History
Under the auspices of the Grey Nuns, the convent served as Western Canada’s first hospital. It was also an orphanage, seniors’ home. It also served as a school, initially for both girls and boys; Louis Riel was a student here.
In 1967 the Museum opened its doors for several weeks. Regular operations began the following summer, and eventually the Museum would be open year‐round.
In 1988, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board reaffirmed that the convent was of “exceptional” national significance on both historical and architectural grounds.
From autumn 1993 to spring 1995, the Museum was closed to allow for major renovations. The Museum received a Heritage Canada Foundation award in recognition of the vigilance exercised throughout the restoration process; as a result, the historic integrity and fabric of the building had been maintained.
Today the Museum is recognized by the Province as a Manitoba STAR Attraction and enjoys a national reputation for its collection and for the building itself.
Programs
Group Programs
(offered in English or French):
- Museum Tour (60 minutes) – All ages
- The Women Who Made Us – Walking tour (60 minutes) – grade 6 and up
- Moccasin Walk – Walking tour (60 minutes) – grade 6 and up
- Saint-Boniface Cemetery Tour (60 minutes) – all ages
- Uprooted Nation (120 minutes) – grade 6 and up
- Life in the Settlement (120 minutes) – grade 1 to grade 6
Interactive Programs
(offered in English or French) – 45 mins
- Voyageur Games & Historic Sports (age 4+)
- Butter and Bannock Making (age 4+)
- Pets-de-Sœurs (age 7+)
- Laundry Day (age 4+)
- Quill Pen Writing (age 7+)
- Fingerweaving (age 10+)
- Beading (age 10+)
- Embroidery (age 10+)
Collections
The Saint-Boniface Museum’s collections document the evolution of the francophone and Métis communities since their establishment or genesis in theCanadian West, particularly as it pertains to Manitoba. There are some 30,000artifacts that make up the Museum’s collections, which are divided into four main categories: historic; ethnological; archival, and fine arts.
Our Biggest and Most Treasured Artifact – The convent built by and for the Sisters of Charity of Montréal – commonly known as the Grey Nuns – would stand the test of time to become Winnipeg’s oldest building, its oldest home. It is also noted to be the largest oak log structure in North America and has municipal, provincial and federal historic designations.
