Precious Blood Roman Catholic Church

“Apart from very specific incidents that can be identified, evaluated or measured, how can one know exactly what specifically impacted one’s career? Was it the Métis factor, the French-Canadien factor, the religious factor, the cultural factor, the social factor, or the occupational factor?…The Métis trait is atavistic and primeval in that it is mostly embedded in my subconscious. Some are overt, like skin, hair and eye colour, but most are deeply ensconced in my genes whose attribution would be a minefield to unravel. My sensitivity to the environment, my respectful fascination with nature, and my love of its creatures and plants, are probably influenced by the native genealogy, at least it would have reinforced those tendencies. There is also a sense of the sacred, a more animalistic sacredness, an awe of nature, of the universe that cannot be accredited directly to my Roman Catholic upbringing since Catholicism emphasised our dominance over it rather than our belonging to it, our being an integral part of it.” Interview to Étienne Gaboury by David T. Fortin. Source here Église du Précieux Sang (Precious Blood Roman Catholic Church) is Gaboury’s most identifiable work, and an “outstanding example of Canadian regionalism” (Architectural Review, November 1965, p. 365). The church design is informed by regional influences; the primarily Métis parish inspired the architect to introduce a subtle tipi shape as a cultural reference (Radoslav Zuk, “Precious Blood Roman Catholic Church” The Canadian Encyclopedia). Limited glazing, and a hooded western-facing stained-glass window, demonstrate Gaboury’s sensitivity to Winnipeg’s severe climate and low-angled winter sun. Modest in height, an undulating smooth brick wall circles the structure, punctuated by buttresses varying in depth to accommodate the asymmetrical, spiraling cedar shake roof.