The Manitoba Legislative Building, referred to as “the Leg” (pronounced as “lej”) by locals, has a hidden code in its architecture. Scholars believe that the architect hid Masonic symbolism in plain sight in various elements of the building.

Read more to find out the secrets!

Why did the architect design such an impressive building for Winnipeg?

In 1912, people expected Winnipeg to become a bigger city than it ended up becoming. In the 1900s, immigration increased and the agricultural industry was booming. Winnipeg was set to become an important city in the British Commonwealth. Today, we know that by the time the building was finished, in 1920, the outlook for Winnipeg had dimmed (see: The Panama Canal and the decline of Winnipeg). In the end, Winnipeg has remained a medium-sized city in the “heart of the continent”.

What are the temple-like features at the Legislature?

Nevertheless, the Legislative Building was designed to be a fancy building in an important city. This anticipation, as well as the educational background of the architect meant that some highly unusual features are to be expected in this building. Frank Worthington Smith, the architect of the Legislative Building, was trained in Paris in the late 1800s at a school where the architectural emphasis was on “ancient Egypt and Greco-Roman mythology and the religious function of temples.”

Photo courtesy of the Archives of Manitoba, L.B. Foote Fonds, 660. Grand staircase hall, interior Legislative Building, Broadway, Winnipeg, 1915, P7395/3.

Right away, you’ll see two bisons guarding the front staircase in the Entrance Hall. While bison have lived in Manitoba for hundreds of years, these are references to the bull statues that guard temples. In this same hall, you’ll find the head of Medusa, a character in Greek mythology, in the middle of the arch at the top of the stairs. Similarly, she is a protective figure that defends the persons inside the building from those who wish to harm them.

Atop the Manitoba Legislature. Image by Brian Pressey from Flickr. Used by permission.

The symbols get stranger from there! Let’s start with the Golden Boy. This incredible statue faces the north, where the natural resources of Manitoba can be found. His position signals Manitoba’s potential to grow into an industrial powerhouse. He also carries a sheath of wheat which represents the importance of wheat to the Manitoban economy at the time. He was originally called “Eternal Youth” but was nicknamed the Golden Boy after he was covered in gold in 1951. He is modelled after Hermes – who has had several representations over time. Hermes is both the son of Zeus, a messenger and knower of secrets, and a man, Hermes Trismegistus, who attained immortality by learning the secrets of the universe. Hermes Trismegistus is famous for saying “as above, so below” which means that humans should work towards being god-like and strive for high morals. His presence was supposed to encourage the people working in the building to be better people.

Canada: Winnipeg Legislative Building Black Star. Image by Henk Binnendijk from Flickr. Used by permission.

The Black Star in the photo above represents the altar of a temple. Inside the Black Star Pool are mind-blowing harmonics. These manipulations of sound are built into the design of the building. When you stand on the Black Star and whisper, your voice is projected loudly to all sides of this room. If you stand in the centre, you will hear sounds coming from all around the building. Having special harmonics is an architectural style that dates back to ancient Egypt. This design is used to “draw upon God’s creative power” and help transfer that power to the humans in the building. This is something you should experience for yourself!

Another symbol with an Egyptian connection are the two sphinxes outside the building. On the chest of the sphinxes are hieroglyphics referring the Pharaoh Thutmosis III whose philosophy is the origin of the Freemasons.

Who are the Freemasons?

Three thousand years ago, Freemasons were the stone masons (people who cut and prepare stones for buildings) who built Solomon’s Temple. Many of the symbols and rituals of the organization comes from the design and creation of this temple. The group grew into several fraternal organizations. The Freemasons believe in moral betterment through ritual and that “architecture has the capacity to reform the soul” (among other beliefs).

At the time of the construction of the Legislative Building, the Manitoban government was composed entirely of Freemasons. The first Freemason in Manitoba, John Bourke, arrived at the Red River colony (which later became Winnipeg) in 1819. In 1864, the Northern Light Lodge was established. It was the first lodge (or Freemason meeting place) on the Prairies.

Incidentally, the White House, the official residence of the president of the United States, is another building with Freemason symbols. George Washington, the president at the time of its construction (in 1791), was himself a Freemason.

Today, the Freemasons is a global philanthropic society. This society is shrouded in secrecy, and it focuses on improving the moral character of its members. In 2004, Manitoba had 4,000 Freemasons and 54 lodges.

Courtesy of the Archives of Manitoba, L.B. Foote Fonds, 567. Legislative Building under construction, group of workmen, Winnipeg, 1915, P7394/7.

Experience “the Leg” today

You can visit the Legislative Building for free and see the bisons and hear the harmonics yourself!

Or from the comfort of your seat, you can tour the Legislative Building with Manitoban academic, Frank Albo, whose research uncovered this forgotten history.

For a deeper dive into the historical context, watch Canadiana’s video.

Winnipeg’s Secret Code, Canadiana
 
By Nastashya Wall
 
Sources: CBC News; Heritage Winnipeg; The Globe and Mail; Manitoba Legislative Building Self-Guided Tour; Government of Manitoba Golden Boy Factsheet; Government of Manitoba Architectural History Theme Study: Railway Stations of Manitoba; The Hermetic Code: Unlocking One of Manitoba’s Greatest Secrets. Accessed May, 2024.