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![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3991560_web1_JK-St.-B-Museum-0304.jpg\")
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Photo by John Kendle<\/p>\n
Nick Douklias (right) said organizers still need to raise around $1.5 million to meet the $6 million goal of the fundraising campaign.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
This work began in June 2024, and included moving and re-housing many of the museum\u2019s artifacts. Its temporary offices are in the old St. Boniface city hall building at 219 Provencher Blvd.<\/p>\n
The former convent is heralded for its architectural and historical significance and is emblematic of M\u00e9tis and francophone culture in St. Boniface and across Manitoba.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Nick Douklias, chair of the Les Amis\/Friends board, said the group is reaching out to businesses and corporations.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople were kindly giving $50, $100\u2026 and now we need to look for more private sector donations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Photo by John Kendle<\/p>\n St. Boniface Museum\u2019s executive director Cindy Desrochers (left) and Les Amis du\/Friends of Mus\u00e9e de Saint-Boniface Museum\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had to remove the heating system, as things were more complicated than we thought,\u201d she said. \u201cThe third floor also had to be gutted to bring in new beams for the roof structure.\u201d<\/p>\n The building\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe museum is really important because it represents part of Manitoba\u2019s history and culture. I think it\u2019s a hidden secret,\u201d Bovey said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt not only heralds M\u00e9tis heritage and francophone history, it\u2019s 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?<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s 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 \u2014 it\u2019s really at the core of life in St. Boniface,\u201d she added. \u201cI 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,\u201d Bovey said.<\/p>\n St. Boniface city councillor Matt Allard underlined his commitment to the project, as well as that of the City of Winnipeg.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t File photo Simon Fuller<\/p>\n St. Boniface Museum\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe museum is of utmost importance to the history of Winnipeg and St. Boniface,\u201d Allard said. \u201c(T)he federal government is in agreement about the importance of the museum to Winnipeg and St. Boniface.\u201d<\/p>\n Allard said he is confident the museum will be able to re-open its doors for the 175th anniversary.<\/p>\n Douklias confirmed that $6 million is the end goal of the fundraising campaign. <\/p>\n For more information, visit msbm.mb.ca\/friends-of<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Simon Fuller 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.<\/p>\n
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Community Journalist
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