The statue of a giant Canada goose may attract more immediate attention of people driving through St Laurent to Lundar, but it is the plethora of 1940s and 1950s Bombardier snow machines that mark the community.
St Laurent, the village, is part of St. Laurent, the municipality of 1,600 people. Its storied history marks it as the Metis community that the Smithsonian Institute chose to feature in its museum for over a decade. The cottages at Laurentia Beach, on Lake Manitoba also are unique, with the shores along this stretch of the lake being so shallow that people can wade out almost 500 meters. There are few settlements in the municipality and only one store and a few restaurants in the village and area, but it still attracts crowds in the summer, with its natural beauty.
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In the fall, tens of thousands of Canada geese travel through the central flyway of the Interlake, with almost as many geese and ducks residing throughout the summer in the local marshes.
While the ethnic makeup has changed in the past five decades from First Nations, Metis and French to a more eclectic mix, Michif still is spoken in many homes, along with French (Manitoba style) and English.
To celebrate Manitoba’s version of the Loch Ness monster, supposedly living in Lake Manitoba, St. Laurent features the Manipogo Golf Course near the lake.
Through Their Eyes: Manitoba’s Stories
We are searching for one local person, ideally in the age range of 55-80 (but not an absolute requirement) who wants to tell their story of growing up in Manitoba and the joys, disappointments and experiences they have encountered.
This is for a book titled, “Through Their Eyes: Manitoba’s Stories.”
The book will revolve around four people, each from a unique perspective, and will include any friends and family who agree to be highlighted. The first person (a couple, actually) is from India, arrived here via United States in the early 1960s and who still has family in the US. Both husband and wife were academics in their working careers.
The second person is from the UK, with mixed European background, who married a Canadian who was born in the US. This person is from a very low socio-economic background and provides a perspective on such experiences as education and health care from the 1950s to present day.
The third person is a third-generation French Canadian farmer and a tradesperson, whose spouse also was a health care worker.
We are looking for the fourth person from the Interlake: ideally a Metis person who can speak from the First Nations and French/Scottish cultural perspective during the 1960s.
The book will be published in 2027, but, each month, we will be providing chapters and outtakes from the stories of these four characters on this website.
This is an opportunity to have your family history written, in a style similar to our “Living Stories” format (link____). We will provide 10 copies of the completed book to you at no charge.
If you are or if you know someone who may be interested in being the feature character in “Through Their Eyes,” please contact me at (204) 330-1910, lee52rf@gmail.com or via the Feedback form on this website.