From North Africa to the North Woods

Interested in learning what life was like in a Manitoba PoW camp during the Second World War? Then the “from North Africa to the North Woods” is the trip for you!

Loaded onto four wagons, the visitors become new prisoners heading out to the former site of the Riding Mountain Park Labour Project under the strict supervision of the guards. Learn what life was like at the camp as the guards and prisoners (interpretative staff) bring history to life through stories and photographs. Once at the camp, enjoy a traditional German meal, similar to that served to the prisoners at the worksites. After lunch, explore the site of the former camp with the aid of a GPS and myself.

Since the summer of 2008, Friends of Riding Mountain National Park, in cooperation with Parks Canada and the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve has been offering these interpretative wagon tours to the site of the Riding Mountain Park Labour Project on the shore of Whitewater Lake.  I have been fortunate to be involved with this since the start and it has become a favourite program of mine. If anyone is looking for a true PoW experience, this is definitely worth the trip!

Tour dates are July 21st and September 2nd

Tickets are $59.00 each or $53.10 for Friends members and are available at the Nature Shop (RMNP Visitor Centre) or by calling (204) 848-4037.  If you have any questions, feel free to phone that number or feel free to ask me.

The wagons depart from the north end of the Bison enclosure in Riding Mountain National Park at 9:15am and we return at 2:30pm.

Tickets are already selling and they usually fill up a few weeks in advance!