CANADA LIFE SCHOOL PROGRAM

Festival du Voyageur gathers by the Red River, on the ancestral land of the Cree, Oji-Cree, Ojibwe, Dene and Dakota, the National homeland of the Red River Métis, and Treaty 1 territory. Festival du Voyageur recognizes that the stories we share about the fur trade and voyageurs are directly linked to the colonization of these lands. We are committed to sharing this truth by providing an inclusive and honest account of our shared history.
As a signatory of the Winnipeg Indigenous Accord, we are committed to continuing our efforts towards reconciliation with Indigenous communities and supporting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Festival du Voyageur is proud to honour Indigenous cultures and histories in its programming and community initiatives.

The Canada Life School Program gives students a chance to engage with the cultures, stories, and languages of our ancestors. This year, we are offering a hybrid program comprised of in-school craft programs for your classroom, 2 days of virtual livestreams at Fort Gibraltar, and of course, interactive demonstrations, plays, concerts, outdoor sports, dance workshops, and many free activities for all students to enjoy in-person at Parc du Voyageur.

We continue to work with Indigenous partners and educators to improve upon our existing programming. As such, we recognize that requiring Indigenous partners and artists to speak French and/or English can be a painful reminder of Canada’s colonial past. In the spirit of reconciliation, we will not require Indigenous performers to speak French or English, but we will provide translation into those languages where necessary.

HÉ HO!

Registering for the school program is easy! That said, please keep the following information in mind when planning your Festival experience.

• All programming on Friday, February 14 and Wednesday, February 19 will be presented in French. Please note that programming offered on Tuesday, February 18, Thursday, February 20 and Friday, February 21 are presented in English.
• Transportation costs are the sole responsibility of the visiting school group.
• All programs operate regardless of extreme weather condition. As such, no refunds will be given due to school or divisional cancellation policies.

1. • Festival du Voyageur is an outdoor winter event. Please ensure that your students, teachers, EAs, and parent volunteers are dressed appropriately for the weather.  
     • What are your students’ accessibility needs? Voyageur Park is a busy place with lots of stimulation and we want to ensure a safe and pleasant visit for every student. If your student(s) need a place to be changed or fed, to rest from over-stimulation, or if they are in walkers or wheelchairs, please let us know in the comments. 
       • Space is at a premium in the park. Please note that if you are booking for multiple classes, you may not all get into the same programs and at the same time. But rest assured, everyone will still have a great day! 
         • There are many activities for you to enjoy in the park. To maximise your time, we strongly recommend arriving before 10:00 and leaving after 14:20.  
           • Fill out all fields as required 

             Registration made easy! 

             How does it work? 

             3 easy steps: 

             • Pick your lunch concert 
             • Pick up to 3 scheduled programs
             • Fill out all fields as required

           What should I consider?

         • The ratio of students to accompanying adults is 10:1. If you plan on bringing additional adults, the charge will be $14.00 per adult.
           

         For example, if you bring 35 students and four adults, three adults would not be charged, and one would need to pay an additional fee. EAs always get in for free. 

   • Cancellation Policy. Festival du Voyageur is a winter event that will operate even in extreme weather conditions. Cancellations or changes to your itinerary may be made until January 24, 2025. No changes or cancellations may be made following that date. In the event of extreme cold, outdoor programs may be moved or shortened without prior notice. 

   Reservations will be accepted as of October 8, 2024 at 8 a.m and until January 24, 2025

Submit your registration form via email.

All reservation forms must be submitted to [email protected].

We will acknowledge the receipt of your reservation form within three business days and you will be contacted in turn.

 If you do not receive this acknowledgment within the specified time, please contact us immediately at [email protected] or at 204-258-2562.

When Festival du Voyageur receives your form:

Based on your requested activities, the School Program Coordinator will schedule your students’ day. If your choices are not available, the School Program Coordinator will suggest alternatives by email and/or telephone.

6. Confirmation Festival du Voyageur will send a confirmation of your registration as well as a copy of your invoice. On your registration document you will find a confirmation number. Please keep note of it so that we can access your file more easily when we communicate with you over the phone or by email.
   1. You will receive a confirmation.
   2. Please request any changes by emailing or phoning the coordinator.
   3. Once all changes have been made, sign and send the confirmation to the coordinator
   4. Once confirmed, we will send you an invoice.

Payment / Invoicing

1. You will receive an electronic copy of the invoice.
2. Invoices are to be paid within 30 days of issue. The deadline for all payments is February 9, 2025. A service charge 2% will be charged to overdue accounts.
3. If we do not receive your payment within the timeframe mentioned above, your reservation may be at risk of being cancelled. Please make sure to verify the due date on your invoice.
4. Please indicate your confirmation number when making your payment. If your school division is paying for your outing, please request that your school name and your confirmation number appear on the cheque so that we may identify your payment as complete. We accept: Visa, Master Card, debit, direct deposit, cash, or cheque.

For secondary schools following a semester system: Teachers may reserve up to 50 spaces for students without paying a reservation fee. Upon the start of the second semester, you will be required to complete the reservation, including the final number of students and chaperones. Payment will be due in full.

Please make your cheque payable to:

Festival du Voyageur Inc.,
233, Provencher Blvd.
Winnipeg (Manitoba), R2H 0G4

Rules and regulations – modifications/ cancellations/ refunds

1. Since there are several fixed costs associated to the School Program, the Festival du Voyageur will not issue refunds due to illness, absenteeism or due to bad and/or severe weather.
2. All School Program components are subject to changes and cancellations without notice.
3. Festival du Voyageur will not issue refunds for bus breakdown or bus cancellations by the schools or school divisions.
4. The cancellation deadline is January 24, 2025. No refunds will be made after this date.
5. The deadline to bring modifications to your reservation is January 24, 2025. No modifications will be made after this date.
6. A REFUND MAY BE ISSUED IF:

• An activity is cancelled and not replaced without notice by the Canada Life School Program (refund is for the activity in question only)
• There is a change to your reservation before January 24, 2025.
• You decide to cancel your reservation before January 24, 2025.

Cost for students : 17$ (TPS included)

Cost for chaperones and extra teachers

A maximum of one chaperone for every 10 students is allowed access with the group at no extra charge.

Please remember to indicate how many chaperones will be attending on the reservation form, and notify us if this number changes, so we can adjust the cost and number of entry bracelets you will receive. Any additional chaperones will be charged $14.

Festival du Voyageur will not be held responsible for any theft or loss of items that may occur while visiting Parc du Voyageur or any of the Canada Life School Program sites.

Parc du Voyageur is closed to the public during the Canada Life School Program hours to protect the safety of attending students.