president’s report to annual general meeting, 29 may 2010july / august 2010 president’s report...

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The Manitoba Historical Society NewsletterVol.42No.5

July/August2010

President’s Report to Annual General Meeting, 29 May 2010

The year 2009–2010 has been an eventful one forthe Manitoba Historical Society, with a majorreorganizationofouradministrativestructure,andthelaunchoftwonewprograms.Thefirstcompletesthe consolidation of the two largest parts of theSociety’s activities, the Society business office andthe Dalnavert Museum, made possible when theOfficemovedtotheDalnavertVisitors’Centre.ThenewprogramsareintendedtoraisingtheSociety’sprofilethroughoutManitobabyincreasingourroleinprovidingheritageinformationtothepublic,andcelebratingwhatweknowofourpast.

Reorganization. Details of the reorganization of theSociety’saffairs,with thecreationof twonewfull-timeemployeepositionsandreassignmentofsomeresponsibilities, was explained in Time Lines forMarch/April 2010. As noted there, the position of

Director of DalnavertMuseum was discon-tinuedinJanuary.Fol-lowingapprovalofthenew organizationalstructure by the MHSCouncil, JacquelineFriesen, our businessManager,wasappoint-ed to one of the twonew positions, that ofChief AdministrativeOfficer.A search com-mitteewasstrucktofilltheothernewposition,that ofChief ProgramOfficer andCurator,Dalna-vertMuseum.Thispositionhasbeenwidelyadver-tised,andwhenthecompetitionclosed,on15May,wehad25 applicants, several ofwhomare clearlyverywellqualifiedfortheposition.InterviewswillbeconductedduringthefirstweekofJune,andweplantohavethepositionfilledverysoonafterthat.

The main effect of the reorganization is to assignall financial aspects of the Society’s activities tothe Chief Administrative Officer, while the ChiefProgramOfficerandCuratorwillberesponsibleforDalnavertMuseum, including the development ofnew programs, exhibitions and activities that willincreasepublicinterestintheMuseum.BothofficerswillreportdirectlytotheExecutiveoftheSociety’sCouncil. TheManager of our otherMuseum,RossHouse, will report to the Chief Program Officerand Curator, while supervision of the DalnavertGiftShop,andcommercialbookingsofspaceintheVisitors Centre, are the responsibility of the ChiefAdministrative Officer. Since January, JacquelineFriesenhasbeenbringingthefinancialinformationtogether,puttingalltheaccountsonthesamebasis,andpreparing theground foraunifiedbudget forall the Society’s activities. The current situation isreflectedintheauditedstatementsfor2009–2010,intheTreasurer’sReport.Duringthenextfewmonths,theoperatingexpenseswillbecarefullyexamined,

MHSPresidentDr.HarryDuckworth

Dr.GeraldFriesen,Professor ofHistory at theUniversity ofManitoba,gaveafascinatingtalkatthe2010AGMonthefindingsofanationalsurveyabouttheviewsofCanadiansonhistory.

G.Goldsborough

Vol.42,No.5,2010 Time Lines

2 Manitoba Historical Society

andacompletebudget forfiscal2011–2012willbeprepared, with input by the Executive, the ChiefAdministrativeOfficer,andtheChiefProgramOfficerandCurator,soastobereadyforconsiderationbyCouncilinNovember2010.AsignificantpartoftheSociety’s resources are specifically earmarked forDalnavert, and these restrictions will be carefullyrespected. The consolidation of all our businessoperations under one Society officer has led to anunvarnishedpictureofhowwearedoingfinanciallyand it is clear that we have several problems tosolve.Getting thepicture clear,however,hasbeenanessentialstep,andIamconfidentthatwewillbeabletoadjusttooursituation.

Homes of Memorable Manitobans Program. In lastyear’s President’s Report, it was stated that RossMetcalfewaschairingtheCommitteetoprepareforthe launchof theSociety’sprogramtoputplaquesin front of the houses of Memorable Manitobans.Ross negotiated an important agreement with theManitoba Real Estate Association that will coverthe cost of installing ten plaques during calendar2010,withmoreplannedforfutureyears.TheCityofWinnipeghasindicatedawillingnesstosponsorfurtherplaques.AlthoughheremainsonthePlaquesCommittee,increasingpressureofworkforcedRosstohandoverthechairtoJamesKostuchuk,whohas

overseentheplanningsincelastSeptember.Besidesthe other Committee members, Joyce WawrykowandGordonGoldsborough,Ihavealsotakenpartintheprocess.TheprogramwaslaunchedjustintimeforManitobaDay 2010, andwe are now awaitingthedeliveryofthefirstfiveplaques.Thehousestoberecognized in thisfirstbatchare thoseofPrimeMinister Arthur Meighen (at Portage la Prairie);campaigner for votes for women Nellie McClung(in the Wolseley district of Winnipeg); VictoriaCross winnerAlanMcLeod (at Stonewall); Groupof Seven painter Lemoine Fitzgerald (in St James);and co-founder of the order of the Oblate Sisters,Marie-JosephduSacré-Coeur(inStBoniface).TheseplaqueswillbeinstalledinthelatterpartofJune,orperhapsearlyJuly.Wearenowinvitingnominationsof further homes of memorable Manitobans fromthepublic,with a nomination formon the Societywebsite. A blue-ribbon panel, of professionalhistorians, will be used to review suggestions, tomake sure the Manitobans are truly memorable,and that thehistorical information iscorrect.Moreplaqueswillbeselectedandinstalledbeforetheendof2010andfurtheronesinfutureyears,continuingaslongassuitablecandidatesarebroughtforward.

