MB Children’s Museum Ends Free Admission for Indigenous Visitors

A Heads-Up for Winnipeg Parents & Caregivers

Hey guys, just wanted to hop on here and share something that’s been on my mind since I grabbed my coffee and sat down with the Winnipeg Free Press the other day.

If you’re a parent or a caregiver here in the city, you’ve probably spent your fair share of rainy (or -30°C) afternoons at the Manitoba Children’s Museum. It’s basically a Winnipeg rite of passage to lose a shoe in the train or spend way too long at the water table.

But I noticed an update that’s going to affect a lot of our neighbors.

The News from the “Play Palace”

The Free Press put out an article on January 30th called “Serious Times at the Play Palace,” and honestly, the title says it all. It sounds like the museum is going through a really rough patch financially. Between the cost of everything going up and some funding drying up, they’re in a bit of a “serious” budget crunch.

Because of that, the daily complimentary admission for Indigenous families (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) isn’t being offered anymore.

I know, it’s a total bummer. For the last few years, that “always-free” perk was such a great way for families to just drop in without worrying about the cost. It’s tough to see a policy like that disappear, especially when we’re all trying to move forward with reconciliation in the city.

What This Means Going Forward

The good news is that if you’re looking for places that are still keeping that daily free access for Indigenous visitors, we’ve still got some amazing options in town.

• The Manitoba Museum: Free entry for the Galleries, the Science Gallery, and the Planetarium.
• CMHR: The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is sticking with their complimentary admission policy.
• WAG-Qaumajuq: Still free for Indigenous folks to go in and see the incredible art.

If your kids are still begging to go to the Children’s Museum (I get it, the train is a magnet), just a heads-up:

• Standard rates are back: That “Canada Strong Pass” that was giving the kids free entry over the holidays wrapped up on January 15.
• Keep an eye on the calendar: Even though the daily freebie is gone, they’ll likely still have specific free days for things like National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

It’s definitely a weird, “serious” time for our local spots. I’m hoping the museum finds its footing soon because it’s such a staple for our kids, but for now, I just wanted to make sure nobody showed up at the front desk and got caught off guard.