History and Heritage

Research: Norman Lavack

For corrections &/or additions text: nlavack@mts.net

The area of Sainte-Anne was one of the earliest settled areas East of the Red River. The first settlers to the area were Métis and people from Québec and are reported to have arrived at Pointe-des-Chênes between 1852 and 1856. The area was selected for its farmland and forest areas. The 198 families that settled into the area tried to make their living through agriculture. In order to supplement that living, the first industry to spring up in the area was that of supplying lumber for the construction of the St. Boniface Cathedral.

In the 1860’s and 1870’s, a small hamlet was started between Ste-Anne and La Coulée along the Seine River on the south side. It included a hotel of about 10 rooms, a flour mill, a saw mill, a blacksmith and a general store. This hamlet slowly disappeared in the early 1900’s and gradually moved north of the Seine River in the present-day Town of Ste-Anne. In the late 1860’s and early 1870’s a Hudson Bay Post was built on Piney Road (now Finnigan Street).

From 1868 to 1871, the construction of the Dawson Trail linking Fort William with St. Boniface was completed, which allowed new comers to expand westward without having to use the United States route or the Winnipeg River routes. This permitted the area of Sainte-Anne to further develop with the influx of travelers along this new Canadian trail. In the late 1890’s the Canadian Northern Railway (now CN) was built through Ste-Anne-des-Chênes.

The Town of Sainte-Anne today is a thriving community of some 3300 residents. It boasts all of the amenities of comfortable living. Its residents enjoy fine churches, schools, health services, senior services, indoor/outdoor recreational facilities, and municipal services, etc. Situated within easy commuting distance of Winnipeg, the Town of Sainte-Anne will undoubtedly continue to be a community that attracts and retains its citizens.

Historic Dates (Updated April 2025):

Research: Norman Lavack
For corrections &/or additions text: nlavack@mts.net

This is a brief list of historic dates of the Town of Sainte-Anne:

