The Historical Museum of St. James-Assiniboia presents Pioneer Heritage Day!

We thank Elders Clarence and Barbara Nepinak for joining us and opening our event today. Clarence Nepinak serves on the Board of the Historical Museum of St. James-Assiniboia and both Barbara and Clarence are recipients of the Order of Manitoba and local community Elders.

And now for a welcome from our local government representatives.

We would like to thank Councillor Kevin Klein and Assiniboine Credit Union for their contribution towards Pioneer Heritage Day. This event would not be possible without your support.

We would also like to thank Councillor Kevin Klein, Marty Morantz, M.P., Hon. Scott Fielding, M.L.A., Scott Johnston, M.L.A., and Councillor Scott Gillingham for their participation in Pioneer Heritage Day and interest in helping us to preserve our past.

First up in our line-up is Erin Okrainec. Erin is a fiddler from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She performed at Pioneer Heritage Day last year and is back again with more music for us.

Sarah Crellin is a local singer who has performed in various spots across the city of Winnipeg. She currently studies Music Education.

We are so excited to have Jason Eastwood performing at our Pioneer Heritage Day. Jason was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He has performed professionally across Canada and taught at Dalhousie University. Here is Jason Eastwood inside our 1911 Municipal Hall.

Re-watch our LIVE tour of our 1890s Interpretive Centre:

Let’s take a peek in the 1856 Red River Frame House’s nursery to see what fun activities are happening.

Jump over to our craft section for instructions on how to make these adorable pioneer clothespin dolls.

Join our friends Lilly and Poppy in learning how to make paper patchwork quilts. Find written instructions here.

Here is Jason Eastwood performing in our 1856 Red River Frame House.

Emily Bergen grew up dancing in Winnipeg. After completing her BA in Dance, Emily formerly taught at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. We want to thank Emily for sharing this piece with us. Here is Emily Bergen in PDLIF.

Once again, here is Jason Eastwood.

We’re so grateful that our next performers could join us once again this year for Pioneer Heritage Day. These French Canadian Jiggers have performed across the globe. Here is Kadance.

Re-watch our LIVE historical theatre inside the 1856 Red River Frame House:

We are so grateful to Jason Eastwood for coming down to the museum to perform for us. Here, for his last song today, is Jason Eastwood.

Thank you so much to Erin Okrainec for performing at our Pioneer Heritage Day. Here is Erin in the final performances of the day.

Thank you to all of our volunteers and staff who made today possible. And thank you to all of you who tuned in online and came to visit us!

Welcome to a Night at the Museum.

Here to open the night is Jason Eastwood. Jason Eastwood is a classical guitarist and composer. He has taught at Dalhousie University and performed across the country. Thank you Jason for being our musical guest this evening.

Let’s start the evening out with some activities for the kids. Join our friends Lilly and Poppy as they learn how to make Patchwork Quilts. Find more crafts and instructions here.

Our first speaker of the evening is Barry Hillman. Barry Hillman has photographed and held shows in Europe, Hawaii and Canada. He is currently a private consultant and publisher for Village Publishing. He worked at the Manitoba Museum for 28 years, and as Coordinator of the Museum Advisory and Training Service and Museum Internship Programs. Barry has visited over 162 museums across Manitoba.

Once again, here is Jason Eastwood.

Dorothy Rohne is a local artisan who has designed many of the quilts on display at the Historical Museum of St. James-Assiniboia. Learn about her inspiration for these beautiful quilts.

After 35 years of working in the communications and information technology industry, Jeff retired and took up woodworking. He has taken several woodworking training certifications and seminars in Canada and the United States. Jeff makes furniture pieces of various styles including his own designs. He uses a variety of wood species including walnut, white oak, cherry, red oak, and maple.

Most recently, Jeff built a platform to host the Historical Museum of St. James-Assiniboia’s newest display on Lady Strathcona. Come listen to Jeff explain the history behind the wood hosting the museum’s newest display.

Enjoy this exclusive tour of the fire escape slide on our 1911 Municipal Hall.

Check out this never-before-seen tour of the jail cell in our Municipal Hall basement, not available to the public.

Bonita has worked at several Museum and Archives over her career and holds graduate degrees in public administration and museum management with under graduate degrees in cultural anthropology and museum studies. She is a published author and is best known for the children’s book ” A Magical Story of the Gimli Trolls”. Bonita is currently the Executive Director/Curator at the Historical Museum of St. James-Assiniboia.

