Upper Fort Garry Heritage Park.

Source: Westland Construction.

The Upper Fort Garry Heritage Park is an architectural and artistic interpretation of the events and significance of the Fort. The primary purpose is to provide educational and reflective opportunities for interpreting the significance of the Fort's history in the formation of the province of Manitoba and the building of Canada as a nation.

Upper Fort Garry Heritage Provincial Park Business Plan

TIMELINE

Lower Fort Garry in the 1940s.

Source: Peel's Prairie Provinces.

Map of the extended the Upper Fort Garry.

Source: City of Winnipeg.

The Governor's House at Upper Fort Garry.

Source: Friends of Upper Fort Garry.

My people will sleep for one hundred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back.

Louis Riel, Métis oral history, circa 1885

Upper Fort Garry Gate with the Hotel Fort Garry in the background.

Source: Peel's Prairie Provinces.

Upper Fort Garry Heritage Park under construction.

Upper Fort Garry is a key linchpin of Canadian history. A meeting place of First Nations, Francophone Métis, Anglophone Métis, French, Scottish, everyone. A place of trade, and of war. Perhaps above all, one of the birthplaces of modern Manitoba, with Riel's provisional government. A place both of hope and tragedy. The reality of Upper Fort Garry needs to be reaffirmed for Winnipeggers, Manitobans, and all Canadians.

John Ralston Saul

The first phase of Upper Fort Garry Heritage Park opened to the public on Saturday, October 18, 2014.

Source: CTV News Winnipeg.









Written by Laura McKay, on behalf of Heritage Winnipeg.

SOURCES:

Upper Fort Garry Heritage Park, located at 130 Main Street, is a former fur trading fort built by the Hudson's Bay Company . It was the site of economic prosperity and political resistance, the heart and the birthplace of the province of Manitoba. Nearly lost to disintrest and neglect, Upper Fort Garry is now protected by heritage designations and transformed into an urban provincial park. It is once again an historic meeting place where the contributions of all those who helped build Manitoba are celebrated.- The rebuilt Fort Gibraltar is renamed Fort Garry after Deputy-Governor Nicholas Garry, who oversaw the amalgamation of the rival Hudson's Bay and North-West Companies.- A flood badly damages Fort Garry and by 1830, it is in very poor condition.- Governor George Simpson decides to rebuild the fort further downstream at its present location near Selkirk, Manitoba and this is the fort that would later come to be known Lower Fort Garry. The move was unpopular because it was a day-long journey from the "forks", where trade had already been established.- The Hudson's Bay Company decides to return to the Forks under the guidance of new Chief Factor Alexander Christie, and constructs Upper Fort Garry as a show of their dominance in the area. The new fort was formidable, with four large bastions and a 15-foot stone wall around it. Inside the fort were such buildings as the Chief Factors residence, officers' quarters, barracks, general store, fur store, Governor's residence, pemmican store, and a liquor store.- The Sayer Trial takes place at Upper Fort Garry, breaking the Hudson Bay Company's trade monopoly.- Upper Fort Garry is extended to the north, with wooden walls taking the place of stone. The new walls were constructed using two rows of squared oak logs packed with earth. Construction was delayed by the great flood of 1852, hence the lengthy construction period. The old north walls were demolished and portions of the old stone can be found in the gate that remains, which was also built during the expansion. It was known as the "Governor's Gate" because of its proximity to the Governor's house.- Manitoba joined the Dominion of Canada and Rupert's Land is purchased from the Hudson's Bay Company, ending the company's monopoly in the area. Leading up to this, Upper Fort Garry was the home of Louis Riel's provisional government that was instrumental in the forming of Manitoba as a Canadian province. As well, during March of this year, Thomas Scott was executed by the Riel provisional government. After the creation of Manitoba later this year, Upper Fort Garry lost its importance to the Hudson's Bay Company as its focus shifted from the fur trade to the monetary value of its lands.- The first Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, Adams Archibald, moves his headquarters to Upper Fort Garry, resulting in the north end of the fort being maintained, including the Governor's Gate.- The new Government House opens, causing the relocation of the Lieutenant-Governor's headquarters. Upper Fort Garry was abandoned and quickly fell into disrepair. The walls came down as Main Street was gradually straightened and much of the stone can now be found in the foundations of older buildings in the Exchange. All that is left of the original Fort is the Governor's Gate, which has been preserved on a small piece of heritage property known as Upper Fort Garry Gate Park.- The last remaining structures from Upper Fort Garry are sold and dismantled, including Government House, which is sold as firewood. The Manitoba Historical Society persuades city council to look into acquiring the gate and a parcel of land surrounding it.- Winnipeg city council petitions the Hudson's Bay Company for a gift of the gateway lots and the request is granted two months later "as a public park forever". The efforts from 1888-1897 was Winnipeg's, and possibly Manitoba's, first heritage preservation campaign.- A commemorative plaque is unveiled at the site, followed by a tablet on the gate in 1926.- The Gate falls into disrepair and it is noticed in 1949 that one of the outer and both inner gates had disappeared sometime in the 1930s. Renovations were done on the structure, including the rebuilding of the gates.-A proposal is made to add to the site of the park and make renovations to the area but nothing comes of it.- Parts of the wooden walls on either side of the Governor's Gate are restored.- Upper Fort Garry Gate is designated as a historic site by the City of Winnipeg.- The City of Winnipeg declares the Upper Fort Garry site as surplus property.- The Friends of Upper Fort Garry was organized to preserve and develop the site of Upper Fort Garry.- The Friends of Upper Fort Garry became a registered charity. $10.2 million was raised in 107 days to meet the requirements of the City of Winnipeg. Donors included foundations, corporations, the provincial and federal governments, and private citizens. A business plan was developed and the Grain Exchange Curling Club was purchased.- The Upper Fort Garry Provincial Park Act was passed (proclaimed July 15, 2014).- The Upper Fort Garry Provincial Park Act was announced in a press release to Canadians on July 15, 2014 and the Park is scheduled for its grand opening!Friends of Upper Fort Garry opened the first phase of the Upper Fort Garry Heritage Park on Saturday, October 18, 2014. Learn more about the Maniotba Liquors & Lottery Heritage Wall built at the park or stop by to see it in person during Doors Open Winnipeg