affordable, friendly, equidistant to both coasts for cost friendly vacations, politically balanced. The Narcisse Snake Pits. Big sky! Seeing it through my rear view mirror, after this winter. Socials - you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone - I’ve had to explain them over and over again now that I live in Saskatchewan! The sky. The lakes and rocky out crops on those lakes around Flin Flon, oh and the fishing there. Lots of really good music being made.

My Question: Manitobans - on the flip side of the discussion - what is your least liked thing about Manitoba?

Various Answers By Various Tweeters: No 3G in Churchill, a town that receives more international tourists than any other in the province! That not enough Manitobans spend any real length of time living elsewhere in their lives - creates a real myopic society. No Beep - how to improve: import Beep! Racism (particularly against Aboriginal folk), small dreams, fear of the unknown. Widespread apathy and a lack of places to buy slim-fit shirts. The shocking poverty and social ills. Manitoba can be a very insular place, very provincial in its ways. Reality-averse. Mosquitoes. Racism. Snow on April 7. “Perimeteritis” drives me up the wall. Endless winters. The Premier. Perimeteritis. Sadly most will flock to Grand Forks three times a year but never visit Brandon, Dauphin, Churchill etc. I am not a fan of MTS’ cell monopoly - means my national carrier IPhone 5 is a virtual brick in Manitoba - it’s a safety concern in 2013. The weather, definitely. Winter. Tax hikes on fundamentally essential items like gas as a result of the high spending problem this NDP government has. Weather. Sorry, there really isn’t anything that I don’t like about Manitoba.

So what do you think of the answers that I received? Agree? Disagree? How would you answer my questions about Manitoba?

I follow a lot of travel blogs. I love them. The idea of travelling the world, and seeing all of Canada, is a dream of mine. Recently Spunkygirl Monologues started a blogger roulette featuring Canada and I was tagged by Breathe Dream Go. The concept is that Canadian bloggers write a post about why they love Canada, and what they think travellers should do when they visit Canada. I decided this is a great opportunity to share with my readers and give back to my favourite country in the entire world.

So why do I love Canada?

I love Canada because there is so much diversity in landscape. I grew up in Nova Scotia filled with rolling hills and ocean views, yet now I live in Manitoba with beautiful flat wheat fields and endless sunsets. I have travelled to every province except British Columbia and Newfoundland & Labrador. There is always a new natural setting to explore in Canada and every province offers its own unique viewpoints and experiences.

I love Canada because the people are some of the warmest and friendliest people in the world, and Canadians are very welcoming of all cultures and backgrounds. As a society Canadians love to share their experiences and are always comfortable offering ideas and tips to travellers. We are proud of our country and want to share it with the world.

I love Canada because there is lots to explore on any budget. Many of the best Canadian experiences are free or nearly free, which means that even if you have a small budget you can still see and do lots of amazing things. There is an abundance of provincial and national parks, quirky roadside attractions, free festivals and celebrations, and delicious little hole-in-the-wall diners and cafes.

I love Canada because it truly has four distinct seasons. One can ski in the winter in Banff, watch thousands of snakes meet up in a large snake pit in spring in Manitoba, frolic on the sandy beaches of Prince Edward Island in the summer, and be blown away from the beauty of the changing leaves on the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia in the fall. In Canada we experience all four seasons to the fullest!

I love Canada because it is huge! Seriously huge! I travel and explore often and still have not made it to every province. This means you never run out of places to visit. Even if you never leave your own province there are always corners you haven’t been to yet and something new to explore is always waiting for you.

So what do I think travellers should do when they visit Canada? Well I think they should get lost. I think they should pick one or two big ticket traditional Canadian tourist attractions and then set out on a road trip to see it, getting lost along the way. Get off the main highway and take the back roads. They should detour into little communities and parks, discovering beautiful views, friendly people, country cooking, and quirky attractions. Some of my absolute favourite moments in Canada have been simply setting out on a drive just to see what I stumble upon while I'm getting lost. So my advice is get out and enjoy Canada. Explore the large cities and the small rural communities. See the mountains and the valleys and the prairies and get lost along the way. Please come back and share your favourite Canadian discoveries with me. I’m always open to new Canadian ideas and adventures.