Thank you for watching a Night at the Museum with the Historical Museum of St. James-Assiniboia. If you enjoyed our event this evening please consider donating to the museum to help us continue to provide free community events and programs for years to come. Click here to donate online.

Today in honour of 150 years of Manitoba, we are highlighting two residents of St. James-Assiniboia who made an important impact on the early years of Manitoba’s development.

Although Manitoba celebrated its 150th birthday on May 12, 2020, the official day Manitoba joined confederation was July 15, 1870.

Following the Red River Resistance, led by Métis leader Louis Riel, the Métis People and the Canadian government came to an agreement of the terms for the creation of the new province, Manitoba. These terms called the Manitoba Act received Royal Assent on May 12, 1870, which is the day we now celebrate as Manitoba Day. However, the Manitoba Act was not officially enacted until July 15, 1870.

It was this day in July in 1870 that Manitoba officially became part of Canada.

Today in honour of 150 years of Manitoba, we are highlighting two residents of St. James-Assiniboia who made an important impact on the early years of Manitoba’s development.

John Taylor

John Taylor was an English Métis who spoke French, English, and Cree. After moving to Headingley in 1855 to establish a school, he successfully operated a large farm, trading post, blacksmith shop, Royal Exchange Hotel, livery stable, and a barber shop. He bought his first land in 1856, a lot on the Assiniboine River at Headingley. 

After the death of his wife Flora Campbell, John Taylor married his second wife Francis Brown, daughter of William Brown and Charlotte Omand (the original owners of the museum’s historically designated 1856 Red River Frame House) on December 31, 1873.

During the Red River Resistance of 1870, he was elected to represent the Headingley Parish. Taylor was elected to the Manitoba Legislature in 1874 and again in 1878. He was an active member of the Legislative Assembly and became the first Manitoba Minister of Agriculture in 1879. When the Rural Municipality of Assiniboia was established in 1880, he was elected as one of the first seven councillors.

John Taylor passed away at his home on Headingley on 3 March 1925.

James McKay

James McKay, a Métis of Cree, Orkney and French-Canadian heritage, he spoke English, Cree, Ojibway, Sioux and French. He began his career working for the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1853. In 1859 he married Margaret Rowand, daughter of John Rowand and Julie Desmarais, one of the wealthiest families in the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Following her father’s death in 1854, Margaret Rowand had inherited a substantial sum of money and property. James and Margaret built their estate along the Assiniboine River. They called it Deer Lodge. In the early years of the new province’s existence Deer Lodge was a social hub and McKay was widely known and respected within the community.

It was in the 1860s that James McKay first became involved in politics. On January 23, 1968 he was appointed to the Council of Assiniboia and served as councillor for one year.

After the creation of Manitoba, the first elections were held in 1870. McKay did not have a seat in the elected Legislative Assembly, but he was selected by Lieutenant Governor Adams George Archibald as President of the Executive Council. He was sworn in on January 10, 1871 and chosen as speaker for the upper chamber in March of that year.

Later in his career, James McKay became an influential mediator between the Indigenous People of the North West and the European Settlers. He played an important, but unofficial role, in negotiations and interpretations for the treaties and he witnessed the proceedings for Treaty 1 and Treaty 2. In 1875, McKay was named an official “Indian Commissioner” and served in that capacity for Treaties 5 and 6.

James McKay died at Deer Lodge on December 2, 1879 and was buried in St. Boniface Cathedral cemetery. After his death Deer Lodge continued as a place of social gathering and became a country inn. The building was destroyed in a fire, but the new Deer Lodge hotel was constructed and remained open until 1916, at which point it was converted into a military convalescent home during the war. Today Deer Lodge Hospital, 2109 Portage Avenue, stands on the original site of the McKay home.

For over 100 years, paper dolls were a widely popular children’s toy, method of advertising fashion, and feature in women’s magazines. This paper dolls was based on the hand-tinted fold-outs, showing the latest fashions, in Godey’s Lady’s Book. This women’s magazine, published in Philadelphia from 1830-1878, was the most popular and influential of its era. The magazine also featured needlework projects and patterns, recipes, articles on household care, health and hygiene, and sheet music. ⁠

Download the instruction pamphlet and paper doll cut-outs below.

