Winnipeg Arts Council

The Winnipeg Arts Council is an organization that provides funds for art and cultural programs/pieces. The Council, which was established in 1984, provides grants for individual artists and organizations through an application process. In addition to its grant program, the Council provides public art pieces to enhance Winnipeg’s appearance and artistic awareness. After speaking with a representative from the Winnipeg Arts Council, we visited various pieces through out the city that the Council had provided. Through this art scavenger hunt, we saw how dramatically art can alter a city.

Outside the council  

St. Mary's Academy

Today, we toured St. Mary's Academy, an all girls Catholic school for girls grade 7-12. In 1869, two nuns opened St. Mary's in a small house, the first Catholic school in Winnipeg. In 1873, St. Mary's began to receive funding and by the next year the enrollment rapidly grew to around 130 students. By 1903, a new building was built to accommodate the growing academy, and was renovated two more times in 1909 and 1960 to become the building we know today. St. Mary's is the oldest independent school in the province. During our tour, Emily, our tour guide, showed us classrooms, the cafeteria, gyms, the chapel, and the dome that sits on the top of the building. We also met with various teachers to learn about the types of subjects and classes studied at the school, as well as the extra-circulars offered to the students. We had a lot of fun looking at this school and learning of all the history behind its foundation.

The cafeteria  

The library 

Our tour guide, Emily Fridrik

The auditorium/theatre

The workout facility  

The gymnasium 

A classroom 

The main office

The chapel

The view from the dome 

An interview with a teacher

The outside of the school