TurnipseedTravel - tag you’re it! I can’t wait to see what your Canada looks like! Please follow the hashtag #MyCanada to see all the posts that Canadian bloggers have contributed to this blogger roulette. There are lots of diverse and great ideas to read.

Do you have a favourite place to 'get lost' in Canada? Care to share it with me?

When I first moved to Manitoba I did not have any friends in the province. As I adjusted to my new prairie life I started to reach out and attempt to create new friendships. One of those new friendships was with a great woman named Leanne. Leanne is originally from Alberta but relocated to Manitoba around the same time I did. Over coffee, lunches, and laughter we bonded. We would often discuss our Manitoba lives and the adjustments we made in our new province. One of our favourite topics was home decor as Leanne was studying to be a professional interior decorator and I am always looking for new ideas for my home. I have since relocated to a different area of Manitoba and am unable to see Leanne as often as I would like, however our friendship continues, and I know she will be part of my life for many years to come.

Recently Leanne started her own company called Sweet Lime Home Design. Her company specializes in providing consultation and home design options to people living in rural Manitoba, particularly in southwestern Manitoba, but also offers e-decorating services to anyone in other parts of Manitoba and Canada. Leanne is able to work with clients to create any style of home decor, including paint options and decorating techniques for any budget, style or inspiration. I am very pleased to partner with Leanne to bring you this blog post centered around Manitoba inspired home decor.

Since moving to Manitoba in 2007 I have been a strong advocate in showcasing my Manitoba pride. This does not mean that I hang Manitoba flags all over my house or that I serve bison at every meal. Rather it is more subtle, such as choosing Manitoba products, promoting attractions within the perimeters of Manitoba, and by working hints of Manitoba inspiration into my home decor, such as a beautiful Manitoba map watercolour print I have proudly on display in my living room.

I challenged my friend Leanne to create a home decor design plan centred around a Manitoba theme, one that would bring subtle elements of the province into the home in a soft and chic way. I envisioned elements such as Manitoba colours and landscape, Manitoba provincial items such as the provincial bird, flower, or tree. My goal in asking Leanne to create a Manitoba home decor theme was to inspire my blog readers to find a way to incorporate just one or two Manitoba inspired items into their own home decor to show off their own Manitoba pride.  Leanne did an amazing job and her design plan is set out below for you to enjoy.

Manitoba Inspired Room

With the exception of Winnipeg (and a few smaller cities), Manitoba is primarily a rural province. It is characterized by rolling fields of grain in the south and forests, the Canadian Shield and tundra throughout the east, southeast and into the north.

My goal for this room was to bring natural elements indoors. I also wanted to incorporate hits of red and gold to add warmth to the room. Warmth that is needed during our chilly winter months. I based the colour scheme off the colours in the Manitoba Tartan which is described and available for purchase at www.mbtartan.ca:

Dark Red Squares: for the Red River Settlement (1812) and for the fur trade posts from which developed many of Manitoba's urban centres.
Green Squares: for the rich natural resources of the Province - farm lands, forests, minerals, fisheries and water power.
Azure Blue Lines: for Thomas Douglas, Fifth Earl of Selkirk, founder of the Red River Settlement (Winnipeg); and where the blue lines intersect the forks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, site of the first permanent settlement.
Dark Green Lines: for the men and women of many races who have enriched the life of the province.
Golden Lines: for the grain crops and farm produce which comprise a large segment of the province's economy.
White Squares: in the ''DRESS'' tartan for Manitoba's winter snows.

Rural photography, by Winnipeg photographer, Carla Dyck, brings the warmth and colour of the summer and fall months into the room year-round, and offers another reference point for the lively accents in the room.

