St. Boniface Cathedral is one of 124 Manitoba Provincial Heritage Sites designated by the Canadian province. Located at Avenue de La Cathedrale in Winnipeg's Francophile community of St. Boniface, the site was originally occupied by a small, log chapel built in 1818 by Father Joseph-Norbert Provencher.
Fr. Provencher dedicated the chapel to Saint Boniface, an English missionary monk and apostle. As the first permanent mission west of the Great Lakes, it was the hub of Roman Catholic missionary work, which stretched out to the Pacific and Arctic coasts. It also served the people who lived in the Red River Settlement.
Over the years, five cathedrals have stood on the site. The first cathedral with twin spires was built in 1832 by Bishop Provencher, and 30 years later a stone cathedral was constructed by Bishop Tache. In 1906, the cornerstone of a cathedral designed by Marchand and Haskell of Montreal was blessed by Archbishop Langevin. As the finest example of French Romanesque architecture in Manitoba, it was destroyed by fire in 1968.The present cathedral dates back to 1972, and was designed by Franco-Manitoba architect Etienne Gaboury. The sacristy, facade and walls of the former basilica have been incorporated into the structure. The tombs of the bishops of Saint-Boniface lie within the facade.
Among the many notables buried in the adjoining cemetery, Western Canada's oldest Catholic cemetery, is Louis Riel. According to The Canadian Encyclopedia:"Louis Riel, Métis leader, founder of Manitoba, central figure in the NORTH-WEST REBELLION (b at Red River Settlement [Man] 22 Oct 1844; d at Regina 16 Nov 1885). Riel was educated at St Boniface and studied for the priesthood at the Collège de Montréal. In 1865 he studied law with Rodolphe Laflamme, and he is believed to have worked briefly in Chicago, Ill, and St Paul, Minn, returning to St Boniface in 1868." Click on the link to read his full biography.
St. Boniface in Winnipeg, Manitoba 2004.
Photos by Sue Frause
4 comments:
My grandmother was born in St. Boniface in 1910 before the family moved to Quebec when she was three. She passed away at 99 last year but could still had a vague memory of taking the train from Winnipeg since an unfortunate train sick passenger walking behind her didn't make it to the toilet. I'd think that memory would stay with me as well !!!
Oh no, not a great travel memory! But they do seem to be the ones that stick with us. Thanks for sharing ... I enjoyed my time in Winnipeg and am a huge fan of Quebec.
I also love to Winnipeg because of it's natural attraction and it's whether condition that I love the most. Summer time in Winnipeg is very short and love winter time and that' s reason people from across the globe love to visit here. And I also found of traveling and got cheap tickets to Winnipeg from nanak flights because of their services.
I also love to Winnipeg because of it's natural attraction and it's whether condition that I love the most. Summer time in Winnipeg is very short and love winter time and that' s reason people from across the globe love to visit here. And I also found of traveling and got cheap tickets to Winnipeg from nanak flights
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