The Dark Stories of Saint-Boniface - Guided Walking Tour
Discover the darker side of Saint-Boniface history
The 2026 Season Starts October 3!
Some stories deserve to be told. Others have been forgotten.
This October, walk the streets of Saint-Boniface with our guides and uncover true stories, disturbing events, and lesser-known chapters that shaped this historic Francophone community.
From tragedy and conflict to scandal and other events that left their mark, discover the stories behind the places where they actually happened.
This two-hour historical walking tour offers a different perspective on Saint-Boniface, bringing to life documented stories from the community’s past — some of which are difficult to forget.
Duration: 2 hours
Tour type: Guided walking tour, entirely outdoors
Meeting point: Tourisme Riel, 100-219 Provencher Boulevard
Dates: Saturdays and Sundays, October 3–31
Price: $20 per person, plus taxes and online booking fees
Discover the lesser-known stories of Saint-Boniface — and the events that shaped its past.
Check our calendar for exact dates and times and reserve your spot.
Book Now!
Walking Tours of Saint-Boniface (for pre-formed groups)
Find out about the people, the buildings and events that have shaped today’s Old St. Boniface. Discover the unique architecture, atmosphere and charm of a vibrant community that reflects both the determination and Joie de vivre of Franco-Manitobans. Duration: 75-90 min Available in French, English or Core French.
Reserve by Phone or Email
For all reservations, please contact Tourisme Riel:
📞 Phone: 204-233-8343
✉️ Email: reservations@tourismeriel.com
La P'tite visite
A walking tour to explore Saint-Boniface’s history through landmarks, historical figures and events that shaped it. Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and flavours of Manitoba’s Francophonie community through award-winning augmented reality!
Tours are offered on demand from Tuesday to Sunday at the information centre kiosk of Tourisme Riel on Esplanade Riel (pedestrian bridge next to Provencher Bridge) and at the Old City Hall (219 Provencher Blvd) from mid June to end of August.
Last admission possible for a tour at 7:30 p.m.
Prices
- Adult: 20$ + GST and online processing fees
- Senior: 15$ + GST and online processing fees
- Youth (12-25 years): 15$ + GST and online processing fees
- Groups (4 and more): 15$/participant + GST and online processing fees
- Free for children under 12 years old
Tourisme Riel reserves the right to cancel tours if outdoor weather conditions create hazardous situations for guests and guides.
If a tour is booked in advance and Tourisme Riel cancels the tour, guests will receive a full refund.
La P'tite visite + Gabrielle-Roy House Tour
We offer you a visit of Old Saint-Boniface and a theatrical interpretation of the Gabrielle-Roy house.
Tours are offered from Tuesday to Friday at the information centre kiosk of Tourisme Riel on Esplanade Riel (pedestrian bridge next to Provencher Bridge) and at the Old City Hall (219 Provencher Blvd) from mid June to end of August.
Prices
- Adult: 25$ + GST and online processing fees
- Senior: 20$ + GST and online processing fees
- Youth (12-25 years): 20$ + GST and online processing fees
- Groups (4 and more): 20$/participant + GST and online processing fees
- Free for children under 12 years old
Hours for MGR
- Monday to Friday – from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.)
Tourisme Riel reserves the right to cancel tours if outdoor weather conditions create hazardous situations for guests and guides.
If a tour is booked in advance and Tourisme Riel cancels the tour, guests will receive a full refund.
Histoire Cachée - In Plain Sight
Delve into St. Boniface’s rich and diverse history at your own pace, experiencing stunning visuals in Augmented Reality and engaging oral stories in French, English, and French Méchif. This interactive mixed-reality walkthrough of St. Boniface is designed to captivate and enlighten. The app features a range of themes that encompass family, cultural tensions, reunion, tragedy, tradition, and colonialism. With “Histoire cachée – In Plain Sight,” you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the area’s complex and intertwined histories while experiencing the power of augmented reality (AR) technology.
Download the app
Balado-découverte Self-Guided Tour
Download this app and set off on your own adventure. Described in the past as the Gateway to the West, St. Boniface played an important role in the history of Manitoba and Western Canada. Its origins date back to 1818 with the arrival of Fathers Provencher and Dumoulin at Red River Colony and the first years of the Catholic mission. Through the years, religious activities increased. This historical tour will allow you to discover through time the development of the constantly changing sites and institutions that contributed greatly to the development of Manitoba’s and Western Canada’s French-Canadian and Métis communities. Offered by the Saint-Boniface Historical Society.
Download the app
Bon appétit Saint-Boniface Culinary Walking Tours
We are currently updating our offerings for tours, so we are unable to offer this tour at the moment.