1. Blue Diamond Scroll Rug, ($399.95), Pier One Imports
2. Levanger Mirror, ($99.00), IKEA
3. Riverbrook Home ‘Natural Elements Stream’ Grommet Panel Curtains, ($29.99), Sears.ca
4. Timber End Table, ($299.99), Urban Barn
5. Stockholm Sofa (3 ½ seat)in Gammelbo Light Brown, ($1399.00), IKEA
6. Forest of White Tree Trunks Photo, 12x18, ($60.00), by Carla Dyck on Etsy.com
7. Amber Fields and Turquoise Sky Photo, 8x12, ($35.00) by Carla Dyck on Etsy.com
8. Embroidered Chevron Linen Pillow, 20x20, ($44.50), Indigo
9. Mustard and Natural Deer Pillow, 14x14, ($39.00), regansbrain on Etsy.com
10. Chrome-Plated Table Lamp, ($99.99), Sears.ca
11. Cambria Blue Throw, ($49.59), crateandbarrel.com
12. Arvika Swivel Armchair in Grann Brown, ($599.99), IKEA
13. Owl Statue, ($89.00), Urban Barn
14. Byholma Basket in Gray, ($5.99), IKEA
15. Timber Coffee Table, ($599.00), Urban Barn
16. Morkt Lantern in Blue-Gray, ($6.99), IKEA

Benjamin Moore Paint Colours (from the top): Amsterdam (AF-550), Eternity (AF-695), Sundial (CC-400), Cloud White (CC-40), Hampshire Taupe (990), Poppy (1315)

Etsy is a treasure trove of unique, handmade items to suit any decorative preference. Each décor item below has a connection to Manitoba. The items marked with a * are made by Manitoba sellers. The others, such as #1 and #6 are made with Manitoba in mind.

1. Manitoba Love Customizable Art Print, ($16.32 CAD), mereleemade at Etsy.com
2. Buck Wall Art, ($30.59 CAD), regansbrain at Etsy.com
3. *Crib Zig Zag Quilt, ($94.00 CAD), Coffee Bean Quilts at Etsy.com
4. *Set of 3 Photos, 8x10, ($12.24), Umbrella Kids at Etsy.com
5. Birch Coasters, ($16.32 CAD), Vermont Branch Company at Etsy.com
6. Winnipeg City Skyline Poster, 8x10, ($20.40), Bugsy & Sprite at Etsy.com
7. *Bluebone Wood Ring, ($81.58), Endeavours at Etsy.com
8. *Embroidered Scroll Work Art (Framed), ($58.13 CAD), Nisseworks at Etsy.com
9. *Wheat Field Photo, ($20.40 CAD), Crystal Gayle Photo at Etsy.com
10. *Buck in Snowy Woodlands Photo, 12x18, ($35.69 CAD), Carla Dyck at Etsy.com

Each of the items can be added to your home to add a touch of Manitoba to any room. For the eclectic decorator the Buck Wall Art would be perfect among a collection of photos on an accent wall. For the mom-to-be, the modern, handmade quilt by Coffee Bean Quilts would make a great jumping off point for the colour scheme of a nursery. The transitional nature of the Embroidered Scroll Work Art makes it perfect for any space or style of home. Although the Bluebone Wood Ring isn’t technically a home decor item, it is definitely one of the most unique Manitoba items I found and certainly adds a degree of Manitoba swag and would pair nicely in your Manitoba inspired room or could possibly be used as a napkin ring in your kitchen or dining room. 

For more information on Leanne Groening and Sweet Lime Home Design please visit her at www.sweetlimehomedesign.com.

I just returned home to Manitoba from a fantastic Nova Scotia vacation. Yesterday I sat down at my computer and started going through all the photos I took while on vacation. I started editing some photos I captured at Nova Scotian Crystal and just as I was running blog ideas about this company through my head I received an email from Nova Scotian Crystal indicating that it was bankrupt and was going out of business. The timing couldn’t have been more off for me.

You see, just days ago I had finally ventured into Nova Scotian Crystal for the first time. Even though I had worked just a stone’s throw away from them for many years in downtown Halifax I had never actually gone in and looked at their crystal or bought a piece. Nova Scotian Crystal opened in Halifax in 1996, the exact year I moved to Halifax, yet I had never given them the time of day. Finally, on my recent vacation back home to Nova Scotia, I decided it was time to check them out. I walked in and was greeted by a wonderful friendly woman who was very passionate about the crystal and the company. She indicated Nova Scotian Crystal was the last mouth-blown, hand cut crystal maker in Canada and that crystal making was a dying art.

