The Leaf – Canada’s Diversity Gardens opened at Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park on December 3, 2022. Designed to explore the universal human connection with plants and nature across cultures and over time, The Leaf – Canada’s Diversity Gardens is Canada‘s most significant horticultural development within the past 25 years.
The opening of the new outdoor gardens last summer started building excitement for the opening of the iconic centerpiece of the development, a magnificent indoor attraction known as The Leaf. “The Leaf – Canada’s Diversity Gardens is a project of its time and Winnipeg is the perfect place to bring it to life!” said Margaret Redmond, President & CEO, Assiniboine Park Conservancy. “This will be a place of gathering, learning, celebration and recreation for Winnipeggers, Manitobans, visitors from across the country, and tourists from around the world.”
Located in Winnipeg’s historic Assiniboine Park and surrounded by approximately 30 acres of new gardens and greenspace, The Leaf features stunning architecture and state-of-the-art design as well as thousands of trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plant life flourishing in four unique indoor biomes:
The Hartley and Heather Richardson Tropical Biome, the largest of The Leaf’s planted spaces, featuring lush plant material from tropical regions of the world and Canada‘s tallest indoor waterfall.
The Mediterranean Biome, showcasing plant life from climatic zones known for their superb fruits, fine wines and abundant crops such as Greece, Italy, South Africa, Central Chile, Southwest Australia and California.
The Babs Asper Display House, celebrating the art of horticulture with a rotating schedule of dynamic floral displays that will change four to five times per year, exploring seasonal and global themes.
The elevated Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden, populated with tropical butterfly species. It will also provide access to a canopy walkway wrapping around the waterfall and overlooking the Tropical Biome.
The 6,000 square metre building of The Leaf also houses a pre-function space and event hall for up to 450 people. Dedicated programming spaces can accommodate various experiences as culinary events, horticulture workshops or school programs that explore biodiversity, sustainability, Indigenous teachings.
The Leaf is also home to Gather Craft Kitchen & Bar, an exciting new destination restaurant featuring globally inspired modern prairie cuisine. Visitors can choose from a selection of culturally expressive dishes inspired by the natural world and plants at The Leaf. Menu items incorporate fresh produce sourced seasonally from gardens at the Park and ingredients produced locally by Manitoba growers and farmers. Warm wood finishes brightened with colourful accents, comfortable furnishings, and an abundance of natural light combine to create an inviting environment where guests can come to gather, together.
Further information on The Leaf – Canada’s Diversity Gardens can be found at www.assiniboinepark.ca/leaf.