Historical Sites of Manitoba project. Another Societyinitiative, set in motion a couple of months agoanddescribed in the last issueofTime Lines, grewout of a proposal, several years ago, to publicizesmall museums across the province, and raisepublicawarenessofthem.Meansofcommunicationhave greatly changed since then, and GordonGoldsborough, our webmaster and a member ofthe Executive, suggested that the project shouldbe web-based, rather than using billboards asoriginally proposed, and should be built aroundan interactivemap.Thismodelwould alsopermitmanymorepointsofinteresttobeincluded.GordonhascreatedawebresourcecalledHistoricalSitesofManitoba,whichaimstoshowtheexactlocationsofsitesofallkinds—buildingsandsitesofbuildings,plaques,cairns,statues,sitesofevents—throughoutthe province. Each site location, once on themap,is hyperlinked to a photograph, and to furtherinformation as available. Themap can be used toplanhistoricjauntsorinvestigateunfamiliarplaces.Thenumberofsitesonthemapisgrowingrapidly,butmuchworkwillbeneeded,astheexactlocationmustbedetermined(usingGPStechnology)beforea site can be inserted. Volunteers are needed tohelpwiththis,andtheSocietyhaspurchasedaGPSdevicewhichcanbeloanedfortheprojectasneeded.

G.Goldsborough

Recipientsofthe2009MargaretMcWilliamsawardsforexcellenceinwritingaboutManitoba’shistoryattendedtheAGMtoreceivetheir certificates. JoiningMHSPresidentHarryDuckworth(centre)wereRobertTalbot(left)andAllanLevine(right).TalbotwonforhisbiographyofformerManitobaLieutenant-GovernorAlexanderMorris(1826-1889)whileLevinewasrecognizedforhishistoryofManitoba’sJewishcommunity.RalphFriesen,thethirdMcWilliamswinnerwhowroteahistoryofearlySteinbach,wasunabletoattendtheceremony.SeetheMHSwebsiteatwww.mhs.mb.ca/news/mcwilliams2009/winners.shtmlformoredetails.

Manitoba Historical Society 3

Time Lines Vol.42,No.5,2010

Inaddition,theHistoricBuildingsCommitteeoftheCityofWinnipegishiringaGPS-equippedstudentto locate all the appropriate sites within the citylimits, in the courseof this summer.Thiswill addseveralhundredsites.

In this connection, I have to compliment GordonGoldsborough on the obvious success of theSociety’swebsite,whichheadministers.Amongtheresourcestobefoundthere,whichhehasassembledeitheronhisownorwiththehelpofstudentsandsmallgrants, is thenewHistoricSiteswebfeature;acollectionofbriefbiographiesofManitobans,nowincludingthousandsof individuals;andsomewebtoolsofparticularinteresttogenealogists.AlmostallthebackissuesofSocietypublications,andpastandcurrentissuesofTime Lines,arealsoavailableonthewebsite.

IalsoextendcomplimentstoBillFraserforhisworkastheeditorofTime Lines.Hehasmadeitavaluableguidetohistoricalandheritageevents,notjustthosesponsoredororganizedbytheSociety,butbyotherorganizations across the province. He also locatesand summarizes news from a variety of mediasourcesonimportanttopicsofhistoricinterest,suchas threats to heritage buildings; announcementsof books onManitoba history; and inquiries fromresearchers.

Congratulations are also due, once again, to CarlJames, a long-time member of Council who hasservedtheSocietyinmanyessentialways.CarlwastherecipientoftheKempAwardfor2009–2010,forexceptional service to the Society. This awardwasmadeattheMacdonaldDinnerinFebruary.

Also under congratulations, James Kostuchuk, ahigh school teacher at Portage Collegiate and amemberofourgoverningCouncil,receivedaPrimeMinister’sAwardforTeachingExcellencelastfall.

TheSocietysponsoredtheSpeakUpHeritageForum,on19January.Thiswasapublicconsultation,partoftheSpeakUpWinnipegprojecttocollectinformationand public opinions for the new Plan Winnipeg.Organized in collaboration with Donald LuxtonAssociates,a consultingfirm, theForumdiscussedhowtheCityofWinnipegdealswithheritageplaces,particularlywhentheambitionsofnewdevelopmentendanger historic buildings or spaces. The Forum,I am told, was the best attended of the SpeakUpWinnipeg forums, and there certainlywas a livelyandinformeddiscussiononmattersthatclearlyaredeeply felt in the community. Don Luxton’s finalreport is now on the city of Winnipeg website. Ihope that his recommendations will help the citymovetowardsamoretransparentwayofdecidingthefatesofhistoricplacesinWinnipeg.

The Society arranged and sponsored a number ofsuccessful events and activities during the year,as canbe seen from theCommittee reports.At theMacdonaldDinner,on2February,theguestspeakerwasJerryGray,chairoftheexecutiveoftheFriendsofUpperFortGarry,whomI invitedtogiveusanaccount of the Friends’ experience in their heroicand costly project of saving theUpper FortGarrysite. TheMulticulturalDinner, held at the BelgianClubon21April,wasasold-outaffairinwhichtheSocietygreatlyenjoyedaneveningofdeliciousfood,intriguing Belgian beers, charming entertainment,and warm hospitality. Besides this dinner, theProgram Committee has continued its success inorganizing a variety of other events. The BookClub has an enthusiastic and dedicated following,and the Young Historians Committee continuesto attract interesting projects from students. TheCentennial Farms, Centennial Business, andCentennialOrganizationprogramshaverecognizedmoreawardees,whoselongevityremindsusoftheimportanceofcontinuityinaneraofchange.

