COLUMN: Carillon Flashback October 7, 2004 – Ste Agathe Centre is reminder of 1997 flood

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This article was published 18/06/2023 (690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Red River Valley Floods Interpretive Centre in the Sir George-Etienne Cartier Park, west of Highway 75 at Ste Agathe, provides a permanent reminder of the havoc created by the 1997 flood, the courage of the people as they worked together , shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart, and a reminder that there will be more floods.

The $500,000 project includes a 2,400-sq.-ft. addition to the park’s campground office, 16 bilingual panels that focus mainly on the 1997 flood, and special interpretive programs for schools and youth.

A collection of original watercolour paintings by Roman Swiderek, that were published as a commemorative calendar on the first anniversary of the 1997 flood, were donated to the centre by Mennonite Disaster Services.

The interpretive centre project is a joint effort of the Ste Agathe Community Development Corporation (CDC) and park committee, funded mainly through government grants and financial and in-kind donations from individuals and community organizations.

Harold Taylor, project manager for the Red River Basin Commission, organized the artifacts and photographs for exhibition at the centre, said many of the photographs were donated by the Canadian Armed Forces, 17 Wing Winnipeg and Canadian media.

RM of Ritchot Mayor Bob Stefaniuk, said that Ste Agathe was an appropriate location for the centre, noting more than 90 percent of his municipality was under water during the 1997 Flood of the Century.

“The exhibits at this centre really capture what occurred during the flood. The display not only shows the devastation of the 1997 flood, but also captures the cooperative spirit of people working together.

We were all neighbours, Stefaniuk said, stressing that there were no cultural barriers during the flood efforts.

The exhibit pays tribute to the “pulling together of people” during floods and shows the importance of preparing for future floods that may be even larger than the 1997 flood.

“That’s what the floodway expansion is all about,” MLA Ron Lemieux told visitors at the grand opening of the centre, “We will never forget the flood of 1997, but we must be prepared for future floods.”

Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification said the dramatic photograph of the Ste Agathe church surrounded by water symbolizes the emotional and economic hardship encountered during the flood, while the steeple symbolizes the unwavering strength and courage of the people in southern Manitoba.

Rene Demoissac of St Adolphe said the paintings by Roman Swiderek capture the spirit of the people who fought so hard to save their communities.

“You can almost relive the moment when you look at the paintings,” he said.

Sister Marguerite Mulaire of the Sisters of the Holy Names in Ste Agathe said the exhibit provides comprehensive information on the 1997 flood and the history of floods in the valley, adding she will visit the centre again when she has more time for reading and reflection.

Margaret Garrett, a former correspondent for The Carillon, aged 90, was also impressed with the exhibit.

“I’m flabbergasted. I really am. This represents a lot of work.”

The exhibit shows the massive efforts to produce and distribute 6.5 million sandbags used to build and reinforce dikes around farms and houses.

The Red River, during the ‘Flood of the Century’, covered an area of 2,000 square kilometres, the size of Prince Edward Island. More than 28,000 people, 2,000 cattle and 45,000 laying hens were evacuated.