Street Names

Elements from the history of the Red River Settlement as well as the natural history of  the Sage Creek area can be found in our street names.

Jean Baptiste Tourond was active in the civil affairs of his community from 1869 through to 1878 and was also an accomplished farmer. Along with Louis Riel, Jean Baptiste Tourond was one of the original members of the Provisional Government of Assiniboia in 1869. He was among those who stopped the Dominion Land Survey in the area that same year and the Survey did not resume again until Manitoba became a Province in 1870. In 1871, he helped establish the Societé Agricole du Comté de Provencher and became one of its directors. He was also appointed to the Board of the Provincial Agricultural Association. Baptiste Tourond served as the Commissaire d’Ecole for St. Norbert in 1871 and as the Justice of the Peace for Provencher until 1876 when he was named its Deputy Sherriff.

The rare blue sun and blue moon phenomenon occur when oil droplets, formed in the combustion products of fires, are suspended in the atmosphere, making the sun appear blue.

The Aurora Borealis occur around the northern magnetic pole. The colours of the Aurora Borealis are created when charged electrons in solar winds collide with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen in the earth’s upper atmosphere. The colours that erupt depend upon the altitude of the collision and the types of atoms involved.

In the colloquial language of the French-Canadian voyageurs, the term “Hivernant” was used to denote those who had wintered in the interior fur country. It recognizes both the settlers of the area and their language.

An early trade item of the Hudson’s Bay Company, this oval tinder box came with a magnified ‘burning glass’ in the lid. It was essentially a fire– starting kit that was also used to light pipes.

Named for the Sisters of Charity, founded in Montreal in 1737 and affectionately known as the Grey Nuns. The first group of Grey Nuns traveled from Montreal to St. Boniface by canoe, arriving on June 21, 1844. Members of the order of the Sisters of Charity were devoted to bringing education and medical services to the inhabitants of the Red River Settlement. Over time they established a significant collection of public service institutions including an orphanage, a day school, a residential school and an infirmary in 1871, which would later become the beginnings of the St. Boniface General Hospital.

Also known as Echinacea, this purple, daisy-like perennial has been popular for use in borders and as a medicinal herb for hundreds of years. In its present-day incarnation as an herbal remedy, it is regarded as an immune-booster to help ward off flues and colds.

Copper Meadow refers to the beautiful visual effect on the native grasses that occurs when the sunset hits it in the evening.

Diamond dust is a ground-level cloud composed of tiny ice crystals in the form of needles, columns or plates. This meteorological phenomenon is also referred to simply as ice crystals. Diamond dust generally forms under otherwise clear or nearly clear skies.

Dr. Friesen’s pioneering home-building activities have changed the face of Winnipeg. He founded Qualico in the early 1950s; under his leadership and vision, the company grew to be one of the largest real estate development companies in western Canada, with operations in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Austin, Texas. It continues to be a proud participant in the ongoing development and renewal of these cities.

Dr. Friesen has also contributed to the quality of life in Winnipeg through his volunteer and philanthropic activities. The Friesen family foundation has provided support to a wide range of educational and charitable organizations.

Dragonflies are fast flying predatory insects. They have long bodies and transparent but sometimes colourful wings. They are beneficial in Manitoba because they eat countless mosquitoes which allows the outdoors to be more enjoyable.

Dumontet was one of the first of Lord Selkirk’s settlers to move to the Red River Valley which is now known as Point Douglas, to start a better life.

East Plains Trail was used in the 1840s and was shorter than the West Plain Trail. It became the route of the large cart trains originating from Pembina. The East Plains Trail followed the older routes of the West Plains Trail from Pembina to Breckenridge, Minnesota, then struck east by a variety of routes out of the Red River Valley across the upper valleys of the Pomme de Terre and Chippewa Rivers, to Saint Cloud and Sauk Rapids on the Upper Mississippi. Over most of its route, the East Plains Trail went through a post-glacial landscape of lakes, moraines and drumlins, with beautiful scenery and difficult swamps.

