Manitoba Organization: Manitoba Heritage Federation

This incorporated, non-profit organization was established on 26 January 1985 to promote, encourage, develop, and preserve Manitoba’s heritage among groups around the province. Among the groups that participated were the Association of Manitoba Archivists, Association of Manitoba Museums, Carberry Plains Culture Centre, La societe historique de Saint Boniface, Manitoba Archaeological Society, Manitoba Genealogical Society, Manitoba Historical Society, Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature, Morden and District Museum, Swan Valley Museum, Transcona Historical Museum, Vintage Locomotive Society, and Western Canada Aviation Museum. For several years in the late 1980s, the Federation published a newsletter called Heritage Spectrum.

Using funds provided to it from provincial lotteries and gaming, by 1992, the Manitoba Heritage Federation had given over 700 grants to some 300 organizations. At that time, the Manitoba government took over operation of the Heritage Grants Program. In 1995, the Federation inaugurated an awards program, in commemoration of Manitoba’s 125th birthday, that were presented every 18 months between 1995 and 1999. The organization became inactive by 2001.

Presidents

Period	Principal
1985	Terry Patterson
1986-1987	Ruth Mary Breckman (1932-2017)
1987-1989	Diane Haglund
1989-?	?
?-?	Paul Overgaard
?-2000	?
2000-2001	Don Fyk

Award Recipients (Individual)

Award Recipient	Award	Year
Sydney James Allen	Regional Volunteer	1996
Douglas Andrew	Regional Volunteer	1998
Peter Bilash (1924-2006)	President’s	2001
Nicole Botterill	Youth Special Recognition	1996
Remi Bouchard	Heritage Publication	1998
Elgin Chute	Regional Volunteer	1999
Gail Davis	Regional Volunteer	1999
Vic Edwards	Heritage Tourism	1999
Erin Galbraith	Youth Special Recognition	1996
Jean Oscar “John” Guiboche (1927-2003)	D. L. Campbell	1998
Elwood W. Heath	Regional Volunteer	1996
Dorothy Campbell Henderson (1916-2009)	President’s	1998
Edwin Beresford “Eddie” Johanson (1920-2009)	?	2001
Leo Friman Kristjanson (1932-2005)	Regional Volunteer	1996
Ben V. Kroeker	Heritage Publication	1996
Elsie Demchuk Lesyk (1926-2014)	Heritage Preservation	1996
Royden K. Loewen	Outstanding Contribution	1996
Bob Mackenzie	President’s	1996
Brandi Martin	Youth Special Recognition	1996
Edward Gordon McGill (1929-2021)	Regional Volunteer	1999
Arthur McIntyre	Regional Volunteer	1999
William G. McKay	D. L. Campbell	1999
Myrtle McKenzie	Regional Volunteer	1998
Kristy McLean	Youth Special Recognition	1996
Gerald Morran	Special Recognition	1998
Cecil Pittman	Special Recognition	1999
Mary Rosalia Prokopowich (1916-2003)	Heritage Publication	1998
Wayne Ralph	Special Recognition	1999
Joe Robertson	D. L. Campbell	1996
Pauline Rowan	D. L. Campbell	2001
G. H. “Rusty” Rutherford	Outstanding Contribution	1998
John Slobodzian	Regional Volunteer	1998
Kay Slobodzian	Regional Volunteer	1998
Morris Stefaniuk	Special Recognition	1996
Ray Storozinski	Regional Volunteer	1996
Ed Stubbington	Youth Special Recognition	1996
Ivan Llewellyn Traill (1932-2022)	President’s	1999
Monty Trimble	Youth Special Recognition	1996
Marion Whyte	Regional Volunteer	1999
Stanley Leonard Witoski (1928-2009)	Regional Volunteer	1996
Evelyn Alma Vivian (1925-2005)	Regional Volunteer	1998
Bernard Rodolph “Bernie” Wolfe (1922-2014)	Special Recognition	1998

Award Recipients (Group)

Award Recipient	Award	Year
Abigail’s at the Station (Roblin)	Outstanding Contribution	1999
Beyond the Gates of Lower Fort Garry - A Sequel (Municipality of St. Andrews)	Publication	2001
Church of the Resurrection Restoration Committee	Heritage Preservation	1998
Crystal City Community Printing Museum	Heritage Preservation	1998
Elgin & District Historical Museum Board	Heritage Preservation	1998
Ethelbert & District Museum	Heritage Preservation	1999
Fort la Reine News (Vic & Joyce Edwards)	Heritage Publication	1999
Gimli Municipal Heritage Committee	Heritage Preservation	1996
Manitoba Naturalists Society	Outstanding Contribution	1998
Town of Gimli	Municipal	1999
Trembowla Cross of Freedom Inc.	Heritage Tourism	1998
Woodlands Pioneer Museum Board	Outstanding Contribution	1998

Sources:

“Billboard,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 January 1985, page 32.

“The MAS and the Manitoba Heritage Federation” by Peter Walker, Manitoba Archaeological Quarterly, Volume 9, Number 1, January 1985, pages 61-64.

Heritage Spectrum, Volume 1, Number 2, 1986.

Manitoba Hansard, 5 June 1992.

“Manitoba Heritage Federation 3rd Annual Awards Banquet,” Neepawa Banner, 18 April 1998, page 24.

“Rowan recognized for work on the Wakpatanka project,” Birtle Eye-Witness, 22 September 2001, page 9.

“Bilash receives award from MHF,” Daupin Herald, 25 September 2001, page 5.

Obituary [Ruth Mary Breckman], Winnipeg Free Press, 23 December 2017.

Manitoba Heritage Federation website, Wayback Machine, Internet Archive.

Page revised: 12 October 2022