Manitoba Government Reopens Historic Captain Kennedy House

Press Release

April 30, 2026

$1.4-Million Investment to Restore the Tea Room in St. Andrews’ River Road Provincial Heritage Park: Moyes

More than a decade after its closure, the Manitoba government has reopened the Captain Kennedy House Tea Room and Museum, welcoming Manitobans back to this beloved historic destination, Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes announced today.

“The historic Captain Kennedy House has been carefully restored and revitalized, standing as a testament to our shared heritage and the enduring legacy of the Kennedy family,” said Moyes. “The restored building now offers residents and visitors a unique opportunity to experience the rich history of St. Andrews in a welcoming, accessible environment.”

Located north of Winnipeg in River Road Provincial Heritage Park, Captain Kennedy House is a provincially designated heritage building, recognized for its early Gothic Revival architecture and its association with Captain William Kennedy who was an Arctic explorer, Métis-community leader and advocate for Manitoba’s entry into Confederation.

Captain Kennedy House was closed in 2015 to address structural concerns and support the long-term preservation of the building. Manitoba Parks undertook extensive renovations to the main floor in 2022 to meet building code loading requirements. Additional improvements were completed in 2025 including upgrades to the kitchen and washrooms, enhanced accessibility and modernization of life-safety systems.

These investments have secured the safety and integrity of the building while revitalizing the tea room as a welcoming gathering space for visitors, the minister said. Since the closure, a total of $1.4 million has been invested in the restoration and renewal of the Captain Kennedy House.

“I want to thank the Kennedy House Renewal Committee, Red River North Tourism, and the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews for their tireless efforts to advocate for the restoration of this historic building.” said Moyes. “The support from the local community has been essential to the success of this restoration.”

Following the restoration, Manitoba Parks, within the Department of Environment and Climate Change, issued a public tender and secured a commercial operator to once again operate the Captain Kennedy House as a tea room. The renewed tea room offers visitors a chance to enjoy the historic setting as it has long been known to generations of Manitobans, complementing the museum experience and enhancing the site as a visitor destination. Information about the tea room and hours of operation is available at www.heritagetearoom.ca.

With the doors open once again, the Kennedy family’s legacy and the rich history of St. Andrews can be shared through this unique and meaningful visitor experience, the minister noted.

For more information on Captain Kennedy House and River Road Provincial Heritage Park, visit www.manitobaparks.com and follow Manitoba Parks on Facebook and X.

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For more information:

Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: mgi@gov.mb.ca or 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
Media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom@gov.mb.ca.
Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Cabinet Communications: cabcom@manitoba.ca.

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