I was immediately drawn to the gorgeous crystal pieces on display, many patterns named after Nova Scotia locations, and I began searching for a piece to take back to Manitoba with me. I settled on a crystal Christmas ornament, something small and suitable for my carry on, and something that wouldn’t break the vacation budget, I think it cost around $50. I was the only customer in the store and it felt like they were open especially for me. My ornament required a bit of work as the style I requested was not in stock and I was invited to view the crystal makers as they worked on it through a glass window. I could see guys hard at work making beautiful vases and stemware, all working with such concentration and certainty. Then I was invited in, behind the glass window, to get up close and personal with the crystal makers. They brought me in and introduced me and started sharing their story. They all hailed from Waterford Crystal in Ireland and began working in Halifax at Nova Scotian Crystal after Waterford had laid crystal makers off. They shared how crystal making was passed down through the family and that it took many years to develop the precision required for making crystal. They smiled and laughed, posed for photos, and generally made me feel welcome and special. These guys were the kind of guys you wanted to hang out with, go split a pitcher of beer with, laugh and tell stories with, they loved their job and were very proud of the crystal. I snapped photos as they finished up my ornament and moved on to an Annapolis pattern vase specifically so I could capture some more photos with a larger crystal piece. It was a fun and special moment in my Nova Scotia vacation and I was hit with this overwhelming guilt for not visiting them years ago. Why oh why did it take me 17 years to finally walk through their door and to finally experience firsthand this amazing beautiful Nova Scotia made pieces of art?

So now here I sit, staring at my beautiful Nova Scotian Crystal Christmas ornament, looking at the photos I just captured days ago, reading the sad bankruptcy message, and wishing I could change their fate. If only I had visited them sooner, purchased a piece sooner, perhaps I could have been one small piece of the puzzle in helping them survive and thrive, and helping them keep this unique Nova Scotia product and art alive. I can’t help but think that this morning when I logged into twitter and saw tweets about the crazy long lineups at Nova Scotian Crystal to purchase a piece after the bankruptcy was announced, that it is too little too late. We should have lined up sooner, we should have offered our support sooner, we should have helped this unique Nova Scotia product and art thrive. The loss of Nova Scotian Crystal is one that tears at our Nova Scotia identity, our tourism, our local products, and our hearts. I hope there are great things to come for all the Nova Scotian Crystal employees, and I wish them nothing but the best in the future. Thank you for the recent unique vacation experience, it is one I will never forget.

Nova Scotian Crystal can be found at http://www.novascotiancrystal.com/ and I understand they will be selling off remaining stock within the next three to four weeks.

Did you know that the song Hello City by Barenaked Ladies was written about Halifax, Nova Scotia? I remember the first time I pieced it all together, it was probably around 1998. I didn’t understand why they hated Halifax so much. They bitched about the bars and excessive drinking, the maritime lingo, the lack of sunshine on Barrington Street. They made absolutely no qualms about how much they hated Halifax. The song totally surprised me when I first realized it was about hating Halifax as Halifax is generally very well received and viewed as a desirable tourist destination. To me the things they hated and sung about are just part of the Halifax charm. I viewed Halifax as beautiful, exciting, sophisticated. It was everything I desired in a city. I thought Hello City made the Barenaked Ladies look foolish and a bit sad and I often wondered if they ever changed their opinion about Halifax or gave it a second look. 

