Attractions closed, events cancelled as Winnipeg organizations respond to coronavirus

As sports and large events are cancelled or postponed, other Winnipeg gathering places and attractions are closing as well to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

On Saturday, the City of Winnipeg announced it is closing its recreation centres, pools and libraries as of March 16. The city facilities will remain closed until further notice, a spokesperson said.

Some community centres are also closing and suspending activities. Corydon Community Centre sent out a notice to its members announcingthe closureof its facilities at Crescentwood,Sir John Franklinand River Heights sites. Thedaycare at River Heights will remain open, following theprovincial government's recommendations.

On Friday, the Winnipeg Art Gallery andCanadian Museum forHuman Rights announced they would be closing until further notice.

The Manitoba Museum, including the planetarium, museum galleries and science gallery, also announced Friday it will be closing as of Saturday until further notice.

The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre is cancelling all performances ofA Thousand Splendid Suns, which was set to begin public performances on March 18.

The province's largest theatreis "hopeful the run ofThe Legend of Georgia McBridewill proceed as planned but this will be determined at a later date," it said in a news release.

The last performances ofWomen of the Fur Trade, which closes at the smaller RMTC Warehouse theatre on Saturday, will go ahead as planned.

Meanwhile, Prairie Theatre Exchange is halting production andcancelling all shows after the weekend,the theatre said in a statement on its website Saturday.

After March 16, the remaining performances of two new local shows,By Grand Central Station, and the next show, The Gingerbread Girl, are cancelled. All classes and workshops are being postponed.

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is cancelling all of its performances until March 31, the organization said on its website.

Ticket holders can exchange their tickets for another concert in the current season, or can donate the ticket back to the WSOfor a charitable tax receipt, the symphony said.

As of Friday afternoon, Manitoba Opera said it had no plans to cancel its planned March 28, 31 and April 3 performances ofCarmen at the Centennial Concert Hall.

The Manitoba Chamber Orchestra has postponed its concert scheduled for March 24.

The World of Wheels show set for March 27-29 at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeghas been cancelled.

ThermaNordic Spa will indefinitely close its doors at 10 p.m. on Sunday. All upcoming reservations will be automatically nullified.

Forks remaining open for now

The MCO'sothershows for this season are scheduled to go ahead for now, but the orchestra said it "will take appropriate measures relating to our remaining [2019-20] concerts accordingly."

Baby Shark Live! which was scheduled for June 20 at Bell MTS Place is also postponed, but will be rescheduled for a later date, according to a news release from True North Sports and Entertainment.

The Forks will stay open unless Manitoba Public Health declares otherwise, said spokesperson Larissa Peck.

Peck added that The Forks is continuing to monitor the situation and will continue following health protocols put forth by the province.

Meanwhile, in the city of Brandon, the Brandon Community Sportsplex and Brandon Youth Centre are shutting down.

The remaining two weeks of Lighthouse After-School Programming which runsat Valleyview, George Fitton, Green Acres, Kirkcaldy Heights, Betty Gibson, Meadows and Riverview Schoolis cancelled as well.