In Plain Sight

Now Available

Discover Winnipeg's History with this free Multilingual Augmented Reality Audio Tour App!

Embark on a self-directed and interactive mixed-reality walk through St. Boniface today!

Android and iPhone

Immerse yourself in Winnipeg’s vibrant past with “Histoire cachée – In Plain Sight,” a groundbreaking multilingual AR audio tour app! Delve into St. Boniface’s rich and diverse history at your own pace, experiencing stunning visuals in Augmented Reality and engaging oral stories in French, English, and French Méchif.

Discover the dramatic moments that shaped the community’s past, such as mail carrier Elzéar Goulet’s heart-pounding chase from Wolseley’s men; step into the lively world of Métis homesteads, and join gatherings of voyageurs and their families. Learn about the generational impact of the residential school system as you hear the stories of those who were affected by this dark chapter in Canadian history.

This interactive mixed-reality walkthrough of St. Boniface is designed to captivate and enlighten. The app features a range of themes that encompass family, cultural tensions, reunion, tragedy, tradition, and colonialism. With “Histoire cachée – In Plain Sight,” you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the area’s complex and intertwined histories while experiencing the power of augmented reality (AR) technology.

Collaborating with community groups, including Indigenous elders, the app’s creators have worked diligently to ensure that the stories shared are accurate, respectful, and inclusive of all perspectives. This commitment to authenticity and reconciliation shines through in every facet of the app, making it an essential tool for exploring Winnipeg’s multifaceted history.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to embark on an unforgettable journey through time with “Histoire cachée – In Plain Sight.” Begin your interactive mixed reality walkthrough at St. Boniface today!

 

Walking Tour

This walking tour visits:

  • Fort Gibraltar
  • St. Boniface Cathedral & Cemetery
  • Archdiocese of St. Boniface
  • St. Boniface Museum
  • La Vérendrye Park
  • The historic home of Gabrielle Roy

Chapters

The Rendez-vous

After a harrowing trip, the voyageurs have returned to the fort! Witness the loving reunion of friends and family who made it back home. Let the celebration begin!

Métis Mother Near the Fort

The home life of a Métis family near the fort was a busy one! Running a household in the fall meant there was lots to be done, from harvesting crops and checking on the traps, to bison hunting and trading goods with the fort. And of course, there's always laundry! Some things never change!

The Bison Story

Bison once roamed the prairies here, wild and free. The two-legged ones came to hunt them more efficiently until their prairie was taken away by trains and guns. Now they live on farms, waiting for their chance to break free!

Festival du Voyageur — Pea Soup Love Story

Experience some of the joy of Festival du Voyageur! Festival is a celebration of French Canadian and Metis cultures held once a year at Fort Gibraltar. Enjoy music, jigging, snow sculptures, great food, and all that French Métis culture has to show!

Sister Doctor

The Grey Nuns had many jobs within the convent. They were teachers, cooks, nurses, and, most importantly: doctors. Sister St. Therese was one of the best doctors who entered the St. Boniface Grey Nuns convent. She was loaned to them by the convent in Ottawa with the intent that she would eventually go back.

A Story Lived Under the Double Sign of Pride and Humility

Here, we take a look at the two flags of the Union Nationale Métisse Saint-Joseph du Manitoba. From its founding, they have responded to the need to affirm the French Métis. Listen to the fiddle played by Alexandre Tétrault and read about their story.

The Death of Elzéar Goulet - as seen from a witness

Elzéar Goulet went to the Red Saloon on September 13, 1870. While there, a local called him out as the man who "shot Thomas Scott," and he was quickly chased out of the bar. As Goulet fled, he attempted to swim across the Red River until a stone hurled from the crowd hit him on the head, causing him to drown.

Ka-payak-waskonam | One Arrow

Chief One Arrow signed Treaty #6 in 1876. He and Louis Riel had the same mission: protecting their rights and people. Chief One Arrow was charged with treason against the Canadian Government. (Eagle Feather News John Lagimodière)

Cathedral Fire

On July 22, 1968, the St. Boniface Cathedral caught fire due to a stray cigarette. Crowds gathered to watch the fire rapidly make its way through the church. Shortly before one lucky group of firemen went in, one of the towers collapsed completely.

Hope Remains After Cultural Destruction

Many children were forced to live in residential schools, being taken away from their families and having their culture ripped away. Some didn't make it home. Luckily, the ones who did, have been able to work toward re-learning their language and traditions. This story is partly told in Anishinaabemowin. Please listen with your heart.

Gabrielle Roy

We learn about the life of author Gabrielle Roy through 4 chapters of her life. From her early life to teaching, journalism and her study of theatre. Gabrielle was a prominent author born in St. Boniface. She often would look out the window of her house at the open fields all around.

La Vérendrye Park

Bonjour | Tansi | Bozhoo | Taanishi | Hello and welcome to La Vérendrye Park! Accompany explorer and trader Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye as he ventured west from Montreal in 1731 to find wealth and glory in the lands beyond Lake Superior. With a trade monopoly granted to him by King Louis XV, he set out to find the mysterious path to the Western Sea and the riches of China.

ZenFri is an internationally recognized and award-winning interactive studio that leverages cutting-edge design and technology to push the boundaries of storytelling.

Rob Malo, also known as TiBert, is a Franco-Manitoban Métis storyteller, author, musician, juggler, performer and community animator.