WINNIPEG — For biologist and avid canoeist Jim Duncan, there's nothing better than the old-fashioned way of planning a multi-day wilderness excursion – pulling out a big paper map, gathering your fellow travelers around it and discussing the route.
They mark up the paper. C may indicate a planned camp. P for canoe space.
Some lines may represent a set of thresholds.
“There's something nice about laying out a map on your lap or on a table and talking about routes,” said Duncan, 65, who studies owls and explores waterways in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario.
For over 40 years, Duncan purchased cards for his travels through Card Sales Canada.
The United Manitoba Government Office/Store offers topographic maps of every corner of the province, descriptive river maps, lake depth maps for anglers, land ownership maps and more.
For a few extra dollars, the cards come in a waterproof version.
The store is scheduled to close to the public at the end of March as many maps are available online and modern technology, such as portable satellite navigation devices, is replacing printed materials.
“The vast majority of (people) were getting them online anyway. And so we're looking to just facilitate that process rather than go through the old-fashioned method of getting these printed maps,” said Manitoba Environment Minister Mike Moyes.
Manitoba digital maps will continue to be available through a variety of existing sources such as Natural Resources Canada, private companies and, for fishing purposes, provincial Department of Natural Resources fisheries maps.
Some providers also offer printed cards that can be mailed. Some sold in the government store are already provided by companies that also sell directly to the public, Moyes added.
But some nature lovers will miss being able to buy a variety of printed maps in one place.
Duncan said he uses digital technology when he travels, and handheld satellite devices are great for pinpointing his exact location. But electronic equipment can malfunction and batteries can run out.
Marguerite Roger ventured into the wilderness for many years to explore rivers and lakes, armed with a canoe, compass, supplies and printed maps from the government store.
“First of all, cards are actually critical for security,” Roger said.
“They show you different features that then become part of where you can plan your route or where you need to be careful.”
Printed maps give a more complete picture of your journey than digital maps, Roger said. It is important to be able to mark printed copies with notes as this information can be shared with other paddlers.
“There were times when I found myself pitting my canoe against someone else’s canoe. And we…we each pulled out our maps and asked, “Do you know of any camping spots on this particular lake?” Or, “How did this particular shipment go?” she said.
“That doesn't happen with a digital map. And you (can) fold it up and see where you're going or see where the next day takes you.”
Colin Kyle, Scout leader and president of Paddle Manitoba, said the government store has prepared customized maps tailored to the specific locations of his planned trips.
“I might bundle three or four cards together,” he said, adding that such a service might be harder to find or more expensive with other providers.
Moyes said the store's closure means four positions worth about $570,000 will be reallocated to other government agencies.
The province plans to post a list of alternative providers on its website.
“If there are Manitobans who are concerned about how to access these different maps or other resources, we are more than happy to help them navigate that as we kind of change the way we get information,” Moyes said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 20, 2025.