MacDonald Bridge, Halifax, Nova ScotiaThe other day Hello City popped up on the radio and I started thinking about perspectives of provinces and cities and how they change over time. People grow and mature and their wishes and desires change and sometimes perspectives on neighbourhoods and cities change right along with it. I have always had the tendency of placing Halifax on a pedestal. I hold it in the highest regard, perhaps sugar coating the negative parts of the city, and washing away any bad points with my sea of happy Halifax memories. I view Halifax as my “glory days”. My twenty something days filled with bars, downtown, restaurants, university and some of the craziest yet most fun stories of my youth. I often wonder what it would be like if we packed up and moved back to Halifax after having lived away for almost six years. I’m such a different person now, different priorities in life, different goals and different hopes for the future. Would I still view Halifax as the best city in the world or would I become cynical about the city like the Barenaked Ladies? Halifax is the only city I have ever lived in. I really have nothing to compare it to in terms of day to day city life. I am positive living in rural Manitoba has changed me as a person, but would it also change my views of Halifax if I were to move back permanently and take it down from the pedestal? Would I finally see the side of Halifax that the Barenaked Ladies sing about? Or would I still think they are full of crap for hating Halifax?

Have you ever hated a city that you felt social pressure to like? Have you ever loved a city that others hated? Did you keep your views quiet or share them? Do you have a favourite city? Do you put it on a pedestal where it can do no wrong?

Happy New Year and all the best for 2013.

The hotel was a standard one. Nothing abnormal about it. Not cheap, not expensive, not luxurious, not a dump. Just your average run of the mill middle class hotel in urban Manitoba. I am quite active on Trip Advisor and had checked out the reviews beforehand and they all seemed fine. In fact, I had previously stayed at this hotel and found it to be a wonderful experience. I had no hesitation in booking this hotel.

Around 12:30 am my husband had fallen asleep. I stayed awake with just the dim light of the television. Out of the corner of my left eye I thought I saw something. Something small and black. I am a chronic sleepwalker and sleeptalker and one of my common sleep mishaps is to dream that there are bugs in my bedroom. I have no idea why or how my sleepwalking and sleeptalking about bugs started, perhaps it was a premonition of this very moment in this very hotel room. I turned my head to the left and this time, for the first time in my life, there really was a bug on the bed. I whipped my head in the other direction and saw another bug. Then three. Then four. Then five. Then six. OH MY GOD THERE ARE BED BUGS IN THIS BED! I jumped up faster than a lightening bolt, vigorously shaking my husband. I startled him with my screaming “we are laying in a bed full of bed bugs, get up, get up!”. For a brief few seconds he assumed I was just up to my regular sleepwalking and sleeptalking tricks. Much to his dismay when I flicked on the light and he saw the bugs he knew this was no joke, I was not asleep, it was real and it was disgusting.

Our bodies felt creepy and I kept jumping up and down shaking my arms. What in the world do we do now? We have been laying in a bed bug infested bed for hours and hours. Where do we go in the middle of the night? How do we prevent the spread of these bed bugs? What do I do to ensure we don’t take these bed bugs home and infect our house? Am I going to still make it to my medical procedure in only a few hours? My husband flung into action. He called the front desk. They told us to leave the room and come down. At the front desk the owner of the hotel and pest control was called. I was very upset. It was late, I had no sleep, and I had a medical procedure the next morning, and I had just laid in a bed bug infested bed for hours. My actual worst nightmare had come true, one that I had been preparing for in sleepwalking and talking for years.

Pest control arrived and confirmed it was bed bugs. They suggested all our belongings should go into a hot dryer to be treated and that we should shower immediately. Done and done. The room and surrounding rooms were put under quarantine for bed bug treatment and we were relocated to a different section of the hotel. I started flinging the questions at the pest control guy. How did this happen? Is this common? What can the average person do? Basically he replied that bed bugs are a world wide epidemic and Manitoba is not immune to the problem. He indicated they are common in Manitoba, just like the rest of the world, and they have shown up in Manitoba apartment buildings, homes, and hotels of all kinds. They can happen to anyone and anywhere and that the best thing to do is to take proper precautions when you travel. He recommended everyone should educate themselves on the bed bug problem. In the back of my head I remembered seeing an advertisement in my local Manitoba newspaper about bed bugs in Manitoba. I had brushed it off as nothing, uncommon, something that would never really involve me. I was wrong. It can affect anyone, anywhere, anytime. They do not care who you are, or if you have a medical procedure booked in the morning. They do not care if you are staying in a high end hotel. All they care about is feeding on your blood and hitching a ride to the next meal. Disgusting, I know, but it is the truth.

