With warmer days approaching, it’s time to plan some Manitoba day trips. One interesting summer trip is a visit to the village of Cook’s Creek, north of Winnipeg, where an important attraction is the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception.
With Ukraine much in the news these days, it’s a good time to visit this architectural gem. Cook’s Creek is located a little to the east of Bird’s Hill Park, and Immaculate Conception Church is on the corner of P.T.H. 212 (Cook’s Creek Road) and Zora Road.
Stand on the nearby stone wall and gaze at this impressive church, popularly known as the Cathedral of the Prairies. It was built in stages over a 22-year period. Beginning in 1930, the construction lasted through the Depression and was finally consecrated in 1952. It is one of the largest Ukrainian Catholic churches in Western Canada.
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The multi-storey, multi-domed wooden structure was almost entirely hand-built by volunteers, under the direction of priest-architect Father Philip Ruh, who is well known for designing more than 40 Canadian churches and several grottos.
Besides the Cook’s Creek church, he built several others in Manitoba, including the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection in Dauphin and St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church at Mountain Road, which was destroyed by fire in 1966.
Immaculate Conception Church is classed as Prairie Cathedral style, which is a mixture of various European styles, both east and west, reflecting the background of the various immigrants in the area. It is impressive, both outside and inside. Beautiful pillars grace the front and nine cupolas create an unusual skyline effect.
For anyone wanting specific details about the architecture, check out the Canada’s Historic Places website.
The grounds contain a cemetery, a free-standing bell tower and the Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes. The grotto, built in 1954, was also designed by Father Ruh and is partially modeled after the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.
Be sure to climb onto the stone wall for a different view of the church and grounds. Walk through the inside of the grotto, designed with the Way of the Cross. The interior of this needs renovations and the parish is raising funds to accomplish the task.
If you want to visit the inside, plan for a weekend trip. The church is open for tours from noon to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays beginning from the May long weekend through to October. Choose a nice day because you’ll want to explore the grounds and grotto. Group tours may be arranged at other times by calling ahead to 204-444-2478.
The Immaculate Conception Church has been designated as both a national and provincial historic site. It was renovated as part of the Manitoba Prairie Churches Project.
Prior to the pandemic, the church also hosted a two-day medieval festival billed as a time of “music, dance, chivalry, food and merriment.” The website states that the festival will return in 2024.
Previous festivals included participants dressed in medieval outfits and jousting knights on horseback in full, old-fashioned armour. The jousters, from around the world, compete in an international competition. This sounds like a very interesting event to watch for in another year.
For now, once you’ve toured the church and grounds, check out the Cook’s Creek Heritage Museum, a short drive farther north. This museum is dedicated to “Manitoba’s Pioneers from Eastern European Slavic Countries.”
Among the exhibits here are: a blacksmith and woodworking shop; a candle house with a display of how candles are made and a collection of candle holders; a pole barn with early farm machinery and buggies; a couple of restored homes; and an outdoor chapel. The main museum building displays costumes, artifacts, tools and furniture of the Slavic cultures.
You can extend your day trip a little more by taking a drive through nearby Birds Hill Provincial Park, west of Cook’s Creek, or a drive north to Lockport to view the dam and lock. These would provide a different dimension to an enjoyable day.
