Notre Dame de Lourdes is a Franco-Manitoban community with a population of approximately 620. The village is situated approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg. The residents of the Notre Dame de Lourdes are proud of their origins and work actively at promoting and preserving their French heritage.
Approximately one million years ago, a glacier covered almost all of Manitoba. The lake formed after the melting of the glacier was called Lake Agassiz. Notre Dame de Lourdes could have been the edge of this lake at one time as suggested by the undulating surface of rolling hills and valleys.
These natural processes explain the presence of lighter and sandy lands to the east and north east of the town. The richest agricultural lands are found to the south and south west of the town.
The community distinguishes itself by offering both health services and community services in Canada's two official languages.
History
The first inhabitants in the region surrounding Notre Dame de Lourdes were the Ojibway Indians.
The great explorer LaVerendrye was believed to have crossed township 7, row 9 at Notre Dame de Lourdes around 1738. By the end of the first century, a trading post was established in the area surrounding the current village.
The first pioneers arrived from Quebec around 1880. In 1891, numerous pioneers came from France, some of them with Dom Benoit, the first parish priest of the Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish. A smaller group emigrated from Switzerland that same year. In the following years, numerous other Europeans came to Notre Dame de Lourdes. The Chanoines Reguliers de l'Immaculee Conception religious order had a major impact on the spiritual, intellectual, commercial and political life of the Notre Dame de Lourdes. In 1895, at the request of Dom Benoit, the Chanoinesses Regulieres des Cinq-Plaies du Sauveur, arrived from Lyon France. They immediately undertook the education of the parish's children. They also opened a residence for the elderly in the old parish rectory in 1950.
The parishioners of Notre Dame erected a statue to honour Dom Benoit for the parish's centennial in 1991. In 1995, a monument was erected in front of the convent to honour the Chanoinesses Regulieres des Cinq-Plaies du Sauveur's hundred years of service to the community.
Economic Base
Notre Dame de Lourdes is predominantly an agricultural service centre that serves the region's farms.
Agriculture has always been the major economic activity in Notre Dame de Lourdes. Wheat, oats, barley, flax and buckwheat are the main crops. Many farmers also specialize in dairy farms, cattle raising, hog farms, PMU farms and chicken farms.
Two of the most prominent employers in the village include the Centre de Sante Notre Dame (health centre), and the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine (francophone school division).
Notre Dame de Lourdes has a clinic with three physicians and a variety of other health care specialists (public health nurse, chiropractor, physiotherapist, dietician, radiologist, etc.), a 10-bed hospital, a 61-bed personal care home and a pharmacy.
The l'ecole elementaire Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes (Notre Dame Elementary school) and the college regional Notre-Dame, (Notre Dame Collegiate) provide educational services for the village and surrounding areas.
Services in the village also include a caisse populaire, a co-op and a transport company.
Major Attractions
Notre Dame de Lourdes has an arena with artificial ice, a tennis court and five baseball diamonds. Just outside of the village are found scenic and well-groomed trails where various activities are possible. Such activities include snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and mountain biking. The flora and wildlife of the Pembina Mountains can also be experienced just outside of the village limits.
Notre Dame de Lourdes offers many summer and winter events. Some of these include Canada Day celebrations, fastball and slo-pitch tournaments and annual craft sales.
Some of the major attractions in Notre Dame de Lourdes include:
Heritage/Monuments Musee des Pionniers et des Chanoinesses: The museum features more than 1 000 historical and cultural artifacts of pioneers. The new addition houses the artifacts of the Chanoinesses, who celebrated 100 years of religious life in the community in 1995. The museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and by appointment on weekends. For more information call: (204) 248-2687. Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes
Grotto: The Grotto was erected in 1954 in gratitude to the Blessed Virgin Mary for the protection of the youth of the village against the polio epidemic of 1946-47.
The Chanoinesses Monument: The monument was erected in front of the convent of the congregation to celebrate the centennial of the arrival of the Sisters in Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes. The monument commemorates their outstanding contribution in education, culture, health care and pastoral activities.
Dom Benoit Monument: This bronze statue was erected in front of the village church in 1991 to honour the memory of Dom Paul Benoit, the founder of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes. Franco-Manitoban artist, Real Berard, created the statue.
Chapelle Sainte-Therese: The Chapelle has Romanesque-style architecture and unique Gothic detailing.
It contains records of former and present residents. The Chapelle is open daily from May 15th to October 31st.
Crafts Mountain Craft Shop: The craft shop produces carpentry products that include chairs, birdcages, toys and crafts. The shop is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
St. Lupicin Craft Gallery Co-op (7 km from Notre Dame): The craft gallery offers jewelry, pottery, stained and blown glass, sculptures and paintings from local and national artists and craftspeople. For more information, please call Bonnie McQueen at (204) 744-2187.
