The contest awards $65,000 to support community projects
A farmhouse in Portage la Prairie, Man., is in the running to receive financial support to help with its restoration.
The Hourie House at the Fort la Reine Museum is one of 12 finalists in the 2025 Next Great Save competition.
“The Hourie home is an example of an early Canadian farm home with Victorian-era features, a step up from the typical log chinking of the time,” its page says.
The contest hosted by National Trust for Canada awards $65,000 to help communities protect historic sites across Canada.
Philip and Euphemia Hourie built the house in 1890 on a site now known as River Lot 70.
Hudson Bay gifted them the lot as a thank you for their loyal service to the company.
Philip began working with Hudson Bay Company in 1851 and transported supplies from Fort Garry to Norway House. He was also a farmer.
Euphemia was a midwife to local doctors and used herbs to treat the sick.
She was known as “Granny Hourie” throughout the community.
With the house being 135 years old, it needs structural and aesthetic upgrades.
The money would be used to support foundation repairs.
“We are at a point where the home needs intervention. Unfortunately, we cannot progress on the house's interior conservation until structural issues are addressed,” the house’s support page says. “Fixing the home’s foundation will help protect the collection of artifacts stored within the home.”
Supporters can vote once each day.
Currently the Hourie House has 951 votes.
The site with the most votes so far is the mansion at O’Keefe Ranch in Vernon, B.C.
That has 4,129 votes as of April 3.
Voting is open until April 17.
An Alberta site placed third in the contest in 2024.
The Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre won $5,000 to use towards maintenance and preservation of two grain elevators.