Project Recipient: Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Inc.
National Historic Site: Dominion Exhibition Display Building II National Historic Site
Total Project Cost: minimum of $200,000
Parks Canada’s Contribution: up to $100,000
Project Description:
The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Inc. will complete exterior repairs, including work on the domed corner pavilions, to the Dominion Exhibition Display Building II, in Brandon, Manitoba, as part of a broader rehabilitation project aimed at ensuring its ongoing viability. The proposed work will continue the process of returning this rare surviving example of a Dominion Exhibition building to public use. This investment will ensure the commemorative integrity of this important national historic site is maintained for present and future generations.
Dominion Exhibition Display Building II National Historic Site
The Dominion Exhibition Display Building II National Historic Site is a stately wooden exhibition building located in the midst of the City of Brandon’s exhibition grounds. Designed by architects Shillinglaw and Marshall, this grand Beaux-Arts-style building was constructed in 1913 for agricultural display at the annual Dominion Exhibition, an initiative of the Department of Agriculture. The structure’s scale, materials and classical elements proclaim its early 20th-century origins. Many generations of families have celebrated agriculture and manufacturing in this iconic hall.
The Dominion Exhibition Display Building II was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1998 because:
- it is the only known surviving building constructed for the Dominion Exhibition held annually from 1879-1914;
- it is located in a city which was, and continues to be, a focal point and important centre in the agricultural development of the west;
- it is a good example of the exhibition halls inspired by the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893;
- and it has clear roots in the tradition and style of exhibition halls, and expresses very well the exuberance and monumentality of its Beaux-Arts models.
Cost-Sharing Program
Parks Canada’s National Historic Sites Cost-Sharing Program is a contribution program whereby up to 50% of eligible costs incurred in the conservation of a national historic site can be reimbursed. The Program aims to assist non-federal owners of national historic sites in maintaining the physical integrity of the threatened cultural resources. The program reflects the government’s desire to support job creation in the built heritage sector by providing funding for the conservation of national historic sites. National historic sites contribute to tourism in over 400 communities across Canada through direct spending, visitor spending and spin-off economic activity. This program creates opportunities for many skilled construction and conservation professionals to work on historic places across Canada.