Born in Transcona, Edward Turner married Margeurite Garnier and lived most of his life in St. Boniface. He served two terms as a St. Boniface City Councillor and was its last Mayor, prior to the Unicity amalgamation in 1971. During his term, he helped found the Festival du Voyageur. He also worked in insurance and served as President of the Canadian Insurance Claims Managers Association, as well as the President of the Norwood-St. Boniface Legion and Grand Knight of the Norwood Knights of Columbus.

Fireweed is a tall beautiful pink wildflower that grows from sea level and even on mountains. Fireweeds thrive in open meadows and along streams. The name fireweed comes from its ability to colonize areas burned by fire rapidly. It was one of the first plants to appear after the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980.

Sister Fisette was a Grey Nun who travelled from Montreal to become a member of the St. Boniface Convent in 1850. The new convent had been established by Mother Valade in 1844 to teach children and care for the sick, and those who needed help. Sister Fisette lived and served in the Saint Boniface Mission at Red River for 64 years.

A tribute to various heron species found across Canada. Grey herons have an extensive geographic range throughout Europe, Asia and parts of Africa. They are related to the great blue heron which are slightly larger in size and are found throughout Manitoba. Herons hunt in shallow water by standing still or by slowly stalking their prey until they are close enough to catch them with their bill.

Archibald Stansfeld Belaney, alias Grey Owl, writer, conservationist (born 18 September 1888 in Hastings, England; died 13 April 1938 in Prince Albert, SK). Grey Owl was a well-known conservationist and writer in the 1930s. Although born in England, he portrayed himself as the son of a Scottish man and Apache woman. His articles and books stressed wilderness conservation and became bestsellers in Canada and Britain. Shortly after Grey Owl died in 1938, a newspaper article exposed his real identity as Archibald Belaney. He has been the focus of several biographies, articles and films, and his books have been reprinted many times. Grey Owl achieved fame throughout Canada and beyond. He is credited with raising awareness of the negative impact human activity can have on nature.

The Great Gray Owl was adopted by Manitoba is its official bird emblem in 1987. This rare species is seen more frequently in parts of our province than elsewhere in Canada.

Hazelnut is a native shrub with small nuts that can be roasted and eaten. It prefers dry to medium, well-drained soil, where it spreads by its roots, forming dense clumps with a beautiful golden fall colour. Native hazels grow along streams, in hedgerows, meadows, woodlands, roadsides and forest edges.

A native plant named after its shape: a heart. The plant can bloom blue flowers in the spring. It has also been proven that this plant will keep the deer away, stopping them from eating other plants.

Description coming soon.

Hummingbirds are tiny colourful birds. Their name comes from the fact that they flap their wings so fast that its makes a humming noise. An interesting fact about hummingbirds is that they can fly up, down, left, right, backwards and even upside down. Hummingbirds primarily eat flower nectar, tree sap, insects and pollen.

This native wildflower has showy, reddish purple flowers in feathery heads at the top of the plant. Ironweed refers to its tough, fibrous stems.

John was the President of the Southdale Recreation Association in the 1970’s and served for many years on the General Council of Winnipeg Community Centres.

Green lacewings are delicate insects with a wingspan of six to over 65 mm. The bodies are usually bright green to greenish-brown and the compound eyes are conspicuously golden in many species. The wings are usually translucent with a slight iridescence; some have green wing veins or a cloudy brownish wing pattern. People appreciate green lacewings because of their ability to eliminate harmful insects from the gardens and fields.

Lafrance Lane is named after Sister Marie Hedwidge Lafrance, one of the first Grey Nuns to arrive in the Red River Settlement in 1844. She was just 26 and had traveled from Montreal by canoe.

Lloyd McKinnon was born and raised in Winnipeg. He was a Pilot Officer in WWII. He enlisted in the army when he was only 27-years-old. Over his time in the army he gained the Air Gunner badge, the 39-45 Star, a general Sergeant medal and the C.V.S.M. Lloyd was killed on Sep 28, 1944 at the age of 29. He was buried at the Runnymede Memorial cemetery in Surrey, England.

Lyric Lane is a reference to all the beautiful bird songs you may hear in Sage Creek.

A moonbeam is a yellow flower resembling a daisy that can grow to be two-feet tall. It is known for its long blooming period.

