The History of St. Charles Parish

In the early 1850s, between 40 and 60 families of Métis buffalo hunters formed the original Catholic community west of Sturgeon Creek.

1851 - A mission was begun at the junction of Sturgeon Creek and the Assiniboine River but it was soon moved to the present location at St. Charles.

1854 - Bishop Tache requested the construction of a small log chapel. The priest did not reside there. He traveled from St. Boniface in the winter and followed his parishioners on their buffalo hunts in the summer.

1855 - The Hudson Bay Company granted land to the Catholic Church for the mission which was to become St. Charles Church.

1866 - A new frame church was built near the original chapel.

1868 - St. Charles was established as a parish.

1904 - The Archbishop of St. Boniface invited the Missionary Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart and Mary Immaculate to provide the Catholic education.

1905 - Gothic style church was built.

1906 - The Oblate Sisters began their first school in St. Charles Parish with 41 students.

1917 - The parish was transferred from the Archdiocese of St. Boniface to the newly formed Archdiocese of Winnipeg.

1928 - On New Year’s Eve, the Gothic style church was destroyed by fire.

1929 - A new church was built on the same foundation of the Gothic style church.

1987 - A new addition was undertaken which more than doubled the size of the church.

1988 - Archbishop Adam Exner rededicated the newly renovated church.