Welcome New MembersHeritageCommitteeoftheAssociationofProfessionalEngineersandGeoscientistsof

theProvinceofManitobaCarman/DufferinMunicipalHeritage

AdvisoryCommitteeJean-MarieDeClercqViktoriaEronosoyaBrianGrubberLesOysteryk

LeeannandDouglasThompsonKennethTyler

Donations & ContributionsThank You!

TerenceBrennanGregoryP.Buchanan

MurylGearyDr.&Mrs.SamLoschiavo

CorySchreyerH.A.Skene

LeeannandDouglasThompson



Chief Program Officer and Curator Appointed

TheMHSExecutiveandtheSearchCommitteearedelighted toannounce theappointmentof JenniferBischasournewChiefProgramOfficerandCuratorofDalnavertMuseum.

Jenniferisalocalcuratorofmuseumandfilmexhi-bitions.HereducationinSocialAnthropologyfromthe University of Winnipeg and York Universityhastrainedhertoexaminehistorythroughtheroleitplays inmemoryandeveryday life. In2005, sheconductedherMaster’s thesisfield research inherhometown of Inwood, Manitoba, which exploredmemory,economics,photography,andnostalgiaaselementsoflocalhistoryandculture.Inhercuratori-alworkattheCostumeMuseumofCanada,shecon-nectedwithvisitors throughexhibits thatexploredclothingdesign,production,anditsroleinCanadiansocialhistory.Hercuratedfilmprogramshaveen-gagedaudienceswithnewandhistoricalworksofCanadiancinemathroughcallsfororiginalfilmsandpostscreeningpaneldiscussionswithartistsandex-perts. She is currentlyinvolved in committeesat the Winnipeg FilmGroup, the WinnipegArtGallery, theWNDXExperimental Film Fes-tival, and theManitobaCraftsMuseum and Li-brary.Jenniferisexcitedto be joining the Mani-toba Historical Societyas the new Chief Pro-gramOfficer andCura-tor,DalnavertMuseum,and looks forward tomeeting audiences bothfamiliarandnew.

My thanks, as usual, are due to the Executive ofthe Society, particularly to Francis Carroll, whois retiring from the position of Secretary afterfour years of devoted and cheerful service. BobCoutts continues his success as editor ofManitoba History. I’ve already mentioned the contributionsof Bill Fraser, as editor ofTime Lines, andGordonGoldsborough, as webmaster. I also thank LindaNeyedly,DirectoroftheDalnavertMuseumuntilthepositionwasdiscontinued;VictorSawelo,Manager

MatthewMymin

FolkdancersperformedduringtheMHSMulticulturalDinneron21Aprilwhich,thisyear,focussedontheBelgiancommunityofManitoba.OtherentertainmentwasprovidedbysingersRayPlatinandEvelinePlatin-Cruise.

JenniferBisch,ChiefProgramOfficer&DalnavertCurator

G.Goldsborough

RossHousestaff(2010)include,lefttoright:MatthewLafrerrière,NelsonRivas,RéalDubois,andVictorSawelo(manager).

ofRossHouse;andJenniferBowden,whohasbeenactingasLinda’sandthenJackieFriesen’sassistantsince last fall. Finally, Jacqueline Friesen, whoassumedthedutiesofChiefAdministrativeOfficerinFebruary,deservestheSociety’sparticularthanksforherdetailedanalysisandcareofallourbusinessaffairs, and also for taking over the managementof Dalnavert on an interim basis while the searchfor the newChief ProgramOfficer andCurator iscompleted.

HarryDuckworth,President



Heritage Fairs 2010On6MaythreedivisionalHeritageFairswereheldinManitoba.TheMHSawardedfifty-fiveparticipationcertificates to all Manitoba-based projects at theSelkirkHeritageFair.SpecialawardswerepresentedattheothertwoFairs,asfollows:

REDRIVERHERITAGEFAIRBen Anderson, “The Buffalo Hunt”, J.B.MitchellSchool.Madison Westdal, “The Winnipeg General Strike”, LindenChristianSchool.Jamie Roy, “L’histoire du Whiteshell“, École

RéalBérard.Sarah Munhall, “Winnipeg’sGifttotheWorld(Rhvaccine)”,St.Mary’sAcademy

ST.JAMESHERITAGEFAIRAmber Vandenburg, “Mennonites of Manitoba“, VoyageurSchool.Danton Unger, “The Dirty Thirties”, GoldenGateSchool.Mary-Clare Jackson, “Tom Lamb”, GoldenGateSchool.Braden Wilson, “Winnie the Pooh, Eh!”, JohnTaylorCollegiate

All grade four to nine Manitoba students whoparticipated in the Heritage Fairs are to becongratulated on the great variety of subjects andthequalityoftheresearchandfinalproduct.Sincerethankstotheteachers,parents,andjudgesfortheireffortinsupportingtheManitobaHeritageFairs.

