The Friends of Upper Fort Garry are launching a public fundraising campaign Thursday to raise millions of dollars to build an interpretive centre on the historic downtown Winnipeg site.

The Friends of Upper Fort Garry's plans for the site include what it calls a 'symbolic representation' of the fort's walls and buildings, and a modern interpretive centre.
(Friends of Upper Fort Garry)

The group must raise $12.5 million by the end of March to proceed with its proposal to turn the former site of the fort, often described as the birthplace of Winnipeg, into a heritage park.

Spokesman Jerry Gray said having to come up with the money in such a short time period to meet a city deadline certainly got the group focused.

"It's going to be a real challenge. We think we can do it," he said. 

"We've raised about $1 million already, privately, so we're well on our way. But it's going to be a challenge."

Gray needs help from all levels of government for the plan to work: land from the city and $4.5 million each from the federal and provincial governments.

The group has previously said the city government has committed to donate the land.

MP to look for funding

He met Wednesday with Manitoba MP Vic Toews, who was impressed by the group's presentation, but gave the group the same commitment he's given to the group hoping to get $40 million from Ottawa for a new Winnipeg stadium.

"I committed that I would assist them in looking for money," Toews said. "I couldn't give them any commitments. I know that they're working on a very short time line."

Excavation on the proposed site of an apartment complex uncovered the footing of the fort's northwest bastion.
(CBC)

Gray conceded that time is an issue, noting that "typically governments don't react in 50 days for requests like this.

"But I think [Toews] is going to do his best," he said.

The group hopes it will be able to raise another $2.5 million from the public in the appeal launched Thursday.

Upper Fort Garry, first established in 1822, served as the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company in Western Canada and the first seat of government for the District of Assiniboia and the Red River Settlement.

The fort was seized by Louis Riel during the Red River Rebellion in 1870, and most of it was demolished in the late 1800s.

The rebuilt rear entrance to the fort, known as the north gate, remains on a small block of land across from the Via Rail station on Broadway.

A developer had previously received city approval to built a 12-storey apartment block on land next to the north gate.

However, a city committee reversed that decision in December, after excavation on the proposed site of the apartments uncovered the footing of the fort's northwest bastion.

The committee established the deadline in March for the group to raise the money.