Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain – Welcome Centre
Completed: concept plan, 2019
Size: 7,625 ft2 / 708 m2
The Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain (CCFM) is a beloved place of community in the heart of St. Boniface, Winnipeg’s francophone neighbourhood. Opening its doors on January 25, 1974 the CCFM is a major player in the promotion of all forms of French-language cultural and artistic expression. It offers a rich program of performing and visual arts through tenants such as Théâtre Cercle Molière, Canada’s oldest theatre company, plus community and educational projects open to everyone. The CCFM brings the cultural vitality of the Franco-Manitoban community to life all year-round!
In 2017, the board of directors of the Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain expressed interest in either an addition or renovation of the CCFM entrance area to create a more dramatic and expansive “Welcome Centre”. This centre would incorporate the needs of the current tenants and create space for Entreprises Riel, a respected leader in bilingual business and tourism development.
Cibinel Architecture was engaged by the CCFM to take a focused look at the existing main and exterior entrance area, main hallway, theatre, and loading dock. Cibinel met with the client, major building tenants, and Entreprises Riel to work through a needs assessment and the programmatic wish list, participated in a group discussion to explore ideas, and presented a draft of presentation drawings. After working with these stakeholders, Cibinel produced a design that responded to the stakeholders’ vision of the Welcome Centre.