Land Acknowledgement

Saint-Boniface is located on Treaty 1 land, the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and the homeland of the Métis Nation.

Prior to colonizers arriving on the banks of the Red River, there were primarily Cree, Ojibway, and Assiniboine tribes settled in this area. Their often nomadic lifestyles, including traditional methods of fishing, hunting, and trading furs and goods, did not align with the vision that European settlers had for the development of the region. First Nations and Métis peoples were forcibly removed from their traditional lands, and excluded from the increasingly European society by people like Joseph-Norbert Provencher, who put in place tactics to assimilate Indigenous peoples. These nations have had to fight for their rights, freedoms, and to protect their cultural traditions for generations.

It is important to recognize that Saint-Boniface was built over thousands of years of history, trauma, hardship, and attempted cultural assimilation. It is everyone’s responsibility to learn, understand, and work towards reconciling Canada’s history with Indigenous peoples.

PASSION ET HISTOIRE

Passion et Histoire is the tourism place brand for Saint-Boniface. It speaks to the passion of its people, which is rooted in a long history of the fur trade, francophone, and first nations presence and perseverance, visible through its present vibrant and diverse community, events, culture, cuisine, and feeling of “joie de vivre”. The Passion & Histoire logo will help visitors identify tourism businesses, attractions, and stakeholders in Saint-Boniface.

SAINT-BONIFACE

Defined by the passion of its people and its rich history, Saint-Boniface is recognized as the entry point to the discovery of Manitoba and Western Canada’s Francophone and Métis history. This stunning neighborhood is home to the largest concentration of francophones west of the Great Lakes and is a must-see stop for any travelers coming through Manitoba.

Its beginnings

In 1818, Lord Selkirk convinced the Catholic Church of Quebec to send missionaries to establish a French colony west of the Red River. The mission gradually expanded with the arrival of other priests and sisters, who established churches, schools, and hospitals, leading to a transition from an agricultural community to an industrial and urban community in the late 1800s.

The mission began as a parish, then became a village in 1883, and finally a town in 1908. At that time, it was the fifth-largest community in Canada, centered around the church and Boulevard Provencher.

In 1972, the city of Saint-Boniface was amalgamated with the city of Winnipeg and became one of the francophone neighborhoods of Winnipeg. Nowadays, Saint-Boniface is a welcoming and lively community, come and visit the French-speaking jewel of western Canada!