Manitoba Room Heritage Property Plaque, 2020.
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Original JPG File7350 × 4650 pixels (34.18 MP) 62.2 cm × 39.4 cm @ 300 PPI 3.5 MB |
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Resource ID
8189
Access
Open
Address
100 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5J 1E3
Date of Creation
2020
Historical Themes
Architectural Heritage, Indigenous Heritage, Parks and Natural Heritage, Visual Arts
Program Category
Historical Plaques
Time Period
Pre-colonization, 1900-1953, 1954-1998
Caption
Manitoba Room Heritage Property Plaque, 2020.
Description
The wall murals in this room celebrate the plants and animals of the province of Manitoba, such as bison, elk, and ducks. They were painted in 1958 by Winnipeg artist Newton Brett (1889–1969). The murals depict the area where the Winnipeg River drains into Lake Winnipeg from Ontario amid vast forested land. The lake’s name in ininîmowin (Swampy Cree) is wînipêk, which means murky or muddy water and is the source of the word Winnipeg. The river and its plants and animals have been integral to human survival for thousands of years. Bison and elk have always been important in the lives of First Nations and Métis in the area, especially for food and clothing. After European settlement, the demand for bison pelts rose, and bison were driven to near-extinction by 1900. Since then, bison conservation has improved their numbers.