Presented and organized by Tourisme Riel, the Dark Stories Tour is a two-hour nighttime stroll through the streets of St. Boniface, offering you a chance to discover the neighbourhood like you’ve never seen it before. Stop after stop, a guide takes participants behind the scenes of some of the darkest chapters in the history of Winnipeg’s Francophone neighbourhood: murders (some unsolved), tragic fires, political scandals and secrets buried for decades.

“These are stories that are largely unknown to the general public,” explains Sheri Desrosiers, manager of operations and visitor services at Tourisme Riel. “Younger people, in particular, had no idea all of this had taken place right in their own neighbourhood. So if you want to learn about the darker events that occurred here, you’ve got to come join our tour!”

At each stop, a story is brought to life by the guide. No ghost stories or werewolves. All the stories are true! Some are contemporary, dating back to the 1980s, while others go all the way back to the time of Louis Riel. It’s a real journey through time.

Starting at City Hall on Provencher Boulevard, the tour begins with the story of Thomas Scott, a controversial political figure. The tour then continues across the Provencher Bridge to St. Boniface Cathedral and La Vérendrye Park. Along the way, you’ll encounter little-known figures such as Léo Lamontagne, a man who arrived in St. Boniface in the 1950s and whose murder has never been solved. His case remains open to this day.

Francophone History from a Different Perspective

What makes the Dark Stories Tour particularly valuable is that it tells a story we rarely hear: that of the shadows of Manitoba’s Francophone community. We find out about little-known historical figures, events that quietly shaped St. Boniface and moments when the Francophone community had to fight, survive and rebuild itself.

“It’s important for us to keep our heritage and our language alive,” says Sheri Desrosiers. “But it’s also a way to educate Anglophones about what happened here and what has shaped us.”

This year, two new guides have been hired, and their approach promises an even more vivid and theatrical experience.

Useful Information

The Dark Stories Tour takes place Saturdays and Sundays in October, from October 3 to 31, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $20 per person, plus taxes. The tour is conducted entirely on foot, so dress for the weather. In the event of extreme weather conditions, the tour will be postponed or refunded.

The tour is offered in French, English or both, depending on the registered groups.

To book

By phone: 204-233-8343
By email: reservations@tourismeriel.com
Online: passionethistoire.ca