The field for the 2013 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings, December 1-8, got a lot more exciting for local sports fans with the conclusion of the Capital One Canada Cup… and starting tomorrow they can take advantage of a great ticket offer to experience live championship curling at its best in Winnipeg’s MTS Centre.

The Rocks in Your Socks promotion, featuring a pair of tickets to one of the first two draws priced at $39, will go on sale December 6 at 10:00 am Central Standard Time, just in time for holiday shopping.

“We’re providing this unique ticket offer to give new and young fans the chance to experience what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Host Chair Mitch Tarapasky, “You never know if you’ll get another chance to make this kind of connection with future Olympians!”

http://www.curlmanitoba.org/editorial;story,1245;Two-More-Move-on-to-the-Roar-

The Selkirk and District Chamber of Commerce wants the various communities in the Tri-S area to become a major destination as tourists visit the Red River corridor north of Winnipeg.

The local chamber of commerce hosted a Red River North Tourism stakeholders session Dec. 3 at the banquet hall of the Selkirk Recreation Complex.

The session which included tourism stakeholders from across the Tri-S area was designed as an opportunity to bring these stakeholders together to update them with the vision that was developed by the local chamber of commerce when they established their Tourism Development Committee this past February.

The all day event featured a morning session in which 46 people attended a presentation by Julie Turenne-Maynard, executive director for Rivers West Vision 2030 Master Plan. Twenty-three people attended the afternoon session which included a Red River North Tourism update by Selkirk city councillor Kelly Cook, a Tourism Development Committee update by committee chairperson Laurel Sarginson, and a goal setting workshop by Gail McDonald from the Interlake Tourism Association.

http://www.interlaketoday.ca/2012/12/06/becoming-a-destination

Complete: The Canadian Museum For Human Rights (CMHR) will be holding its second annual public meeting today at 10:30 a.m. at Sisler High School, 1360 Redwood Avenue.

CMHR board chair Eric Hughes, president and CEO Stuart Murray and chief financial officer Susanne Robertson will announce major initiatives in the museum's programming as well as discuss the progress on the interior construction and staff composition.

Gilles Hebert, the vice-president of museum practice, will lead a panel discussion among museum staff working on aspects of content and programs. Canadian Teachers' Federation president Paul Taillefer of Ottawa will also attend the meeting.

Students of Sisler High School will make a short presentation on their school's commitment to human rights.

Members of the public who wish to ask questions are invited to do so through Facebook, the website www.museumforhumanrights.ca/cmhr2012 and Twitter (#CMHR2012). CMHR will post live tweets throughout the meeting.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Human-rights-museum-holding-public-meeting-this-morning-182363261.html

A new exhibit unveiled at the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre in Morden might make one think of the fictional world of Jurassic Park movies.

There is some genuine groundbreaking science however behind the exhibit officially opened to the public here Monday.

The display features the world’s first public exhibition of a woolly mammoth blood component, and directors were excited to have a new display that can stir the imagination as well as explain and promote the science of it.

“We are thrilled to be able to be at the forefront of paleo-biology with this one-of-a-kind display,” said CFDC acting executive director Peter Cantelon.

http://www.pembinatoday.ca/2012/12/03/significant-science-behind-new-cfdc-exhibit

The City of Winnipeg plans to spend more on traffic improvements in the Polo Park area than the $20-million figure confirmed earlier this year.

In what amounts to a preview of next month's capital budget, Mayor Sam Katz has called a news conference this morning to announce additional funding for the Polo Park work, which at the very least will serve a Target store planned for the former Canad Inns Stadium site.

The city has sold the stadium land for $30.25 million to a joint venture between Polo Park mall owner Cadillac Fairview and Shindico Realty. The city plans to spend $7.5 million of the proceeds on Investors Group Field, the new football stadium nearing completion at the University of Manitoba, and another $2.5 million on recreation improvements at the U of M.

The remaining $20 million will be spent on Polo Park traffic improvements, which have been identified as a city infrastructure-funding priority for three years.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/big-bucks-to-fund-traffic-upgrades-182324651.html

Complete: BEIJING, China - State media say that China will allow most foreign visitors to stay in Beijing for three days without a visa if they are heading on to another country, a policy meant to boost tourism and smooth the way for transiting passengers and business travellers.

The China Daily newspaper said the new rules take effect Jan. 1 and apply to visitors from 45 countries, including Japan, Australia, Singapore, the United States, France, Germany and Argentina.

The report says travellers must have a ticket to a third country to qualify and are forbidden to leave Beijing. It says they also must register with police within 24 hours of arrival.

The official Xinhua News Agency says Beijing receives around 5 million foreign visitors per year.

Tourism Australia and Wine Australia will join forces to promote regions such as the Hunter Valley in NSW, Barossa Valley in South Australia and Yarra Valley in Victoria under the partnership.

Tourists from China, the USA, UK and Canada will be targeted in the three-year marketing deal, as well as domestic tourists.

Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy said they would work with companies such as Penfolds and Jacobs Creek, which are household names in many countries.

"Every bottle of wine that goes overseas is like a liquid postcard for Australia,'' he said.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/travel/news/wine-industry-to-be-at-forefront-of-australian-tourism-campaign/story-e6frg8ro-1226531311192

(A complete article published originally in the WFP, Dec.  '43)

Manitoba must provide first class roads and an abundance of tourist accommodation for the hordes that will come into the province during the summer after the war if she wishes to gain her share of the tourist traffic, Hon. J. S. McDiarmid, minister of mines and natural resources, said Monday, following his attendance at the national conference in Quebec City last week. The more than 250 men interested in tourist traffic who met at the invitation of Major-Gen. L. R. LaFleche, minister of war services, were unanimous in deciding that all tourist plans must be centred on post-war activity: and that no attempt should be made meanwhile to try to induce travellers into Canada. H. E. Beresford, director of the tourist and convention bureau, accompanied Mr. McDiarmid, while the Manitoba Hotel association was represented by C. A. Tanner.