CécileAlarie-Skene

CécileAlarie-SkeneCécileAlarie-SkeneJamieRoy MadisonWestdal

SarahMunhall

Young Historians WinnersRecipients of the 2010 Young Historians awardswereasfollows:

FICTIONCATEGORY

George Bryce Award. Emily Wilson, “That GoldRush”, St. Mary’s Academy. First place: Emily Wilson, “That Gold Rush”, St. Mary’s Academy.Secondplace:Victoria Weir,“AMemoonaScandal“,St.Mary’sAcademy.Thirdplace:Isabelle Anderson Gregoire,“NellieMcClung”,BalmoralHall.

RESEARCHCATEGORY

Edward Shaw Award.Hélène Morakis, “He Ho:TheSignificanceoftheFestivalduVoyageur”,GrantPark. George BryceAward.Hélène Morakis, “HeHo:TheSignificanceof theFestivalduVoyageur”,Grant Park. First place:Hélène Morakis, “HeHo:The Significance of the Festival du Voyageur”,Grant Park. Second place: Carmen Provinciano,“FromFurstoFortune”,BalmoralHall.Thirdplace:Cynthia Xu,“TheRedRiverFloodway”,GrantPark.



New University Course in Oral History

This September, the History Department at theUniversityofWinnipegwillofferanewcourseinOralHistory.Thisseminarcourseintroducesstudentstosettingupanoralhistoryproject,includingpreparingfor,conducting,andprocessinginterviews.Studentswho successfully complete this coursewill be ableto set up an oral history or other interview basedprojects to further their university studies, aswellasformuseums,historicalsocieties,andcommunityorganizations (neighbourhood associations, clubs,businesses, etc.) The multidisciplinary methods oforalhistoryensureitsrelevanceacrosstheuniversitycurriculum. Students involved in interviewingprojectswillfindthiscourseofinterest.

Projectsinwhichstudentswillhaveanopportunityto participate this year include a new long termproject with residents of a Winnipeg inner-cityneighbourhood.Studentsmayalsobringtheirownideasonprojectstothecourse.

ThecoursewillbeofferedonWednesday,2:30PMto5:15PMinthenewOralHistoryLab/Classroom2B22ofBryceHall.Anumberofclasseswillbeheldoff-campus (e.g. Ukrainian Labour Temple, ManitobaArchives,ManitobaMuseum,etc.)

For those interested in the course, please contactDr. Nolan Reilly, Co-Director of the Oral HistoryCenterandProfessorofHistoryattheUniversityofWinnipegat204-786-9011orn.reilly@uwinnipeg.ca.

CHA Opposes Scrapping of Census Long Form

The Canadian Historical Association, Canada’sleading organization of professional historians,recently released an open letter to the federalgovernment,expressingitsdismayattheannouncedintentionofthegovernmenttocancelthelongcensusformaspartofournationalcensus.Itbelievesthatthis decisionwill significantly diminish the abilityofCanadianstounderstandourcountry,anditwillimpairthecapacityoffuturehistorianstowritethehistoryofCanada.

The CHA concerns are threefold. First, the censusdecisionwasapparentlymadewithoutconsultationwiththepopulationdataresearchcommunity,bothuniversity-based and genealogical researchers.Expert users from these groups have assertedthat the elimination of the long census form willharm current efforts to understand trends inCanadian society. Second, abandonment of thecomprehensivenessofthecensuswillgreatlyreduce

itsusefulnessasahistoricalsourceinthefuture.TheoptionalcharacteroftheNationalHouseholdSurveywill result in uneven and unreliable measures ofthe questions contained in that form, preventinghistorians of the 22nd century from developing acomprehensivepicture ofCanada in our own age.Third,inscrappingthecollectionofcomprehensivedata, the government appears to be abandoningmajorsocialconstituenciessuchaswomenwhohaveusedtheaggregatedatacapturedinthelongcensusto identifyanomalies and inequalities inCanadiansociety.

The CHA is asking the federal government toreconsider this decision and to reinstate the longcensus form. It also asks for a commitment toensuringthattheserecordswillbemadeuniversallyavailable to researchers within 92 years’ time, inkeepingwithcurrentpractice.

ViewhistoricalsitesalloverManitobaatthisnewfeatureontheMHSwebsite:

www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites

Archival Scientific DrawingsThe University of Manitoba Archives & SpecialCollections has made 108 hand-crafted botanicaldrawings and charts of Dr.A. H. Reginald Buller(1874-1944)availableonline.ThedrawingsincludedinthisdigitalcollectionwerediscoveredbyfacultyoftheUniversity’sBotanyDepartmentinDr.Buller’soriginalmapcabinet.Theyconsistofhanddrawn,inked, and watercoloured botanical diagrams andcharts. Severalof thedrawingswere commerciallyproduced although the majority of them weredrawn, inkedandpaintedbyDr.Bullerhimself. ItispresumedthatDr.Bullerusedthesedrawingsinhislectures.Theoriginaldrawingsdatefrom1905to1920andareverylargeinsize,oftenexceeding3or4feetinheight.Theyareintricateintheirdesignandbeautiful to lookat.OnerequiresnoknowledgeinthefieldofbotanytoappreciatetheartistryexhibitedbyDr.Bullerintheproductionoftheselectureaids.Yetthosewithaninterestinbiologicalscienceswillappreciate the drawings on an even greater level.Viewthedrawingsathttp://umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/archives/digital/buller/index.html.