Pre-1850 -The Saulteaux also known as Ojibwa were the first inhabitants in this area.
1852 - First settlers to establish themselves at Oak Point (Pointe-des-Chênes), were métis and French people from Quebec.
1856 - Parish of Saint-Alexandre is founded at Pointe-des-Chênes.
1857 - William Perreault dit Morin, the first settlers’ child is born at Pointe-des-Chênes.
1862-1872 - The first school teacher, Rosalie Gauthier (Germain) taught school out of her home to children during the day and adults in the evening, for very little compensation.
1864 - First Roman Catholic Chapel was built by Father Joseph Le Floch O.M.I. on river lot #19 owned by Jean-Baptiste Perreault dit Morin. Lot #19 was on the south side of the Seine River. That same chapel was moved in 1872 by Father Louis-Raymond Giroux on RL #56 on the north side of the Seine River along the future Dawson Trail. This is the same lot that the present church occupies. Because this church was small (25 x 30 feet), a second church was built on the same river lot #56 in 1878 and was demolished in 1898 for a variety of reasons. A third church was built, our present church, between 1895 and 1898.
1868-1871 - Construction of the Dawson Trail linking Fort William (Thunder Bay) and St Boniface, allowing to bypass the United States route or the Lake Winnipeg route.
1869 - First baptism in Parish registers was of Virginie Perreault daughter of Damase Perreault and Anny St-Germain.
1870 - Construction of the Hudson Bay Post on Piney Road (now Finnigan Street). This post contained a general store on the first level and had rooms available for travelers on the second floor. It operated commercially until 1883 and then served as a residence. It is believed that arson was responsible for its destruction in the early 1980’s.
1870-1880 – A small hamlet was started between, what is today, Ste-Anne and La Coulée along the Seine River on the south side. It included a hotel of about 10 rooms, a flour mill, a saw mill, a blacksmith and a general store. This hamlet disappeared in the early 1900’s while the location of the present-day Town of Ste-Anne, flourished.
1871 - First marriage in Parish registers was of Jean-Baptiste (Johnny) Cyr and Madeleine Perreault, daughter of Jean-Baptiste Perreault and Catherine Grouette.
1871 - First School Commission established in the area with Charles Nolin, Jean-Baptiste Desautels and Norbert Nolin being the first school trustees.
1872-1883 - Ste-Anne 1^st Post Office established in the Hudson Bay Post on what is now Finnigan Street. John H. Stanger transported by horseback the mail, once a week, from Ste-Anne to North-West Angle and Jean-Baptiste Perreault transported the mail, twice a week, for many years by horse express from St-Boniface to Ste-Anne. In 1900 mail was now delivered daily by train and starting in 1950, mail was delivered and picked up daily by truck from Winnipeg to Ste-Anne.
1872-1883 - Théophile Paré took over as teacher when Rosalie Gauthier left.
1873 – A Russian Mennonite delegation of some 12 to 14 representatives came to Pointe-des-Chênes to tour the East Reserve offered to them by the government and overnighted in the Hudson Bay Company store. They traded with the store for many years afterwards.
1876 - Msgr. Taché entrusts the parish of Pointe-des-Chênes to Sainte Anne, patron Saint of Breton and Canadians. The name Pointe-des-Chênes Parish changed to Paroisse de Ste-Anne-des-Chênes.
1881 - RM of Ste-Anne was incorporated.
1883 - Arrival of the Grey Nuns who took over the education of the local children in their small convent first built in 1883, expanded in 1892 and again in 1902.
1883 - Ste-Anne 2^nd Post Office was moved from the Hudson Bay Post to Isaie Richer’s store at the corner of Dawson and Piney Road (now Central Avenue & Finnigan Street). Mail was brought in twice a week on Tuesday and Friday. When the store was sold to Joseph Dufresne, the post office operated there until 1943.
1885 - Arrival of our first doctor, Dr. François-Xavier Demers at 25 years of age. He served the community till his death in 1939 for a total of 54 years.
1890-1908 - RM of Ste-Anne and RM of LaBroquerie amalgamated under RM of LaBroquerie name. The meetings were held in Ste. Anne in the first town hall situated on the same property on 141 Central Avenue. It was later sold and moved in 1912 on the property where today we have Ste. Anne Collegiate. It was situated next to the new all boys school and served as a residence for 3 teachers of the Maristes Brothers Order.
1895 -The cornerstone for the third church is blessed. Church opens to the public in 1898 on River Lot #56 previously owned by Augustin Nolin and his wife Anne-Hélène Cameron. In 1913, the steeple was completed and in 1915, a carillon of 3 bells were purchased from the renowned Paccard Foundry in France. In 1923, the present organ was purchased from the Casavant Frères Company in Quebec. In 1950, the artist Léo Mol painted many scenes in the interior of the church.
1895 – A cheese factory opened on the south side of the Seine River. The exact location is not known. Emile Dubois was the cheese maker. The factory closed between 1905-08.
1897-1900 - Construction of railway South Eastern Railway (SER) from Winnipeg to International Border through Ste-Anne for a total of 109 miles. In 1900 SER joined the Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) and later in 1919 joined the Canadian National (CNR). Conversion from steam engine locomotives to diesel engines was done during the 1950’s.
1898 - The first railway station was built probably on River Lot #12 or 13 on the south side of the Seine River in line with a developing hamlet on that side of the river. In 1906 because of the steep grade going east, it was moved at the west end of the present-day town of Ste-Anne on the Dawson Trail and on the north side of the Seine River. In 1920 a new station was built by CNR at the same location. The building was later sold, in the early 1980’s, and moved to St. Adolphe MB. as a residence.
1908 - RM of Ste-Anne was re-established.
1908 - 1910 - Construction of the RM of Ste-Anne Building on 141 Central Avenue and used by RM until 2013. The village of Ste-Anne was part of the municipality and therefore served it until 1963.
1912 - Boys school was built with 4 classrooms and situated where we have today the French Immersion School. It served students from grades 2 to 8. The school closed in the 1955.
1916 - Arrival of the Redemptorist Fathers. The congregation officially left Ste Anne in 1995.
1917 - Construction of the Redemptorist Monastery. It was severely damaged by fire in March of 1951. It was finally demolished in March 2000.
1920 - The first financial institution in Ste. Anne was the Bank of Hochelaga which later in 1925 became the Canadian National Bank. It closed its doors in 1935. It was situated at 232 Central Avenue which is now the office and residence of Ste. Anne Chiropractic Clinic.
1921 - Construction of the Piney Bridge (Old Cement Bowstring Arch Bridge) built on Piney Road (now Finnigan Street). It replaced Pelland Bridge (a wooden bridge built between 1866-1870) and a second wooden bridge built in 1881. In 1987, Piney Bridge was designated a Heritage Site. Heritage status was revoked in 2013 and it was demolished the same year.
1927 - Ste-Anne Co-Operative was founded and incorporated in 1931.
1930’s – A creamery, or at least a butter factory, existed in Ste-Anne. It was owned by Eugène De Montigny, and run by his son, Joseph De Montigny. (Source: The Dairy Industry of Manitoba)
1933 - Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada designated the Dawson Trail as a national historic event.
1937 - Ste-Anne Parish Hall was built for Parish activities such as theatrical plays, movies, card parties, fund raising, etc. It served afterwards as a sewing factory before being demolished in the 1980’s.
1937 - Ste-Anne Elevator built by McCabe Grain. It was sold to United Grain Growers in 1968. An annex was added in 1972. It was closed and demolished in 2002.
1937 – A new cheese factory was built under the name La Coopérative de Ste-Anne-des-Chênes. The cheese-maker was Georges Fréchette, and he won many awards for his products. For a variety of reasons, the cheese operation was forced to close in 1946. It was located on St-Gérard Street (Hospital Street). (Source: The Dairy Industry of Manitoba)
1938 - Electricity is brought to Ste-Anne. (Source Manitoba Hydro)
1939 - Caisse Populaire of Sainte-Anne was founded. It was located in different privately owned residences until 1955 when a small building was built at 181 Central Avenue.
1940 - Dawson Trail Cairn, commemorating the importance of the only over-land route from eastern to western Canada, was unveiled at 141 Central Avenue. It is situated in front of the historical RM of Ste. Anne building.
1944 - Ste-Anne 3rd Post Office moved into the residence of Antoinette Roque at 249 Central Avenue. This post office served there until 1952.
1948 - Arrival of our 2^nd doctor, Dr. Francis Patrick Doyle who served the community for over 40 years, until his retirement in 1993. He received both the Order of Canada and Order of MB for his numerous contributions in the fields of medicine and education.
1948 - Founding of Ste-Anne La Verendrye Legion Branch #220 was first established in a small hall on Traverse Street (Old 12 south next to the river), which was destroyed by fire in 1979. Shortly after they built a larger hall at 80 Arena Street and in 2008 it was sold to a local developer and its charter was surrendered in 2018.
1950-1966 - First Curling Rink was built by the local Parish. It was situated on St Gerard Street (Hospital Street) behind the present day Kateri Food Bank and Caisse Populaire in line with the church service road. It had two sheets of natural ice. It was demolished in the late 1960’s.
1951 - Fire that almost completely destroyed the Redemptorist Monastery on March 3, 1951.
1952-1957 - Ste-Anne 4^th Post Office was moved to the residence of Onésime Benoit at 187 Central Avenue with Gilbert Brunette as Post Master.
1954 - Construction of the Grotto in the Redemptorist Park. It was demolished in the late 1960’s because of safety concerns and the stones used are now a rock garden at the same location.
1954 - Blessing and official opening of the Sainte-Anne Hospital with 8 beds.
1955 - A new Caisse Populaire was built at 181 Central Avenue. It served as the Village of Ste Anne Office for many years and is now the home of Pam’s Hair Boutique.
1957 - A new post office was built on the same property at 187 Central Avenue. It operated until 1975. The building then served for a few small retail businesses and is now a residence.
1959 & 1960 - Consolidation & closure of rural one room schools under the newly founded Seine River School Division #14.
1959 - June 11, 7pm: “The worst flood in Sainte-Anne's history. Water rises at a rate visible to the eye. The hospital is evacuated. It passes quickly. By morning, all danger is past.”
1959 - Knights of Columbus Charter established in Ste-Anne.
1960 - Completion of the Seine River flood diversion project.
1960 - Construction of Ste Anne Elementary and Secondary Schools with Official opening in 1961.
1963 - Incorporation of the Village of Sainte-Anne. Population at the time was roughly 900.
1963 - Founding of the Ste-Anne Sewing Factory to be housed in the old Parish Hall until its demolition in the 1980’s.
1964 - Branch of Bank of Montréal was established in Ste-Anne. It closed its doors in November 1988 after 24 years of service to the community.
1964 - Sewer system is installed in the village of Ste-Anne, one year after incorporation.
1965 - Blessing and official opening of the Villa Youville.
1965 - Expansion of Ste-Anne Hospital for a total of 16 beds.
1966-67 - Construction of a new hockey arena and curling rink with 4 sheets of ice. It was a joint municipal/village project with the help of Centennial grants. It was situated at the present-day location. The complex is now called Maurice Chaput Arena.
1968 - Expansion of the English School Complex all under one roof.
1970 - Construction of Bank of Montréal and Village Office at 159 Central Avenue. The complex is now Ste Anne Liquor Store/Post Office. The village then moved to the old Caisse building at 181 Central Avenue.
1970 – With the help of government grants, the Pointe-des-Chênes museum was built on land owned by the Villa Youville in order to minimize costs and to have the museum available to the residents of the Villa.
1970 - Chapel in the Redemptorist Park was demolished.
1971 - Blessing and official opening of the Seine Medical Centre. It is staffed by 6 doctors: Dr. Doyle, Dr. Lafrenière, Dr. Gobeil, Dr. Lemoine, Dr. Boucher and resident dentist Dr. Archambault.
1971 - Incorporation of the Centre Culturel coopératif de Ste-Anne.
1972 - Official opening of the Ste-Anne Nursing Home attached to the Villa Youville, with a capacity of 50 rooms.
1972 - Artificial ice installed in the arena and curling rink.
1972 - Construction of the new Centre Culturel de Ste-Anne at 41 Rue Arena. It served as a centre for different cultural activities and restaurant, but closed its doors in 1995.
1972 – A small log house donated by the St-Laurent family was moved, log by log, and reconstructed on the same site as the new museum.
1973 - Artificial ice added to both hockey arena and curling rink.
1975 - 5^th Post Office was built at the corner of Central Avenue and St-Gérard Street. It later became the Knights of Columbus Hall and today is the home of Kateri Food Bank. The Post Office was moved to Ste-Anne Sundries on 159 Central Avenue where it still operates today.
1977 - Second Caisse Populaire was built at 130 Central Avenue.
1985 - Construction of École Pointe-des-Chênes DSFM at 90 Arena Road.
1989 - New tennis courts north of arena.
1990 - La Bibliothèque Ste. Anne Library was established in January 1990.

