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August 4, 2022
Free Summer Tours! Strolling Through History on the Grounds of Kennedy House
The Kennedy House Renewal Committee is pleased to announce that an interpreter will be on the grounds of the house (417 River Road in St. Andrews) to share the significant stories of Captain William Kennedy, his family, and his many exploits throughout the month of August 2022. Outdoor tours will operate Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7:30pm, and Sunday afternoons at 1:00pm, 2:00pm, and 3:00pm. The 20 to 30 minute walk-and-talk interpretive tours of the property and gardens will offer an overview of both Kennedy and his famed house, constructed in 1866. Visitors will meet in the riverside parking lot south of the house and also will have ample opportunity to enjoy the well tended gardens on the property. The tours are free of charge. Please note the house is not open.
Kennedy was a Métis fur trader, arctic explorer, entrepreneur, and political trailblazer – a truly remarkable figure in early Canadian history. He commanded two expeditions in search of Sir John Franklin’s lost arctic voyage. He was a founding member of the Winnipeg Board of Trade and Manitoba Historical Society, as well as a magistrate and Board of Education member. Kennedy was an early vocal proponent for Manitoba’s confederation and a political agitator against the Hudson’s Bay Company’s monopoly over Rupertsland. He also served as a peacekeeper during the Red River Resistance, negotiating with Riel for non-violence, and in the 1880s advocated for the establishment of a railway to Churchill. And there is much more!
Visitors will note that some repairs to the historic Kennedy House have been undertaken by the Province to address foundation issues. Fire safety upgrades are planned and it is hoped the house, once again, will open to the public in the future.
The Kennedy House Renewal Committee is a community-based committee of Red River North Tourism that has been authorized by the RM of St. Andrews to consult with the Province on the future of this historic house.
For further information contact Red River North Tourism: info@redrivernorthtourism.com
