September 10, 2026

St. Boniface Museum Receives $400,000 Boost for Ongoing Restoration

One of Winnipeg’s oldest and most significant heritage buildings is receiving another boost toward its ongoing restoration. The federal government has announced $400,000 in additional funding to support work at the St. Boniface Museum, the former Grey Nuns’ Convent on 494 Taché Avenue.

Constructed between 1846 and 1851, this remarkable building has witnessed generations of Manitoba history. Over the years, it has served as a convent, school, Western Canada’s first hospital, and today holds national, provincial and municipal heritage designations.

The museum has been closed since June 2024 while major renovations are underway. Work has included reinforcing the roof structure, upgrading the building’s heating and cooling systems, and fully rebuilding the third floor. The next phase will be exterior work on the windows, shutters and doors, as well as improvements to make the museum’s main entrance accessible.

The new funding comes as the building celebrates the 175th anniversary of its completion in 1851. The museum is planning a gradual reopening beginning in October, with additional spaces and exhibits opening as work progresses. Celebrations are planned for summer 2027.

We’re excited to see continued investment in the conservation of this extraordinary piece of Winnipeg’s built heritage and to see it welcoming visitors once again!

Featured Image: Watercolour depicting the St. Boniface Cathedral and the Grey Nuns’ Convent at the forks of the Red and Assiniboine rivers by William Henry Edward Napier, 1857–1858. Source: Library and Archives Canada, Item ID 3007571, reproduction e010765300 (cropped, public domain)