Treat yourself to a culinary experience with a French flair and discover the rich history of Saint-Boniface. With the help of a professional guide, immerse yourself in the culture of the neighbourhood and discover its hidden treasures with this guided walking tour you won’t want to miss.
Tourisme Riel – School groups
Treasure Hunt
This outdoor activity allows students to explore the history, Francophone and Métis culture, and businesses of Saint-Boniface through an interactive treasure hunt. Students search for clues, read historical plaques, observe architecture, interact in French with community members, and complete a response booklet. Discover Francophone cultures, practice real-life French conversations, and develop cultural curiosity and observational skills.
Recommended duration: 75 to 90 minutes
Language: French or English
Participants: Groups of 3 to 8
Supervision: One adult per group recommended
Materials provided: Teacher guide, questionnaire, answer key, pencil, clipboard
Reserve by Phone or Email
For all reservations, please contact Tourisme Riel:
📞 Phone: 204-233-8343
✉️ Email: reservations@tourismeriel.com
Bingo
A fun treasure hunt for young explorers! Discover the historic neighbourhood of Saint-Boniface with an illustrated bingo card. The goal? Spot iconic landmarks: statues, a famous church, a Métis symbol, a historical hero! Children (and adults!) check off the images and write short descriptions as they go. This playful, bilingual, and educational activity encourages outdoor walking, curiosity, and observation in Saint-Boniface.
Recommended duration: 45 minutes
Language: French or English
Participants: Groups of 3 to 8 students, unlimited
Supervision: One adult per group recommended
Starting point: Saint-Boniface City Hall
Materials provided: bingo sheet, answer key, pencil, clipboard
Reserve by Phone or Email
For all reservations, please contact Tourisme Riel:
📞 Phone: 204-233-8343
✉️ Email: reservations@tourismriel.com
Tourisme Riel – Other
Check out our documentary as well as our professionnal guides
At the Heart of Manitoba's Francophone Community
” From the French explorer Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Sieur de La Vérendrye’s first visit to the Red River in 1738, to the vibrant, exciting Francophone communities peppered across our province today, this narrative is still being written in a most colorful way. The film explores the trials, tribulations, determination, achievements, and the joie de vivre of a community once expected to fade into the history books but has nonetheless persevered and is thriving today.”
Lenght: 40 minutes
Languages: French and English
Price : Free (visitors)
You can watch the documentary on demand at our office at 219 Blvd Provencher from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday.
For group screenings and/or private screenings, please contact us at reservations@tourismeriel.com
Professional Guides
Group City Tour of Winnipeg
Discover Winnipeg’s history, culture, and iconic landmarks with a private, three-hour guided city tour designed for groups.
Explore the Manitoba Legislative Building, Saint Boniface, downtown Winnipeg, The Forks National Historic Site, and Assiniboine Park, while learning about the people, stories, and events that have shaped Winnipeg.
Tours can be customized to suit your group’s interests and schedule. A step-on Tourisme Riel guide can accompany your charter bus throughout the tour, and transportation can be arranged if needed.
Availability & Pricing: Tours are available by request and subject to availability. Pricing varies based on group size, tour requirements, and transportation needs.
Contact Tourisme Riel:
☎️ 204-233-8343
📍 219 Provencher Boulevard, Winnipeg, MB R2H 0G4
✉️ reservations@tourismeriel.com
Perfect for tour groups, schools, conferences, corporate groups, and private group experiences.
Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum
The museum will reopen on Rue Taché in mid-October 2026. You’ll be able to take tours with them again once it reopens.
For more information: Group Programs – Le Musee de Saint Boniface Museum
Mocassin Walk
60 minutes. (Ages 8+)
Like many Indigenous languages, Michif is a descriptive language. Sometimes several words in French are used to designate a thing or item: “l’arbre à saint” (saints’ tree) for sage; “graines bleues” (blue seeds) for blueberries; and “souliers mous” (soft shoes) for mocassins!
Who are the Métis “of the Red River”? What stories can deepen our understanding of the Métis, help us celebrate their history, and stand in solidarity with them! From the notorious MacDoug, a tireless ferry operator, to the tragic fate of Elzéar Goulet. From self-governance during large buffalo hunts to the entrepreneurial spirit of dedicated millers. We will share stories, big and small, to recognise the complexity of the Métis nation.
$7 + GST / person
The Women Who Made Us
60 minutes. (Ages 8+)
Ranging from a clandestine kidnapping to a devastating candle making accident. The first women to make a salary in the Canadian west to the empire of healthcare established in St-Boniface. History reveals the contributions made by women that have forged our community.
This hour-long tour includes markers that celebrate architects, artists, authors, and contemporary artisans.
