The Trappist monastery ruins south of Winnipeg in St. Norbert will get a $1 million investment to further strengthen preservation efforts at the ruins, Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced Monday.
Construction will begin immediately on the monastery, which was established in 1892 along the LaSalle River. The project is expected to be completed as soon as May 2011. The first task will be to strengthen the top of the tower and the southeast corner of the chapel ruins.
In 1983, fire gutted the church, but the ruins were preserved. The site became a popular location for special events, such as the Shakespeare in the Ruins production and for wedding photos. In 2002, the Manitoba government declared the Trappist monastery a provincial heritage park.
ChrisD.ca photo