PASSION & HISTOIRE – Branding made toattract residents and tourists to St. Boniface.

Driven by a passion for History

F rom the gates of St. Bonifaceand extending beyondManitoba borders,

Compagnie de La Vérendryesymbolizes History for theFrancophone community. Thegroup of enthusiastic volunteers hasbeen putting on superlative historicalre-enactments for the past 25 years.

It all began on July 1, 1994, whenMichel Loiselle and one of hisQuebec friends foundedCompagnie de La Vérendrye, thefirst (and only) Francophonemilitary living history group inWestern Canada. After exploringthe British era with other groups,they wanted to focus on bringing thecontinent's French military heritageto life. "It was our way of throwing aspotlight on the New France sagathat spread all the way here, toManitoba," says Loiselle.

However, the Compagnie's storyis also, and above all, History. It isnamed after Pierre Gaultier deVarennes, Sieur de La Vérendrye,the first Canadian explorer andmilitary officer who came west ofthe Great Lakes in the early18th century. As the Compagnie didits research, eagerly delving into thepast, its mission began to take shape.The group decided to focus oncommemorating nearly 300 yearsof French presence in Manitoba'slocal history.

Compagnie volunteers draw theirinspiration from New France's"Golden Age," which includes furtrading in the early 18th century andthe unique alliances formed betweenFirst Nations peoples and theFrench. Through their activities inManitoba and beyond, they re-enact the journeys and lives of thefirst French people in WesternCanada. "Our aim is to take Historyout of books and bring it to life,adding colour to those stories andsharing them with others."

Compagnie de La Vérendryecurrently has some 20 members."We pay for our own uniforms, so it

can take upwards of a year tocompletely outfit ourselves," saysMichel Loiselle. "A historicseamstress helps us provide themost accurate depiction of soldiersfrom that era."

Whether it is hosting Festival duVoyageur's Cabaret du Fort Rougeas official guards or participating in ahistoric camp re-enactment,Compagnie de La Vérendryemembers showcase the presence ofFrancophones in the West, drivenby a single purpose: sharing theirlove of History.

Photo: Courtesy of Michel Loiselle

La Compagnie de La Vérendrye authentically decked out for the 2010 Royal Tour of Canadaby Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, a high point for the group.

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