Discover More Manitoba History

May 2020 will mark 150 years since what is now Manitoba became Canada's fifth province, and we think this anniversary is a great opportunity to look back at different aspects of our province's history. To that end, the Community Classroom is pleased to present our Local History Series—ten classes between January and May that give you the opportunity to learn more about some of the diverse groups of people, stories and developments that made Manitoba what it is today. 

Click on any of the classes below to learn more and to register!

• Manitoba Treaties, Past and Present (January 13)
• Residential Schools and Settler Colonialism (February 5)
• The Haunted History of Manitoba (February 7)
• How Railways Built Manitoba (Starts February 19)
• Not Talking Union: North American Mennonites and Labour (March 10)
• An Explorer's Guide to Abandoned Manitoba (Starts April 1)
• Introduction to Indigenous/Aboriginal Rights (April 7)
• Assiniboine Park: A History of Winnipeg's Iconic Playground (May 5)
• Indigenous Cultural Sensitivity Blanket Exercise - A Historical Tool (May 7)
• The Icelanders in Manitoba (May 14)

McNally Robinson celebrates Manitoba

We had such fun putting together our book, Winnipeg by Winnipeg in 2013, which was made up of a collection of photos submitted by both amateur and professional photographers. Five years later we wanted to do it again but thought we should set our sights beyond the Perimeter Highway and see what Manitoba looks like to the people who live here.

For a second time we were not disappointed by either the quantity or quality of submissions. Manitoba is a province whose people are spread across a very large space. This is reflected in the photos; there are people in the images in this book but not always, as the landscape and the sky so often overwhelm the human presence.

We would like to take a moment to thank all the photographers who submitted images. We could feel your excitement during the collection process, and we felt our own as we went through the difficult process of selection. There are certainly some serendipitous moments captured in these pages but more often what is striking is the patience and time needed to get these shots. This time and effort is appreciated by us and will be appreciated by everyone who pages through your photos. Most of all, as the single images combine to create a larger picture of this province, your love of your home comes through. Thank you Manitoba.

Our new photo book, Manitoba by Manitoba, will be launched at our Grant Park store on Thursday March 14 at 7:00 pm in the Atrium. We look forward to seeing you there.

The Story Bar at Something Beautiful

McNally Robinson expands into the Interlake with our latest Story Bar location! We are partnering with Something Beautiful in Stonewall to bring a selection of fine literature to our rural readers.

Located at 307 Main Street in Stonewall — the hometown of McNally co-owner Chris Hall! — Something Beautiful (formerly known as Global Garage) offers shoppers a unique selection of gifts, housewares, and jewelry. The shop is managed by Community Living Interlake, an organization dedicated to helping people living with intellectual disabilities. It is a not-for-profit business, with all of the revenue from their sales going to maintaining housing and creating day programs for those in their care. People who work in the store are paid fair wages that help them lead independent lives and increase their sense of purpose and contribution to the community.

As one of our Story Bar locations, Something Beautiful will be showcasing a curated selection of new books that rotates regularly to reflect the interests of their staff and patrons. Visit them regularly to check out the newest titles as well as their eclectic array of gifts.

For more information on Something Beautiful and Community Living Interlake, please visit their website or find them on Facebook.

Call for photos!

Do you love taking photographs? We’d like to consider your images of Manitoba for a new hardcover book: MANITOBA by MANITOBA: Photos of a Province by its Citizens, to be published in the spring of 2019 by McNally Robinson.

This is a book by Manitobans and will feature full-colour images of what you love about Manitoba. Keeping in mind that we want to discover a world beyond the environs of Winnipeg, a subject which we explored in our 2013 book WINNIPEG by WINNIPEG, we will look only at photographs taken outside of Winnipeg's perimeter.

Please send your submissions by email attachment to [email protected]. The deadline for submissions is 11:59 pm, October 31, 2018.

For more information on the submission process, please visit this page.