WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Take a ride through local history

Wonderful Winnipeg tours provides information on city's past and present

A leisurely Sunday drive around town looking at the sights is a tradition for some families, and a pleasant thing to do for Mother’s Day. But instead of a family member doing the driving, a Winnipeg company is offering to take the wheel for a couple of hours and tell some great stories while you all enjoy the view.

Bill and Wendy Morrissey operate Wonderful Winnipeg City Tours (wonderfulwinnipegcitytours.com) and on Sunday, they’re offering half fare to any moms who want to get on-board for one of their narrated tours.

The tour is two hours long and riders will get an overview of the sights, attractions and activities that make Winnipeg special.

"The tour is a great thing to do whether you live here or are visiting: if you’re interested in learning about the city’s history, you’ll come away feeling that you’ve got a good grounding in where Winnipeg came from, where it is today and where it’s going," Bill says.

Bill and his wife Wendy started the tour business last August as a way of showing off the city to tourists — and Winnipeg residents — all year round. They can handle groups of two to 55 and will tailor tours for groups.

As the former leader of Yes! Winnipeg, Bill was already a big fan of the city.

"A lot of what we did with Yes! Winnipeg was promote the city to businesses outside of Manitoba who were considering expanding, launching or relocating," he says.

"So, we learned a lot about Winnipeg’s attributes and much of it carries over to what we’re doing with Wonderful Winnipeg City Tours."

Wendy, tour driver, bookkeeper and researcher, is a former nursery school teacher.

"I really do love history and I enjoy researching and learning new things, so that went hand in hand with this project," she says.

"I do most of my research on the internet and through written materials like brochures that are already available, like articles and books.

"When we first got started, it’s funny how many books I was given relating to the history of Winnipeg!"

Bill says inspiration for the business came from their own travels where similar tours are given in other cities.

"When Wendy and I travel, one of the first things we do in a new city is look into a city tour," he says. "We find them valuable in providing background and context of the city, and also as an overview of the sights and attractions that help you decide what you want to follow up on."

He says they tried three different tours in the United States last winter.

"I recall very distinctly sitting and listening to the different narrators and thinking to myself: I think I would really enjoy doing this in Winnipeg," he says.

"And then, as I thought more about it, with the backgrounds that Wendy and I have, both being longtime residents of Winnipeg who really like the city, I thought we could do a pretty good job of this."

They started researching and planning, got on board with Tourism Winnipeg and Travel Manitoba and filled the niche for year-round tours.

"The reason why this is sustainable is we had this idea of not just appealing to tourists, but also to the conference and the business market," he says.

"And we feel that there are really interesting stories around the sights and attractions and also a lot of famous companies that have called Winnipeg home as well as famous personalities that either live here now or had lived here before."

Stories are a key part of any tour and Winnipeg has its share.

"One of my favourite stories from our tour is the connection of (former Saskatchewan premier and first leader of the federal NDP) Tommy Douglas with Winnipeg, his history here and how his development here led him to become the founder of the universal health-care system," Wendy says.

"I think the thing that I have most enjoyed is being able to convey to our passengers so many of things that have been accomplished or achieved here — really important things that have emerged from Winnipeg that most people are not aware of or may have forgotten," Bill says.

"And after the tour, when they’ve heard these stories, a common refrain is: ‘Gosh, who knew that Winnipeg contributed so much?’"

The tour covers Winnipeg’s past and present and provides passengers with information about current events and future developments that are planned or underway here in the city.

"We have specifically connected with Folklorama, and also with the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and we have an understanding of how we might be an activity event for people who are here as performers or spectators," he says.

"And when events are underway during a tour, we’ll point them out specifically and explain where to get more information, whether it’s the fringe festival or the jazz festival or whatever might be on," Wendy says .

The Morrisseys say the best way to get on-board is to start with the website.

"There is lots of information about the tour, where it goes, what it does, and you are able to book tickets right online, or you can give us a phone call or send an email for more information or to book," Bill says.

The Morrisseys are proud to act as ambassadors for the city.

"It’s so great when you hear comments like, ‘I didn’t realize what a great city Winnipeg is and I’m going to get out more,’" Wendy says.

"And we even hear people say they wouldn’t mind living here — people are pleasantly surprised at what a wonderful place it is."

Bill agrees.

"So often, after a tour we hear from our guests — and that could be a local business touring or resident Winnipeggers who have visitors — that it was just a great reminder of all the things that make us proud and that make Winnipeg a great place to live."