Tourism Winnipeg is pleased to share this release on behalf of our partners at Assiniboine Park Conservancy.

For immediate release: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, September 23, 2022 – The Assiniboine Park Conservancy is thrilled to announce that final preparations are underway to welcome visitors to The Leaf over the upcoming holiday season. A specific opening date will be announced in early November.

Designed to fulfill a modern purpose by exploring the universal human connection with plants and nature across cultures and over time, The Leaf – Canada's Diversity Gardens is the most significant horticultural development undertaken in Canada within the past 25 years.

Completion of the outdoor phase of the project was celebrated last summer with the opening of the new outdoor Gardens at The Leaf, building excitement and anticipation for the opening of the iconic centerpiece of the development, a magnificent, new indoor attraction known simply as The Leaf.

“The Leaf – Canada's Diversity Gardens is a project of its time and Winnipeg is the perfect place to bring it to life!” said Margaret Redmond, President & CEO, Assiniboine Park Conservancy. “This will be a place of gathering, learning, celebration and recreation for Winnipeggers, Manitobans, visitors from across the country, and tourists from around the world. We can't wait to welcome visitors to The Leaf when it opens later this year!”

Featuring stunning architecture and state-of-the-art design, The Leaf will invite visitors to explore four unique indoor plant biomes:
• The Tropical Biome, the largest of The Leaf's planted spaces, will feature lush plant material from tropical regions of the world and the tallest indoor waterfall in Canada and possibly North America.
• The Mediterranean Biome will showcase plant life from climatic zones known for their superb fruits, fine wines, and abundant crops such as Greece, Italy, South Africa, Central Chile, South West Australia and California.
• The Babs Asper Display House will celebrate the art of horticulture with a rotating schedule of dynamic floral displays that will change four to five times per year, exploring seasonal and global themes.
• The Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden will be populated year-round with tropical butterfly species. Elevated five stories above ground level, the Butterfly Garden will also provide access to a canopy walkway that wraps around the waterfall and overlooks the lush foliage flourishing in the Tropical Biome.

The 6,000 square metre building will also house a beautifully appointed pre-function space and event hall capable of hosting weddings, celebrations, and corporate receptions for up to 450 people. Dedicated indoor and outdoor programming spaces have been designed to accommodate a variety of experiences including culinary events, horticulture workshops, and school programs that explore biodiversity, sustainability, Indigenous teachings about nature, and more. The main pedestrian thoroughfare through the building, which will connect visitors to the Park's network of pathways, will house a retail kiosk and coffee/snack bar.

The Leaf will also be home to an exciting new destination restaurant called Gather Craft Kitchen & Bar. Scheduled to open separately on a date to be announced, the new restaurant will serve culturally expressive, seasonal dishes inspired by the natural world and plants at The Leaf.

Horticultural and interpretive displays, educational programs, special events, and interactive experiences in the biomes will explore the human connection with plants through the themes of health and well-being, sustainability and conservation, food and drink, beauty and expression, and spirituality and consciousness.

“A great amount of time and energy have been dedicated to the creation of a dynamic, layered, and engaging experience inspired by the rotating floral displays that will encompass the indoor biomes at The Leaf, our restaurant and retail offerings, special events and programs, and the beautiful outdoor gardens,” said Redmond. “The experience of visiting The Leaf – Canada's Diversity Gardens will change with every season and each new display!”

Tickets to visit the biomes at The Leaf will be made available for purchase in early November when the opening date is announced. Timed-entry ticketing will be in place to manage wait times and capacity and visitors will be asked to purchase tickets in advance to ensure availability. A new membership program, which will also launch at that time, will provide regular visitors with options for enjoying the Park's two signature attractions: the Assiniboine Park Zoo and The Leaf.

Please see attached backgrounder for details. Admission rates for The Leaf and membership program information are also available at assiniboinepark.ca/leaf.

In anticipation of the opening of The Leaf, the Assiniboine Park Conservancy is expanding its existing Community Access Program, which aims to reduce financial barriers to visiting the Park's signature attractions for those with the greatest need. Working in partnership with the United Way, MANSO, and numerous other community agencies, the Conservancy will distribute vouchers offering free admission to Assiniboine Park Zoo or The Leaf.

Building on the success of the annual Wildest Dreams event held at the Zoo, new programming is also being developed for older adults who may otherwise not be able to visit The Leaf due to socio-economic barriers or social isolation. These programs will be offered free of charge in partnership with established community organizations and supported through the corporate community, sponsorships, and the Conservancy's ParkShare Fund. The donor-supported fund was established in 2016 with the goal of reducing financial barriers for those less fortunate so that they may enjoy all that the Park and Zoo have to offer, including those experiences that come at a cost.

“For over a century, Assiniboine Park has served as a joyful gathering place and a natural oasis where people from all walks of life can come together to learn, celebrate, and connect with nature. The Leaf – Canada's Diversity Gardens will build on that legacy and be a place of pride for our City and Province that we can share with the world,” said Redmond.

Details about the opening celebration, new restaurant, and inaugural floral display will be shared closer to the opening date.
- 30 -
PHOTO/VIDEO LIBRARY: Photos and video clips contained within our online media library may be used in media coverage and/or promotion about The Leaf – Canada's Diversity Gardens. For commercial usage, please contact Dan Harper Photography.