I NSIDE THE ASSEMBLY

Manitoba Legislative Building TO

THE MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE BUILDING

isitors are always made welcome at our magnificent VLegislative Building. When the Legislative Assembly is in session everyone is invited to watch the HISTORY proceedings from the vantage point of the Public Gallery. Our tour guides Manitoba’s Legislative Building will be happy to show you the rest of the building so you can share in its anitoba’s Legislative earliest Assemblies met in a house fascinating history and architecture. Building is known to be one that had been previously owned Mof the finest public buildings by notable businessman, Appointments for guided tours are in North America. This building A. G. Bannatyne. This refurbished required from September to June. accommodates the Legislative log structure burnt down only two From July 1 to Labour Day long Assembly, its committees and staff, years later. The second Legislative weekend in September, tours are as well as the offices of the Premier, Building, which was situated on offered on an hourly basis from 9:00 the Lieutenant Governor, the the northeast corner of the current am – 4:00 pm daily. The Legislative Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Legislative grounds, was first Building is wheelchair accessible, government departments. occupied in 1884. This building including the Public Gallery. was demolished in 1920 in order To book an appointment, The current Legislative Building is to facilitate the landscaping of please call 204-945-5813. the third edifice occupied by the the grounds for Manitoba’s third Manitoba Legislative Assembly. Legislative Building. Beginning in March of 1871, the

2 3 WELCOME hotos of the first two Legislative Buildings, Pas well as photos from the construction of the third Legislative Building including proposed landscaping are located in the northwest hallway on the main floor.

t the turn of the twentieth England, had produced the design century, members of the most expressive of the concepts laid Aprovincial government down for the competition. were unanimous in their desire to construct a building that would Excavation began in 1913. By the serve as a symbol for the people outbreak of the First World War of Manitoba. The government at in 1914, walls were beginning to the time of construction found take shape above the foundation. that Victoria Era art critic John However, a shortage of materials, Ruskin’s thoughts on ambition labour, and funds delayed and architecture rang true. They construction so much that the envisioned a building designed building did not become available “not for present delight nor use for partial occupancy until 1919, alone…but such as our descendants well after the end of the Great will thank us for.” War. On July 15, 1920, the 50th anniversary of Manitoba’s entry into These sentiments were embodied Confederation, Lieutenant Governor in the rules of the architectural Sir James Aikins, officially opened competition that was announced the Legislative Building. by the Government of Manitoba in 1911. A prize of $10,000 was a priceless monument offered for the best design and Symbolism and tributes are all architects in the British Empire abundantly embedded in every were invited to participate. It was detail of this priceless monument. eventually determined that of the It is quite unlikely that such a project 67 original submissions, Frank could ever again be undertaken. Worthington Simon of Liverpool,

4 5 Public Gallery he base of this remarkable ne of Manitoba’s best known structure forms a letter “H,” symbols, the Golden Boy, is Ta shape that is repeated THE Oa magnificently gilded figure with each of the floors, creating an GOLDEN stretching 17.2 feet (5.25 meters) Rotunda 3 area excluding hallways measuring Bridge from toe to torch tip. He is made of approximately 24,969 square meters bronze and was painted gold in 1948. (268,783 square feet). The imposing In 1951 he was gilded with 23.5 karat

dome that crowns the structure Grand gold leaf for the first time and then reaches 68 meters (223 feet 7 inches) Staircase again in 2002 with 24 karat gold leaf. FLOOR above the main floor. The 1,650 kilogram (3,640 pound), Heritage-Settlement Plaques Speakers’ hollow figure reaches 242 feet The exterior walls and the majority of Gallery (73 meters) above the Pool of the Chamber the building’s interior are constructed Black Star. Before the construction of Tyndall limestone, quarried at of the high-rise buildings that today Garson, 50 kilometers (31 miles) form the city’s skyline, the tip of the northeast of . This Rotunda Golden Boy’s torch was the highest beautifully mottled stone contains 2 point in Winnipeg. Grand embedded fossils of invertebrates, Staircase providing subtle reminders of the Embodying the spirit of enterprise semi-tropical sea that 450 to 500 and eternal youth, the Golden million years ago, extended over Boy is captured mid-stride atop much of what is now Manitoba. FLOOR the building’s dome. Similar to the messengers in Greek mythology, he The Legislative Building is located bears a message - his message is of immediately south of downtown coming prosperity for all Manitobans. Winnipeg in the center of 12 hectares Hall of Honour Hall of (30 acres) of landscaped grounds. Gallery Members’ Formal flowerbeds and both native Pool of the Black Star and imported shrubs and trees are 1 facing the north, Grand planted in groups interspersed with Staircase he sees the province’s shaded walkways and rolling lawns. bright future as Government House, the residence of Milestones Construction Plaques Photos linked to manitoba’s the Lieutenant Governor, occupies Lobby Security bountiful resources: the southeast corner of the grounds. FLOOR mining, fishing, forestry, fur and The Assiniboine River - once a hydroelectricity. A sheaf of golden highway for Aboriginal peoples, wheat representing the well-earned explorers, fur traders, and steamboats fruits of labour rests in his left arm - traces the southern boundary of the while in his right hand he holds high a grounds. Osborne Street, Kennedy torch, representing a call to Manitoba’s youth to join him in his eternal pursuit Manitoba History Wall History Manitoba Street, and Broadway (roadways for Gallery Keystone BOY of a more prosperous future. modern travelers) border the grounds on the three remaining sides.

