Books are a must for any history buff. Here is a list of some great local history titles and those with a "***" are new for 2024. Also see the list of 2021, 2022, and 2023 Margaret McWilliams Awards nominees for more regional titles.
Please support local and independent bookstores!
Locally, we have McNally Robinson and the book shops at a number of museums and galleries. There are also some bricks and mortar chain stores still around, such as Indigo. At used book stores, such as Bison Books and Burton Lysecki, you will find gently used and out-of-print local history titles.
*** Winnipeg 150: Stories Our Buildings Tell was published by Heritage Winnipeg to celebrate Winnipeg's 150th anniversary. It showcases 150 of Winnipeg's most architecturally significant buildings with original artwork by artist Robert Sweeney. (McNally, Indigo, Heritage Winnipeg)
*** Winnipeg Places + Spaces is the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation's new comprehensive guidebook to the buildings and landscapes in a variety of neighbourhoods around our city. (WAF Shop)
***mmm...Manitoba: the Stories Behind The Food We Eat tells the story of many Manitoba delicacies and how they became restaurant and dining room table staples.(McNally, Indigo)
Henry Kalen was one of Canada’s most distinguished architectural photographers. His work for prominent Winnipeg architectural firms in the 1960s and 1970s portrayed a stylish, modern, and changing city. This 145-page book captures some of Winnipeg's most iconic mid-century architecture. (McNally, WAF Giftshop)
***In Lloyd Axworthy, My Life in Politics, one of Winnipeg's best-known public representatives tells of his journey from local schoolboy to the international political stage. (McNally, Indigo)
On the Road to Abandoned Manitoba is the third instalment of this series by Gordon Goldsborough, which is also a CBC radio segment. More unusual and overlooked historical people, places and objects from Manitoba's history. Also see series one and series two. (Publisher's store, Chapters, McNally)
Max Blankstein, Architect was the first Jewish architect registered in Canada and designed at least 200 buildings. Many of his theatres, apartments and commercial blocks are still around today. (Winnipeg Architecture Foundation, McNally)
Falcons Forever The Saga of the 1920 Olympic Gold Medal Ice Hockey Team. Written by a granddaughter of Falcons’ defenseman Konrad “Konnie” Johannesson, this book chronicles the Winnipeg Falcons’ journey to the VII Olympiad in Antwerp, Belgium. For video of the book launch. (Friesen Press, McNally Robinson)
Did You See Us? Reunion, Remembrance, and Reclamation at an Urban Indian Residential School The Assiniboia Indian Residential School in suburban Winnipeg was was one of the few such institutions to be located in a large urban setting and operated from 1958 to 1973. These are the stories of many survivors of the school. (McNally)
Thinking Big: A History of the Winnipeg Business Community to the Second World War is, sadly, Jim Blanchard's last book about the history of Winnipeg as the prolific author died in September 2022. Thinking Big examines the history of Winnipeg’s business development through profiles of Manitoba industries and personalities, dating from the days of the HBC to more modern enterprises. For other Blanchard titles. (Great Plains, McNally)
Ghost Signs: An Exchange District Walking Tour tells the story behind the mostly long-forgotten companies or products that these signs advertised. Check out the accompanying website. (WAF Shop, McNally Robinson)
Mosienko: The Man Who Caught Lightning in a Bottle tells the story of a Manitoba legend, from his childhood spent skating on the rinks of Winnipeg's North End in the 1920s and 30s to his illustrious fourteen-year NHL career to his return to Winnipeg to play with the Winnipeg Warriors to his post-retirement career as the owner of the iconic Mosienko Bowling Lanes. See video of the book launch here. (Great Plains Publications, McNally Robinson, Chapters)
Heart of Gold: A History of Winnipeg Music is the latest release by music historian John Einarson. It looks at the background of all genres of the music scene in Winnipeg and their influence nationally and beyond. See an interview with the author here. (Order online)
Fire, Folly and Fiasco Why It Took 100 Years to Build the Manitoba Museum explores the century-long journey to open the Manitoba Museum. (Woolly Mammoth Publishing, McNally Robinson)
The Lesser Known: A History of Oddities from the Heart of the Continent by Darren Bernhardt explores some of the lesser known aspects of Manitoba's history. (Great Plains, McNally Robinson, Chapters)
Coming of Age: A History of the Jewish People of Manitoba This nearly 500-page book tells the story of the small but influential Jewish community of Winnipeg. (McNally, Jewish Heritage Centre)
Rooster Town is the story of the life and death of this largely Metis community that stood near where the Grant Park Shopping Centre is now. Companion pieces about the research that went into this book can be found here and here. (U of M Press, McNally, Indigo)
Memories of the Moonlight Special and Grand Beach Train Era takes you back to the firsts half of the 20th century when trains brought eager tourists to these resort beach communities. (Borealis Press, McNally, Indigo)
In Snacks: A Canadian Food History Janis Thiessen tells the back story of Canadian party favourites such as Old Dutch Potato Chips, Hawkins Cheezies and Ganong chocolates. (U of M Press, McNally Robinson, Indigo)
Jeffrey Thorsteinson (architectural historian) and Brennan Smith (art historian) team up in Green Blankstein Russell and Associates: An Architectural Legacy. This local company went on to become one of Canada's preeminent modernist architecture firms of the 1950s and 60s. (WAF shop, McNally, Chapters)
You can never go wrong with Winnie the Pooh! here's the latest book written about the real-life bear! (McNally) Also, check out this review in The Guardian.
