A former library, credited by St. Boniface residents with helping to preserve the French language, may itself be protected in the future.
A City of Winnipeg committee is studying whether it should add 255 De La Cathedrale Avenue — the former City of St. Boniface Provencher Park library branch — to its list of historical resources, which would protect it against demolition.
“The French library reflects two things. It was a grassroots acknowledgement and support to… the French language when, in fact, French was not even allowed to be taught in schools in Manitoba (at the time the building was planned). It’s also an example of the community of St. Boniface, as a separate city (prior to joining Winnipeg),” said Walter Kleinschmit, president of Héritage Saint-Boniface.
The building was one of three identical French libraries built in 1961, along with the Windsor Park and Norwood branches, in what was then the separate City of St. Boniface. While it has not been a library since 1987, Kleinschmit said the city-owned structure itself warrants protection.
“A library is no longer needed there, but we want the building to be alive and used for the community… It’s the historical element, the historical importance, the significance,” he said.
Previously, it wasn’t clear if the property would be considered for a heritage designation. Council’s property and development committee delayed a vote on the matter during a meeting in February, when the one-storey building was noted as having the potential for redevelopment.
“This… is an ideal location for infill and redevelopment, with potentially having vertical mixed-use on that important corner,” said Hazel Borys, the city’s planning, property and development director, at the time.
During the same meeting, Borys said the city-owned former Norwood library at 120 Eugenie St., which received an earlier nomination for the heritage designation, was constructed with the same plan as the De La Cathedrale Avenue building and appeared more suited to a heritage protection.
“(The Eugenie) location is both better preserved and… you get engagement with the street, making that a very active pedestrian-friendly street and streetscape,” said Borys.
However, the director later chose to nominate 255 De La Cathedrale Avenue after hearing delegates speak about its significance at the committee’s March 7 meeting, which means it is now being reviewed by the historical buildings and resources committee, said city spokesman Kalen Qually, in an email.
“It is expected that (committee) will make a formal recommendation on (the potential) listing next month and that recommendation will come back to the (property and development committee) for a decision,” wrote Qually.
Since the director can independently make a nomination, a political vote is no longer required to order the review.
Qually noted the building’s façades and interior don’t appear to have been significantly altered over time.
“The structure is a good example of the international style of modern architecture, with its lack of attached ornamentation, angular lines, flat roofline, and thin line of clerestory (upper level clear) windows. St. Boniface is one of the earliest areas, in what became Winnipeg, to be settled permanently by non-First Nations people and it has played an important role in Manitoba’s history,” he wrote.
Coun. Matt Allard, who represents St. Boniface and first called for the heritage study, said it makes sense for the historical buildings and resources committee to explore the property.
“Personally, it’s part of my own history in St. Boniface. It’s got value to me. Whether or not the building has elements that merit (a heritage designation)… is why we have an expert panel (on this committee) and that’s why I’m asking them,” said Allard.
In addition to its tenant, the Club Eclipse seniors group, Allard said the building houses artifacts from the St. Boniface Museum.
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Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Joyanne loves to tell the stories of this city, especially when politics is involved. Joyanne became the city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press in early 2020.