Download Instruction Pamphlet:

Download Paper Doll Here:

Download Paper Doll Here:

Download Paper Doll Here:

Download Paper Doll Here:

Download Paper Doll Here:

Download Paper Doll Here:

Quilts and the activity of quilting were extremely important in the lives of early settlers in Manitoba. In the winters, quilts protected settlers from the cold drafts that snuck through the cracks in their Red River Frame houses, and quilting bees were a productive and enjoyable summer social gathering.

The craft below shows how patchwork quilts were constructed. Squares or rectangles of purchased fabric, old clothing, or cotton flour and sugar bags were stitched together in various familiar or unique patterns.

The Museum has several contemporary quilts on display made by Dorothy Rohne, as well as an antique crazy quilt and log cabin quilt.

Download Instruction Pamphlet:

Photos from exhibit at St. James-Assiniboia Library featuring displays from the Historical Museum of St. James-Assiniboia and the Louis Riel Institute. Check it out in person at the St. James-Assiniboia Library, 1910 Portage Avenue.

Take a walk in Bruce Park and learn the history of the park’s landmarks.

This is a monument to Alfred Hanks, who was the former mayor of St. James and editor of the local newspaper St. James Leader. The newspaper was produced across the street from St. James Collegiate in the Leader Building, which is currently a photo studio. Alfred Hanks was born in Winnipeg in 1894. He was a graduate of Engineering at the U of M and one of many who volunteered for WW1. He was wounded in 1916 and returned to Winnipeg and his career at Dominion Bridge Company.

On a visit to St. James he bought the paper and began a lifelong relationship with the town. Alfred Hanks was the editor at the Leader from 1933 to 1962; he sold the newspaper following his successful bid to become Mayor.

Alfred Hanks was perhaps the city’s most important Mayor as he played an instrumental role in building the Grace Hospital, the Library, the Civic Centre and the restoration of the first Anglican Church on Tylehurst, Bruce Park and the Cenotaph. This plaque was founded in 1985, following his death.

Take a walk in Bruce Park and learn the history of the park’s landmarks.

A cenotaph was erected in 1936 to honor the soldiers who died in WW1. This monument stood for more than 50 years until frost damage destroyed it in the 1980’s. In 1990, the original cenotaph was replaced with a replica that commemorates the veterans of the major wars. This change was at the initiative of the St. James Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion #4. In 2005, students from St. James High School painted the monument.

The Cenotaph was especially important to former St. James mayor Alfred Hanks, because he was  one of the many who returned to St. James after WW1. Mr. Hanks acted as the chair in the cenotaph design and construction committee. He also guided the design and placement of the Cenotaph.

The Cenotaph is an important monument in St. James, because the former city offered the largest per capita number of volunteers to the two World Wars (provincially). Many of these volunteers were first and second generation immigrants from the U.K. Veterans of the wars used to march to the Cenotaph on each Remembrance Day. The St. James Legion continues the tradition.

Take a walk in Bruce Park and learn the history of the park’s landmarks.

Bruce Park was established in 1929 on land donated to St. James by the Bruce family on the condition that the City maintains its natural setting. We owe the park’s continued existence to a number of devoted individuals including Alfred Hanks, Charles L’Ami and Hubert Valentine Fanshaw, who was also a journalist and engineer. Valentine Fanshaw lived on Lyle St (now Deer Lodge Place) with L’Ami and Fitzgerald. The committee planned and maintained the park-system and we owe the beauty of Bruce Park, Assiniboine Park and Bourkevale Park to the members of this farsighted committee.

St. James was already considered by many to be a refuge from the big city to the east (a.k.a. Winnipeg) and the park remained a part of cottage country until the 1940’s. After the end of WW2, cottages on Douglas Park Road and Deer Lodge Road were replaced with bungalows and two story homes. Subdivisions were created all over the City, such as Silver Heights, Woodhaven etc. Yet, Bruce Park was enhanced by adding trees, walking paths, foot bridges and monuments.

In 1992, the “Friends of Bruce Park” were formed to help preserve and protect the park. The group restored Truro Creek by planting indigenous plants and trees in the park. Although natural beauty surrounds us –this is the work of a dedicated number of individuals, from all walks of life, such as, artists, journalists, and concerned citizens who formed community groups. The “Friends of Bruce Park” has since disbanded, but wouldn’t it be great if a group of concerned citizens in the community formed a group to promote and protect this park?