6 7 BASEMENT he Golden Boy was sculpted However, before the ship could go by Mr. Georges Gardet in out to sea, it was commandeered for Tthe Barbedienne Foundry war purposes. For the remainder of in France, 112 km (69.6 miles) the War, the Golden Boy lay in the northeast of Paris. The foundry was hold of the ship, travelling thousands partially destroyed by bombs during of kilometers in constant danger. the First World War, but from the The Golden Boy finally landed in ruins the statue emerged unscathed. North America at the conclusion of The figure was then rushed to a the War and was then shipped by rail seaport and placed aboard a French to Winnipeg, where it was hoisted to ship bound for the United States. the top of Manitoba’s new Legislative Building on November 21, 1919.

A light was installed in the Golden Boy’s torch to mark ’s centenary in 1967 and Manitoba’s entry into Confederation in 1870. The torch was lit for the first time at 3 pm on December 31, 1966. On February 9, 2002, the Golden Boy was removed from the top of the building for the first time since his installation in 1919. After extensive repairs, and the removal of the light, he returned to his home atop the Legislative Building on September 5th, 2002, where he stands as a GR AND reminder to all Manitobans of the potential of their province. STAIRCASE

t is impossible to step inside the Legislative Building for the first Itime without being struck by er Majesty Queen Elizabeth II the majesty of the Grand Staircase. officially rededicated the Golden Composed of 39 steps in three sets HBoy on October 8, 2002 during of 13, the stairs are honed of Italian her visit to Manitoba to celebrate her brown-veined Botticcino marble, Golden Jubilee. considered to be the finest marble in the world.

8 9 he third floor facing the Grand Staircase Tis supported by four columns sculpted to resemble the caryatids (sculpted female figures used as a pillar) found in the Porch of Maidens in the Erechtheum of Athens, Greece, which dates to 408 BC. Despite the beauty of these figures, such sculptures wo life-size North American An intriguing story surrounds the were not common in Plains bison flank the base of installation of these bison. It is said Greek architecture, as it Tthe steps, representing the that in order to diminish the risk of was considered improper herds that once roamed the prairies. scratching the building’s exquisite to have a statue appear marble floors with these massive to bear a weight that the They were designed by the creator sculptures, both bison were placed human body would be of the Golden Boy, Georges Gardet on enormous slabs of ice cut from incapable of supporting. of Paris, who also created the statues the Assiniboine River and then were The figures located on the of Moses and Solon in the Legislative safely slid into the building. third floor were sculpted Assembly. The bison, each weighing by the Piccirilli Brothers 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds), of New York using models were cast at Roman Bronze Works in prepared by Albert Hodge New York City. of London, England.

10 11 also repeated throughout the building is the n antechamber at the head number 13, of the Grand Staircase as seen, for instance, in the provides a formal approach A number of bulbs in the Roman to the Legislative Assembly. standard lamps that help light Four pairs of Corinthian columns the Rotunda. rise from the floor to the cornice surrounding the base of the dome. This magnificently decorated dome represents only the second level in a The Ancient Romans and Ancient five-stage progression to the top of Greeks believed the number 13 the Legislative Building’s tower. was bad luck, and hoped that by honouring the number they could The floor of Rotunda consists of escape its curse. In Ancient Egypt, marble from Tennessee and Vermont, the number 13 was thought to be a as well as Verde Antique serpentine good luck number. As demonstrated from the United States. The design in the frequency of the number around the floor is the continuous 13 in the Legislative Building, the Grecian key, symbolic of the eternal architect, Frank Worthington Simon, quest for knowledge. The Grecian took great care to imitate the key, as well as other symbols of techniques of the ancient builders eternity such as the wave or running that were his inspiration for this dog pattern (both variations of the neoclassical building. Grecian key) and the circle motif, can be found throughout the interior and In the middle of the floor, an Italian the exterior of the building. marble balustrade, measuring 13 feet in diameter surrounds the Pool of the Black Star on the floor of the level below, an evocative symbolic rendering of the altars of the

THE ancient Greeks.

