About

About the Church

Scattered thoughout the cemetery are numerous military markers, serving as a reminder of the various conflicts Canada has been engaged in over the past century. Most are markers for veterans of the First and Second World Wars. This hallowed ground is a fitting place to remember the many young men who made the supreme sacrifice while fighting for their country. Among the headstones marking the Second World War Veterans is a large number of missing or killed in action while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force. With Winnipeg at the center of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, many young men from the community trained and served overseas as aircrew.

Lt. Allan A. McLeod, V.C., R.A.F., is one of the youngest Victoria Cross winners ever, who shortly after returning home became a victim of the world-wide influenza epidemic in 1918.

Sgt. W.Y. Robertson, D.C.M., was killed at Passchendaele in 1917. (The Distinguished Conduct Medal was awarded to non-commissioned officers.)

Private T.R. Andrews, D.C.M. was mortally wounded at Bourlan Wood in 1918.

Sqn. Ldr. Brodie Anderson, D.F.C was killed over Germany in 1944. His family is commemorated in one of the beautiful stained glass windows of the old church.

About the Cemetary

The cemetery has four sections, the oldest of which extends north from the old stone wall past the Church, and the west to Main Street. Here are the headstones and markers of many of the Selkirk settlers and their descendants, the oldest of which still remain date from early 1854. Over 700 people responded to Lord Selkirk’s offer to bring settlers to the Hudson’s Bay Company territory in Red River after the Highland Clearances of the early 19th century. These hardy Scots were the founders of the Red River Settlement, which pre-dates, Winnipeg, Manitoba and the Dominion of Canada. Enduring floods, pestilence, and at times civil disorder, they created the agricultural community on which the present city of Winnipeg has been built.

The oldest marker still existing is for little Marion Munroe, who died on the 25th of January 1854, at the age of seven months and 21 days. A large number of settler families buried infants and children in the cemetery, reflecting the high mortality rates of the young at this time. Survival was challenging in this remote, isolated community where medical services were not readily available.

Bannatyne

Andrew Graham Ballenden Bannatyne (1829-1889)

Born in South Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands, Scotland. Bannatyne joined the Hudson’s Bay Company service at age 14, later becoming a free trader. He arrived at the Red River Settlement in 1849, and according to one historian, left the company to marry Annie McDermott because junior clerks were not allowed to wed. In 1857 he was arrested by the HBC for illegal trading, but was released by recorder Francis Johnson in a decision agreed with by the HBC’s London Committee. By 1868 he was in partnership with Alexander Begg, running what quickly became the largest merchant firm in Red River, and propelling him to a major role in the rise of early Winnipeg. He sought to act as a conciliator during the troubled times of 1869-70, serving as postmaster in Louis Riel’s provisional government on the condition that it seek terms from Canada. Although the English speaking community was critical of him, he was appointed Winnipeg’s first postmaster in 1871. The same year he helped found the St. Andrew’s Society and an early lodge of the Freemasons in Manitoba. For several years he supported Louis Riel’s political pretensions and helped seek Ambroise Lepine’s release from prison. He was himself elected to the House of Commons in 1875, but he devoted most of his attention to business and local philanthropy, helping to organize the Winnipeg General Hospital for example. He also played in Winnipeg’s first curling match in December 1876.

The names of many of the streets of Winnipeg are found on the headstones and markers in Kildonan Cemetery. Bannatyne, McDermot, Pritchard, Henderson, Matheson, Murray, Munroe, Polson, Sutherland, Bannerman, Salter and Templeton are prominent examples.