Homes of Memorable ManitobansThe Homes of Memorable Manitobans programis organized by theMHSwith sponsorship of theManitobaRealEstateAssociation.Thefiveplaquestobeinstalledsofar,withlocations,areasfollows:• HomeofsuffragistNellie McClungat97ChestnutStreet(Winnipeg),from1911to1914

• Home of artist andGroup of SevenmemberLemoine Fitzgerald at 30 Deer Lodge Place(Winnipeg)from1924to1956

• HomeofPrimeMinisterArthur Meighenat131DufferinEast(PortagelaPrairie),from1918to1928

• HomeofsoldierandVictoriaCrossrecipientAlan McLeodat292MainStreet(Stonewall),from1899to1918

• Home ofAlma Laurendeau (Marie-Joseph-du-Sacré-Coeur ), co-founder of the OblateMissionaries of St. Boniface, at 279ProvencherBoulevard(St.Boniface),from1882to1904

Theinitialfiveselectionsweremadebyacommitteeof James Kostuchuk (Chair), Ross Metcalfe, JoyceWawrykow, Gordon Goldsborough, and HarryDuckworth.TheMHSwebsitenowhasapagewhereanyone can nominate other homes of MemorableManitobans, and a number of nominations havealready been received—more are welcome, at anytime.Futurenominationswillbevettedbyapanelof professional historians, and the current houseowners approached for permission to install theplaques. It is intended to install at least fivemoreplaquesthisyear,withmoretocomeinfutureyears,as fundspermitandas longassuitablecandidatesarebroughtforward.

ObituaryTheHonourable Duff Roblin, PC, OM, LLD, DCLdied on 30 May 2010 in Winnipeg. He was thegrandson of Sir Rodmond P. Roblin who waspremierofManitobafrom1900to1915.DuffRoblinwasborninWinnipegin1917.Hewasfirstelectedto the Manitoba Legislature as an IndependentProgressiveConservativein1949andwasre-electedinfivesubsequentelections.HewaschosenLeaderof the Progressive Conservative Party in 1954 andwaselectedpremierin1958andremainedinofficeuntilhis retirement in1967.He is remembered forhis reform, improvement and expansion of theeducationalsystemandforadvocatingandbuildingtheRedRiverFloodway.Hewasappointed to theSenate in 1978 andwas leader of the governmentin the Senate from 1984 to 1986. After retirementhechairedan importantprovincial commissiononpost-secondaryeducation.

TheManitobaHistorical Societywas privileged tohaveDuffRoblinasamember.Andweappreciatedhis active support of the Society’s financialcampaigns.

A sample plaque in the newMHS “Homes ofMemorableManitobans”program,basedontheLondonBluePlaques,willcommemoratethehomesofnoteworthyManitobans.Theplaqueswillbemountedonmetalpostsinthefrontyardsofthehouses,sotheycanbereadeasilyfromthesidewalkorstreet.Actualsizeoftheovalis20incheswideby14incheshigh.

ArchivesofManitoba,Personalities-Roblin,D#1.N19416.

DufferinRoblin(1917-2010)servedasManitoba’sPremierfrom1958to1967.



Heritage NewsArson was suspected when Winnipeg’s historic Barber House at 99EuclidAvenue inNorthPointDouglaswas severely damaged by fire on 7 June.Earlierfiresandvandalismdamagedthelogstructureinthepast,repairsweremadeandahighchainlinkfencewasinstalled.AweekbeforethefiretheCityofWinnipegturnedoverthehouseandpropertytoSistersInitiatingStepsTowardsaRenewedSocietySISTARS.Thegroupplannedtobuildacommunityday care centre and the historic house was to beredevelopedasadropincentreforseniors.Itisnotknownifthehousecanbesaved.Theestimatedcostof replacing the roof and making other necessaryrepairsis$200,000.BarberHousewasoftenreferredtoastheoldesthouseinWinnipeg.Varioussourcesdatetheconstructionofthehousebetween1862and1867. The house is a rare local surviving exampleofoakRedRiverFrameconstruction,basedontheFrench “post on sill” technique. Itwas designateda Manitoba Heritage Site in 1987. For interestinginformation on BarberHouse and its owner, E. L.Barber,readtheSpring1974Manitoba PageantarticlebyLillianGibbonsontheMHSwebsite.

The RM of Springfield has recently reprinted.Springfield: First Rural Municipality in Manitoba 1893–1973. Thehistorywasoriginallypublished tocelebrate themunicipality’s centennial. It is still ingreatdemand.ThebooksmaybepurchasedatthemunicipalofficeortheSpringfieldLibrary.

A community-based exhibit “From Manila toManitoba” celebrates fifty years with the Filipino-Canadian Community in Winnipeg. The FilipinoYouthinActionbringsusthisdisplayofportraiture,replicas of documents, photographs, and oralhistoriessurroundingthewavesofFilipinomigrationtoWinnipeg.Theexhibitisdisplayedfrom18Juneto 26 September in the Festival Hall at ManitobaMuseum.ThisisacommunityexhibitbyAksyonNgAtingKabataan(ANAK),Inc.

