Where It's Located
The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple is located at:
15 Centre Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3Y 2C3
Canada
The temple stands at the entrance to the Neighbourhoods of Bridgwater in the southwestern portion of Winnipeg.
The property covers approximately 7.7 acres, providing a substantial landscaped setting around the temple.
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba and is located near the geographic center of North America. The city sits near the meeting point of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers and has historically been an important transportation and cultural center for the Canadian Prairies.
The First Temple in Manitoba
The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple has a distinction that makes it particularly important in Canadian Church history: it was the first temple in the province of Manitoba.
Before its construction, Latter-day Saints in Manitoba had to travel outside the province to participate in temple ordinances.
Members had traditionally traveled long distances to temples in places such as Regina, Saskatchewan, or Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The arrival of a temple in Winnipeg therefore represented a major change for local members.
A Promise From President Hinckley
The story of the Winnipeg temple goes back well before its official announcement.
During a 12-city tour of Canada in 1998, President Gordon B. Hinckley visited Winnipeg and spoke to more than 1,500 Latter-day Saints gathered at the Winnipeg Manitoba Stake Center.
During his remarks, President Hinckley asked the local stake president how far members had to travel to attend the temple. He was told that some members drove approximately 14 hours.
President Hinckley told the members that someday they would have a temple, although he also encouraged them not to wait for that day to participate in temple worship.
Thirteen years later, that promise became reality.
The Temple Announcement
President Thomas S. Monson announced the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple on April 2, 2011, during the April General Conference.
The announcement came exactly 13 years after President Hinckley's visit to Winnipeg.
President Monson also had a personal connection to Canada. Before becoming an apostle, he served as president of the Canadian Mission from 1959 to 1962 and played an important role in the growth of the Church in eastern Canada.
For Manitoba Latter-day Saints, the announcement fulfilled a hope that had been building for many years.
Finding the Temple Site
The Church selected a property in the Bridgwater Forest community in southwestern Winnipeg.
The temple site provided enough land for the 16,100-square-foot building as well as extensive landscaping.
The location also placed the temple near established residential neighborhoods rather than on an isolated property far from the city.
Before construction began, the Church hosted a community open house on August 25, 2016.
Local elected officials, interfaith leaders, neighborhood representatives, residents, and Church leaders attended the event and were able to view architectural drawings, site plans, elevations, and a colored rendering of the proposed temple.
Government Approval
The temple plans received official local government approval on September 12, 2016.
The approval allowed the project to proceed toward its formal groundbreaking later that year.
The process also gave members of the surrounding community an opportunity to learn more about the building and its purpose.
The temple's development attracted interest from local civic and religious leaders, many of whom attended the groundbreaking and other events associated with the project.
The Groundbreaking
The groundbreaking and site dedication took place on December 3, 2016.
Elder Larry Y. Wilson of the Seventy, then serving as executive director of the Church's Temple Department, presided over the ceremony.
Government officials, community leaders, interfaith representatives, and local Church leaders participated in the event.
The groundbreaking officially began construction on what would become the first temple in Manitoba.
Architecture and Design
The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple is approximately 16,100 square feet and stands 105 feet tall.
It features a single attached end spire topped by an Angel Moroni statue.
The architectural design was intentionally different from many other temples.
Church leaders described it as a unique design, drawing inspiration from small English country churches as well as historic churches found in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The design was also influenced by the Copenhagen Denmark Temple.
The result is a building that looks more like a traditional small church than some of the monumental temple designs seen elsewhere.
The Red Brick Exterior
One of the temple's most recognizable characteristics is its red brick exterior.
The original plan called for Tyndall Stone, a dolomite limestone native to Manitoba. During development, however, the stone was determined to be too soft for the building.
The Church instead selected Park Rose red brick, combined with limestone for decorative elements.
The Winnipeg temple is notable because it was the first Latter-day Saint temple constructed in red brick that was not a remodel or renovation of an existing building.
San Sebastian granite from Quebec was also used along portions of the base.
The combination of brick, stone, and granite gives the building a warm, traditional appearance.
