The clearest expression of a community’s character is offered through its buildings. And in many small Manitoba towns this quality is focused in their historic architecture – the commercial core, impressive churches, streets lined with fine houses.
As interest in historic architecture grew in the 1970s and 1980s, and tourists sought out interesting local landmarks, many communities showcased some of their most impressive structures.
What often was missing in these endeavours was a thorough review of a town’s sites of potential significance, followed by an objective selection of a handful of buildings that would most effectively describe all aspects of a community’s real, authentic architectural heritage – the variety of functions, wealth of materials, fine craftsmanship, important styles. Also sometimes overlooked in the efforts to promote key local sites was the potential to examine historical and architectural themes that could be combined to define a whole community’s distinct and authentic heritage claims.
In 2008, the Province of Manitoba, with support from the Federal Government’s Historic Places Initiative, undertook this work in a number of small towns. The result of the subsequent eight years of dedicated activity, by local heritage groups and provincial heritage specialists, is presented here.
The 20 towns and nearly 300 buildings and sites featured in the following reports offer an unparalleled opportunity to explore Manitoba’s best small-town buildings. There is no other resource or venue in the province that provides this essential catalogue. In clear, concise, definitive texts, this indispensable reference captures all the historical and architectural themes that combine to describe Manitoba’s small-town built heritage.
(Please note – there are still 14 more small-town building projects underway. Final results will be added to the Heritage Manitoba website as they become available.)
The Reports
- Baldur-Argyle Landmarks
- Birtle Landmarks
- Boissevain Landmarks
- Carberry Landmarks
- Carman Dufferin Landmarks
- Cypress R.M. Landmarks
- De Salaberry-St. Pierre Landmarks
- Dunnottar Landmarks
- Gimli Landmarks
- Gladstone Landmarks
- Grand Marais Landmarks
- Hartney Landmarks
- Melita Landmarks
- Morris R.M. Landmarks
- Pembina-Manitou Landmarks
- Portage la Prairie Commercial Landmarks
- Rivers-Daly Landmarks
- St. Clements Landmarks
- The Pas Landmarks
- Winnipeg Beach Landmarks