It is one day late - but worth taking a moment to highlight.
The third Monday of February is Louis Riel Day in Manitoba — a holiday dedicated to remembering the life, leadership, and legacy of the man who helped shape the province and fought tirelessly for the rights of the Métis people. First celebrated in 2008 after Manitoba’s Legislative Assembly approved the holiday the year before, its name was chosen by Manitoba students, who wanted a day that reflected the province’s culture, history, and remarkable figures.
Louis Riel was a political leader, a defender of Métis identity, and the driving force behind the creation of Manitoba as a province. In the late 1860s, he founded the Métis National Committee to protect the cultural, social, and political rights of the Métis community in the Red River region. This led to the Red River Resistance, where Riel and his supporters pushed back against the Canadian government’s attempt to take over Métis land without consultation.
Their efforts resulted in the Manitoba Act of 1870, which brought the province into Confederation and recognized certain Métis rights. But Riel’s relationship with the federal government remained fraught. Seen as a hero by the Métis and a criminal by Ottawa, he was eventually tried for treason after leading the North-West Rebellion of 1885. He was executed later that year — a moment that remains one of the most debated and emotional chapters in Canadian history.
Today, Louis Riel Day honours the heritage of Manitoba and the resilience of the Métis people. While it’s a statutory holiday in Manitoba, federal offices and many services across Canada remain open.
Before you begin your day, here’s your Tillsonburg fuel update:
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Pioneer: $128.9
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Esso: $128.9
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Shell: $128.9
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Petro Canada: $128.9
A good moment to reflect on the leaders who shaped this country — and the communities who continue to carry their legacy forward.
