Profile
Mission Statement
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| Croquet played on the front lawn during a 2005 exhibit featuring sports traditions of the Francophones and the Métis of Manitoba. |
Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum collects, preserves, researches, and interprets a collection of artifacts relating to Western Canada's French-Canadian and Métis heritage, while acknowledging the historical contributions of the First Nations and the religious communities. The Museum aims to provide visitors and students with experiences that will encourage greater awareness, appreciation and understanding of the French-Canadian and Métis cultures in Manitoba.
Built between 1845 and 1851, this former Grey Nuns' convent houses the Museum and is in fact its principal artifact. It is the oldest remaining structure in the city of Winnipeg and the largest oak log building in North America. The first hospital in Western Canada, the building is also a symbol of the 19th century missionary effort carried out in the West by the Grey Nuns and other Catholic communities from their St. Boniface base.
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Governance
The Saint-Boniface Museum Board, first established by the City of St. Boniface in late 1959, now functions under the authority of the City of Winnipeg. Upon the amalgamation of Winnipeg with St. Boniface and other surrounding municipalities in 1972, the Board's "continuation" was specified in the City of Winnipeg Act; the Board is still referred to in the charter of the City.
As presently constituted, the Board consists of eight citizen members and one councillor, all of whom are appointed for two-year terms by city council, following nominations sought on an annual basis. Any City of Winnipeg elector who is functional in both official languages is eligible for appointment to the Board.
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History
1847 - 1956 Under the auspices of the Grey Nuns, the convent served as Western Canada's first hospital, orphanage and seniors' home. It was also a
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| The Grey Nuns on the convent steps, about 1878. (ASGM Collection) |
school, initially for both girls and boys; Louis Riel was a student here. Eventually, the Sisters operated a boarding school for girls.
1938 La Société historique de Saint-Boniface (SHSB, est. 1902) opened a museum in the basement of St. Boniface Cathedral. The SHSB was eventually provided with space in St. Boniface City Hall for this purpose.
1950 Student nurses at St. Boniface General Hospital School of Nursing had to move to the convent during the 1950 flood.
1956 The Grey Nuns vacated the building at 494 Taché; it had been their home since December 1847.
1957 - 1958 Amid rumours that the former convent was to be demolished, the SHSB spearheaded efforts to designate the building as a historic building for use as a museum.
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| Elderly residents enjoy the last picnic in front of the convent, then called "the Youville hospice", 1923. (ASGM Collection) |
November 1958 The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada designated the building as a historic site, and recommended that it be preserved for possible use as a museum.
November 1959 The City of St. Boniface, taking over the lead on the project, created the Saint-Boniface Museum Board, made up of both aldermen and citizen members.
March 5, 1963 The City of St. Boniface and the federal government signed an agreement cost-sharing the expense of building restoration. As a condition, the City had to conclude a 99-year lease with the Grey Nuns and a museum management agreement with the SHSB. Other contributors to the project were the Province of Manitoba and the then Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg.
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Interior walls are uncovered during the restorations undertaken in the 1960s.
(Photo: J. Vermander) |
June 20, 1963 The City of St. Boniface signed a 99-year lease agreement with the Grey Nuns. The City was to be "fully responsible for the maintenance of the buildings. . . ."
Summer 1967 Following several years of retrofitting, the Museum opened its doors for several weeks. Regular operations began the following summer, and eventually the Museum would be open year-round.
May 25, 1970 Given that the initial funds were insufficient to meet the costs of the restoration and that the City of St. Boniface was unable to conclude a management agreement with the SHSB, a new agreement was signed with the federal government in Ottawa, replacing the 1963 agreement. Again, the Metropolitan Corporation and the Province were contributors, and the City agreed to "maintain the convent at its own expense.for a period of 30 years. . . "
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Restoration work done on the exterior walls of the chapel, during the 1960s.
(Photo: J. Vermander) |
July 1971 The City of Winnipeg Act was passed, amalgamating the numerous municipalities in the area. The new City of Winnipeg assumed "all the responsibilities of the former city of St. Boniface in connection with the St. Boniface Museum."
June 1988 The Historic Sites and Monuments Board reaffirmed that the convent was of "exceptional" national significance on both historical and architectural grounds. It asked the federal minister responsible for the Board to enter into discussions with the City of Winnipeg and others, in order "to restore the historic fabric of the convent."
May 1990 Winnipeg City Council adopted a business plan prepared by the Museum, outlining the major structural and restorative work on the building that was needed. Of the total cost of $1,264,000, the City was to contribute $410,000 and the Federal government $580,000; the Museum was to secure $157,000 from the
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Henri Létourneau, first curator of the Saint-Boniface Museum, with his wife, Rose Létourneau, and Mrs. Irène Lane of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface, at the Museum's official opening ceremony in 1967.
(Photo: J. Vermander) |
Province and $117,000 from other sources, including its own reserve funds.
February 19, 1991 The City of Winnipeg and the federal government entered into a cost-sharing agreement, which permitted the restoration and structural stabilization of the building.
October 1993 - May 1995 The Museum was closed to allow for the major renovations. When it reopened, it introduced general admission charges for the first time.
May 1995 The Museum received a Heritage Canada Foundation award in recognition of the vigilance exercised throughout the restoration process; as a result, the historic integrity and fabric of the building had been maintained.
February 19, 1996 The Museum and the City received awards from Heritage Winnipeg for the work done on the building.
Present The Museum is recognized by the Province as a Manitoba STAR Attraction and enjoys a national reputation for its collection and for the building itself. Staff members are also recognized for their professional expertise and experience. Their reputation results in frequent requests for them to participate in peer review panels and other consultative forums.
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Visitors
The Museum currently hosts 14-15,000 visitors annually. They represent a broad spectrum ranging from researchers and school and university students to Canadians from other provinces, and American and other international tourists. As well, an increasing number of local visitors are discovering the Museum and the building for the first time despite their relative proximity.
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Funders
Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum wishes to thank the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba for their ongoing financial support. Project funds have also been provided by the Government of Canada, The Winnipeg Foundation Inc., the Thomas Sill Foundation, the William and Shirley Loewen Foundation, the Manitoba Métis Federation, and numerous other private donors. Any individuals or organizations wishing to contribute to the development of the Museum are asked to contact the Director, Philippe Mailhot, at (204) 986-8495 or write to info@msbm.mb.ca.
Tax receipts will be issued on request for all donations over $10.00.
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