Description:
A timeline of land use in St. Norbert.
Land use history of St. Norbert area:
The land use history is important because it helps us understand why “the land
has not been developed in a cohesive manner to channel all the water into the
[stormwater drainage] system” (Fuller, 2011).
•
Between 1600 and 1800, the Assiniboine, Cree and Ojibwa lived in the St.
Norbert area (Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Citizenship Historic
Resources, 1996). The St. Norbert area was a centre for aboriginal fishing,
trade and hunting, including the annual buffalo hunt (City of Winnipeg:
Planning, Property and Development Department, 2009, p. 16).
•
In the 1820s a Métis settlement grew in the St. Norbert area.
•
In 1836, the entire Red River Settlement was surveyed according to the
river lot system (Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Citizenship Historic
Resources, 1996, p. 5).
•
In 1869 the federal government attempted to survey the land to make way
for new settlers, “the township system…was intended for land use beyond
the river lots of the original settlement” (Manitoba Culture, Heritage and
Citizenship Historic Resources, 1996, p. 8).
•
1869-1870, Metis Resistance
•
1870 Manitoba enters Confederation.
•
1871 Baudry produced a map of the parishes along the Red River including
St. Boniface, St. Vital, St. Norbert and Pointe Coupee. I have visually
identified the approximate location of the Drainage Inside the Dike project.
In 1871, there were no river lots identified on this site.
•
The site was the approximate homestead of Joseph Le May, he built a
family home in about 1870.
•
Le May had the first sawmill and flour mill in the community (Jones, 2000,
p. 115). He was a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1870-76
(Grover, 1986).
•
A search of the Western Land Grants (1870-1930) database reveals that Le
May received Letters Patent in 1877 and 1878. “Letters Patent were issued
to grant or confirm title to a portion of land. They are the first title to land,
and serve as proof that the land no longer belongs to the Crown” (Land
Grants of Western Canada, 1870-1930, 2014). It is reported that LeMay
lost his land because of financial difficulties (City of Winnipeg: Department
of Environmental Planning: Historic Projects Branch and Urban Design
Branch, 1983, p. 47).
•
Upon Joseph Le May’s death in 1892, Monseigneur Ritchot acquired the Le
May home and surrounding land (Grover, 1986). “Whenever possible,
Ritchot and his colleagues arranged to purchase former Métis river lots
before they could fall into the hands of English-speaking speculators”
(Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Citizenship Historic Resources, 1996, p.
11).
•
In 1903 the former Le May property, the family home and 80 acres, was
donated to the Sisters of Mercy (Wikipedia, 2013).
•
From 1904 to 1948 an orphanage was founded and operated on this site,
Asile Ritchot (Grover, 1986). In 1911, a major expansion was done to the
1870s structure, the present three-story brick building with the distinct red
domed roof was constructed (The Manitoba Historical Society, 1998-2004).
Grover reports that “surrounding the buildings were large gardens,
cultivated laboriously by the Sisters and madelaines [young unmarried
mothers] to provide food. Cattle, sheep and chickens were also kept”
(Grover, 1986). As an aside in 1905, the St. Norbert village subdivision plan
is done (Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Citizenship Historic Resources,
1996, p. 14).
•
In 1948 the government takes over the care of orphans and the orphanage
is closed (Grover, 1986).
•
1954 a seminary for the Oblate Order of Catholic priests takes its place
(City of Winnipeg: Department of Environmental Planning: Historic Projects
Branch and Urban Design Branch, 1983, p. 47).
•
1955, the St. Norbert Community Centre is built (Economics Research
Associates ND LEA, 2004, pp. 12-47)
•
1970 the buildings at Asile Ritchot were leased to the X-Kalay Foundation,
and served as the residence of their drug and alcohol abuse program (City
of Winnipeg: Department of Environmental Planning: Historic Projects
Branch and Urban Design Branch, 1983, p. 47). The X-Kalay Foundation is
now called the Behavioural Health Foundation.
•
1977 École Noel Ritchot is built (St. Norbert Foundation, n.d.)

1988, inception of the the Saint Norbert Farmers
From: St. Nobert Watershed Stewardship Coalition:
http://www.arch.umanitoba.ca/greenmap/pages/PS(2014)/LR_SNWS/pages/2.htm