The Winnipeg Free Press reports that plans wereunveiled for the new Upper Fort Garry Park on12May. JerryGray, chair of the Friends ofUpperFortGarrysaidthat$10.3millionhasalreadybeenbanked and that a further $9million is needed tocompletetheprojectwithinthenextfiveyears.Graysaidthatsitepreparationbeginsthisfallandactualconstruction will begin next spring. The Friendsof Upper Fort Garry have purchased the GrainExchangeCurlingClubandplantodemolishitnextyear.Plansshowa23,000squarefootbuildingthatwillhouseaninterpretivecentre,theatre,libraryandoffices.University archaeological studentswill diginthesitethissummertodeterminethefoundationsofthebuildingsthatwereinsidethefort.

TheNeubergthal Street Village,anationalhistoricsite inAltona,will beupgraded courtesy ofParks

W.Fraser

AviewofWinnipeg’shistoricBarberHouseafteritwasdamagedbyanarsonfireinearlyJune.

Santa’s Helper WantedTheWinnipeg Santa Claus Parade is heading intoits 101st seasonofbringing themagic,wonderandexcitementof theholidayseasonto theyoungandyoungatheartofManitoba.TheParade is lookingfor a volunteer researcher/writer to help capturethe history of this special community and familytradition. Would an MHS member be interestedin becoming one of Santa’s Helper in Winnipegto help facilitate this project? If so, please emailthe Parade Manager, Ron Mark, at [email protected].

Heritage Seeds Dalnavert Garden Heritage SeedsareavailableatourDalnavertGiftShop.BuytheseexclusiveDalnavert Garden seed varieties that wouldhave been sold in 1895, such as “GrandpaOtt’s”MorningGlory,“MissWillmott”SweetPea, and our special Bridal Mix. DalnavertGardenHeritage Seeds are three dollars perpacket,with proceeds going to help supportourDalnavertoperations.



Canada. The federal government will contributeup to $20,895 to help preserve the Eddie SchmidtHousebarn in the Mennonite street village. ToryMP Candice Hoeppner made the announcementWednesday in Altona. “Commemorating ourheritagedoesnot justmeanrememberingthepast,but also using the past to enrich our present livesand help build our future,” she said in a release.“Neubergthal Street Village has retained much ofits original character and provides an exceptionalheritageexperienceforvisitors.PreservingtheEddieSchmidtHousebarnwillenhancethatexperience.”

Visitors to Brandon’s Daly House Museum willsoonbeabletoimmersethemselvesinthesplendourof an authentic Victorian Garden. The museum’scommittee is gearing up for the constructionof a Victorian Garden in the lot directly next tothe museum at 122–18th Street. When complete,the garden will serve as a social garden for thecommunityandagreenspaceforpeopletoquietlyconnect with the past, says committee presidentMurray Graham. “We hope that not only wouldpeoplecometoseethepark,butthattheywouldget

anall-overrefreshmentof thespiritwhile theyarethere,”hesaid.Theareawillbeusedforfunctionsbythemuseumandothercommunitygroups.

The Westman Journal reports there is growingsupport inBrandon toname thenewbridgesoverthe Assiniboine River the Bachinski Crossing, inhonourofapioneerfamilyinthecity’sNorth End.The Bachinskis were one of several families fromEastern Europe who settled in “the flats” area ofBrandonintheearly1900s.NamingthebridgeaftertheBachinskifamilywouldbeatributetothefamilyand also to other Ukrainian and Polish residentsof thecity.TheBachinskisweremarketgardeners.A son, Mike, flew more than 50 missions for theRCAFduring theSecondWorldWarand receivedadistinguishedFlyingCross forhis achievements.After thewarheandhis fatheroperatedamarketgarden.MikeBachinskidied in 1995.His house isnowthesiteof theRiverbankDiscoveryCentre.AplaqueonthegroundshonourstheBachinskifamily.

Tourism packages are available for St Claude, Manitoba. Youwill bewelcomed at theManitobaDairy Museum by local experts who have spentmany years in the dairy industry and involved inlocalhistory.Seehowcreamandbutterweremadeintheearlypartofthelastcentury.Visittherestoredone-roomschoolandsamplethelifeofthepioneers.After a copious lunchgo to jail—or rather—visitthenewlyrestoredvillage lock-updating fromthe1890s.Have your picture taken behind bars.Afterserving time, visit the award winning gardens.AfterafternoonteafinishyourtourattheintriguingchurchdesignedbytherenownedarchitectEtienneGaboury.Theprice for the tourismpackage is $39per person. This is the price for a group visit anddoesnot include transport.For reservationsphone204-379-2679 or 204-379-2323. The village also hastwo geocaches. For details visit www.geocaching.com.See theworld’s second-largest smokingpipe,constructedincommemorationofearlysettlerswhocamefromSaint-ClaudeintheJuraregionofFrance,where the main industry was the manufacture ofsmokingpipes.Thesmokingpipe is6metres long

G.Goldsborough

AmodeloftheproposedparkatthesiteofUpperFortGarrywasunveiledataceremonyon12May.

Centennial FarmsMakinak:JamesandJeanBothwell,SW20-22-16WPM1909,SE19-22-16WPM1910

Caliento:PeterJaman:SE10-2-8EPM,1904



and1.5metreshigh,andweighs195kilograms.St.ClaudeisnearthejunctionofHighways2and240.Formoreinformationphone204-379-2382.

