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Stephen Borys photo<\/p>\n
Le Mus\u00e9e de Saint-Boniface \/ St. Boniface Museum stands at 494 Tach\u00e9 Ave.<\/p>\n
It may be because I have spent much of my professional life working in museums and heritage institutions. More likely, it is because the old Grey Nuns\u2019 convent has always struck me as one of those rare buildings that is far more than architecture. It has witnessed nearly two centuries of Manitoba\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
Constructed in 1846, it is Winnipeg\u2019s oldest surviving building, one of the largest surviving oak log structures in North America, and among the finest examples of Red River frame construction anywhere. Over nearly two centuries it has served as a convent, Western Canada\u2019s first hospital, an orphanage, a home for the elderly, a school attended by generations of children \u2014 including Louis Riel \u2014 and, since 1967, the
\nMus\u00e9e de Saint-Boniface. Few buildings in
\nCanada have lived so many lives.<\/p>\n
Its story, however, cannot be separated from that of the Grey Nuns themselves.<\/p>\n
When they arrived at Red River in 1844, they came to serve a young and often isolated community. Within two years they had begun building what they affectionately called \u201cla petite maison blanche\u201d. From here they established what became Western Canada\u2019s first hospital, cared for the sick during epidemics, educated children, sheltered orphans, looked after the elderly, and welcomed newcomers. Their work extended far beyond these walls and helped lay the foundations of health care, education, and social services in what would become Manitoba.<\/p>\n
When the Sisters left in 1956, there were genuine fears the building might be lost. Instead, another generation stepped forward. The convent became a National Historic Site in 1958, underwent a major restoration before reopening as a museum during Canada\u2019s Centennial in 1967, and was renewed again during the 1990s. Every generation has inherited the responsibility of preserving this remarkable place for the next.<\/p>\n
Today, the next chapter in that history is being written.<\/p>\n
For the past two years the museum has been closed while another major restoration takes place. I have little doubt that the work is complex and essential. Buildings approaching two centuries of age inevitably reveal new challenges once conservation work begins. This work requires patience, specialized expertise, and an enormous respect for authenticity.<\/p>\n
What has caught my attention, however, is not what is happening inside the building, but what visitors experience \u2014 or don\u2019t experience \u2014 when passing the site.<\/p>\n
If you knew nothing about the restoration project, you could easily walk past the museum without realizing the magnitude of the conservation project underway.<\/p>\n
A damaged museum sign sits above a government funding sign installed when restoration began in 2024. The entrance gate has seen better days. The landscape, trees, and planting beds appear largely unattended. Monuments and plaques feel disconnected. An empty sculpture plinth remains. The oversized asphalt walkway continues to dominate what should be one of Canada\u2019s finest heritage sites.<\/p>\n
Beyond the building itself, there is little visible evidence that an ambitious renewal is quietly unfolding behind the walls. For a place of such national historic significance, the overall impression is one of neglect rather than renewal. The disconnect is difficult to reconcile.<\/p>\n
Curious to understand what was happening behind the locked doors, I began looking for answers.<\/p>\n
I explored the museum\u2019s website, reviewed fundraising materials, read the recently released economic impact study, and followed media coverage. Together they describe an ambitious restoration, a renewed vision for the museum, and an important investment in Manitoba\u2019s cultural future. Gradually, a much richer picture emerged.<\/p>\n
Only after doing that was I able to piece the story together. Most people walking or cycling past the museum may never take those extra steps \u2014 and they shouldn\u2019t have to. For a museum devoted to interpretation and public engagement, that feels like a significant missed opportunity.<\/p>\n
Museums exist to help us understand the stories behind places, people, and objects \u2014 and this building project is one of those stories. It occurred to me that the restoration of the Grey Nuns\u2019 convent may be the museum\u2019s most important current exhibition.<\/p>\n
Instead of paintings or artifacts, it features nearly 180-year-old timbers, conservation science, engineering, traditional craftsmanship, and the decisions required to preserve Winnipeg\u2019s oldest surviving buildings. It reflects the work of architects, conservators, engineers, historians, skilled tradespeople, donors, and community members securing the future of an extraordinary place.<\/p>\n
The restoration deserves to be shared and understood.<\/p>\n
Not because people need regular construction updates, but because understanding creates connection. People support what they understand. When they can follow a project and appreciate why it matters, they become invested in its success. They volunteer, advocate, donate, and encourage others to become involved. They develop a sense of shared ownership.<\/p>\n
First impressions matter.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
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Visitors begin forming opinions long before they step through the front door. The approach, signage, commemorative sculptures, and surrounding grounds all become part of the museum experience. At the moment, the public face of the site does not fully reflect the national significance of the building or the remarkable work taking place within it.<\/p>\n
It will change. The grounds will be renewed, the fa\u00e7ade restored, and the interior spaces improved. The doors will reopen. Visitors will once again discover one of Canada\u2019s great historic places.<\/p>\n
My hope is that we don\u2019t wait until that day to invite people back into the story. The restoration itself is part of the museum\u2019s history, and sharing that journey can only strengthen the community\u2019s connection to this place. Along the way, I\u2019d also be interested in knowing when the museum is expected to reopen \u2014 and what the final project cost will be.<\/p>\n
After all, the restoration is not preparing the museum for its next chapter \u2014 it is writing it.<\/p>\n
Stephen Borys is president and CEO of Civic Muse, an arts and cultural consulting practice based in Winnipeg. www.civicmuse.ca<\/p>\n
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Stephen Borys Stephen Borys is president and CEO of Civic Muse, an arts and cultural consulting practice based in Winnipeg.<\/p>\n
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