More Winnie in Winnie the Bear. Read more about the book at the accompanying website. (McNally)
Brian Darragh, one of Winnipeg's last streetcar operators, put together this look back at our forgotten streetcar heritage. Check out the accompanying website. (Friesen's, Heritage Winnipeg)
The Patriotic Consensus Unity, Morale, and the Second World War in Winnipeg by Dr. Jody Perrun takes a look at what it was like in Winnipeg while World War II raged overseas. Hear my interview with the author. (McNally, U of M Press)
Prairie History is the quarterly journal of the Manitoba Historical Society replacing the journal Manitoba History in 2020. Copies can be purchased at McNally Robinson or get it free with your membership in the MHS. For back issues, contact the MHS office.
CLOTHING and TEXTILES
It's Winnipeg's 150th birthday and the Forks Trading Company has a selection of official Winnipeg150 merchandise, including t-shirts, hoodies, toques, totas and mugs!
It's Winnipeg. It's winter. It's gonna get cold. Who wouldn't want an HBC blanket?
Keeping it Riel t-shirts are back at the St. Boniface Museum Boutique, Manitoba Museum Gift Shop, and Lower Fort Garry Gift Shop.
GIFT SHOPS
Many museums have their own shops where you're sure to find something unique. You should contact the museums first to check out their winter hours.
Here are links to some of them: St. Boniface Museum - Manitoba Museum - Daly House (Brandon) - Mennonite Heritage Village (Steinbach) - Transcona Museum - New Iceland Heritage Museum (Gimli) - British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (Brandon) - Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre (Morden)
Here are links to some of them: St. Boniface Museum - Manitoba Museum - Daly House (Brandon) - Mennonite Heritage Village (Steinbach) - Transcona Museum - New Iceland Heritage Museum (Gimli) - British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (Brandon) - Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre (Morden)
Besides their book collection, the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation has a wide selection of merchandise featuring iconic Winnipeg buildings, such as pins, fridge magnets, mugs, and new this year are holiday greeting cards. Available for delivery or at their NEW location at 177 Lombard Street.
The St. Boniface Museum Boutique has a wide range of items, including Metis flags, mugs, voyageur sashes, toques, and replica Red River carts. Yes, Keeping it Riel t-shirts are back!
The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada's new Landing Zone Boutique has clothing, toys, models, books and more that celebrate our aviation heritage.
POSTERS AND PRINTS
Heritage Winnipeg's online store that includes a collection of prints by Robert J. Sweeney.
ET CETERA
How about a stay in one of the city's oldest hotels? The Hotel Fort Garry still oozes the charm of early 20th century railway hotels and offers packages. It's pet friendly, too ! Dress up old school and make a weekend of it.
Do you want to own a piece of Winnipeg's history? Heritage Winnipeg has select building shards for sale at their website!
MEMBERSHIPS
I fall else fails, remember that most museums and heritage groups run on shoestring budgets. Many have not recovered their membership and visitor numbers since COVID-related closures. Why not buy someone a membership or make a donation on their behalf.
You can find a complete list of Manitoba museums here. Some deserving groups:
There are several active restoration projects taking place around the province. (If you know of others, let me know!)
- Winnipeg Streetcar 356 Restoration Project
- Rivers Train Station Restoration Project
- Manitoba Agricultural Museum Forestry Rail Car Restoration
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