After being closed for more than a decade, the Captain William Kennedy House has reopened, bringing visitors back to one of Manitoba’s beloved heritage sites. The stone mansion on the Red River is now home to the Heritage Tea Room and welcomed guests again this spring after extensive conservation, being driven by community advocacy.

Built in 1866 during the Red River Colony era, the house was constructed for Capt. William Kennedy. He was a Métis explorer, Hudson’s Bay Company worker, advocate, and prominent community leader. Kennedy played a sizeable role in the early development of Western Canada and was an early supporter of Manitoba joining Confederation.

The provincially designated heritage site closed in 2015 after engineers identified serious structural problems. At the time, many worried it would never reopen. Instead, the closure began a decade of advocacy led by Red River North Tourism and the Kennedy House Renewal Committee, formed in 2016 with support from the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews. The group, along with Heritage Winnipeg, pushed successive provincial governments to fund restoration.

The province eventually committed about $1.4 million to the project. The repairs were completed in phases, including foundation stabilization, reconstruction of lower levels, kitchen upgrades, and installation of accessible washrooms to meet modern building codes.

The president of Red River North Tourism, Lois Wales says she’s very happy with the result after lobbying for the building’s renovations, “The whole purpose was to save the building and that has been done. This was very important to the community.” She also noted the house and surrounding area remain an important part of the region’s identity and tourism industry. (“Decade Later, High Tea Returns,” Winnipeg Free Press, April 30, 2026, Winnipeg Free Press.)

Local restaurateur Musette Fowke now operates the tea room under a provincial lease. She said she pursued the opportunity as soon as restoration was complete. “When the province put the bid out, I jumped at the opportunity.” (Ibid) The Heritage Tea Room now operates year-round from Wednesday to Sunday. It offers breakfast, lunch, brunch, and traditional high tea. A new coffee bar has also been added, along with views of the Red River from the veranda and gardens.

For many Manitobans, the reopening has brought back personal memories of visits, family gatherings, and afternoons spent by the river.

Janice Campbell, whose grandparents owned the home from the 1940s to 1967, said the reopening feels very personal. “I helped my grandmother with the garden there,” she said. “I can’t wait to go back and try this new tea room.” (Ibid)

Beyond dining, supporters hope the restored house becomes a wider cultural space that tells the story of the Kennedy family, exhibits Indigenous and Métis art, culture and craft, and allows visitors to explore and learn more about the historic communities north of Winnipeg. (Red River North Tourism, “Kennedy House Update,” Red River North Tourism, April 30, 2026, https://www.redrivernorthtourism.com/kennedy-house-update)

Ultimately, the return of tea service at Captain Kennedy House marks an achievement in preservation and the revival of a landmark with deep importance to Manitoba’s heritage.

Learn more about Kennedy House:

Kennedy House in September 2021.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg

Thank you to the Kennedy House Renewal Committee for this update on Kennedy House!

Feature Image: Kennedy House in in September 2021. Source: Heritage Winnipeg.