Outdoor, Park, trails and beaches

New Manitoba Hiking Guide available in French

After writing four Manitoba hiking guides, Jaime Manness published in December 2021 a French version in her Hike Manitoba collection.
A passion for hiking
Jaime Manness is originally a trained clinical nurse by day. At first glance, her profession has nothing to do with her writing about hiking in Manitoba. But it is precisely to cope with the stress of her medical profession that Jaime Manness naturally turned to hiking. "Working in the emergency room every day can be a difficult job," says Jaime Manness. At one point, I found that I was struggling a little, that I was tired and stressed. So I tried to reconnect with what I liked the most. I started hiking again. " This love of nature was passed on to her by her parents. "We spent a lot of time in nature when I was younger. I loved it. Then, as an adult, I detached myself from it a little, thinking that I was too busy for that. It was in my thirties that it seemed obvious: I have to reconnect with what I love so much. "
Hike Manitoba 2
From writing a hiking journal... to a Guide
It's hard to describe this intrinsic passion for Jaime Manness. "When I go hiking, everything I think about in everyday life, obligations, work, my to-do list... It disappears. It's like a moment with me, for me, for my mental health. It's almost like a reset button, in a sense! " Along with a volunteer experience with Trails Manitoba, including working on the organization's social media content, Jaime Manness started a hiking journal. "I compile the trails I explore. I take notes on amenities, etc. And the more I hiked and shared about it, the more people asked me for hiking ideas, advice. One day I jokingly said:  Maybe I should write a book about hiking trails! And my fiancé answered seriously:  Yes, you should! He continued to encourage me to do so... And here we are, several guides later!"Thanks to my journal and all my notes, the writing work came easily. I still redid all the hiking trails, to make sure I had the most up-to-date information. And in the fall of 2019, I opened a Word document and just wrote the whole first guide, starting from my personal notes. "
A collection of guides for hiking enthusiasts
Once the first book was written, the other guides followed just as naturally for Jaime. The first Hike Manitoba guide compiles 51 hiking trails across the province. There is also a winter guide, with ideas for hiking to do on snowshoes, ski, or bike. The third guide is titled Hike.Bike.Camp.Paddle and presents new trails ideal by bike, on foot or paddle, as well as recommendations for camping. A fourth edition was then created for hikes with children.
A first condensed version of the guide in French
Finally, the Petit guide de randonnées incontournables en français (Small Guide to Essential Hikes in French) is available since December 2021. It was Renée Desjardins, translator, and professor of translation at St. Boniface University, who approached Jaime Manness with the idea of a version of the guide in French. "It was so exciting to work on a French version! Admittedly, I don't speak French. But Renée knows how much inclusion and accessibility are important to me. Language can be a barrier to accessing nature and what it has to offer. For newcomers who don't speak much English and want to explore Manitoba, a guide in French could be very beneficial. " "Renée and I then spent hours brainstorming, seeing how we could bring this guide to life in French. We decided to make a condensed version and compile my ten favourite trails, as well as a variety of tips and tricks for hiking. It went very well. Especially because Renée is awesome! She is very talented, and the collaboration went wonderfully well. "
Hike Manitoba 1
A French edition of Hike Manitoba
The French edition of Hike Manitoba compiles both summer and winter hikes, to be able to use it year-round, and is intended for beginners as well as hiking enthusiasts. "I think for people who are not familiar with Manitoba, for newcomers for example, the guide showcases our province and what it has to offer. Manitoba is an amazing place! In the North, we have beautiful forests. There is also Flin Flon, one of the most beautiful places I have visited in the world. Around Riding Mountain National Park, we also have completely different landscapes. The book brings together the variety available in Manitoba and shows how beautiful our province is. "
Hike Manitoba, a guide but also a certified company
It all started with a guide. But today, Hike Manitoba is also a certified company and a whole community. Jaime Manness: ‘’We're going to start classes on safety, to help people feel more comfortable and confident hiking. But also, sustainability workshops. There are more and more people on the trails, and we also want to make sure that nature is respected. " Jaime Manness is currently working on a new edition that would be a compilation of all the guides. A Manitoba hiking bible! "This is still a very exciting project! Obviously, all this takes time, it's like a full-time job in addition to my job as a nurse. But I love it. I always find time, even if it means inventing time, for Hike Manitoba. " To purchase a Hike Manitoba guide, visit the Hike Manitoba website:

Share this article

Choose your favourite option

Find more inspiration!