Myth surrounds the Manitoba Legislative Building.

Stories of missing columns, government corruption, and occult symbols are all commonplace when it comes to discussions about the home of Manitoba’s government.

The early 20th century was a great boom period for Manitoba. Wanting a bigger, grander legislative building to reflect the province’s success, a design competition was held in 1911. Liverpool architect Frank Worthington Simon won the competition, along with $10,000 in prize money, for his Greek-inspired beaux-arts design. Simon’s design has garnered much attention today, largely due to the iconography used. A known mason, he incorporated images from Egyptian mythology, hermetic philosophy and more. Exploring the Legislature today, you may be greeted by the head of Medusa above the grand staircase or discover the arc of the covenant on the east and west sides of the façade.

Atop the Legislature’s domed roof, which reaches 68 meters above the main floor, is Winnipeg’s iconic Golden Boy. Purchased from France, and made by sculptor Georges Gardet, the Golden Boy is a 4.9-meter-tall sculpture of the Greek god Hermes, and is officially named Eternal Youth. Tucked under the statue’s arm is a sheath of wheat, and held up in his outstretched hand is a torch pointed northward, symbolizing the backbone of Manitoba’s economy and the wealth of resources available in Northern Manitoba.

The Golden Boy, and the Legislative Building, are a prominent part of the Winnipeg landscape and it is difficult today to imagine them looking any different. However, when construction began in 1911, it was likely no one in Winnipeg anticipated just how difficult the construction process was going to be.

Delays, corruption and scandal plagued the project from its onset. The hired contractor, Thomas Kelly, deliberately bid low on the project to get the job, and began raising his price once he was hired on. Most of this money was funneled away for Kelly’s personal use, but some was kicked back to the Premiere Rodmond P. Roblin’s conservative party. Once the scandal broke, Roblin resigned from power and Kelly spent two and a half years in prison. Kelly’s grand estate on Assiniboine Avenue and Carlton Street was seized by the province as well.

By this point, World War One was in full-swing, and the Legislative Builsing project was delayed further. The Golden Boy’s arrival in Winnipeg was delayed by the war effort, too. The ship the Golden Boy was sailing to Canada on was commandeered for service in 1918, and the Golden Boy spent the rest of the year traversing the Atlantic in a warship – until he was finally installed in Winnipeg in November of 1919.

Ultimately, it took seven years for the Legislative Building, then called the Manitoba Parliament, to finally open. A ceremony was held on July 15th, 1920, to celebrate both the opening of the building and Manitoba’s entry into confederation.

Heritage Winnipeg celebrated the preservation of this iconic building in 2003 and in 2018, giving the Province of Manitoba two Annual Preservation Awards. In celebration of the Province of Manitoba’s 150th birthday in 2020, and in the 100th anniversary of the Manitoba Legislative Building, the provincial government has announced an $150 million plan for the conservation and maintenance of this landmark heritage structure.