1991 – Dayspring Fellowship Church in Ste Anne was founded. It is located on the original property where the Hudson Bay Post was built in 1870.
1993 - Fire destroys curling rink on June 19/20 1993.
1993-94 - Third Caisse Populaire was built at same location of 130 Central Avenue. after a fire destroyed it January 27, 1993.
1994 - Official opening of new curling rink, after devasting fire the year before.
1994 - Ste-Anne French Immersion School K to 8 opened.
1997 - Town of Ste-Anne incorporated into a town status. Population was roughly 1500.
1999 – The new Ste Anne Fire Hall was constructed on Traverse Road North.
2000 – Demolition of the Redemptorist Monastery.
2006 - Ste-Anne Roman Catholic Church designated a Manitoba Heritage Site.
2010 - Unveiling of the Lavack Family pocket park at corner of Central Avenue and Smith Street.
2013 - Ste-Anne Hospital expansion that increased the facility’s size by 60%.
2013 - Museum Pointe-des-Chênes destroyed by fire.
2013 - Old Rural Municipal Hall at 141 Central Ave. is no longer the municipal office for the first time since it’s construction in 1910. It served for 103 years.
2016 - Club Jovial destroyed by fire July 29, 2016 and rebuilt in 2017.
2017 - Construction of a new Emile Champagne pedestrian weathered steel bridge crossing the Seine River near the Church leading to the Redemptorist Park. This bridge is dedicated to Emile Champagne for his kindness and generosity towards people in need.
2018 - Ste-Anne Co-Op name changed to Clearview Consumer Co-Op.
2021 - New Town of Ste Anne Office Building built at 14 Central Avenue.
2022 - July 10^th - Ste-Anne Church Celebrates 125 years.
2022 - Unveiling of Ste-Anne area Pioneer Park and Interpretative Site at west end of town on June 5^th 2022.
2022 - A historical wrong was corrected by the Catholic Church by blessing an area in the cemetery that was originally set aside for perceived unworthy souls.
2024 - Construction of new Ste-Anne Co-Op Grocery Store at 540 Traverse South.
2025 - Official Archdiocesan site for Jubilee 2025

