Winnipeg’s oldest building, the St. Boniface Museum, is undergoing a $4-million renovation, with nearly $2 million in funding from the federal government. The project aims to reopen the museum by 2026, marking its 175th anniversary.
The museum, housed in the former Grey Nuns convent and mission house on Tache Avenue since 1967, closed in June 2024 for extensive upgrades. In the interim, a gift shop and a Louis Riel exhibit are operating at the old St. Boniface City Hall at 219 Provencher Blvd.
Renovations include reinforcing the roof, installing a new HVAC system, restoring windows, replacing exterior finishes, refurbishing the lobby and reception area, resurfacing floors, and constructing an accessibility ramp. The City of Winnipeg has contributed $300,000 to the project, which is the first major infrastructure upgrade since 1991.
The museum, the largest oak log structure in North America, was originally built between 1846 and 1851. Over the years, it has served as a convent, orphanage, school, seniors’ home, and the first St. Boniface Hospital. Today, it houses 30,000 artifacts, including strands of the rope used in Louis Riel’s hanging and the coffin that transported his body from Regina to St. Boniface.
Also in its collection is the first bell to ring in the Red River settlement, a 100-pound chime commissioned by Lord Selkirk in 1819 and cast by the same London foundry that made Big Ben. The renovation aims to enhance accessibility, improve functionality, and preserve the museum’s extensive Francophone and Métis heritage.
Source: Swifteradio.com
