The Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, located on Highway 212 in the village of Cooks Creek, began construction in 1930 and was consecrated in 1952. This multi-tiered domed structure is situated on a property that includes the Grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes and the parish cemetery. Since 1954, it has hosted annual archdiocesan pilgrimages for the feast of the Assumption (Dormition) of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Church of the Immaculate Conception is a landmark example of Ukrainian church construction in Manitoba, thanks in particular to the famous priest-architect, Father Philip Rue, a Franciscan. It stands as one of the largest Ukrainian Catholic churches in Western Canada and a vivid representation of the “prairie cathedral” architectural style in Manitoba. The design combines the dynamic forms and colors of Ukrainian Baroque with a variety of architectural motifs and elements made of concrete, plaster, and paint.

The local style has been reinterpreted through the integration of Ukrainian elements. The basic materials are enlivened by artificial decorations that emulate the splendor of European cathedrals. The structure was built almost entirely by hand by volunteers, including Father Rue himself. Local craftsmen created the exquisite paintings that adorn the complex interior.

Father Philip Rue, who is buried in the parish cemetery, designed more than 30 churches from Alberta to Ontario. Each church is a unique embodiment of his aesthetic concept of a “prairie cathedral.”