Historic Sites of Manitoba: William Hespeler Plaque (Fourth Street South, Niverville)

William Hespeler (1830-1921) played a key role in the settlement and development of Western Canada. As an immigration agent for the Canadian government, he recruited some 7,000 Mennonites to Manitoba between 1874 and 1880, in one of the first large waves of European migration to the West. These pioneers inspired many other groups to settle the Prairies by demonstrating its enormous agricultural potential. An entrepreneur, politician, philanthropist, and long-time Honorary Consul for his native Germany, Hespeler also made a significant contribution to the economic and cultural growth of German-speaking communities in Manitoba. Designated in 2001 as a person of national historic significance, a plaque commemorating Hespeler was unveiled at Niverville by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in 2007.

William Hespeler commemorative plaque (September 2010) Source: Gordon Goldsborough William Hespeler commemorative plaque (May 2022) Source: George Penner Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.59684, W97.04125 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

National Designation for William Hespeler by Parks Canada
Manitoba History, Number 54, February 2007

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba Plaques for Persons, Events and Sites of National Historic Significance

Sources:

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and George Penner.

Page revised: 3 June 2022

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