Morning Star has three astrological meanings. First, it is most commonly used as a name for the planet Venus when it appears in the east before sunrise. Second, a name for the star Sirius, which appears in the sky just before sunrise during the hottest days of the year. And lastly, a less common name for the planet Mercury when it appears in the east before sunrise.

Palisade is a french word derived from Latin meaning stake. A palisade is a fence with wooden stakes or iron railings that is fixed into the ground. It is used in some yards in Sage Creek, noticeably along Sage Creek Boulevard.

White Pelicans are native to Manitoba and Sage Creek. They are large aquatic soaring birds that will migrate to the south during the winter. They are white birds with beautiful white and black wings.

Aimee Pepin was a part of the Grey Nuns of Montreal. It was her job to educate children and take care of the sick. In 1860 she was sent to Ile a la Crosse in Saskatchewan to open School of The Holy Family and a hospital with three other nuns.

These long, slender ducks are native to Manitoba and Sage Creek. They get their name from their long pointed tail feathers. The ducks eat seeds and aquatic plants. They migrate south in the fall for the winter and return to Sage Creek in the spring and summer.

A beautiful prairie wild flower – also known as ‘Old-Man’s Whiskers’. This flower is a part of the rose family. These flowers are redish-pink to purple and look best when clumped together.

Paul Proulx was one of the councillors of the Métis Provisional Government, established by Louis Riel, during the Red River Rebellion of 1869 – 1870.

Purple Sage is a native plant that requires little care. These plants prefer a dry, hot climate and prefer to grow in sandy or rocky soil. It adds a beautiful purple colour to yards and trails.

The region on the lee side of a mountain or mountain range where the precipitation is noticeably less than on the windward side. The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems and cast a “shadow” of dryness behind them.

In the late 1960s, Emile and Mary Ranville moved to Winnipeg with their 12 children. They immediately became involved with the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre and the Manitoba Metis Federation and remained actively involved with both organizations until their deaths. Further, Mary Ranville pushed for the establishment of a training centre for Metis people, which today is called the Louis Riel Institute.

Several of their children were musically talented and in 1980, the C-Weed band, consisting of Wally, Don and Errol Ranville, became the first Aboriginal artists in Manitoba to have a number one song nationally. They were also nominated for Juno Awards in 1985, 1986 and 2001.

The raven is a large black-coloured bird with a purplish lustre that belongs to the genus Corvus. Ravens are highly intelligent birds who have long lifespans.

Travelers feel like they have discovered a rare treasure when they find red lilies in the wild but they are very hardy and can grow in almost any location. They compete with grass in thick hay fields or raw cut banks along road-side ditches. Flowers are large, up to three-inches long with bright orange and red colourings with black spots. There is typically one to five flowers per plant! Plants are six to 24 inches tall.

A lunar eclipse results in a moon that is dark, reddish-orange depending on the amount of dust and clouds in the Earth’s atmosphere at the time. Although lunar eclipses have no great scientific significance, they are a spectacle of nature and have great significance to a broad variety of cultures.

Red Sky is a reference to the beautiful sunrises and sunsets that occur each morning and evening.

The Redpoll bird is a smaller bird in the finch family. Their most defining characteristic is the red patch of feathers on their forehead.

Born in St. Boniface, Robert Bockstael served that constituency well as Liberal member of Parliament from 1979 to 1984. He was Parliamentary Secretary to both the Minister of Transport and to the Secretary of State, and the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Transport. He served on several other Parliamentary Committees as well. Mr. Bockstael was also a Winnipeg City Councillor from 1971 to 1978 and a member of the St. Boniface School Board.

There are numerous varieties of native Sage grasses. Sage has been used for centuries as flavorings, condiments and medicines. It is also burned during Aboriginal ceremonies (smudging).

Silver Sage is native to Sage Creek and is known best for its striking white leaves. The leaves are covered with downy hairs that give them a fuzzy appearance.

A siskin is a bird that belongs to the finch family. An adult siskin has a brown streaky body and its wings and tail are yellow.

