The community-at-large is being asked to keep the momentum going in the ongoing restoration of one of Winnipeg’s historic landmarks.
Les Amis du/Friends of Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum recently launched the final phase of its capital campaign to complete the renewal of the former Grey Nuns convent which houses the museum — an oak log structure originally built between 1846 and 1851.
With three-quarters of the required funding already in place, the campaign needs $1.5 million more.
Photo by John Kendle
Nick Douklias (right) said organizers still need to raise around $1.5 million to meet the $6 million goal of the fundraising campaign.
With every donation, Manitobans and supporters of the museum, located at 494 Tache Ave., will support the continued heritage restoration, structural stabilization, accessibility upgrades, and long-term sustainability work at the site.
This work began in June 2024, and included moving and re-housing many of the museum’s artifacts. Its temporary offices are in the old St. Boniface city hall building at 219 Provencher Blvd.
The former convent is heralded for its architectural and historical significance and is emblematic of Métis and francophone culture in St. Boniface and across Manitoba.
The ultimate goal is for the work to be finished, and the museum fully re-opened, in time to celebrate its 175th anniversary later this year.
Nick Douklias, chair of the Les Amis/Friends board, said the group is reaching out to businesses and corporations.
“People were kindly giving $50, $100… and now we need to look for more private sector donations,” he said.
Contributions to date include $300,000 from the City of Winnipeg, and nearly $2 million from the federal government. Most recently, city council voted Feb. 26 to greenlight $520,000 of provincial-municipal funding as part of the Winnipeg strategic infrastructure basket allocation.
Because of the complex nature of the project, the ongoing renovations have presented some unique challenges, according to Cindy Desrochers, executive director of the museum.
Photo by John Kendle
St. Boniface Museum’s executive director Cindy Desrochers (left) and Les Amis du/Friends of Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum’s board chair Nick Douklias are pictured outside the landmark building recently. The committee recently launched the final phase of its capital campaign to complete the renewal of the former Grey Nuns convent, which houses the museum.
“We had to remove the heating system, as things were more complicated than we thought,” she said. “The third floor also had to be gutted to bring in new beams for the roof structure.”
The building’s front entrance and washrooms will be made accessible and a fire exit may be added to the third floor, where the offices of museum staff were previously located.
The Les Amis/Friends board includes Pat Bovey, a former senator from Manitoba, and Dan Vandal, the former MP for Saint Boniface-Saint Vital, who are co-chairs.
“The museum is really important because it represents part of Manitoba’s history and culture. I think it’s a hidden secret,” Bovey said.
“It not only heralds Métis heritage and francophone history, it’s also certainly important to the legacy of the Grey Nuns. Can you imagine arriving in Winnipeg, wearing those long habits in a canoe, and then finding construction materials?
“It’s an extraordinary part of our history and an early example of Red River frame construction, and layer that with the floods it survived, drought, fires, winters, and heat — it’s really at the core of life in St. Boniface,” she added. “I want our community to know how important it is, and I want people to go and see it and celebrate, as arts are an international language,” Bovey said.
St. Boniface city councillor Matt Allard underlined his commitment to the project, as well as that of the City of Winnipeg.
File photo Simon Fuller
St. Boniface Museum’s executive director Cindy Desrochers is pictured in the museum, with its chapel in the background, in a June 2024 file photo before it was closed for extensive renovations.
“The museum is of utmost importance to the history of Winnipeg and St. Boniface,” Allard said. “(T)he federal government is in agreement about the importance of the museum to Winnipeg and St. Boniface.”
Allard said he is confident the museum will be able to re-open its doors for the 175th anniversary.
Douklias confirmed that $6 million is the end goal of the fundraising campaign.
For more information, visit msbm.mb.ca/friends-of.
Simon Fuller
Community Journalist
Simon Fuller is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. Email him at simon.fuller@freepress.mb.ca or call him at 204-697-7111.
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