So all you Manitobans, and others worldwide, please take note of my horrible experience. Don’t think it can’t happen to you. It can. Learn to watch for bed bug signs, and check the room properly before you take your belongings in. It only takes a few minutes. Take precautions when heading home to prevent dragging the little buggers into your house. Thankfully, we caught the bed bugs in action and were able to take precautions from lugging them home and spreading the problem. We have yet to see or experience bed bugs since that horrible night and are confident we did the proper prevention steps. Not everyone is as lucky as I am, most people don‘t even know they have run into bed bugs until it is too late and they have already brought them home. My traveling habits have changed dramatically since this bed bug incident. I now know what to look for, and what to do to prevent another run in with bed bugs. Please learn from my experience. Educate yourself on the problem and how to prevent it. I am not sharing my story to scare you, I have traveled many more times in the last year without incidents, and travel remains my favourite activity. Rather, I am sharing my story to educate you, so no one else has to experience bed bugs.

For more information on bed bugs in Manitoba please visit http://www.gov.mb.ca/bedbugs/index.html.

Manitoba has a very archaic health card system. First off, it is a white paper card with perforated edges. Yup, it looks worse than a library card. Or worse than a rewards card for Shoppers Drug Mart. Should I laminate it myself or perhaps add some scotch tape to protect it? Hope I don’t accidentally wash it and then have to pick up the shredded pieces in my dryer. As a new Manitoban, it is kind of embarrassing to tell you the truth. I’ve shown it to a few Nova Scotia friends and they have laughed their heads off. Nova Scotia health cards are very pretty and contain a scenic photo of a beautiful Nova Scotia beach and they are a hard plastic credit card type. The current Manitoba health cards do not really help me win the argument with my Nova Scotia friends that Manitoba is a progressive, forward thinking, exciting place to live when the health cards are stuck in the 1950s.

Secondly, Manitoba health cards are issued one per family. There is a “head of the household” listed and then all other members of the family are listed below on the same card. Again, this makes me feel like I’ve gone for a ride on the Manitoba time machine. As a feminist I find the “head of the household” part a little strange and very archaic. Having an entire family on one card must be an administrative nightmare in the world of common law, different and multiple last names, blended families, step-parents, joint custody, divorce, legally separated, second marriages, etc. I am curious as to how often cards have to be changed or updated, and how much time and money is wasted on this process. In contrary, in Nova Scotia each person receives an individual health card that stays with you, no need to have multiple family members on one card.

I continually find myself wondering when will Manitoba take the big step and switch to credit card style individual health cards for all. Surely it can’t be that difficult to implement, and there must be some real benefits to switching to the more modern system. So come on Manitoba government, you finally got rid of the two piece paper drivers license, now it is time to tackle the Manitoba Health Card.

What things in Manitoba make you feel like you have gone for a ride on the Manitoba time machine? Do you think Manitoba should switch to a newer form of health card? Why or why not?

I like things a bit retro in the book department. I love the feeling of a crisp, new book instead of an e-reader. I love to read in bed with a small dim light, and wake up with the book still in my hands and my last page dog-eared. I love getting books as presents and I love giving books as presents. I love spending hours in a book store just meandering around waiting for a special book to jump off the shelf and into my arms and then rushing home to start reading it. When I read, I read for long periods of time. It is not uncommon for me to sit down and read for hours and hours and finish a book in one day. There is something magical about books. They transport you to another era, a different life. They teach you about life, and people, and things.

When I moved to Manitoba I really didn’t know much about the province. One way for me to get to know my new province was through books. I started searching for books that centred around Manitoba. Over the last five years I have found quite a few Manitoba themed books that I have really enjoyed. I also have a Manitoba book wish list, books that I have not yet read but I will read in the near future. Seeing as it is the Christmas season and many of my readers also live in Manitoba I thought you might enjoy my Manitoba book list. Perhaps they would make a nice present for a Manitoban in your life? Or perhaps they will peek your interest and you can request one of these books from Santa.

