Founded in 1969, Festival du Voyageur Inc. has grown to become the largest francophone event in Western Canada, attracting over 75,000 attendees each winter to its vibrant 10-day celebration in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Rooted in the rich 200-plus year history of the voyageurs, the festival offers a unique blend of artistic and educational experiences that highlight the Francophone, Métis, and First Nations cultures of Manitoba. From music and dance to snow sculpting and traditional cuisine, each element of the festival weaves a tapestry of cultural pride and community spirit.
The heart of Festival du Voyageur’s educational mission is Fort Gibraltar, a meticulously reconstructed 1815 fort. Owned and operated by the festival since 1978, this heritage site serves as a dynamic classroom where history comes to life, offering year-round educational experiences that delve into the fur trade era’s significance.
Enhancing the festival experience with PrairiesCan support
In 2022-2023 with support from PrairiesCan, Festival du Voyageur embarked on an ambitious mission to further elevate its offerings. This initiative aimed to enrich the winter festival atmosphere, ensuring that the essence of cold and joie de vivre that characterizes the event was experienced even more profoundly by festival attendees. Funding from PrairiesCan facilitated the acquisition of necessary tools that contributed to the enhancement of various festival attractions, such as thrilling snow slides with tube tunnels, and towering snow sculptures that captivated the imagination and joy of festival-goers.
Looking ahead: Further support for Indigenous programming
Building on the momentum of achievements from the 2022-23 project, PrairiesCan recently announced new funding specifically dedicated to enhancing the festival’s Indigenous programming and experiences. This investment underscores the Government of Canada’s commitment to celebrating Indigenous cultures and tourism experiences within Canada and is a testament to the festival’s and PrairiesCan’s shared vision of ensuring that the rich Francophone and Indigenous heritages on the Prairies continue to flourish for years to come. For further information on this new funding initiative, please visit our recent news release.
Join the celebration
Festival du Voyageur takes place every February in Winnipeg, Manitoba. You can find out more at the festival’s website.
We invite you to be part of this ongoing celebration of community and culture to help preserve a vital part of Manitoba’s heritage and ensure that this unique tradition continues for generations to come.
