The Leaf playing host to Fleurs de Villes Voyage
A flowery, friendly fight is unfolding at Assiniboine Park between 14 local florists vying for succulent supremacy.
The Leaf is set to play host to Fleurs de Villes Voyage - a pop-up competition that calls on local floral designers to tell stories through botanicals.
Fleurs de Villes co-founder Karen Marshall says this is their 94th show in six years, visiting 24 cities and five countries.
At each stop, local designers are tasked with decorating floral mannequins to represent an assigned country.
“As much as possible, we assign the countries to be reflective of the floral artists that work on them, so you’ll see a Ukrainian florist working on a Ukrainian mannequin, for example,” Marshall says.
One of the competition’s unique challenges is keeping the flowers alive through the 10-day event. Designers had to get creative hiding fishing wire and buckets under the mannequins’ gowns to feed necessary water to the thirsty botanicals.
The public is invited to view the entries and vote on their favourite, with a chance to win a weekend stay at Fairmont Winnipeg.
Laura Cabak, director of communications and public relations with Assiniboine Park Conservancy, says it took about six months of planning to bring Fleurs de Villes to Winnipeg.
“It’s been all worthwhile. I think people are going to be absolutely dazzled by this display.”
Likewise, Marshall says The Leaf is a stellar backdrop for the travelling competition.
Plus, it allows floral designers to stretch their skills beyond the typical centrepieces and corsages, while allowing the public to see flowers in a new context.
“You’re used to seeing flowers in a particular way. What people aren’t used to seeing is flowers in this way, with a real fashion bent, with a cultural bent to it – being able to tell those stories of culture with flowers.”
The event runs from Jan. 11 to 21.
Tickets are available at the door or through Assiniboine Park’s website. However, the public is encouraged to buy in advance as the event uses timed ticketing, and slots can sell out. The exhibit is also included in regular admission to The Leaf.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.