The Turtle Mountain—Souris Plains Heritage Associationisprovidingtwotoursandabookthissummer to promote the area’s history to residentsand visitors. Summer student TeyanaNeufeld hasorganized the tours since 2008. The first tour thissummer will take place in the Turtle Mountainson 28 July. The tour will go across themountain,startingfromDeloraine,movinginaloopfromwesttoeast.Participantswillseedifferenthistoricalsitesandgeologicalformationsandheardifferentstoriesaboutthearea.Asecondtourwillbeon19AugustintheRMofEdward,includingPiersonandMelita.In 2009, Neufeld created an award-winning bookVantage Points using stories from the 2008 tours.A second book will incorporate stories from thisyear’s tours and somepreviouswork aswell. Theassociationalsoputout20geocaches.TheBrandon Sun explains “Geocaches are physical treasureshidden in locations, accessible through websites.Huntingforthemhasbecomeamajorinternationalpastime. Each TM-SPHA geocache includespostcardsandhistoricalinformationonthem…”

The Threshermen’s Reunion and Stampede in Austinwillbeheldfrom29Julyto1August.Anewattraction is the people cart attached behind thehorse-drawn sulky plough. The three-wheel cartseatstwopeopleandallowsthemtowatchthesulkyploughcloselywhileworking.

Le Coq Club in Ste Rose du Lac has donated$15,000totheTownofSteRoseduLacforexteriorrestoration of Maison Dollard House, a formerschoolthatwasdesignatedaheritagebuilding.ThebuildingnowhousestheSteRoseLibraryandisthemeetingplacefortheKnightsofColumbusandothergroups.Weeklybingoisheldthere.LeCoqClubisavoluntaryorganization thathasmade significantcontributionstolocalprojects.

TheUkrainian Musicians Association Hall of Famewasofficiallyopenedon29MayatRhodesHall inSelo Ukraina near Dauphin. The event honoured40 musicians with the Manitoba Legendaryachievement award. The Hall of Fame includesmemorabilia fromUkrainianmusicians in CanadaandtheUnitedStates.ThisAugustduringCanada’sNationalUkrainianFestivalsixmoreartistswillbeinductedintotheHallofFame.

TheBeautiful Plains MuseuminNeepawaheldanapronshowintheViscountCulturalCentrefrom19Juneto3July.Over100apronsfromthe1920stothepresentwereondisplay.Apronsfromthe1920sand1930swerebibapronsusuallymadeoffloursacksdecoratedwithcolourfulstitching.Inthe1940sheartaprons and half aprons appeared.Aprons becamemoreornateandfrilled to“lookgoodfor theboyscoming home.” Aprons of the 1950s were oftendesignedforspecialpurposessuchanentertaining,cooking,gardeningandsewing.

Nintieth-anniversary celebrationswere held at theFranklinMemorial Hall on 13 June. The hall wasbuiltin1919–1920inmemoryofliveslostintheFirstWorldWar. Itwas the social centre in the SecondWorldWar for airmen fromseveral countrieswhotrainedat theNeepawaairbase.Partof thehall isnowamuseum. It includesartefacts fromtheareaanda replicaof theFranklinCPRstation.There isa special room in themuseumwhich recreates thestationagent’soffice.

The Valley Leader reports on the Rural Permit Teachers’ reunion at the Prairie Homestead amuseumnorthofElmCreek.Between1940and1962over7,000highschoolstudents,mostlyingrade12,tookasixweekcrashcoursetobecomeateacherforayearinsmallruralschoolsthroughoutManitoba.

NooneindividualdidmoretoestablishtheIcelandicpresence in North America than Sigtryggur Jónasson, the first Icelander to settle in Canada(1852 to1952), the“Father of New Iceland”andachampionof thenewspiritofCanadianpluralism.Duringhisextraordinarylifetime,SigtryggurservedboththeIcelandiccommunityandCanadainmanyways,asapioneercommunityleader, immigrationagent,entrepreneur,captain,editor,publisher,civilservant, philanthropist, Member of the ManitobaLegislature, etc. Icelandic RiverHeritage Sites Inc.intends to commission a sculpture of Sigtryggurand erect a life size statue of the “Father of NewIceland”onthesiteofhishistorichomestead,nowthe site of Riverton’s Centennial Park. Donationsand bequests are tax deductable. In 2008 theNewIcelandHeritageMuseummadeapplication to theCanadianNationalHistoricSitesDirectoratetohaveSigtryggurJónassondeclareda“PersonofNationalHistoric Significance.” This application has beensupportedbyaHistoricalServicesBranchresearcherwitharecommendationthatthecommemorationbesituatedatRiverton–Sigtryggur’shomecommunity



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counterat theDalnavertVisitors’Centreduringregularoperatinghours,WednesdaytoSunday.Cash,cheque,VisaorMastercardareaccepted.

