Tours and Programmes

Overview
St. Boniface Museum
"Louis Riel: Son of Red River and Father of Manitoba" exhibit.

In keeping with its mission, the exhibits and programming provided by Saint-Boniface Museum highlight the French-speaking and Métis heritage of Manitoba. The permanent exhibits include the history of the Grey Nuns and how their convent was built. A collection of artifacts connected with Louis Riel is of national importance and can be seen in the exhibit "Louis Riel, Son of Red River and Father of Manitoba." Other displays contain artifacts related to the Métis people and the Red River Colony. The period rooms illustrate traditional crafts and daily life among French-Canadian families at the start of the 20th century. "A Beacon on the Red" is the title of an
St. Boniface Museum
Re-enactors in historic costumes playing traditional music on Canada Day, July 1st, 2001.
exhibit that traces the story of the different cathedrals in St. Boniface, from the foundation of the mission in 1818 onwards. A room for temporary exhibits can display travelling exhibits from elsewhere or occasional presentations of various other themes.

As well as guided tours of the Museum, we offer special programmes designed for school groups, senior citizens, tourists, and other visitors. Touchable artifact kits may be loaned out to seniors' homes or schools. Special programming is produced during the Festival du Voyageur, at Easter, on Canada Day and throughout the summer months, at Hallowe'en and at Christmastime. Please note, the schedule of these activities is subject to change.

St. Boniface Museum
Saint-Boniface cathedral as seen from the Museum.
(Photo: R. Barrow)
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Guided Tours

Groups of up to 50 people can be accommodated on a tour.
Reservations are required a week in advance so that enough guides are available.
You will receive a confirmation by fax; it must be signed and returned to complete the reservation.
In case of a cancellation, please give the Museum 24 hours' advance notice, to avoid being billed.


The Museum

Length: 1 hour
Cost: adults $6.00
students $5.00
seniors $5.00
children under 6, accompanied by an adult free
Additional donations are always welcome.

On the main floor, visitors will find the Museum's permanent exhibits: the early inhabitants of the region, the fur trade and the Red River cart; the history of the Grey Nuns and how their convent was built; "Louis Riel: Son of Red River and Father of Manitoba"; traditional crafts such as spinning and blacksmithing; and, in the former chapel, "A Beacon on the Red: the Cathedrals of St. Boniface."

On the second floor, are the period rooms - the country kitchen, the drawing room, the dining room and the bedroom - illustrating everyday life at the beginning of the 20th century; the choir loft containing artifacts from the former City of St. Boniface; and the room for temporary exhibits.

St. Boniface Cathedral and the Cemetery

Length: 1½ hours
Cost: adults $6.00
students $5.00
seniors $5.00
children under 6, accompanied by an adult free
Additional donations are always welcome.

The tour begins in the Museum, with the exhibit "A Beacon on the Red" which tells the story of the cathedrals in St. Boniface. Your guide will then lead you to the ruins of the cathedral that burned down in 1968. In walking around the cemetery, visitors will see the graves of early St. Boniface residents and those of Louis Riel and other famous people - let your imaginations bring them to life! (Here is a question: who built the "Langevin" cathedral and where is he buried? Answer: Joseph-Azarie Sénécal, architect and contractor in St. Boniface, whose grave is in the south-east corner of the cemetery, near the cathedral.)

St. Boniface Museum
Model of the convent's construction: the Red River frame.
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Programmes for Schools and other Groups

Groups of up to 50 people can be accommodated on a tour. All programmes include a guided tour of the Museum itself. Reservations are required a week in advance so that enough guides are available. You will receive a confirmation by fax; it must be signed and returned to complete the reservation. In case of a cancellation, please give the Museum 24 hours’ advance notice, to avoid being billed.

 

Medicinal remedies game

Level: grades 5 to 12; adults
Length; 1½ hours
Cost: $5.00 per student or senior; $6.00 per adult

What illness can be warded off with the skin of a “chicoque”? – that’s a French word for skunk derived from the Ojibway language. This entertaining game was prompted by some of the recollections of French-Canadian and Métis elders who recorded their oral history. In it, you have to connect the medicine with the illness it is supposed to treat. The aim is to make us aware of how self-sufficient past generations had to be in taking care of their own health, and in finding and developing cures. The activity also shows how important it is to record oral history.

 

Bilboquet – a Métis ring-and-pin game

Level: grades 3 to 12; suitable for other groups
Length; 1¼ hours
Cost: $5.00 per student or senior; $6.00 per adult

Some form of this game is found all over the world, and it was very popular among Natives and Métis. Their ring-and-pin game is made of a disk with holes pierced in it; a stick is attached to the disk on a leather cord. The object of the game is to score points by throwing the disk in the air and catching it on the stick. Participants will make their very own bilboquet as they learn more about the history of the game, and then they can play! Perhaps a champion will emerge.



The little schoolhouse

Level: grades 5 to 9
Length; 1½ hours
Cost: $5.00 per student

Come in, sit down on one of the school benches, and be good. A Grey Nun will give you a calligraphy lesson.

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Seasonal Activities

Reservations are required.
The programming is subject to change.


Secrets of the old Convent

Level: adults and families
Length: 45 minutes
Cost: adults $6.00
students $5.00
seniors $5.00
children under 6, accompanied by an adult free
admission with the "Riel Passport" free

St. Boniface Museum
The "Grey Nuns" welcoming their guests.
In summer, one of the "original" Grey Nuns from the Red River Colony will greet you with open arms. She will tell you all about their perilous journey from Montreal in the summer of 1844, and about their early years in the St. Boniface convent. No one will leave without a treat!



Haunting tales for Hallowe'en

Level: adults and families with children older than six
Length: about 45 minutes
Cost: to be announced

As a special Hallowe'en event, members of the Museum staff will tell legends and ghost stories from around the province. They will also recount experiences they have had in the Museum, experiences that have made them feel they may not be quite alone in the old convent.

St. Boniface Museum
Hand-made Christmas decoration.


Christmas in bygone days

Level: school groups or families with children from pre-school to age 10
Length: 1 hour
Cost: $5.00 per child accompanied by an adult

The Museum is decorated for the holiday season. Visitors can come and learn about the Christmas traditions of French-Canadian families. Details may change, but what happens remains much the same: you will enjoy a tour of the Museum, a snack, crafts and story time, all to the sound of holiday music. You may even find your toe tapping! (This programme is in French only.)



Follow the Easter Bunny's trail

Level: school groups or families with children from pre-school to age 10
Length: about 45 minutes
Cost: $3.00 per child accompanied by an adult

Before Spring Break, the Easter Bunny drops in to visit the Museum. As he goes, he leaves clues for anyone to find, to help you to solve the year's puzzle. As well, everyone will get a little treat. The programme is self-guided and you can stay as long as you want!

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St. Boniface Museum
Touchable artifacts kit.
On Loan

Touchable artifacts kit
Loan period: two weeks maximum
Cost: $10.00
The borrower is responsible for pick-up and return.

A dozen different objects with descriptions in both English and French can be loaned for use in a seniors' home or a classroom. The kit includes tools, kitchen utensils and other common objects; most date from around the turn of the 20th century.

To borrow the kit, call (204) 986-8499 or write to
lbremault@msbm.mb.ca.

For further information, please contact us at (204) 237-4500 or at info@msbm.mb.ca.

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