Happy Seventeenth Anniversary to Winnipeg is Better Than Chocolate and to you, its readers!
Thank you, whether you’re a regular or a first time visitor, for visiting and reading these posts.
Since 2009 there have been over 3,054,000 visitors.
For the first few years Canada supplied the most visitors.
Then people from the United States became the top visitors.
Currently they are now followed by Brazil and Singapore.
Maybe folks are planning vacations and want to get to know what Canada has to offer.
These are the places where our top ten visitors come from:
United States….…… 1.02 M
Brazil…………..………..…163 K
Singapore……….……….160 K
Canada………….…..….. 128 K
Germany……….....…….100 K
Hong Kong………………… 86.4 K
Vietnam………..……..….. 80.7 K
Russia………..…….……... 79.2 K
India……………………….….71.4 K
France………..…...……... 56.2 K
During the years there have also been visitors from Ukraine, Philippines, Türkiye, United Kingdom, Netherlands, China, Japan, Sweden, Indonesia, Poland, Moldova, Ireland, Australia, Taiwan, Argentina, Denmark, Eritrea, Italy, Finland, Spain, Macedonia (FYROM), Mexico, Afghanistan, Thailand, Slovakia, India, Bangladesh, Israel, Malaysia, Kuwait, Greece, Kenya, Vietnam, Czech Republic, Portugal, Bulgaria, Romania, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Armenia, Belarus, Namibia, Honduras, Lithuania, Turkmenistan, Cambodia, Switzerland, Czechia, Bermuda, Portugal, Qatar, Egypt, Chile, Nigeria, South Africa, Iraq, Côte d’Ivoire, Serbia, Libya, Dominican Republic, Togo, Saudi Arabia, Albania, Malta, Seychelles, Morocco, Peru, Belarus, Cyprus, Slovenia and Austria.
Once again, thank you so much for visiting!
As I said when Sophie and I signed off our weekly show...
Have a great weekend. How can you miss - you're in Winnipeg!
****
Fall Markets
Sept 19, 11 am - 4 pm
690 Munroe Ave, Winnipeg MB R2K 1J2
Admission is free and everyone is welcome!
2026 Future Hope Fall Market
Join us for a day of creativity, community, and support!
Come see the 25+ vendors from all over and Winnipeg selling hand crafted goods, art, baking and food products. Food and snacks will be available for purchase and all proceeds of the canteen go to Future Hope and the Next Step Program.
Don’t miss the door prize and multiple basket prize draws! Your purchases will also earn you extra tickets for the prize draws giving you even more chances to win.
Future Hope Inc. will be featuring crafts made by the men in the Next Step program, and a display wall showcasing art and stories from individuals returning to the community.
Every purchase and donation helps fund Future Hope Inc. and the Next Step program, giving individuals the tools and support needed to transform their lives. www.Futurehope.ca
**
Sept 19, 9 am - 11 pm
Viscount Gort Hotel, 1674 Portage Ave, Winnipeg MB
Freya Fest “Where Fandom and Felines Meet!”
Join Laurie Smith and Emmy Fallen for a whole-day fundraiser for Whisker Warriors Manitoba, a Winnipeg-based cat foster charity. If all goes well adoptables will be allowed at the event!
We are a small volunteer-run team. Please understand that our ability to help depends entirely on the availability of fosters and funding and can vary from month to month.
**
Sept 19, 10 am - 3 pm
Greendell Park Community Centre, 75 Woodlawn Ave., Winnipeg MB R2M 2P3
Free entry
Magical Makers Market
Audra’s Sweet Delights will have over 30 fun and unique vendors!
Visiting from Pixie Hollow: Tinkerbell, flying in from 11 am - 1 pm
Free face painting by Unplain Jayne from 1 pm - 3 pm.
Photo op station so guests can take photos and tag their favourite vendors!
**
Sept 23, 30 October 7, 14 - 4 pm - 8 pm
Lord Roberts Community Centre, 725 Kylemore Ave, Winnipeg MB R3L 1B8
The South Osborne Farmers' Market is held every Wednesday until October 14!
****
Oct 3 & 4, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM both days
RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg, 375 York Ave, Winnipeg MB R3C 3J3
Free Admission (parking fees may apply)
My Little Fall Market YWG
Join us for a fun-filled weekend featuring over 100 incredible local vendors showcasing handmade goods, artisan products, boutique clothing, home décor, gourmet food & baked goods, bath and body products, jewelry, seasonal favourites, and more.
