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By Dave Haynes

A group of Franco-Manitobans is considering a fund-raising campaign to buy the childhood home of writer Gabrielle Roy.

That is news to Roy, 72, who says she is flattered by the efforts to keep standing the St. Boniface house where she was born and raised.

Michelle Smith, a member of the Societe Historique de St. Boniface, says the 375 Rue Deschambault house, now up for sale, has historical value. Many of the internationally published author's works relate to her experiences growing up in that house and on that street. She won the 1955 Governor-General's award for her novel Rue Deschambault.

Smith says a seven-member provisional committee, made up of members of the Societe Historique and the francophone public, will examine the possibilities of forming a fund-raising foundation. She says there is already enough interest within the Franco-Manitoban community to ensure the $43,000 asking price could be met.

However, the group is unsure of what to do with the house if it is purchased.

"It is quite dilapidated right now," and would take substantial funding to renovate, she says. As well, a use would have to be found for the house.

Smith hopes the federal and provincial governments' historical branches will assist in funding and organizing activities within the house.

Roy has resided in Quebec City with her husband, Dr. Marcel Carbotte, since 1950.

It is standard policy with both federal and provincial governments to consider a person's historical influence only after death, says Neil Henderson, head of architectural history for the province.

The City of Winnipeg historic projects branch has recommended the house be placed on the city buildings conservation list, which would protect it from demolition. The proposal is now going through the civic committees.

Roy is perhaps best known for her 1945 novel Bonheur d'occasion, later published in English as The Tin Flute. She has won numerous literary awards and is periodically mentioned as a candidate for the Nobel Prize for literature.

Roy recently released The Fragile Lights of Earth, a compilation of magazine articles.

Roy, reached at her home in Quebec City, says she had heard reports about the house being up for sale, but she had not been contacted personally. She says she appreciates the efforts because she would not like to see the house demolished.

However, she doubts she would return to St. Boniface if the house is restored and she was asked to open it.

Source: Winnipeg Free Press, April 20, 1982.

Courtesy of John Sullivan.