50 remarkable individuals
Recognizing the builders of Festival du VoyageurFestival du Voyageur would not be where it is today without the extraordinary contributions of thousands of workers, artists and volunteers since its humble beginning in 1969.
While it would be impossible to recognize all of the people who have contributed to the Festival du Voyageur, we have chosen to honour the following 50 people who have made a lasting impact on what has become Western Canada’s largest winter Festival. Here are their stories:
Albert Vermette
Founder of the Festival du Voyageur fiddling & jigging contests
Andy Desjarlais
Musician and fiddler. Composer of the Red River Jig
Avelin et Hélène Molin-Gautron
Historical costume designers and historical interpreters.
Bruce Decker
Historian who was the driving force of Fort Gibraltar's reconstruction
Clarence et Barb Nepinak
Indigenous elders who have guided and contributed significantly to Festival du Voyageur's heritage and education programs
Claude Forest
Founder of the Petit Canada night, organized by the Conseil Jeunesse Provincial. This evening is dedicated to youth programming
Colin Mackie
Creator of the summer heritage programming at Fort Gibraltar, Colin has assured the historical integrity of Festival du Voyageur in his role as Director of Heritage and Education Programs
Daniel Lavoie
Musician and author of the lyrics of the Voyageur Song
David Macnair
Long-time snow sculptor for Festival du Voyageur
Denis Duguay
Long-time snow sculptor for Festival du Voyageur
Denis Encontre
Long-time fiddler and musician at Festival du Voyageur
Denis Savoie
Long-time snow sculptor at Festival du Voyageur and the artist behind the classic cartoon site maps of Voyageur Park
Frank Savoie
Co-founder and director of the television show Télé-Relais
Gary Tessier
Snow sculptor, founder and long-time coordinator of the International Snow Sculpting Symposium
George et Pat Einarson
Volunteers and long-time organizers of the Festival du Voyageur’s Visiting Festivals program, creating bonds with festivals in Minnesota, Wisconsin and even Florida
George McOuat
President of the St. Boniface Chamber of Commerce that was essential in the founding of the Festival du Voyageur in 1969
Georges et Anita Forest
Georges Forest is the founder of the Festival du Voyageur, along with the support of many. He and Anita, along with the family, tirelessly promoted the Festival du Voyageur across Canada in its inaugural year and all in historical Voyageur costumes. They were named the First Official Voyageur Family
Gérald et Jeanette Dubé
Creators of the snow sculpture that inspired the iconic tuque and boots logo of the Festival du Voyageur
Gerry Turenne
Former Executive Director (1973-1983) who contributed tremendously to the growth of the organization and introduced initiatives that live on today , such as the hosting of the Visiting Festivals from the USA and Cajun night, to name a few
Guy Savoie
Former President of Festival du Voyageur (1975-1978) and City Councillor who had a great influence on the Festival du Voyageur
Hadley Castille
Cajun musician who played at Festival du Voyageur for many years and helped strengthen ties between Louisiana and Manitoba
Hélène Martin
Long-time former employee of Festival du Voyageur having contributed to many Festival du Voyageur initiatives, notably the establishment of the francophone school program, the Visiting Festivals program and the building of relationships with Louisiana
Jolly Turenne
Graphic designer and artist who created the iconic first logo and stylized font of the Festival du Voyageur
Lee-Ann Blase
Seamstress for the Official Voyageurs’ costumes and of several Governors’ Ball costumes
Léo Duguay
Federal Member of Parliament for St. Boniface (1984-1988) having contributed to securing a long-term funding program for the Festival du Voyageur
Les Louis Boys
Iconic Franco-Manitoban musical group founded in the early 70s that has played countless times at Festival du Voyageur
Louis Paquin
Former Executive Director (1986-1993) having contributed to many Festival du Voyageur initiatives, notably the establishment of a skating trail on the Red River that is now visited by hundreds of thousands of Winnipeggers each winter
Maire Ed Turner
Last Mayor of St. Boniface (1960-1968), Mr. Turner was essential in the founding of Festival du Voyageur alongside Monsieur Forest.
Marcel Meilleur
Télé-Relais’ Musical Director and long-time fiddler at Festival du Voyageur
Marcien Ferland
Coordinated several activities of the Festival du Voyageur, former conductor of the Chorale des Intrépides and composer of the harmonies of the “Voyageur song”
Maurice Paquin
Host of the Télé-Relais and the one who popularized Festival du Voyageur’s rallying cry - « HÉHO!! »
Maurice Trudel
Government of Canada public servant who contributed to securing long-term funding for the Festival du Voyageur
Michel Monnin
Former Festival du Voyageur President (1972-1975) who advocated for a festival that focused more heavily on francophone culture
Michelle Gervais
Former employee who contributed tremendously to the marketing and tourism of Festival du Voyageur in the 1990s. She later occupied the role of Official Voyageur Family in 2010 and 2011
Miguel Joyal
Long-time snow sculptor for Festival du Voyageur
Noël Joyal
Former Executive Director (1983-1986) who resigned from his seat on the Board of Directors in order to guide and lead the organization through difficult financial times
Normand Gousseau
Former Executive Director (1993-2003) who has contributed to numerous Festival du Voyageur initiatives, notably the capital campaign and construction of the Maison du Bourgeois located at the heart of Fort Gibraltar
Paul Graveline
Collaborated in the construction of the first skating trail on the Red River that is now visited by hundreds of thousands of Winnipeggers every winter
Réal Bérard
Snow sculptor and visual artist whose iconic artwork has been featured and utilized in many Festival du Voyageur marketing materials and merchandise over the years
Réal Curé
Key contributor to the longevity and growth of the Festival du Voyageur Sugar Shack
Robert Trudel
First president of the newly incorporated Festival du Voyageur inc. from 1969-1971
Roger Lafrenière
First president of the newly incorporated Festival du Voyageur inc. from 1969-1971
Vincent Dureault
Long-time emcee and host of the Télé-Relais, of the Farcetival (comedy show) and of many other events linked to the Festival du Voyageur
Yvette Audette
Musician and long-time coordinator of the Festival du Voyageur’s fiddling and jigging contests