Seven Oaks House receives national historic site designation

Seven Oaks House in Winnipeg has officially been declared a National Historic Site by Ottawa.

The oldest house remaining in Winnipeg is now a national historic site.

Seven Oaks House officially received the designation on Wednesday from Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture.

“Historic designations play a vital role in preserving Canada’s shared heritage and identity,” Guilbeault said in a statement. “They ensure that the stories of the people, places, and events that have shaped our nation are remembered, so future generations know who we are and where we come from.”

Seven Oaks House was built between 1851 and 1853 for John and Mary Inkster on what is now known as Mac Street in the city’s Seven Oaks neighbourhood. The Inksters were a prominent Scottish-Metis family in the Red River Settlement. The property, now a museum, also includes the family’s original log farmhouse.

Seven Oaks House is already a provincial heritage site and now joins an exclusive list of houses in Winnipeg with national historic designation. The others are Riel House, Maison Gabrielle-Roy, Ralph Connor House, and Dalnavert.

“It’s a tremendous honour, and it also brings with it a responsibility, which is really key in the heritage world,” Tracey Turner, Seven Oaks House Museum’s curator, told CTV News. “We need to continue to look after it and have good stewardship and conservation for the site itself.”

The Seven Oaks House Museum is currently only open from May to September annually and Turner said conservation efforts can be challenging and costly. She hopes having national historic site designation opens the door for additional funding going forward.

“I think it will boost our profile in terms of visitation because people want to tour historic sites in Canada,” Turner explained. “It’s my hope with this designation that we can actually start to extend our season and extend the programming that we can offer.”

Turner said the Seven Oaks Museum will likely host a plaque ceremony in the next year or two.