Winnipeg council OKs extra costs for Journey to Churchill

Winnipeg city councilapproved a multimillion-dollar grant on Wednesday to cover cost overruns related to the construction of the Journey to Churchill exhibit at theAssiniboine Park Zoo.

The vast new Arctic exhibit at the zoo, set to open on July 3, is$4.5 million over budget.

• PHOTOS | Choppers and boxcars: Peek into Journey to Churchill
• Journey to Churchill soars over budget by $4.5M

The extra costs are due tomaterials being brought in from the U.S. and soaring heating expensesduringtheextremely cold winter.

The city had alreadycommitted $50 million over 10 yearsto theAssiniboinePark Conservancy for its $200-million renewal of the 110-year-old park and zoo.

Members of theexecutive policy committee, which approved the spending earlier on Wednesday before it went to council,have said the extra expense for Journey to Churchill will come from that pot.

Thefour-hectareexhibit will feature polar bears, Arctic foxes, musk oxen, snowy owls and seals in expansive new habitats.

There will be underwater and above-ground viewing opportunities for the bears and seals, which will be separatedby thick, clearplastic walls.

Other elements in the exhibitinclude an aurora borealis 360-degree theatre,a new restaurant, gift shop and children's play area.