The Roof and Spire
The temple's roof is made from terra-cotta clay tiles designed to resemble natural slate.
The dark roof contrasts with the red brick walls and helps reinforce the traditional character of the building.
At the main entrance, the roof rises into the temple's steeple tower and single attached spire.
The gold-colored spire and Angel Moroni statue provide the most prominent vertical element of the temple.
Prairie Crocus Design
Perhaps the most distinctive decorative feature of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple is its use of the Prairie Crocus.
The Prairie Crocus is Manitoba's provincial flower.
The flower appears throughout the temple in artwork, art glass, rugs, wood carvings, door hardware, decorative painting, and other details.
The art glass features the Prairie Crocus in shades of purple, green, and gold.
This local motif gives the temple a strong connection to Manitoba rather than making it look like a building that could have been placed anywhere in the world.
Interior Design
The temple's interior was designed with an understated classical style.
The color palette includes soft purples, aqua, and green, complementing the Prairie Crocus theme.
Arches and keystones are also prominent throughout the building, reflecting Manitoba's nickname as the "Keystone Province."
The architectural theme begins at the large entrance portal and continues throughout the temple.
The overall approach was intended to create an elegant environment without distracting from the sacred ceremonies performed inside.
Temple Ordinance Rooms
The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple contains:
- One instruction room
- One sealing room
- One baptistry
The temple's relatively compact design allows it to serve the local temple district while maintaining a manageable building size.
The baptistry is supported by twelve oxen, a traditional architectural feature found in many Latter-day Saint temples.
The font basin includes blue porcelain mosaic tile and marble detailing.
Artwork and Art Glass
The temple contains original artwork and extensive decorative art glass.
Two original paintings were created specifically for the building. One, titled The Work of the Sabbath, John 5:12, is located in the main corridor. Another, Why Weepest Thou, is located near the Bride's Room.
The artist for both paintings was Albin Veselka of Rexburg, Idaho.
The art glass throughout the temple features the Prairie Crocus motif and was created by the architectural design team and Holdman Studios in Lehi, Utah, before being installed by Glass 8 of Winnipeg.
A Canadian Interior
Many of the materials and furnishings used throughout the temple came from a wide variety of locations.
Canadian materials include wood used for the altars, Canadian poplar used for millwork, and granite from Quebec.
Other materials came from countries including Turkey, Italy, Belgium, India, Korea, and China.
Winnipeg and Manitoba companies also contributed to the construction and installation of numerous features.
This combination of local craftsmanship and materials from around the world reflects the international nature of modern temple construction.
A Temple Built for the Prairies
The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple's design is closely connected to its setting.
Rather than using a highly ornate or monumental architectural style, the temple's red brick exterior and traditional church-inspired design fit naturally into the surrounding Winnipeg landscape.
The landscaping also contributes to this setting.
Approximately 128 trees and more than 1,000 shrubs were planted on the temple grounds.
The extensive landscaping creates a transition between the surrounding neighborhood and the temple itself.
The Long Wait for a Temple
For Manitoba Latter-day Saints, the temple's construction represented the end of a long period of travel.
Before Winnipeg had a temple, members from Manitoba traveled significant distances to participate in temple ordinances.
The Regina Saskatchewan Temple became an important destination for many Manitoba members, while some also traveled south into the United States.
The Winnipeg temple eliminated much of that travel for local members.
The temple district also included members in Northwestern Ontario and portions of Minnesota.
Construction and the Pandemic
Construction took several years after the 2016 groundbreaking.
By August 2018, when President Russell M. Nelson visited Winnipeg during a ministry tour of central and eastern Canada, the temple site consisted primarily of concrete footings and foundation work.
The temple was eventually nearing completion when the COVID-19 pandemic affected its planned schedule.
The public open house and dedication were postponed by approximately a year because of the pandemic.
This made the temple's eventual opening particularly meaningful for local members who had already waited years for its completion.
The Public Open House
The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple held its public open house from October 9 through October 23, 2021.
Invited guest tours began on October 7.
The open house gave members of the public an opportunity to walk through the completed temple and see its interior and grounds before the building was dedicated.
