50 years of rare tall grass prairie celebrated

Kristin Bestvater regularly visits Winnipeg’s St. James neighbourhood and the Living Prairie Museum, a designated park since 1974, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The museum, located at 2795 Ness Ave., is home to over 150 grass and wildflower species and offers guided hikes, environmental education programs, and a self-guided trail.

The city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and the province are contributing funds to the revitalization project, which includes new interpretive signage, an expanded medicine garden, and a wheelchair-accessible path. The museum's curator, Marika Olynyk, noted that many people were unaware of the museum's existence, and the project aims to reach out to new communities.

The museum, supported by a non-profit called Friends of the Living Prairie Museum, currently employs three full-time staff members and welcomes between 5,000 and 10,000 visitors annually.