Historic Sites of Manitoba: Site Historique Enfant-Jésus Heritage Site / Thibeaultville Cemetery / Musée Dawson Trail Museum (Richer, RM of Ste. Anne)

Link to:
Clerics | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

The Enfant-Jésus Heritage Site is home to the Roman Catholic Church built in 1913 by the local French Canadian and Métis community under the guidance of architect Joseph Alphonse Hudon. In addition there is a cemetery and a former convent of the Sisters of Saint-Joseph of Saint Hyacinthe. All the buildings are located on thirteen acres donated by Pierre Michaud and his wife Hélène Favreau in 1904.

The Catholic Church has a distinct Romanesque architectural style as shown by its rounded arched windows, doors and tower openings and statuary niche. The interior boasts a barrel vaulted ceiling supported by two rows of six columns, each column complete with Corinthian style capitals. The black marble altar was designed by renowned French sculptor, Hubert Garnier. A grotto built in 1954 is dedicated to Notre Dame de Lourdes who appeared to a peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirou.

Renovations to the church in the 2000s were done as part of the Manitoba Prairie Churches Project and the building is a municipally-designated heritage structure (2008). The building has now been converted to a community museum and inquiries should be directed to Yvonne Fontaine Godard (204-422-9369).

Clerics

Period	Cleric
1939-1950	Francois Normandin (1904-1965)

Photos & Coordinates

Site Historique Enfant-Jésus Heritage Site (c1980) Source: Patricia Gendreau Site Historique Enfant-Jésus Heritage Site (March 2012) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Interior of Site Historique Enfant-Jésus Heritage Site (May 2018) Source: George Penner Interior of Site Historique Enfant-Jésus Heritage Site (May 2022) Source: Rose Kuzina Enfant-Jésus Heritage Site Cemetery (July 2019) Source: Rose Kuzina Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.65794, W96.45406 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Joseph Alphonse Hudon (1886-1918)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba Prairie Churches Project / Manitoba Prairie Icons Project

Dawson Trail Museum

Sources:

Obituary [Francois Normandin], Winnipeg Free Press, 6 July 1965.

We thank Christy Henry, Patricia Gendreau, and Rick Dondo for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Marcel Gauthier, Rose Kuzina, George Penner, and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 8 August 2023

Historic Sites of Manitoba This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only. SEARCH the collection Browse lists of: Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | Other Inclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner. Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes. Send corrections and additions to this page to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca. Search Tips | Suggest an Historic Site | FAQ Help us keep history alive!