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Government House (Manitoba)

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The volume and its facade composition was at first symmetrical along an east-west axis through the centre of the building, though this arrangement was later altered by the addition of new wings; this is clad in brick, trimmed with cut stone and ornate wood cornices at the roof line, and iron cresting tops the tower. The overall design was described in 1883 as "Italian, modified to suit the requirements of the climate," though the same year an early visitor noted in the guest book: "It is an unpretending looking structure, of nondescript architecture and with no outside ornamentation." Similarly, in 1953, the provincial architect said that Government House was the one "jarring note" on the grounds of the Legislative Building. By later in the 20th century, however, provincial architects stated the house is "
430:; that year a new kitchen was built into another extension off the rear of the mansion. Eventually what had been the palm room was made into an extension of the dining room and, in 1953, the original serving room was sacrificed in favour of a cloak room and powder room, as well as an elevator in place of the dumbwaiter. The ballroom was demolished in 1960 to make way for the current assembly room, which was, for catering purposes, linked to the kitchen by a new serving room, and three years following, the conservatory was pulled down and replaced with a new sun room, potting room, and greenhouse, as well as a three car garage. Today, the lieutenant governor's office has been moved to the Legislative Building and the room it once occupied made into a sitting room for the viceroy's 438:
room beneath; during large parties, these doors would be pulled back and the combined bedrooms would be used for expanded entertainment space. Over time, the spaces on this level were altered and some of the bedrooms were divided into private en suite bathrooms. The royal bedroom is reserved for use by the sovereign and other Royal Family members when they are in Winnipeg, and the gold room accommodates royal support staff or other royals if the monarch is occupying the royal bedroom. Also on this floor is the viceregal suite, consisting of a master bedroom, the lieutenant governor's private office, and a library and living room.
26: 266: 356:, opposite the parliament. This plan never came to fruition, however, and the Victorian Government House was adapted over time to suit the lieutenant governor's changing needs. In 1978, the mansion was designated as a historical structure by the Manitoba Heritage Council and in 1999, at the initiative of Shirley Liba, wife of Lieutenant Governor 414:
immediately to the right of the foyer, the breakfast room, the drawing room, the dining room, a serving room, and the viceroy's office at the left of the foyer. Later, in 1901, a veranda was built around the north-east corner of the house, and a ballroom was added to the rear, both at the personal expense of Lieutenant Governor
281:: "You can fancy the state of the house when I tell you there was five feet of water in the cellar till middle of July. Year before till middle of August..." Further, as the population of the province was increasing, the need for public buildings became more pressing, and a delegation travelled to Ottawa to discuss with the 397:
Manitoba's Government house is a structure of solid masonry walls and timber floor framing, the original block being 18.3 metres (60 ft) square and four storeys in height, counting the basement level, covering a total of approximately 20,000 sq ft (1,900 m), including the tower.
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When first built, the ground floor of Government House held a suite of interconnected rooms that, opened to one another, formed a suite 29 metres (95 ft) long and 6.1 metres (20 ft) wide. Altogether, these included, in a counter-clockwise array around the central stair hall, the library,
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The basement of Government House is divided into several sections; originally it held living quarters for the domestic staff—a kitchen and bedrooms—as well as the main kitchen for the state dining room on the ground floor. Currently, it contains storage and laundry facilities. The attic floor was
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Reached by a staircase of oak treads, newels, balusters, and handrail with pine risers, the second floor consisted in 1880 of six bedrooms, two dressing rooms, a bath room, a toilet, and a storage closet. Two of the bedrooms were connected by large sliding doors, as with the library and breakfast
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on 15 July 1870, a structure five kilometres outside of Winnipeg was leased for use as the lieutenant governor's residence, known as Silver Heights, but it was found unsuitable, given its size and distance from the capital. Instead, the lieutenant governor remained at Upper Fort Garry until the
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divided into nine bedrooms, which has been reduced to four bedrooms with the addition of two bathrooms, a sitting room, and a three and one-half room suite for the resident housekeeper. From this floor one can also access the tower, from which the
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of $ 23,995. However, the building was two years later, on 10 June, purchased by the provincial Crown for $ 1, with the provision that the house be used as a residence for the viceroy "and for no other purpose," as written by
