50 remarkable individuals

Recognizing the builders of Festival du Voyageur

Festival 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

Albert Vermette

Founder of the Festival du Voyageur fiddling & jigging contests

Avelin et Hélène Molin Gautron

Andy Desjarlais

Musician and fiddler. Composer of the Red River Jig

Avelin et Hélène Molin Gautron

Avelin et Hélène Molin-Gautron

Historical costume designers and historical interpreters.

Bruce Decker

Bruce Decker

Historian who was the driving force of Fort Gibraltar's reconstruction

Clarence Barb Nepinak

Clarence et Barb Nepinak

Indigenous elders who have guided and contributed significantly to Festival du Voyageur's heritage and education programs

Claude Forest

Claude Forest

Founder of the Petit Canada night, organized by the Conseil Jeunesse Provincial. This evening is dedicated to youth programming

Colin Mackie

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

Daniel Lavoie

Musician and author of the lyrics of the Voyageur Song

david macnair

David Macnair

Long-time snow sculptor for Festival du Voyageur

denis duguay

Denis Duguay

Long-time snow sculptor for Festival du Voyageur

denis encontre

Denis Encontre

Long-time fiddler and musician at Festival du Voyageur

denis savoie

Denis Savoie

Long-time snow sculptor at Festival du Voyageur and the artist behind the classic cartoon site maps of Voyageur Park

frank savoie

Frank Savoie

Co-founder and director of the television show Télé-Relais

Gary Tessier

Gary Tessier

Snow sculptor, founder and long-time coordinator of the International Snow Sculpting Symposium

George Pat Einarson

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 McQuat

George McOuat

President of the St. Boniface Chamber of Commerce that was essential in the founding of the Festival du Voyageur in 1969

Georges & Anita Forest

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 & Jeanette Dubé

Gérald et Jeanette Dubé

Creators of the snow sculpture that inspired the iconic tuque and boots logo of the Festival du Voyageur

Gerry Turenne

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

Guy Savoie

Former President of Festival du Voyageur (1975-1978) and City Councillor who had a great influence on the Festival du Voyageur

George Pat Einarson

Hadley Castille

Cajun musician who played at Festival du Voyageur for many years and helped strengthen ties between Louisiana and Manitoba

Hélène Martin

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

Jolly Turenne

Graphic designer and artist who created the iconic first logo and stylized font of the Festival du Voyageur

George Pat Einarson

Lee-Ann Blase

Seamstress for the Official Voyageurs’ costumes and of several Governors’ Ball costumes

Leo Duguay

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

Jolly Turenne

Les Louis Boys

Iconic Franco-Manitoban musical group founded in the early 70s that has played countless times at Festival du Voyageur

Louis Paquin

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

Ed Turner

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

Marcel Meilleur

Télé-Relais’ Musical Director and long-time fiddler at Festival du Voyageur

Marcien Ferland

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

Maurice Paquin

Host of the Télé-Relais and the one who popularized Festival du Voyageur’s rallying cry - « HÉHO!! »

Maurice Trudel

Maurice Trudel

Government of Canada public servant who contributed to securing long-term funding for the Festival du Voyageur

George Pat Einarson

Michel Monnin

Former Festival du Voyageur President (1972-1975) who advocated for a festival that focused more heavily on francophone culture

Michelle Gervais

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

Miguel Joyal

Long-time snow sculptor for Festival du Voyageur

George Pat Einarson

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

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

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

George Pat Einarson

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

Maurice Paquin

Réal Curé

Key contributor to the longevity and growth of the Festival du Voyageur Sugar Shack

Robert Trudel

Robert Trudel

First president of the newly incorporated Festival du Voyageur inc. from 1969-1971

George Pat Einarson

Roger Lafrenière

First president of the newly incorporated Festival du Voyageur inc. from 1969-1971

Vincent Dureault

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

Yvette Audette

Musician and long-time coordinator of the Festival du Voyageur’s fiddling and jigging contests