May 24 grand reopening features half-price admission, gifts for first 100 visitors
Oak Hammock Marsh is ready for adventure with all-new exhibits, a reimagined café, a state-of-the-art theatre and a new conference and event centre.
The interpretive centre will reopen to the public on May 24 after closing for 18 months of renovations.
“It is going to be quite the fantastic experience,” said Jacques Bourgeois, marketing and communications coordinator at Oak Hammock Marsh. “We have done a complete overhaul of everything. We completely wiped all the exhibits and had a blank canvas to start from.”
The only remaining original feature is the entrance diorama, which received a major upgrade to include a day and night cycle and an ambient soundscape.
While the Harry J. Enns Wetland Discovery Centre at Oak Hammock Marsh was closed, staff offered limited school and outdoor programming. Education programs continued virtually or took place in the Willow Retreat, while outdoor trails and canoe and snowshoe rentals remained accessible to visitors.
As of April 28, full school programming has resumed, and on May 24, Oak Hammock Marsh will celebrate its grand reopening.
Over the weekend, admission will be half price for all visitors, and the first 100 guests on Saturday will receive a special gift from the Oak Hammock Marsh gift shop.
“We look forward to welcoming people back to the centre,” Bourgeois said.
The new interactive displays, multidimensional exhibits and a floor-to-ceiling species wall all aim to capture the natural beauty of the wetlands. The centre now also incorporates Indigenous Knowledge Systems, with Métis artist Justine Proulx painting Indigenous animal teachers throughout the space for visitors to discover.
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“We are thrilled to showcase all the new things Oak Hammock Marsh has to offer,” Bourgeois added.
In 2020, Oak Hammock Marsh received a $1.5-million grant from the Manitoba government to renew its exhibits, on the condition that it raised an additional $3 million.
Bourgeois said the aging exhibits were only part of the issue, with infrastructure problems including electrical wiring, plumbing and HVAC systems also needing attention.
“We thought, what’s the point of having new exhibits if pipes might burst above them?” he said.
What began as a $4.5-million project quickly evolved into a $25-million overhaul. Nearly 95 per cent of displays, exhibits and office supplies were sold or donated to keep materials out of the landfill.
“Sustainability is very important to us,” said Bourgeois, noting he was happy everything found a new home.
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The Oak Hammock Marsh Café was modernized and continues to offer panoramic views of the marsh. The theatre now seats 118 and provides an immersive experience for educational programming and special events.
Another major addition is the conference and event centre on the second floor, located in the space formerly used by Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). The new facility includes a kitchen, bar, and private deck space, and can accommodate up to 150 people for seminars, weddings and other large gatherings.
With 90 per cent of DUC staff now working remotely, their former office spaces were transformed into rentable public rooms.
Thanks to new windows and energy-efficient systems, the remodelled building is now 50 per cent more efficient. Bourgeois said the upgrades have made Oak Hammock Marsh one of the most sustainable buildings in Manitoba.
The centre will be open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended hours during fall migration. Oak Hammock Marsh is located at 1 Snow Goose Bay along Highway 220 between Stonewall and Selkirk.