12 ROTUNDA 13 THE ALLEGORY OF CANADA'S WAR RECORD a building lying shattered in the background. Smoke rises from a shell that just exploded.

Through the smoke we can see the arches of a church and stripped trees with shattered limbs, signifying that nothing is sacred in war. A soldier kneels in front of a roadside shine of the Madonna & Child to assert that faith is ever present, particularly during the worst of times.

This mural was installed above the entrance to the very significant element and sacrifice of war, but there are n the centre is a wounded man Legislative Assembly in of the Rotunda is a mural bright flowers in the foreground to who is moving, with the help of his March 1921. In 2014 it was called The Allegory of show the coming of peace. comrades, to the dressing station. A I restored to its original Canada’s War Record, found This represents the tragedy of war splendor through a mural just above the entrance to the and the suffering of humanity. TREES DIVIDE THE MURAL restoration process - a Legislative Assembly. This mural INTO THREE SECTIONS: touching remembrance of was the work of Frank Brangwyn On the left are soldiers in the The devastation of war is literally the 100th anniversary of the of London, England. Brangwyn trenches, French peasants, and presented by a great siege gun start of the First World War. (1867 – 1956), an official war artist a soldier playing a concertina to as it is loaded by its crew and by during the First World War, was paid maintain the cheerful spirit of the $10,104.61 (considerably less than he troops. There is also a train with usually charged for his work) for this smoke in the background. mural which he painted in his studio in London, England. On the right are men eating and bright spring flowers and blades of grass drinking; sustenance building the are also found throughout the mural. The mural that he painted for strength to carry on while the helm They demonstrate Nature’s proclivity for healing, peace the Manitoba Legislative Building of a ship is seen in the background. and harmony, meaning that only when man is following depicts life in France This depicts sacrifices made so that peaceful pursuits is he attuned with Nature. during WWI. It portrays the tragedy others might live in peace.

14 15 ASSEMBLY THE

LEGISLATIVEdebated or voted upon unless the Mace is in its proper place, either portraits of many resting on a royal blue of manitoba’s cushion placed on a table former speakers in the House if the Speaker is presiding, or, on a floor can be seen in the Speakers’ rack under the table if the Gallery of Portraits, located Speaker is absent. on the second floor in the southwest corner of the building. The original desks and chairs of the Chamber are hand carved of walnut with inlaid ebony. They are arranged in three tiers rising from a sunken floor in the centre of he Legislature of Manitoba Manitoba’s Chamber is unique among hen the House is in session, the Chamber. Each desk is equipped each day’s opening is is unicameral, a single provincial legislatures in Canada in with a microphone connected to a performed in accordance Tlegislative body elected by that the Members’ benches form a W public address system as well with procedures that date back to the people of Manitoba. There are horseshoe shape. The Speaker’s Chair as to a recording system used the beginnings of parliamentary rule. 57 electoral divisions in Manitoba, is located on the south wall below the in the publication of Hansard, The Speaker enters the Legislative thus, 57 Members in the Legislative Press Gallery. All debate is addressed a verbatim report of the debates Assembly Chamber followed Assembly. Originally in 1870, there to the Speaker, who rules on points and proceedings in the House. by the Clerks of the Legislative were 24 Members in the Assembly, of order and procedure, and has the All comments made in French during Assembly and preceded by the however, as the province grew both responsibility of maintaining order Oral Questions and other debates Sergeant-at-Arms bearing the Mace. in population and in size, more and decorum. are immediately translated into No piece of legislation may be electoral divisions were added. English. Yet even as these changes After an election, the political party have brought the House into the having elected the most Members future, the original inkwells employed forms the Government. The leader Photos of many by an earlier generation of Manitoba of that party becomes the Premier. politicians are still visible. The party with the next largest former Members of the number of elected Members forms Legislative Assembly the Official Opposition. As in most dating back to 1870 including Louis parliamentary systems based on Riel’s Provisional Government, are in the British model, the Government the Members’ Gallery, located sits on the Speaker’s right while the on the first floor on the Official Opposition sits to the left. west side of the building.