Whether you’re shopping for unique gifts, decorating for the season, or simply looking for a great day out with family and friends, you’ll discover amazing small businesses from across Manitoba and beyond.
* Family-friendly atmosphere
* Door prizes & giveaways throughout the weekend
Come shop local, discover your new favourite makers, and help support the incredible small business community that makes our markets so special.
Interested in becoming a vendor www.mylittlemarketsk.com
**
Oct 4, 11 am - 6 pm
St. Vital Centre, 1225 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg MB stvitalcentre.com
Art From the Attic 2026 by GrandsnMore Winnipeg
Save the Date for this year’s giant one-day sale of donated art! There will be thousands of pieces to choose from, all priced so that the whole family can come out and have fun. The funds all go to the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign.
**
Oct 8, 9 and 10 - 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Oct 11 - 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Red River Exhibition Park, Winnipeg MB
Tickets available at the door / All forms of payment accepted
$3 single | $7 family | Children 5 & under FREE
Service animals permitted / Free parking
Experience the largest Rock N’ Gem Show by CanGems Western Canada
The Red River Exhibition will be home to a massive selection of crystals, minerals, fossils, gemstones, handcrafted jewelry, beads, carvings, lapidary supplies, and natural treasures brought together by vendors travelling from across Canada.
Every Rock N’ Gem Show is a little different, with vendors bringing in their own specialties, collections, and creations.
Visitors can explore booth after booth filled with sparkling crystal displays, rare mineral specimens, fossils, polished stones, handcrafted pieces, and unique items.
The event brings together collectors, artisans, small businesses, and passionate rockhounds who enjoy sharing their knowledge and helping visitors discover something meaningful, unusual, or simply beautiful.
Oct 9, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM Special Feature: UV Exclusive Event
Experience the brilliance of minerals that glow under ultraviolet light during this captivating after-hours event. RSVP recommended: 587-377-5722 / Walk-ins welcome
**
Oct 9, Doors open at 10 AM—come early for the best selection
Unit A - 1094 Nairn Avenue, Winnipeg MB R2L 0Y4
Plato's Closet Winnipeg East’s Annual Coat & Boot Event is back!
Join us as we release hundreds of winter coats, boots and cold-weather accessories, all at up to 70% off retail prices!
**
Oct 10 , 10 am - 3 pm
Greendell Park Community Centre, 75 Woodlawn Ave., Winnipeg MB R2M 2P3
2nd Annual Spook and Spice Market by by Audra’s Sweet Delights and Audra Ejm
Join us for a Halloween/Fall themed market.
We will have over 30 fun and unique vendors!
Making her way to the surface: Ursula from 11 am to 1 pm
Free face painting by Unplain Jayne from 1 pm to 3 pm
Spook and Spice photo op station so you can capture great photos of all of your fabulous finds and tag your favourite vendors!
****
Sept 22, Doors 6 pm / Show 7 pm - 10 pm
West End Cultural Centre, 586 Ellice Ave, Winnipeg MB
Pay-what-you-can — all proceeds go towards supporting Matter's future programming.
Tickets https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/wiidabimishin-sit-beside-me-two-spirit-drag-showcase?
Matter Queer Space Manitoba Inc. (Matter) is thrilled to invite you to our 'Wiidabimishin: Sit Beside Me' Two-Spirit Drag Show, an evening to celebrate Two-Spirit art through drag, story, and connection.
Hosted by Anita Stallion and featuring performances from an incredible line-up of local Two-Spirit drag performers, this is more than a drag show; it’s an invitation to sit beside us, learn where we come from, and discover how our Ancestral knowledge systems help us heal through creative expression.
This event is made possible thanks to the love and labour of Anita Stallion and Lucas Corbin Cole, and the generous support of The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, Pride Winnipeg, and the West End Cultural Centre.
****
Book Lovers’ Events
Sept 25, 10 am – 9 pm
Sept 26, 10 am – 5 pm
St. Vital Centre, 1225 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg MB stvitalcentre.com
Visit St. Vital Centre to shop for great books of all genres and support sick and injured kids in your community at the Children’s Hospital Book Market! All funds raised stay in Manitoba to help kids who need HSC Children’s Hospital.
Donate your new or gently used books to the Children's Hospital Book Market at:
- Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Stations
- Any Dufresne store in Manitoba
**
Sept 27, 11 am - 4 pm
Victoria Inn, 1808 Wellington Ave, Winnipeg MB R3H 0G3
Free Entry / Family Friendly
Third Annual Winnipeg Queer Book Fair
Authors / Artists / Booksellers
There'll be queer authors, booksellers, and makers from across Canada, plus crafting and book nook reading spaces. Let's celebrate queer voices.
