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August 20, 2019
The Masonic Temple: From Secrets to Success
The Masonic Temple in downtown Winnipeg is a little piece of the 19th century, still standing proudly at the corner of Donald Street and Ellice Avenue. It is a beautiful reminder of early Winnipeg life, when no expense was spared to construct buildings that would stand the test of time. Many Winnipeggers may remember it…
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/ Blog Entries
August 14, 2019
The Challenge of Change: The Reliable Service Station
Change is a challenging but inevitable fact of life. In a rapidly transforming world, adapting is the only means of remaining relevant. For heritage buildings, that means walking a fine line between conserving the past while constantly reinventing themselves to remain functional and vibrant. The building known to many Winnipeggers as the former Reliable Service…
August 7, 2019
The Making of a Memorable Millennium: The Canadian Bank of Commerce
Grandiose is the word that best describes the Canadian Bank of Commerce, now known as the Millennium Center. Although it rises only six storeys above the sidewalk, a person standing in front of the building cannot help but feel its dominating presence. An early 20th century bank reborn as a 21st century event space, it…
August 1, 2019
A Creative Construction Conversion: The Gregg Building
The Gregg Building is a Romanesque warehouse located at 52 Albert Street in the Exchange District. It was built in 1902 for the George R. Gregg and Company, the largest company in Canada to sell Japanese Silks and other oriental luxury goods in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Geo. R. Gregg &…
July 24, 2019
From Storage Space to Artspace: The Gault Building
Once upon a time, the magical building known as Artspace, which has been home to over 15 artist groups for the last 30 years, was a dry goods warehouse. Originally called the Gault Building, it was constructed in 1900 and later expanded in 1903. Featuring one of the most beloved rooftops in the cities, it…
July 17, 2019
A Walk Through Winnipeg’s Wondrous Warehouse District
In the heart of downtown Winnipeg sits the Exchange District, frozen in time, forever paying homage to the golden era of a young prairie city. Shaped by the railway that once shipped grain from Canada to the world, the Exchange is filled with early 20th century warehouses that were strategically located around spur lines, which…
July 10, 2019
From Olympia to Marlborough: A Heartwarming Historic Hotel
The Marlborough Hotel sits less than a block off Portage Avenue, a medieval looking building tucked behind the modern glass of the Kensington Building. Originally known as the Olympia Hotel, it is quiet and unassuming, with Gothic architecture that would seem more at home on a college campus rather than the urban core of Winnipeg….
July 3, 2019
Fighting for a Future: The Vaughan Street Jail
The Vaughan Street Jail is an ominous building that has loomed over Memorial Boulevard for nearly 140 years. Winnipeg’s primary jail from 1881 to 1930, men, women, and even children as old as five were incarcerated in the Vaughan Street Jail. The jail is the most popular site in Doors Open Winnipeg, receiving thousands of…
June 25, 2019
Culture Not Condos: The Fortune and Macdonald Blocks
In the not so distant past, the glorious Fortune and Macdonald Blocks were in a sad state, under threat of demolition. After years of neglect, the buildings were in disrepair and the owner wanted to level them and build a hotel in their place. Unwilling to let Winnipeg’s priceless heritage be destroyed, Heritage Winnipeg advocated…
June 21, 2019
The 1919 Winnipeg General Strike: Bloody Saturday
As 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike, Heritage Winnipeg is commemorating the year by looking back at the events during this tumultuous period of history that helped shape our city. This article is part of a series of guest posts reflecting on the some of the places that bore witness…