16 17 he Legislative Chamber is Around the dome of the Chamber, the decorated with Augustus the evolution of laws and legislation TVincent Tack’s beautiful are represented through cherubic allegory. Tack envisioned Justice figures. Also, five great codes of as an unveiled woman supported law, those of Justinian, Napoleon, by figures representing Wisdom Gregorianus, Julius Caesar and and Knowledge. The other figures Leviticus, are expressed in the apex in the mural represent various of the arches. Between the arches, states of humanity, linked by the women representing cardinal virtues branches of the tree of life. Under for all governments are incarnated the mural, five panels bear the name in Tack’s mosaic-like paintings: of great lawmakers: Confucius of tolerance, fortitude, prudence, China, Lycurgus of Greece, Alfred temperance, mercy, understanding, of England, Justinian of Rome and charity, faith, hope and magnanimity. Manu of India. TACK The niches on either side of the allegory On either side of the mural, two Speaker's chair hold two large figures represent the spirit of bronze statues. To the left is Moses, sacrifice embodied by the youth the Hebrew prophet, teacher and of Canada in the First World War. leader. To the right is Solon, the Also fulfilling the role of spiritual Athenian politician and legislator. guardians of the Chamber, the Sculpted by Georges Gardet, these figure of the young man seated on statues continue Tack’s decoration the stones on the left represents of the Legislative Chamber in a style courage and vigilance while the intended to provide both inspiration figure on the right represents and instruction for Manitoba’s sacrifice and loyalty. legislators.

18 19 he Mace began as an actual weapon used by the monarch’s bodyguards. It has now Tevolved into a highly symbolic ceremonial emblem of the authority delegated to the Speaker and the Legislative Assembly.

The Mace signifies that the Legislative Assembly draws its power from the people and its executive authority from the Crown.

MANITOBA’S

beaded Mace runner and star blanket cushion were gifted to the Assembly Aby the Aboriginal peoples of Manitoba and are used in place of the blue cushion in the Chamber every Manitoba Day. These beautiful gifts are on display in the Speaker's Office all other days.

he Mace that is currently used This Mace was used at the first session floral emblems of four of Manitoba’s Weighing 13 kilograms (28 pounds), both at the opening of and of the Legislature, held on March 15, principal founding ethnic groups: it is one of the most beautiful Maces Tthroughout the Legislative 1871. In December, 1873, fire destroyed the English rose, the French in Canada. When not in use, it is Session is Manitoba's second Mace. the Legislature’s temporary home, fleur-de-lis, the Scottish thistle kept in the Speaker’s office in the It is said that the head of the first but the Mace was saved. and the Irish shamrock. The head Legislative Building. No longer used was carved from the hub of a Red of this magnificent instrument is in the Legislative Assembly but still River cart by a solider of the 1870 After 13 years of service, the original decorated with both the crown of immeasurable historical value, Red River Expeditionary Force under Mace was replaced by the present and the beaver, representing the first Mace is stored alongside Colonel Garnet Wolseley, and that its Mace, a handsome gold-plated Canada’s sovereignty even as it its replacement. staff was part of the force’s flagstaff. instrument emblazoned with the proclaims our ties to Great Britain and the Commonwealth.

