Festival du Voyageur’s history
It was in 1967 that the idea for a small winter festival took root among certain brave citizens of Saint-Boniface. They gathered under the banner of the Chamber of Commerce of Saint-Boniface and approached the city to obtain solid financial support. Unfortunately, the offer they were given wasn’t good enough to support such an ambitious project. No Festival in 1967. At that time, the idea might have been premature, but it did not die for long! The following year, the same group came back with their idea, but this time with the support and participation of 18 city organizations. The City of St-Boniface guaranteed its full support and in 1970, as part of Manitoba’s centennial celebrations, people got a taste of Festival du Voyageur for the first time. Mr. Georges Forest was dedicated to the task of promoting this enterprise, dressed in 1815’s fashion; he became the first “Official Voyageur”! In 1972, Festival du Voyageur would be officially symbolized by a toque and a pair of boots, after the winning ice sculpture in the previous year’s competition.
Sometime later, in 1978, the board of Festival realized a project that was dear to them for a long time: to develop Whittier Park into a permanent site for Festival du Voyageur. Provencher Park, which had been the focal point of all the outdoor activities since 1970, had become too small. The construction began on log cabins that could be used all year and would form the nucleus of a historic reconstruction of what would one day be called “Fort Gibraltar”.
In 1981 the administrative council takes the decision to purchase an empty warehouse on 768 Taché Avenue to make the building a permanent site and home for Festival du Voyageur. More commonly known as the “Rendez-vous”, the site would host through the years many functions such as banquets, dances, shows, conferences, concerts, expositions, television programs etc. The Rendez-vous would also be home to the “Canot”, the gathering location to all members of Festival du Voyageur and the franco-manitoban community.
In 1991, Festival became the first recipient of the Spirit of Manitoba award given by the tourism industry of Manitoba and was names, at the same occasion, to the Manitoba’s tourism industry Hall of Fame. This placed Festival du Voyageur in the ranks of the largest events in the province.
In 1999, Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary with lots of energy and spirit. For the occasion, a new Aboriginal Camp is unveiled near the Fort, honouring the close relationship between the voyageurs and the aboriginals. By the end of the year the government would also announce a financial support towards the construction of the house that would serve as a banquet and reception centre in Fort Gibraltar; “La maison du Bourgeois”.
Festival du Voyageur turned the page on history when the decision was taken to sell the Rendez-vous, in 2006. Moving the offices on 233, Provencher Boulevard would mark a new beginning for the team. The new building, strategically located at the heart of Saint-Boniface, is also home to a new boutique offering festival’s merchandise on a year round basis.
Now dubbed the « world’s largest kitchen party », Festival du Voyageur brings in more than 77 000 people to its 10 day celebration and more than 14 000 students to its school program. Even the coldest temperatures don’t stop the avid voyageurs from celebrating!
