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

Lionel LeMoine Fitzgerald was born in Winnipeg, on Elgin Avenue and attended Norway, Somerset and Victoria Albert Schools. Fitzgerald is a painter whose early work focused on the urban and rural landscapes along the Assiniboine River. He was the principal of the Winnipeg School of Art and a member of the Group of Seven! Fitzgerald is known primarily for his paintings of houses and landscapes in the neighborhood.

Established in 1959, Fitzgerald’s Walk commemorates Lionel LeMoine Fitzgerald’s inspiration for many of his finest paintings. This is the unpaved back lane where Fitzgerald painted some of his most famous pieces.

As one walks down the lane, we can imagine Fitzgerald walking along with easel in hand looking for backyards to paint and chatting with neighbors and friends. In fact, during the cold winter months, he was known to paint in a covered sleigh! (Equipped with a stove and a double pane glass…still, he was a ‘die-hard’.)

One piece that was inspired by this lane is “Doc Snyder’s House on Lyle Street” (now called Deer Lodge Place). Fitzgerald lived at 30 Deer Lodge Place making Doc Snyder his neighbor. Fitzgerald spent 2 years painting “Doc Snyder’s House”, he completed it in 1931. That painting is one of his most famous. It is presently on display at the National Gallery in Ottawa.

Another piece inspired by this lane now hangs in the St. James Library. The house in the painting was owned by Charles L’Ami and (Christina) Pearl Driscoll. She was a member of the St. James Public Library Board from 1955-1970. I imagine that Fitzgerald noticed the backyard during one of his daily strolls down back lanes and was inspired by the hanging carpet and painted the scene. Much to Mrs. Driscoll’s chagrin, her laundry is now commemorated forever in the library that she helped to establish. The painting was donated to the library by his son, Edward, to celebrate its opening in 1958.

Charles L’Ami was the one who lobbied the City to establish the walk, which opened to great fanfare. He also tried, unsuccessfully, to establish a museum in Fitzgerald’s vacant house (#30 is now a private residence).

Fitzgerald’s work may also be seen at Assiniboine School (175 Winston).

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?