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Important Reminders

MHS Book Club Schedule, 2010–2011

Unlessnoted,meetingsareonMondays7–9pmatDalnavertVisitors’Centre.PleaseconfirmattendancewithJudyat204-475-6666.WPL=WinnipegPublicLibrary

13 September, guest Allan Levine, Coming of Age: A History of the Jewish People in Manitoba (2009) (WPL 20 copies)

13 October (Wednesday), Stuart Houston speaking on Tommy’s Team: The People Behind the Douglas Years by Stuart Houston and Bill Waiser (2010)

8 November, Loyal Till Death: Indians and the North-West Rebellion by Blair Stonechild and Bill Waiser (1997, WPL 11 copies) leader Maggie Keller; [alternative: Rudy Wiebe, Big Bear (2008) (WPL 11 copies)

10 January 2011, Icelandic heritage suggested reading: George J. Houser, Pioneer Icelandic Pastor: The Life of the Reverend Paul Thorlaksson (1990, 1 copy WPL)

14 February 2011, guest Donna G. Sutherland, Nahoway: A Dis-tant Voice (2009) (WPL 3 copies), leader Shirlee Anne Smith

14 March 2011, John Boyko, Bennett: A Remarkable Life (2010) (WPL on order) leader Jim Alward

11 April 2011, Charlotte Gray, Flint & Feather: The Life and Times of E. Pauline Johnson, Tekahionwake (2002, WPL 5 copies) leader Céline Kear

9 May 2011, 6:00 pm: potluck dinner at Dalnavert, choose books for next year

andthesiteofhisadministrationastheelectedheadof New Iceland. Confirmation of the designationis expected in 2010. For more information seethe website www.Icelandicriver.com. Direct allcorrespondence and contributions to IRHS at Box555,Riverton,MB,R0C2R0.

The Morden Times reports new developmentsat the Pembina Threshermen’s Museum. Fivebuildingsonthemuseumgroundsweredesignatedas municipal heritage sites in September 2009.TheReimer loghouse1878,Braun loghouse1885,RoseisleUnitedChurch1891,MordenCPRStation1906 and Pomeroy School 1909. The museuminherited hundreds of artefacts from the formerMorden andDistrictMuseum in 2009. The annualSeptember Reunion Threshing Days has beenchangedtotheSeptemberlongweekendFridayandSaturday, 3 and 4 September. Visit the website atwww.threshermensmuseum.com

The Morden TimesreportsonthelaunchofthePembina Valley Passport Adventure 2010.Interactiveexhibitsfrom19museumswithin thePembinaValleyweredisplayed at Winkler’s Southland Mall. Passportsare free and available at everymuseum.Passportslist the participatingmuseums and people receiveastampinthepassportforeachmuseumthattheyvisit. Passports are entered in a prize draw at theendoftheseason.The19museumsare:NeubergthalNational Historic Site, Plum Coulee Museum,Crystal City Community Printing Museum,Marringhurst Heritage House and School, GoldenPrairieArtsCouncil,Roland4HMuseum,GalleryinthePark,DufferinHistoricalMuseum,DarlingfordSchool Heritage Building andMuseum,ArchibaldHistorical Museum, Pembina-Manitou Log HouseTourism Centre, Miami Railway Station Museum,Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre, ManitobaBaseballHall of Fame, PembinaHillsArts Centre,Morris & District Centennial Museum, ManitobaDairyMuseum,SaintClaudeGAOLMuseum,andManitobaThreshermen’sMuseum.

MHS Executive Committee Elected at the Annual General Meeting

HarryDuckworth–PresidentAnnabelleMays–FirstVicePresident

JamesKostuchuk–SecondVicePresidentGwynethJones–Treasurer

GordonGoldsborough–SecretaryDennisButcher–Member-at-LargeJoyceWawrykow–Member-at-Large



Calendar of Events

Manitoba Historical Society

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Time Lines,Vol.42,No.5,2010

ISSN1715-8567

Time Lines isthenewsletteroftheManitobaHistoricalSociety,©2010.Itscontentsmaybecopiedsolongasthesourceisacknowledged. Time Lines is published bi-monthly andsubmissionsarewelcome.Copydeadlinesare:1February,1April,1June,1August,1October,and1December.

Membership fees for the Manitoba Historical Society are:Individual $40, Family $45,Youth/Student $20,Non-profitInstitution $50, andCorporations $275. Rates toUSA andothercountriesareslightlyhigher.SeetheMHSwebsitefordetails.

Manitoba Historical Society,est1879www.mhs.mb.ca

President:Dr.HarryDuckworthChiefAdministrativeOfficer:JacquelineFriesen

Time Lines Editor:BillFraser,[email protected] Lines Layout:SalixConsulting

Office & 61CarltonStreetDalnavert Winnipeg,Manitoba,R3C1N7 Office:204-947-0559,[email protected] Dalnavert:204-943-2835,[email protected]

Ross House 140MeadeStreetN,Winnipeg,Manitoba 204-943-3958,[email protected]

Mail to:Manitoba Historical Society 61 Carlton StreetWinnipeg, MB R3C 1N7Telephone: 204-947-0559Email: [email protected]

I want to renew or join* the MHS as a:

Youth/Student Member ($20)Regular Member ($40)

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$50 $75 $100 $200 $*Seeourwebsite(www.mhs.mb.ca)

forannualmembershipratesintheUSAandothercountries

Forupdatesandmoreinformation,seewww.mhs.mb.ca/news

31August RossHouseclosesfortheseason

13September MHSBookClubMeetingatDalnavert;Guest:AllanLevineComing of Age: A History of the Jewish People in Manitoba

13October StewartHustonspeakingonTommy’s Team: The People behind the Douglas Years by StewartHuston andBillWaiseratDalnavert

30September MHS tour of St. John’sCathedralCemetery.More details will beavailableinthenextTime Lines.

Homes of Memorable ManitobansNominatethehomeofanoteworthyManitobantoreceiveacommemorativeplaque:

www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/homes

president’s report to annual general meeting, 29 may 2010july / august 2010 president’s report...

Documents