I Am Hutterite by Mary-Ann Kirkby. I borrowed this book from a friend after moving to South Western Manitoba. I knew nothing about the Hutterite lifestyle although I was living in an area with many Hutterite colonies and I was curious. This book is an interesting look at one woman’s life that began on a Manitoba Hutterite Colony and her experiences after leaving a Hutterite colony. For more information on this book click here.

To The Grave: Inside A Spectacular RCMP Sting by Mike McIntyre. I borrowed this book from a friend as I heard it was a very interesting read and about the South Western Manitoba case involving the mysterious disappearance of Erin Chorney. The details in the book jump right off the page, and paint vivid, yet disturbing portraits. This would be a great read for anyone that likes true crime stories. For more information on this book click here.

Manitoba Book of Everything by Christine Hanlon, Barbara Edie, and Doreen Pendgracs. This is one of the first Manitoba books I purchased after moving to Manitoba. This is a fun, great overview of everything that is Manitoban. It covers a wide variety of Manitoba topics and themes. It is a fun, quick read and a must have for anyone that loves Manitoba. For more information on this book click here.

In Search Of April Raintree by Beatrice Culleton. A couple years ago I was assisting a high school English class and this book was part of the class’s reading requirements. I initially read the book to be able to better assist the students, but I immediately fell in love with the story and writing. It is a glimpse into the world of a young Metis woman in Manitoba. The story will pull on your heartstrings and open your eyes. For more information on this book click here.

A Daytripper’s Guide To Manitoba by Bartley Kives. I have mentioned this book previously on my blog but it is so good it deserves to be mentioned again. It is by far the best overview for exploring this great province. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to explore all the nooks and crannies this vast province has to offer. For more information on this book click here.

G Is For Golden Boy: A Manitoba Alphabet by Larry Verstraete. This is a great children’s book highlighting Manitoba. Definitely suitable for introducing Manitoba pride to children and adults alike. For more information on this book click here.

Manitoba Birds by Andy Bezener and Ken De Smet. I use this book often. Most of the time it sits on a table below my window where I watch birds at my feeders. It was a present from a friend and I have mentioned this book previously on my blog. It is a great quick reference book to identify birds all over  the province. A perfect stocking stuffer for any Manitoban who loves birds. For more information on this book click here.

The Young Icelander: The Story Of An Immigrant In Nova Scotia And Manitoba by Johan Magnus Bjarnason. I have not yet read this book, but it is on my wish list. It appeals to me as it involves my two favourite provinces, Nova Scotia and Manitoba, and it offers a glimpse into the history and experiences of immigrants over 100 years ago. For more information on this book click here.

Ghost Stories Of Manitoba by Barbara Smith. I have not yet read this book, but it is on my wish list. I think it could be a fun, yet scary, quick read offering insight to various haunted locations across the province. For more information on this book click here.

Made In Manitoba: Best Of The Open Road Stories by Bill Redekop. I have not yet read this book but it is on my wish list. It appeals to me as it focuses on experiences of a rural reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press and highlights his columns about his explorations and rural Manitoba travels. For more information on this book click here.

The Diviners by Margaret Laurence. Margaret Laurence is one of Canada’s most famous authors and was born in Neepawa, Manitoba. Many people (including me) were first introduced to her writing through her popular book The Stone Angel, as it was required reading in my high school English class. I have not yet read The Diviners but understand it is a great book that takes place in a fictional Manitoba town that some believe is based on Neepawa. For more information on this book click here.

Bathroom Book Of Manitoba Triva: Weird, Wacky And Wild by Lisa Wojna. This looks like a fun, quick read filled with interesting Manitoba facts. I would love to receive this book as a present, and then amaze all my family and friends with the Manitoba trivia. For more information on this book click here.

Mary’s Atlas: Mary Meets Manitoba by Gwen Smid. A friend of mine owns this book and says it is fun read for her children and that they love the book. She recommends it to anyone with children in Manitoba. For more information on this book click here.

Do you have any favourite Manitoba themed books? Are there any Manitoba books on your Christmas wish list?