Manitoba Municipal Heritage Site No. 65

Souris Dominion Post Office
21 Crescent Avenue W
Souris

The Souris Dominion Post Office is a fine example of a modest-scale institutional structure dressed in Neo-Classical architecture to create a commanding landmark that impresses through refined detailing rather than stylistic extravagance. One of six post offices built by the federal government in select Manitoba communities before the First World War, the Souris facility is distinguished from its boxier counterparts by a sleek aesthetic, as seen in the limestone banding that emphasizes width over height. Based on standardized plans prepared in the Department of Public Works, these post offices had a dual purpose – to be tangible national symbols of progress and stability in a young country and to house communication services vital to a widely dispersed population. The Souris building recalls the important role of post offices in connecting neighbours to each other and the world beyond. It is also a reminder of the community’s early growth and prominence within Manitoba.