20 21 MANITOBA SPEAKERS’ GALLERY

he role of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly is to be Tthe presiding officer of the SPEAKERS OF THE House and to act as the arbitrator or voice of the Assembly. The Manitoba LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Speakers' Gallery features portraits of past Speakers to honour the leadership position that they have OF MANITOBA held in the Legislative Assembly. rom 1871-1876 the Manitoba The people of Manitoba were Government operated with displeased with the reluctance The Speaker is an elected Member The Speaker does not vote on bills a bicameral legislature - demonstrated by these appointed unless there is a tie, which can be F of the Legislative Assembly. an appointed Legislative Council Councilors to vote in favor of Historically, Speakers were infrequent as it is unusual to have a of seven members, and the elected transitioning to a unicameral system, appointed by the Premier and were vote divided equally both ways. Legislative Assembly of 24 members. and pressure was high for this bill to seconded in nomination by the pass. In the end, votes were cast, Leader of the Official Opposition. Once a general election is called, Although it is infrequent for a Speaker and it was a tie of three for, and three For the first time in 1999, after a the Speaker can resume partisan to cast a vote on a bill, the abolition against. The Speaker, Hon. Colin change in the rules, Speakers activities and campaigning. of the Legislative Council in 1876 Inkster cast the deciding vote in were elected by secret ballot. If re-elected to represent a was ultimately decided by the vote favour of the bill. With this vote, the Now, in Manitoba all Members of constituency, this individual can of the Speaker. In early 1876 a bill Legislative Council of Manitoba was the Assembly have the opportunity stand for re-election as Speaker. arrived at the Legislative Council prorogued, never to reconvene again. to cast an anonymous vote for the As a Member of the Legislative calling for its dissolution based on person they feel would best serve as Assembly there are no term limits information relating to the population an impartial leader for the Assembly. and a Speaker may serve so long and revenues of the Province of The portraits of the three as the individual continues to be Manitoba not being enough to justify Speakers who served in the While serving as Speaker, that re-elected by the constituents and its expenditures. Manitoba Legislative Council individual is required to abandon all the Members of the Assembly. during its short existence hang party affiliation, meaning the Speaker Tradition maintains that a portrait is in the Speakers' Gallery. cannot attend party functions or hung in the Speakers' Gallery only They can be identified by title conventions, cannot publicly show when the Speaker is no longer a beneath their names: Speaker L.C. support for legislation and must sitting Member of the Legislative maintain partisan neutrality for the Assembly of Manitoba. duration of the House. HON. COLIN INKSTER Speaker of the Legislative Council 1876

22 23 s well as legislative The original three tiers of steel book material from the federal stacks were meant to house 25,000 Agovernment and all the volumes. Access to the uppers provinces, this room houses all of balconies is provided by one of the the Statutes & Debates of Manitoba. oldest fully automated elevators in Today, it is the smaller of the two the province. There are two spiral Legislative Library locations. staircases in the southeast and The Library as a whole maintains southwest corners of the room. an extensive collection of Manitoba publications, local newspapers and Some interesting plaster of Paris books. Collecting and preserving statues of John A. Macdonald and the published heritage of Manitoba other early Canadian statesmen are for future generations is one of its displayed in the Legislative Reading important functions. Room. This collection is by the prominent sculptor Louis-Philippe The Legislative Reading Room - Hebert and dates back to 1887. with its three large windows facing South toward the fountain, the Louis A more recent addition to the Riel statue and the Assiniboine River – room’s historical décor is the has, arguably, one of the finest views Speaker’s Chair used by MLA James from the building. Johnson who served as Speaker from 1904 to 1915. The chair is from The Library is the only room, apart the 2nd Legislative Building and from the Chamber, where colour originally cost $165. Next to the has been employed in the design. Chair are the robes worn by former The paneled and coffered ceiling Speaker George Hickes who served is decorated in Pompeian colours as Speaker from 1999 to 2011. of blue, brown and green while the faces of the galleries are painted dull gold accented with real gold dust. Three walnut tables are surrounded READING by crimson leather chairs. ROOM

24 25 hey shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Tage shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them. HALL -Laurence Binyon, “Act of Remembrance” OF HONOUR

he Hall of Honour is where These books are replicas of the the Legislative Building originals housed in the Memorial Thonours Manitoba’s proud Chamber of the Peace Tower in military history. Featured in the Hall Canada’s Parliament Buildings in are the Books of Remembrance and Ottawa. The four books in the larger plaques commemorating Manitoban case have the names of all of the military and divisions. Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in five wars in which Canada The regimental plaques on the was officially involved. The Boer War wall commemorate many different (October 1899- May 1902); and the military groups in Manitoba. Nile Expedition (March 1884-85); The Fort Garry Horse and Royal World War I (June 28 1914 – November Canadian Dragoons are both 11, 1918); World War II (September 1, armoured regiments. The Queen's 1939 – May 8, 1945 [in Europe] and Own Cameron Highlanders September 16, 1945 [in Japan]; and and are the Korean War (June 25, 1950 – July reserve regiments and 27, 1953). The total number of names the are an listed in these four books is 114,710. infantry whose plaque commemorates their involvement in The book in the case on its own is the during the called the Merchant Navy Book of Second World War. Remembrance, which was dedicated on November 6, 1995. It lists the names of all of the Canadians that lost their lives while serving on the seas with the Merchant Navy during World Wars I and II, and the Korean War. There are approximately 1,500 names listed in this book.

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