$7 + GST / person
Saint-Boniface Cemetery Tour
60 minutes. (Ages 8+)
Visit the oldest cemetery in Western Canada and discover its history. Learn about illustrious contributors to Manitoba history while visiting some important gravesites, including Louis Riel’s. Step into the ruins of the Basilica that burned in 1968 and see the spectacular stained-glass windows in the most recent and modern of St. Boniface’s five cathedrals. *Popular choice: this tour is most often booked as a complement to the museum tour.
$7 + GST / person
Centre du Patrimoine – Tours
Le Centre du Patrimoine offers archival research workshops, genealogy research workshops, and tours of its archives.
Reservations must be approved by the Centre and paid for before your visit. You will receive an email confirming the details of your reservation. Please email shsb@shsb.mb.ca with your requested date and tour option request, then call 204-233 4888 to provide credit card payment information.
For more information: Tour Options at the Centre du patrimoine
📍340 Provencher Boulevard
Saint-Boniface, Manitoba
R2H 0G7
☎️ Telephone: (204) 233-4888
✉️ shsb@shsb.mb.ca
Option A
Length: 30 minutes
Groups of 2 to 10 people
Schedule: tour the archival vaults (30 minutes) and presentation on the services offered by the Centre du patrimoine.
Price: $100
Option B
Length: 1 hour
Groups of 2 to 10 people
Schedule: tour the 1st floor (15 minutes) with training on archival or genealogical research (45 mins).
Price: $200
Option C
Length: 2 hours
Groups of 2 to 10 people
Schedule: tour the archival vaults (30 minutes) with training on archival or genealogical research (1.5 hr).
Price: $300
Option D
Length: 3 hours
Groups of 2 to 10 people
Schedule: tour the archival vaults (30 minutes) with training on archival (1.5 hr) and genealogical research (1 hr).
Price: $400
Option E
Length: full day (9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4:30 PM)
Groups of 2 to 10 people
Schedule: tour the archival vaults (30 minutes) with training on archival research (1.5 hr) and genealogical research (1 hr), followed by accompaniment by the Centre personnel during the entire day.
Price: $1000*
*Possibility of a discount for school groups. Contact the Centre du patrimoine
Maison Gabrielle-Roy – Tours
📍375, rue Deschambault
Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2H 3B4
☎️ Phone: (204) 231-3853
Tours
Adults: $12
Groups and youths 13 to 17 years of age: $10
SPRING-SUMMER (MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST)
Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(Last tour at 4:30 p.m.)
Closed Saturday and Sunday
FALL-WINTER (FROM SEPTEMBER TO MAI)
DAILY ON RESERVATION
Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(Last tour at 2:30 p.m.)
204 231 3853
Festival du Voyageur – School activities
The Festival du Voyageur is known for its winter festival but it also offers school activities!
For more information: School Program – Festival du Voyageur
” Festival du Voyageur is thrilled to welcome students from far and wide once again! The Canada Life School Program gives students a chance to engage with the cultures, stories, and languages of our ancestors. We are offering a hybrid program comprised of make-and-take craft kits for your classroom, two days of virtual livestreams at Fort Gibraltar, and of course, interactive demonstrations, plays, concerts, outdoor sports, dance workshops, and many free activities for all students to enjoy in-person at Parc du Voyageur.
Registration will be open as of 8AM on Tuesday, October 14.”
☎️ Phone: (204) 237-7692
Fax: (204) 233-7576
✉️Email: info@heho.ca
The Royal Canadian Mint – Tours
For more information: Winnipeg Mint | The Royal Canadian Mint
☎️ +18002671871
📍520, boulevard Lagimodière
Winnipeg (Manitoba) R2J 3E7
Tours
“Our 45-minute tours are fun, educational and perfect for all ages. Every tour is personally led by one of our knowledgeable guides who will walk you through the production process, offer insights on our major milestones and entertain you with unique stories about the Mint.
Due to our fluctuating production schedules, not all tours are guaranteed to view live coin production during your visit.
Walk‑up tours are first‑come, first‑served and often sell out due to limited space.
Online tour bookings are currently open for dates through the end of October.
To arrange for a tour after October, or for group bookings of 20 or more, please contact us at reservationswinnipeg@mint.ca.”
PRICES
| Adults (18+) | $14 |
| Children (ages 5-17) | $10 |
| Seniors (65+) | $12 |
| Infants (ages 4 and under) | Free |
| Family (2 adults, 2 children) | $30 |
Admission on our tours is free for Indigenous Peoples and Canadian military (active and retired).
HOURS
Winter
(in effect Labour day (September long weekend) – Victoria Day (May long weekend))
Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Summer
(in effect Victoria Day (May long weekend) – Labour Day (September long weekend))
7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