Public open houses are unusual opportunities because Latter-day Saint temples are generally reserved for faithful members after dedication.
The Winnipeg open house was especially significant because it introduced Manitoba's first temple to the wider community.
The Dedication
The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple was dedicated on October 31, 2021, by Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Four dedicatory sessions were held.
The dedication was particularly significant because it was the first temple dedication in 20 months, following the postponements caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The temple officially became an operating house of the Lord after the dedication.
Manitoba's Ninth Temple District in Canada
At the time of its dedication, the Winnipeg temple became the ninth operating temple in Canada.
Canada has a particularly long history of Latter-day Saint temple construction.
The Cardston Alberta Temple, dedicated in 1923, was the first temple built outside the United States.
Over the decades, temples were added in provinces and regions throughout Canada.
Winnipeg's temple continued that expansion into Manitoba for the first time.
Winnipeg and Manitoba
Winnipeg is a city shaped by its location on the Canadian Prairies.
The city is situated near the meeting of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers and has long served as a transportation hub between eastern and western Canada.
It is also known for its diverse population, historic neighborhoods, museums, parks, and cultural institutions.
The city's position near the center of Canada makes it geographically significant, while its harsh winters and wide seasonal temperature swings are an important part of life on the Prairies.
Visiting Winnipeg
Visitors to Winnipeg can explore a variety of cultural and historical attractions.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is one of the city's most recognizable modern landmarks.
The Forks, located at the meeting of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, is another major destination. The area has thousands of years of Indigenous history and has developed into a popular public gathering and cultural space.
Other attractions include the Manitoba Museum, Assiniboine Park, the Exchange District, and the historic Saint Boniface neighborhood.
For visitors attending the temple, Winnipeg offers plenty of opportunities to explore Manitoba's history and culture.
The Temple Today
The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple remains an operating temple.
The Church currently lists reservations as available and also welcomes walk-ins, although patrons without reservations may need to wait or participate in another ordinance.
There is no public visitors' center, arrival center, or patron housing at the property.
A distribution center is located on site.
The temple's current schedule also includes periodic closure dates for maintenance and other purposes, as is normal for operating temples.
From Promise to Dedication
The story of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple spans more than two decades:
1998: President Gordon B. Hinckley visits Winnipeg and tells members that they will eventually have a temple.
April 2, 2011: President Thomas S. Monson announces the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple.
August 25, 2016: The Church hosts a community open house showcasing plans for the temple.
September 12, 2016: Local government approves the temple plans.
December 3, 2016: Groundbreaking and site dedication take place.
August 2018: President Russell M. Nelson visits the construction site.
October 9–23, 2021: Public open house is held.
October 31, 2021: Elder Gerrit W. Gong dedicates the temple.
This timeline illustrates how long-awaited temple projects can develop over many years from an initial promise to a completed building.
A Temple With a Distinctive Identity
The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple stands out among Latter-day Saint temples because of how specifically its design reflects its location.
The red brick exterior recalls traditional Canadian and English country churches.
The Prairie Crocus appears throughout the interior.
The dark slate-like roof, gold-colored spire, Manitoba stone, and extensive landscaping reinforce the connection to the region.
The result is a temple that feels distinctly associated with Winnipeg rather than simply being another example of a standardized temple design.
Final Thoughts
The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple is the result of a promise that took more than two decades to become reality.
When President Gordon B. Hinckley visited Winnipeg in 1998, local members were still traveling many hours to attend a temple. Thirteen years later, President Thomas S. Monson announced that Winnipeg would receive its own temple.
Construction began in 2016, and after delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the temple finally opened to the public in October 2021 and was dedicated on October 31.
Today, the temple stands as Manitoba's first house of the Lord and as a distinctive landmark in southwestern Winnipeg.
Its red brick exterior, traditional church-inspired architecture, Prairie Crocus artwork, and Manitoba-inspired design give it a character unlike many other temples. More importantly, it provides local Latter-day Saints with a temple much closer to home than the ones they previously had to travel to reach.
The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple is a good example of how a temple can become both a religious center for its members and an architectural part of the community in which it is built.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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