****
Oct 8 - Doors open at 6 pm / Show 7 pm
Gas Station Theatre, 445 River Road
Tickets available at The Overflow, #1 - 433 River Ave, Winnipeg MB
(204) 421-5818 / info@theoverflow.biz
Fashion for Freedom - A Night of Style & Impact in support of StCF Services
Please join us for an evening of fashion, community, and impact as we raise funds to empower women on their journey toward healing, hope and happiness.
Quality second hand women's clothing and accessories. We are helping survivors of human trafficking. theoverflow.biz
****
Buy Canadian
Food prices have been on everybody’s mind.
Les Verts Living is a new Canadian business.
This is a part of their message:
The Les Verts Terrace indoor hydroponic garden system. https://lesverts.com/
A head of lettuce flown into a remote northern community can cost $10 or more. A fresher, more nutritious head of lettuce grown locally with the Terrace Pro Community Harvest System costs $1.25 or less in input costs.
That’s not a rounding error. That’s a completely different relationship with food.
The Community Harvest System grows 60 heads of fresh lettuce (or other crops) every week using a room your community already has, powered by a standard electrical outlet, operated by anyone on your team in under 2 hours a week. No new infrastructure, no permitting, no technical expertise.
Could an unused room in your school, organization, or community become part of your food security strategy?
For more items made in Canada, please visit these posts
https://winnipegisbetterthanchocolate.blogspot.com/2026/09/buy-canadian-christmas-crafts-l.html
https://winnipegisbetterthanchocolate.blogspot.com/2026/08/buy-canadian-l-food-drink-events-l.html
****
Mitchell’s Soup Company MITCHELLSSOUPCO.COM
Free Canada-wide shipping $60+
When you have the choice, choose Canadian first. Mitchell’s soups, spice blends, and pantry favourites are made here in Canada by Canadian teams.
Crafted for real homes, busy nights, cold weather, and meals around the table.
Stock your pantry with comfort made close to home.
Savoury spreads, honey, bread mixes, spices, tea, and more!
****
Stoney Creek Pasta Sauce. Made in Canada. Owned by Canadians. Processed in Canada by a Canadian company. They also sell canned potatoes. STONEYCREEKBRAND.COM
****
Bold Clothes is a clothing company all about expressing yourself. We have Saskatchewan and Canadian based clothing. Be bold.
8B-3110 8th Street East Suite 581, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
(306) 717-7416 Info@boldclothes.com. boldclothes.com
We did not set out to make Beaver Selfie t-shirts. We just wanted to keep making t-shirts with Canadian designs. Somehow we kept getting these Beaver Selfies with unreal events and we put them on t-shirts. Now it has become a full collection.
****
Handmade children's backpacks. Perfect size for those play dates, daycare days, library times and small shopping trips! Slim, lightweight, drawstring and velcro closure, and adjustable straps. Size about 11x11". *custom orders are available*
Pickup in Brantford / Shipping is available https://sewing-by-sadie.square.site/
****
Looking for unique, handmade in Canada gifts/trinkets?! Look no further! Resin Spirits is your one stop shop for all things gothic and floral, with a wide variety of items. We also incorporate 3D printing into our items, to make very unique, custom gifts!
Check us out on resinspirits.ca
****
Major Canadian-Made Brands
Royale: Produced by Irving Consumer Products in plants located in Dieppe, New Brunswick, and Toronto, Ontario.
Cashmere & Purex: Manufactured by Kruger Products at their Canadian facilities in provinces like Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia.
Bonterra: Kruger's eco-friendly line, produced using recycled fibers at facilities in Quebec.
Cascades: Headquartered in Kingsey Falls, Quebec, this Canadian company makes recycled-paper lines like Cascades Fluff and Tuff.
Majesta: A classic brand owned and produced by Irving.
White Swan & White Cloud: Institutional and household lines largely produced in Canada (though labels should be checked for White Cloud).
Luusso: A smaller, Canadian-made bamboo option manufactured in Alberta.
Reitmans is a Canadian company. Great prices. Good fit.
Home Hardware 100% Canadian Ownership: Founded in 1964 in St. Jacobs, Ontario, the company remains fully Canadian-owned and operated rather than answering to foreign corporate headquarters.
Home Hardware's private label cleaning products (Natura) are all made in Canada! Laundry detergent, garbage bags, dish detergent, carpet cleaner, laundry stain remover, all purpose cleaner. They also have dryer sheets.
