Photo description:

Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Local Forks Skating to Churchill Crews set prep flood the Red River along the skating trail near the Winnipeg Canoe and Kayak Centre on Churchill Drive Friday. Maintenance crews with The Forks prepare the river trail from Queen Elizabeth Bridge to The Winnipeg Canoe and Kayak Centre on Churchill Drive Friday afternoon. Near-perfect freezing conditions made it possible for the Nestaweya River Trail to open for winter season early, January 1st, on the Assiniboine River and the trail on the Red River along Churchill Drive should be open by this weekend. Jan 9th, 2026