Why a Manitoba landmark is closed for its 50th anniversary

CTV News

12 hours ago

An iconic Manitoba landmark that's celebrating its 50th anniversary this year is closed for the season due to a need for structural repairs.
Grant's Old Mill is a replica flour mill that has stood on Portage Avenue near Sturgeon Road for decades.
Former Premier Ed Schreyer opened the mill in 1975 as part of Winnipeg's centennial celebrations. Over the years, it's become a historical museum and a destination for school trips and visitors. It's also a functioning mill where Manitobans can watch a demonstration of how flour is milled.
According to Kelly Ryback, a board member for the St. James Assiniboia Pioneer Association which oversees the mill, the replica was built in 1974. It features a sluice, which is a sliding grate to control the flow of water, and a wheel.
'When the water was running through the sluice, the wheel would turn, but that wheel does not turn stones,' he explained.
'There's an electric motor that turns the stones allowing it to mill the grain.'
However, things are shifting as the mill reaches its 50th birthday milestone, which will celebrate an important figure of Manitoba's past.
Grant's Old Mill
The interior of Grant's Old Mill in Winnipeg, Man. (Kelly Ryback/St. James Assiniboia Pioneer Association)
The history behind the mill
Grant's Old Mill may have opened in the 1970s, but its history dates back over a century.
The site is a replica of a mill built in 1829 by Métis leader Cuthbert Grant and serves as a place to honour his contributions to the province.
Grant is hailed by many as the founder of the Métis nation. He was appointed captain general of the Métis people by the Northwest Company, and then in 1816, he led his nation to victory against Hudson's Bay Company governor Robert Semple in the Battle of Seven Oaks.
'(This battle is) the first time that we flew under the infinity flag,' said Laura Forsythe, assistant professor at the University of Winnipeg in the faculty of education.
'We fought against the oppressive, colonial government trying to enforce a series of laws onto the people here who are Métis.'
Grant's legacy continued in 1829 when he created the first water-powered mill in Western Canada.
'The mill itself in 1829 was a failure,' Forsythe said.
'It just never really took off, and Grant actually ended up relocating the grinding stones to Grantown, which we now know as St. Francois Xavier, and it was used in that location for years.'
Forsythe noted that historians don't view the mill as a 'total failure' because it's seen as an important historical landmark, adding that it was the first instance of hydro use in the Red River settlement.
Why the mill is important
Forsythe said for the last 50 years, Grant's Old Mill has reminded Winnipeggers of those who came before us and served as a symbol of belonging to the Métis people.
'Right in Winnipeg, we get to see a slice of Canadian history.'
She added that Grant is a bit of an 'unsung hero' to Manitoba, and it's important for more people to recognize all he has done.
'This mill helps everyday Winnipeggers and everyday Canadians know a little bit more about the legacy of the Métis nation and all of the folks who helped it come to be,' she said.
Grant's Old Mill
An image of a painting of Cuthbert Grant at Grant's Old Mill in Winnipeg, Man. (Kelly Ryback/St. James Assiniboia Pioneer Association)
Why the mill is closed
Though it's celebrating 50 years in 2025, the mill is closed to the public this summer as it's in need of repairs.
According to Ryback, the mill's sluice has been wiped out by ice, the wheel is damaged and the stackable logs that form the walls are deteriorating.
He noted the St. James Assiniboia Pioneer Association has known for years about the state of the mill, adding that the group has plans not only for reconstruction, but to enhance the destination and its programming for the future.
Ryback expects the mill will be open again in 2027.
'It's a site that we want to have reconstructed, but then become of even greater enjoyment and use for the residents and tourists to enjoy,' he said.
Despite the closure, the St. James Assiniboia Pioneer Association still has plans to celebrate the mill's 50th anniversary with an event on July 12. The celebration will include a full day of activities including a 50/50 draw, reenactors, games, musical performances, and a jigging contest.