Jérémy Faure grew up in the Savoie region of France before his family moved to Manitoba in 1999. He spent his youth in Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, where French is the everyday language. His story continues with studies in tourism management at the University of Saint-Boniface, followed by ten years as a bilingual train attendant at VIA Rail, and then a pandemic that turned everything upside down: the man who loves travelling and meeting people had to reinvent himself.

“I’ve always really enjoyed interacting with people. It brings me a lot, personally. It was clear that this was the direction I wanted to take—something involving human interaction.”

It was a YouTube video—which he stumbled upon by chance—about a small-scale boat builder in Quebec that changed everything. Within minutes, he was convinced and Voyageur Houseboats was born.

The First Voyage on the Winnipeg River

The basic idea is simple: to offer Manitobans a houseboat experience without having to drive all the way to Kenora, and above all, without having to steer the boat themselves. With Voyageur Houseboats, the captains, who are bilingual, take care of everything. Guests have only one thing to do: enjoy themselves.

“Our boats have a truly exceptional charm. They’re handcrafted, entirely from wood, by a single craftsman in Quebec.”

Five years after the launch of Voyageur Houseboats, the fleet consists of three boats.

Voyageur Houseboats is also the only company authorized to operate within the Whiteshell Provincial Park, an exclusive privilege that required a great deal of effort but makes all the difference. “I’m very proud to be the first to offer this kind of experience in Manitoba, and in French, no less” says Jérémy Faure.

The company’s name is no coincidence. The Winnipeg River is part of the historic route taken by French-speaking voyageurs to transport fur from Montreal to Lake Winnipeg. Those same waters, those same shores; this is exactly where the canoes would stop for the night. Jérémy shares this in French during every excursion he leads, as a way to pass on this often-overlooked piece of history and further anchor the experience in the history of Manitoba’s francophone community.

What is it like on board Voyageur Houseboats?

The adventure begins at the Pinawa dock where you board your houseboat and organize your gear. It only takes about ten minutes to travel from the deck to inside the Whiteshell Park: pink granite cliffs surrounding you, kayaks ready in the water and a hammock set up to relax. The captain heads off on his jet ski, and silence and nature take over.

Living on the water changes your relationship with time. Free from light pollution, nights can reveal the northern lights as well as a breathtaking starry sky. At dawn, the sun sets the pink granite cliffs ablaze.

Wildlife is everywhere: bears, deer, beavers, otters, foxes. In spring and fall, it’s even more spectacular for migratory birds. As for fishing enthusiasts, early June is magical: smallmouth bass make their nests in shallow waters.

Plan Your Stay with Voyageur Houseboats

Voyageur Houseboats is for couples, families, solo travelers... and charcuterie lovers.

The fleet includes two boats for four people and a third one, the Équinoxe, designed for couples or solo getaways. Reservations (minimum two nights) can be made from May 15 to October 1.

No time to spend several nights on the water? The team also offers two-hour tours for groups, in French, to observe migratory birds or the sunset, as well as a charcuterie cruise. In partnership with the Winnipeg-based company Sharecuterie, the Voyageur Houseboats team prepares beautiful platters to enjoy at the anchor point—hammock and scenic views included.

All you have left to do is book at voyageurhouseboats.com. Hurry - summer is just around the corner!