I visited Lower Fort Garry many years ago with my future father-in-law. He's a retired teacher of Canadian history and was in his element. I remember him explaining to me why the dust on the trail meant the red river carts had to be built entirely of wood. Just when I was feeling like one of his pupils, he introduced me to one of his former students who was working there. I was impressed by her knowledge and by the way in which my father-in-law-to-be was happy for the role of teacher and student to be reversed. I proposed to his daughter that summer.

We're a family of four now, but we'll make a point of visiting Lower Fort Garry next time were in the 'Peg. Hopefully this summer.