Heritage Explorer

Description

(1888 – Present) A Catholic priest from France established a parish and community here.

Stories

Grande Clairière

1888-Present Father Gaire One spring day in 1885, 30 year old Father Gaire came home from Mass to find a brochure in his mailbox. It had been written by a French-Canadian Priest, inviting Frenchmen to immigrate to Canada. Gaire felt called by God to help populate western Canada with colonists and eventually he was granted permission from his bishop to go. He arrived in Winnipeg on May 21st 1888. His wish was to establish a parish in the western part of the province, so he boarded a train to take him to Oak Lake, the most westerly parish accessible by …

Grande Clairière Convent

(1898 - 1923) The Grande Clairiere Convent was the home of six nuns and about 40 boarding house students at a time.

Other Features Nearby

CNR Hartney-Carmen-Winnipeg Branch to Virden

(1905) The CNR built a bridge over the Souris River and reached Grande Clairière in the fall and Virden by Christmas.

Grande Clairière Convent

(1898 – 1923) The Grande Clairière Convent was the home of six nuns and about 40 boarding house students at a time.

Grande Clairière School

(1889-1966)

Grande Clairière Station

(1905 – 1961) When the railroad finally reached Grande Clairière, the station was established north of town.

Lauder Sandhills

(10,000 BC - Present) The unique environment provided by the Lauder Sandhills attracted bison, which appealed to the early peoples who came to camp and live there.