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Government House is where visiting dignitaries are greeted and often stay while in Winnipeg. It is also where numerous vice-regal events take place, such as the bestowing of provincial awards or inductions into the
221:, at 10 Kennedy Street; unlike other provincial Government Houses in Canada, this gives Manitoba's royal residence a prominent urban setting, though it is surrounded by gardens. 234: 83: 1208: 755: 333:, stopped in Winnipeg during their cross-country tour of Canada in 1939; from Government House, the King broadcast over the radio a speech to the 454:
Manitoba's Government House is surrounded on three sides by manicured gardens; the fourth side—the rear of the building—faces directly onto the
1385: 1375: 1216: 1274: 443: 434:. The former library, breakfast room, and drawing room have all been turned into a series of connected salons for official entertaining. 1074: 373:, as well as luncheons, dinners, receptions, and speaking engagements. It is also at the royal residence that the lieutenant governor 1395: 1220: 1096: 314: 285:
the matter of parliament allocating funds for a new legislative assembly and Government House for Manitoba. This was approved, and
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included in his plans for the Manitoba Legislative Building a new Government House, to be constructed on the bank of the
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was moved to the eponymous gardens and unveiled by her. The statue was toppled over on 1 July 2021 in a protest against
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The house there, however, was in constant need of repair; after $ 10,000 was spent on the structure in 1873,
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were added off the dining room. Until 1946, the kitchens were in the basement and serving took place via a
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transferring the house. In 1901, the royal home played host to the Duke and Duchess of York (later King
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by the Queen herself on 3 July that year, the event marked by the planting of an Amber Jubilee
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of the Legislative Building. In 2010, part of the grounds were set aside and dedicated as the
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was the first reigning monarch to reside at Government House when he and his wife,
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in 2012. At the same time, a statue of the Queen that had been created in 1970 by
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The current provincial royal residence was constructed in 1883, at a cost to the
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A garden party on the front lawn of Government House, 9 August 1889
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Manitoba Historical Society: Manitoba's Government House
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shrub, the species having been created specifically for
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occupied a designated residence within the walls of
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Archived from 754:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( 732:Ministry of Culture, Heritage, and Tourism. 385:and the lieutenant governor meets with the 975: 961: 241:; a house that was, at one point, used by 446:is flown when he or she is in residence. 593: 591: 589: 587: 585: 583: 556: 554: 552: 550: 264: 262:present Government House was completed. 681: 679: 677: 514: 497:Government Houses of the British Empire 1368: 597: 956: 580: 547: 1386:Second Empire architecture in Canada 1376:Buildings and structures in Winnipeg 674: 649:"Manitoba's Government House at 125" 313:), as well as the Duchess' brother, 205:) is the official residence of the 13: 203:Résidence du Lieutenant-Gouverneur 14: 1407: 936: 598:Bowles, Frances (17 March 1970). 377:and swears-in new members of the 257:. After the new province joined 343:Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 283:Queen's Privy Council for Canada 279:federal Minister of Public Works 24: 1396:1883 establishments in Manitoba 907: 885:Department of Canadian Heritage 877: 854: 831: 808: 785: 402:with French influence from the 207:lieutenant governor of Manitoba 865:. Queen's Printer for Manitoba 842:. Queen's Printer for Manitoba 819:. Queen's Printer for Manitoba 796:. Queen's Printer for Manitoba 773:. Queen's Printer for Manitoba 762: 736:. Queen's Printer for Manitoba 725: 713:. Queen's Printer for Manitoba 702: 690:. Queen's Printer for Manitoba 641: 629:. Queen's Printer for Manitoba 618: 568:. 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Index


Victorian
Second Empire
Winnipeg
Manitoba
Coordinates
49°53′02″N 97°08′42″W / 49.883896°N 97.145131°W / 49.883896; -97.145131
The Queen in Right of Canada
Victoria
The King in Right of Manitoba
Charles III
Timber framing
load-bearing
masonry
French
lieutenant governor of Manitoba
Winnipeg
Canadian monarch
Manitoba Legislative Building
Manitoba
Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories
Upper Fort Garry
Louis Riel
president
provisional government
Red River
Confederation

Alexander Morris
federal Minister of Public Works

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