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April 21, 2021
An Art Deco-rated History: 239 Selkirk Avenue
One of Winnipeg’s few Art Deco buildings stands at 239 Selkirk Avenue. Despite the 1930s façade, the building has a much longer connection to the community. The original building was constructed in 1889 as the North Presbyterian Church, replacing the church’s original building on Aberdeen Avenue. A congregation member, Architect John W. Grieve, designed the…
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April 14, 2021
A Very Merry Education: St Mary’s Academy
The official opening of St. Mary’s Academy in 1869 was a race to the finish. Near the end of April of that year, Archbishop Taché had caught wind of a rumor: the Anglican’s in the Red River settlement were planning on building a school. At the time, there was no religious school in the area…
April 8, 2021
All Aboard! Tourism on the Rivers
As the weather begins to warm, and the ice on the Red and Assiniboine rivers melt away, a familiar sight will grace our waterways once again. The water taxis will start running, boat tours will begin again, and pleasure crafts will take to the water. All of this excitement pales in comparison to the boats…
March 31, 2021
Can You Solve the Mystery? The Adventures of Shirley Holmes
The Adventures of Shirley Holmes was a Canadian mystery television series that ran for four seasons, from May 7, 1996 to May 7, 2001. It initially aired on YTV and now has been broadcast in over 80 additional countries. The show was filmed almost exclusively in Winnipeg, making use of our city’s diverse and rich…
March 25, 2021
Beliveau in Adaptive Reuse: 700 St. Jean Baptiste
For many years, St. Boniface existed as a city entirely separate from Winnipeg. European settlement in the area began in 1818, with the founding of a Roman Catholic mission named after the German missionary Saint Boniface. Not long after, Catholic colonists began to settle nearby and the community began to grow. Maison Béliveau enters the…
March 18, 2021
Bijou Theatre: Burning Down the House
Part of the beauty of the Exchange District and Downtown Winnipeg as a whole, is that everything tells a story – from the tallest buildings all the way down to the empty lots. Luckily, for those with an keen interest in the area, some of the points of interest are marked by plaques. Sandwiched between…
March 10, 2021
Built & Natural Heritage at Risk: Chapman School Property
Chapman School was originally built in 1913, one year after the Rural Municipality of Charleswood was organized. The early Chapman School was destroyed by fire in 1916, and after being rebuilt, burned down a second time on April 23, 1943. The current Chapman School building was constructed in 1944, showing characteristics of wartime restraint. Designed…
March 3, 2021
With the Grain: A History of Ogilvie Flour Mill
Standing at 53 Higgins Avenue is a building with roots dating back to the early days of Winnipeg. The Exchange District may have been the former centre of the Canadian grain industry but only two kilometres away was another incredibly important part of the the grain trade in Winnipeg. Milling grain was just as essential…
February 24, 2021
Heritage Winnipeg’s Annual Preservation Awards: A Retrospective
Since 1985, Heritage Winnipeg’s Annual Preservation Awards (APA) have been held in mid-February, to coincide with now Louis Riel Day and Heritage Week. The APA’s have recognized conservation excellence in historic commercial and industrial buildings including residential homes throughout Winnipeg, by honouring the dedicated owners, community leaders and professionals that undertake these projects and make…
February 10, 2021
Hé-Ho To Fort Gibraltar We Go!
Winnipeg is a city founded on forts. All along the rivers different interests staked their claim by erecting a structure, some more imposing than others, to carry out business and secure their goods. For over 280 years these forts have come and gone, built of large stone and heavy timber, they have burned down and…