Population Growth: Sources:

1870 – 321 (census) Paroisse de Ste-Anne-des-Chênes 1876-1976 Centennial Book
1963 – 900 (estimate) St-Boniface Historical Society
1997 – 1500 (estimate) Manitoba Historical Society
2011 – 1626 (census) Carillon News Archives
2013 – 1832 (census) Manitoba Archives
2016 – 2114 (estimate) Canadian Census
2021 – 2891 (census) Dawson Trail Treasures
2023 – 3300 (estimate) La Liberté
2026 – (Next census)

Ste-Anne Pioneer Families

In recognition of our Pioneer Families, a list of some 290 Pioneer Families between 1850 and 1890 has been researched and presented in two formats; one in alphabetical order of the men and the other in alphabetical order of the women. In so doing it is much easier to locate your ancestors on the male or female side. View the list of Sainte-Anne Pioneer Families below either by order of the men or the women.The ethnic origins and the names of the spouses, which are too often overlooked, are based on a variety of sources, such as the 1871-1881-1891 Manitoba Census, the Ste-Anne Parish 1876-1976 Centennial book, cemetery lists and internet research. One can notice that our pioneers are from a variety of ethnic sources, but that the Métis and the French from Québec and those repatriated from the States are of primary importance.

Have a good look by clicking on either of the badges below, and maybe you can discover some of your ancestors.

(Research by: Norman Lavack)

Men	Women