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Winnipeg Free Press
7 days ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Dalnavert shines during Doors Open Winnipeg
West End I really enjoyed touring Dalnavert House during Doors Open Winnipeg. There were many interesting and historic locales welcoming visitors during Heritage Winnipeg's annual weekend event (held May 24 and 25) but Dalnavert House didn't disappoint. The museum, which includes an attached visitor centre, is nestled downtown at 61 Carlton St. The grounds are verdant and the garden is blooming. The gothic-looking Victorian mansion was built for Hugh John MacDonald, the son of Sir John A Macdonald, and his family in 1895. (At that time many well-to-do Winnipeggers lived just south of Broadway.) Volunteers in period costume imparted interesting facts and anecdotes about life in the house from the moment my group stepped onto the faithfully restored veranda. Photo by Anne Hawe The coal stove in the kitchen at Dalnavert is one reminder of how different life was more than a century ago. Hugh John was a notable Manitoban. A lawyer and politician, he was premier of the province for a very short time before becoming Winnipeg's magistrate. Although he took a hard line against strikers during the Winnipeg general strike in 1919, he was also known to let women and children sleep in the basement instead of being sent to Vaughan Street jail for stealing. History is complicated and the museum doesn't sugarcoat it. The jewel-toned carpet and wallpaper, the narrow hallways, and the beautifully appointed rooms on the first floor were atmospheric. The icebox and the cumbersome coal-burning stove in the kitchen illuminated how hard the cook and the maid would have worked to put food on the table — all with only half a day off, on Sundays. The white doorknobs in the kitchen? They were there to ensure the help washed their hands in case typhoid, influenza or Spanish flu lurked. After Hugh John died in 1929, his wife, Agnes, couldn't afford the upkeep. The house sat empty before being converted into a rooming house. The Manitoba Historical Society bought it from a developer then spent several years painstakingly renovating it before opening it as a museum in 1974. The doors closed in 2013 but the newly formed Friends of Dalnavert Museum non-profit re-opened it in 2015. The vibrant and community-minded organization brings history to life at the museum. lists Victorian themed workshops and events coming up this month. There is everything from a flower pressing workshop to watercolour painting in the garden while sipping mimosas to a foodie tour featuring Victorian snacks. Mondays A weekly look at news and events that matter in your communities. Perennially popular tours listed include Dalnavert on Drugs which explores Victorian drug culture, and Behind the Ropes which offers a closer look at Dalnavert's many rooms. Only the visitors centre and the first floor are accessible so there is a virtual tour of the house on the site. And admission is always free on the second Saturday of every month with family-friendly activities included. Anne HaweWest End community correspondent Anne Hawe is a community correspondent for the West End. She can be reached at annie_hawe@ Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Global News
A look back at Winnipeg's flood of 1950, 75 years later
As emergency crews fight wildfires across the province this year, three-quarters of a century ago, Winnipeg and Manitoba were dealing with a much different natural disaster. It was 75 years ago this spring that Winnipeg was in crisis mode, surrounded and submerged by floodwaters. View image in full screen An aerial view of Winnipeg during the flood of 1950. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives View image in full screen A cornerstore surrounded by floodwaters. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives View image in full screen Annabella Street in Winnipeg underwater during the flood of 1950. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives The flood of 1950 marked one of the most devastating natural disasters within city limits, triggered by the melting of heavy spring snow and then heavy rainfall. The Red River peaked at 9.2 metres at James Avenue in Winnipeg in May 1950. It was the worst flood in the Red River Valley since 1861. Story continues below advertisement 'That particular April there was two times as much snow as we normally had, and it was also warm,' said Greg Agnew, the president of Heritage Winnipeg. 'It hit St. Norbert and Fort Garry first, so the University of Manitoba ended up being under water.' View image in full screen The University of Manitoba's Fort Garry campus during the flood of 1950. Credit / University of Manitoba Digital Archives Floodwaters reached up to the second storey of homes, the rush hour commute through city streets saw boats and canoes replace vehicles, and downtown Winnipeg landmarks, power stations, schools and hospitals were surrounded by rising water levels, dikes and causeways. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'It's kind of surreal to think of people just paddling around,' Agnew said. View image in full screen Winnipeg's flood of 1950. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives View image in full screen The causeway to the Rover Street station during the flood of 1950. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives View image in full screen Flooded downtown Winnipeg streets near the Manitoba legislative building. Courtesy / Province of Manitoba Archives View image in full screen People fleeing their homes via a raft. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives Those moments are carefully documented at the City of Winnipeg Archives through newspaper clippings, minutes of emergency council and committee meetings, and countless photos, many of which have been recently digitized. Story continues below advertisement 'The ones that most people are interested in are the ones that kind of show water absolutely everywhere. About one-eighth of the city was underwater during that time,' said Jarad Buckwold, a digital archivist for the City of Winnipeg. View image in full screen A man wades through a flooded greenhouse. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives View image in full screen A group of men work to get a fence out of the propeller of a piece of flood-fighting equipment. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives View image in full screen Residents get into a boat to leave their Wellington Crescent home. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives A state of emergency was declared and the Red Cross and the military were brought in to assist with evacuations. Story continues below advertisement 'The Red Cross set up in the civic auditorium on Vaughan Street and they sort of turned that into their flood relief HQ,' Buckwold said. 'Approximately 100,000 people evacuated during the flood, which was about a third of the size of Winnipeg at the time.' View image in full screen A young evacuee with a puppy in the Red Cross's evacuee headquarters during the flood of 1950. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives View image in full screen The Red Cross hands out packs of cigarettes to workers building dikes during Winnipeg's flood of 1950. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives The flood, which lasted 51 days, destroyed approximately 10,000 homes and damaged 5,000 buildings. Four of the city's 11 bridges were also damaged beyond repair and needed to be replaced. It's estimated the flood caused about $125.5 million in damages, which would be about $1 billion today. Story continues below advertisement The flood prompted the construction of the floodway during the 1960s, then known as 'Duff's Ditch' in recognition of then-premier Duff Roblin. The province estimates that since 1968, the floodway has prevented tens of billions of dollars in flood damage. Buckwold says it's important to keep these events well-documented, as the response is something that can be learned from for decades to come. 'Flooding will happen again, it always has, it probably always will,' Buckwold said. 'And by getting a sense of how it was dealt with, it will help us in the future to better prepare and hopefully prevent any sort of disaster on that scale from happening.'
Winnipeg Free Press
14-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Explore Winnipeg with Doors Open
Winnipeg One of my favourite local tourism events is Doors Open 'Portes Ouvertes' Winnipeg. The annual weekend organized by Heritage Winnipeg — this year on May 24 and 25 — offers up free tours of interesting locales all over the city. Take a look at the website, decide where you want to go, note the dates, times and policies, and go. Here are some ideas. This year marks a century of military aviation history with the 100th anniversary of Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg. One of Canada's oldest air force bases, 17 Wing opened in 1925 and played a major role in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during the Second World War. Today, 17 Wing is a vital hub for the Royal Canadian Air Force, delivering aircrew training, supporting fighter operations, and providing administrative and logistical support to over 113 units across Canada. They'll open their doors for family friendly activities, guided base tours, and a rare behind-the-scenes look inside military operations. Get a glimpse of sustainable prairie life with a guided tour of solar-powered Aurora Farm. Located on a historic Métis river lot in south Winnipeg, the farm's diverse operations are testament to its commitment to sustainability, organic gardening, native prairie restoration, and the Indigenous teachings that guide its practices. The resident goats, alpacas, chickens, and horses transform the farm's commerce potential even further, through the production of artisanal items like goats' milk soap and alpaca fleece. A fun opportunity to see first-hand how ecological practices are alive and thriving. Free Press file photo Aurora Farm is one of many local institutions opening its doors to the public during Doors Open 'Portes Ouvertes' Winnipeg, which takes place May 24 and 25. Discover Winnipeg's naturally grown heritage at Living Prairie Museum, a unique urban nature preserve and stunning example of endangered tall-grass prairie habitats. The 13-hectare park protects one of the last remaining patches of authentic prairie in the province, with over 150 species of grasses and wildflowers. Walk the scenic trails, have a sit-down at the seating areas, or stop by the interpretive centre with hands-on exhibits and activities that reveal more about Manitoba's floras and faunas. Be sure to take a piece of the prairies home with you, too, with Prairie Flora Greenhouse on-site selling native plants. Winnipeg's West End is a vibrant neighbourhood where history and architecture intertwine. Developed during the city's rapid growth between 1890 and 1912, it boasts a tapestry of heritage buildings and cultural landmarks. The area is also renowned for its mural collection, depicting stories of local heroes and cultural milestones. A guided tour will take you on a journey to explore the many gems, structures, and monuments that make up the West End, and share about the diverse communities that have shaped the neighbourhood's character over the past 135 years. Mondays A weekly look at news and events that matter in your communities. Going back even further… it was 1881 when cousins George and John Galt II built a wooden boat and began rowing on the Red River in Point Douglas. Their passion led to the founding of the Winnipeg Rowing Club — officially incorporated in 1883 and recognized by provincial legislation in 1886 — and kick-started what would become a rich history of rowing in Manitoba. Today, the WRC runs learn-to-row, recreational and competitive programs out of the 'big blue boathouse' on Lyndale Drive. During Open Doors Winnipeg, members of the public can tour the club, test out the ergometers, or try their hands at dockside rowing, or on the water. RoseAnna SchickTravelations RoseAnna Schick is an avid traveller and music lover who seeks inspiration wherever she goes. Email her at rasinspired@ Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
