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Manitoba Historical Society launches MHS InSite app to connect people with the province’s past.
The Manitoba Historical Society has just made discovering the province’s rich history easier than ever with the launch of a new mobile app called MHS InSite.
Released on Friday, July 11 to coincide with Historic Places Days, the free app uses your location to connect you with nearby historical buildings, landmarks, cemeteries, and more—whether they still stand or not. It’s the latest way the Society is fulfilling its mandate “to protect and preserve and present historic sites and and the history of Manitoba,” says Executive Director Tracy Turner.
A national event and a local opportunity
Historic Places Days is “the commemorative event for the National Trust for Canada,” explains Turner. “A way to bring profile and interest to all of the museums and historic sites and organizations that are working hard to protect and preserve and present heritage in Canada.”
Launching the app during this national celebration of history, she says, was a strategic choice: “We decided to launch it during this time just to give it more profile... so yeah, it's it's important to have commemorative commemorative events that help us to market things a little bit better.”
From website to your phone: the app’s origin story
The idea for MHS InSite came not from within the Society, but from a passionate supporter.
“We had a programmer approached us with the idea really,” says Turner. “Kyle Tichon came to us at the MHS and said, you know, I'd love to build an app. I use your website all the time... But he said, I'd like to make it easier, you know, faster. And I have this idea.”
From there, the Society secured funding through the Government of Manitoba’s Heritage Grants program, allowing the concept to move into development. “It's been a couple of years in the works and we're really, really proud of it. It's a game changer for just seeing the history and heritage around you.”
The app opens up a whole new way of interacting with history, Turner says—particularly in a place where old buildings are often torn down.
“I think it gives us a a better sense of identity of where we've come from,” she says. “It's kind of mind blowing... you realize, oh, there could be like 30 things around you that you could go explore. It's not just like maybe one.”
That includes places that no longer exist: “We're actually able to preserve it because we can see where that site might be. And you can see all the information about that site on the app, even if it's not there anymore. So that's that's kind of special too.”
What makes a building historic?
What qualifies a site to be included in the app? It depends.
“You can filter it according to designations,” Turner explains. “There's national designations for historic sites... there's provincial designations... and there's also municipal designations.”
Beyond formal recognition, the Society also includes “sites that have been applied to for historic reference purposes but may not have the certification.” Criteria can include age, the architect, notable past residents, or significant events. “It's very varied but nonetheless all of it's very important.”
Decades of work, now in your hand
MHS InSite may be a brand new tool, but it’s built on decades of research by the Manitoba Historical Society.
“The app itself tags into all that information, all that archive and then retrieves it into your hand,” Turner says. “One of the biggest things that we do as a society is we're amassing a huge digital archive of information.”
Turner emphasizes that the Society’s researchers are “making sure that everything’s referenced and everything is factual,” and relying heavily on primary sources.
The app aligns perfectly with the Society’s mission, Turner says, and brings it into the 21st century.
“Everyone has an iPhone or or or Google phone or whatever, right,” she notes. “It’s really going to spark people’s curiosity and imagination to to learn more about what’s around them.”
Turner hopes the app will also grow awareness of the Society’s work—and grow its membership. “We are a nonprofit organization, principally very small staff of 1. So we are volunteer powered... obviously we're always looking for... building our fiscal strengths.”
Available now—and totally free
Turner says getting the app is quick and easy: “Go on to the App Store, so the Apple App Store or Google Play... it’s free to download. It’s really quick to download and once you get it, it’s like magic. You’ll open it up and you’ll just be amazed at what you see around you.”
For those exploring the Exchange District, killing time in Brandon, or simply strolling their own block, MHS InSite is a new kind of travel companion—rooted in the past but designed for today.
As Turner puts it: “It’s a huge part of our mandate. Educating is a huge part of our mandate and then also being able to tell those stories... we're really, really proud of this.”
Whether you're a history buff, a curious walker, or someone who simply wants to know more about the places you pass each day, MHS InSite offers an engaging and accessible way to connect with Manitoba’s past. As Tracy Turner puts it, the app “sparks people’s curiosity and imagination”—and in doing so, helps ensure the stories, people, and places that shaped this province aren’t forgotten, even if the buildings themselves are long gone.