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Connections to Riel in St. Vital

September 18, 2021 @ 13:00 - 16:00

$10.00
Connections to Riel in St. Vital

Few people think about St. Vital as a place that is connected in many ways to Louis Riel.

The idea behind the Connections to Riel in St. Vital tour is to create a greater awareness of the important role St. Vital played in Louis Riel’s life and introduce the many connections to Riel and his immediate family that exist in St. Vital. It has been a journey of discovery, often on my bicycle, for me to learn about these connections and I am hoping to convey insights that I have acquired to others. The tour consists of nine sites near the Seine River between Bishop Grandin and John Bruce Road, and 4 sites away from the Seine River including Riel House National Historic Site.  Because of the long distance between some of the sites, we decided to offer a bike tour as a walking tour would take too long.

Why so many connections to Riel in St. Vital?

What few people realize is that Louis Riel spent a significant portion of his youth living in St. Vital.  His parents moved to St. Vital from St. Boniface in 1852 when he was 7 years old. He lived on the banks of the Seine River in St. Vital with his parents for seven formative years from age 7 to 14. At age 14 he went to Montreal on a scholarship to attend a seminary where he trained to be a priest and received a classic upper school education.  He returned to Manitoba in 1866 rejoining his family in St. Vital. While he was leading the Red River Resistance in 1869/70, he continued to live with his family near the Seine River in St.Vital.

His parents continued living in St. Vital for the remainder of their lives, Many of his 10 brothers and sisters settled down in St. Vital, As we will discover on this tour, the St. Vital connections to Riel involve not only Louis but also his parents and other family members

The values, beliefs, and leadership qualities that Louis exhibited in his later years were acquired during his youth, from his parents, his Catholic religion and the Franco / Metis culture he belonged to.

On this bike tour, participants will discover how St. Vital played an important role in Riel’s life and how the community has embraced him as their favourite son and the Riel family as their favourite family.  You will visit:

  • where Riel lived with his family for much of his youth,
  • where the Riel family river property was located
  • where his father and uncle operated at carding and grist mill on the Seine River
  • where Riel lived while he was leading the Red River Resistance
  • where the Riel’s body was returned to after he was hanged in Regina in 1885, and he lay in state for two days with hundreds of people coming by to pay their respects
  • public buildings, streets, parks, housing developments and monuments  named for or dedicated to Louis Riel, his father and his mother

As well, participants will

  • see how St. Vital Centre is located right in the middle of what was once the Riel family river lot property
  • learn about Riel’s parent, Louis Sr. and Julie Lagimodiere and how they influenced his aspirations, beliefs and commitment to the Metis people, French language and Catholic religion their respects
  • learn about Riel’s French Canadian and indigenous ancestry
  • learn about Louis Riel’s three coffins

We will visit 12 or 13 sites on this tour.

Near Seine River

  • Louis Riel Senior Trail
  • Riel Family Home Site (2nd Bollard on Trail)
  • Richfield Street ( Riel Family River Lot)
  • Chateau Louis Riel
  • Riel Sr. Mill Site
  • Riel Sr. Mill Stones former site
  • Louis Riel Recreational Park
  • Riel Memorial Monument (2 white doves)
  • Riel Estates

Away from Seine River

  • Ecole Julie Riel School
  • Louis Riel Library
  • Riel Street
  • Riel House National Historic Site

Tickets are just $10 plus fees. Purchase tickets here.

You can find more Bike Winnipeg rides here.

Details

Date:
September 18, 2021
Time:
13:00 - 16:00
Cost:
$10.00
Event Category:
Event Tags:
Website:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/167749095059

Organizer

Bike Winnipeg

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