The snowberry has dark green foliage during spring through fall and beautiful white flowers with a light pink hue in the spring. In the winter, waxy-white berries are what give this bush its name. These berries provide food for many birds from fall that last well into winter. However, snowberries are poisonous for humans.

The snowy owl is a large, white owl native to arctic regions in North America. Males are almost all white, while females have more flecks of black feathers. Young snowy owls have black feathers until they turn white. The snowy owl is a ground nester that primarily hunts rodents and waterfowl. Most owls sleep during the day and hunt at night but the snowy owl is active during the day, especially in the summer time.

Solstices occur twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is most oriented toward or away from the sun. At the summer solstice, the sun reaches its northernmost extreme, creating the longest day of the year. At the winder solstice, the sun reaches its southernmost extreme, creating the shortest day of the year.

A stoneknife was made thousands of years ago as a hunting tool. It was formed by chipping away at a stone until it become sharp. Nowadays they are used for decoration and ceremonies as it can be broken by dropping it on rock or on the ground.

A sundog or parhelion is an atmospheric phenomenon many Winnipeggers are familiar with on cold winter days. Sundogs are bright spots that usually appear on either side of the sun. They are believed to occur when light reflects off ice crystals in the atmosphere and can also form into a halo around the sun

Photo credit: Kelsey Eliasson/Polar Bear Alley

Tallgrass is a type of native grasses that were once common on the Canadian prairies. Tallgrass species will be planted throughout Sage Creek public reserve and wetlands, and directly adjacent to a large section of Tallgrass Crescent.

The scarlet tanager is a songbird found in Canada. The breeding male tanager is very easy to spot with its red body and back wings and tail.

Tansi is an Aboriginal greeting meaning ‘Welcome’ or ‘Hello’.

A Trapper is a person who hunts and traps animals for the purpose of using their fur for clothing and accessories. Animal fur provides warmth and was extremely popular in the 1800’s. Indigenous people and British people wore the animal fur for warmth and for fashion.

Both the warbling and red-eyed vireo breed and nest in southern and central Manitoba, while their range extends far beyond, into northwestern Manitoba and over much of Canada and the U.S. These small birds winter in Mexico and Central America.

Named after soldier Leo Warde (1888-1971), who had a long record of service in Winnipeg.  In 1921, he was appointed Director of War Services for the Manitoba Red Cross. In 1920, he was elected Provincial President of the Great War Veterans Aassociation. He was also elected Chairman of the joint council for Veterans Associations, Chairman of the Legislative Council of the Veterans Association, and served as Editor of The Veteran. He had a long record of service in the welfare of Winnipeg and was known as the originator of “The Mall” and “Cross Town Highway.” In 1909 he made a traffic survey of Winnipeg and later mooted the cross town highway as a relief and correctional highway for the relief of traffic problem.

Water lilies are beautiful aquatic plants with large floating leaves and large flowers. Water lilies symbolize pleasure and peace and the are symbols of delight and new life.

The West Plains Trail is a Red River trail that had originated with Native Americans and before the ox cart traffic which connected the fur-trading posts of the Columbia Fur Company. In fact, that company introduced the Red River ox cart to haul its furs and goods. From the Red River Settlement, the trail went south upstream along the Red River’s west bank to Pembina, just across the international border.

The wild iris is a beautiful purple plant that takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, which is also the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow. They symbolize royalty, wisdom, respect and compliments.

A flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Sage Creek is home to many wildflowers such as the coneflower.

Willow trees and shrubs can be found in the southern part of Manitoba along stream beds. These trees and shrubs love water and come in many different shapes, sizes and colours. The bark of a willow tree is an effective pain reliever that lead to the development of aspirin.

Named after Joanne Witham who was a Grey Nun who devoted her life to helping others.

Wood Sage is actually a member of the mint family with wrinkled leaves that look rather like Sage. The flowers are green and white and lie along one side of the stalk. It’s rare on the prairies and despite its name, is more often found growing in open places rather than in woods.

A yellow moon refers to when an observer is looking at it through multiple layers of atmosphere. When moonlight travels through more atmosphere layers, the moon appears to look yellow when it is high in the sky.