Last week, members of the Granite Curling Club (22 Granite Way) were caught off guard by notices outside the building alerting them that the City of Winnipeg intended to rezone the west parking lot for an 11-storey mixed-income housing development.

Built in 1912, the Tudor-style Granite Curling Club was designed by James Chisholm for the curling institution of the same name, an organization established in 1880. The central neighbourhood and proximity to the river made it an ideal location for the group. They owned the building until 1975 when the city took over ownership due to outstanding taxes.

In June of 2024, the city announced that they would be selling a list of surplus buildings to the non-profits that occupied them, one of which was the Granite. This promise fell through, as the club was removed from the list shortly thereafter.

The redevelopment plans are in collaboration with the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation 2.0 (UWCRC). One concern that club members have is the loss of extensive parking space, which could affect the future viability of the club. Another is that the tender is being chosen by the city and the UWCRC, rather than through an open process as city-owned projects often are.

On Thursday, February 6th, the sub-division and re-zoning of the property will be heard by the City of Winnipeg’s SPC on Property and Development to decide on the next steps. Heritage Winnipeg is hoping to have further dialogue with the city and the Granite Curling Club members so that this housing project can not only benefit the community with much-needed housing but also provide a model for future financial sustainability for the Club.

Sources:

“Granite Curling Club seeks fairness from city hall” Christian Pierce, Winnipeg Free Press, February 3rd, 2025.

“City, Granite Club throwing rocks in dispute over proposed housing project” Cameron MacLean, CBC News, January 28th, 2025.

Read more:

“The Granite Curling Club: History Between the Sheets” Heritage Winnipeg Blog Post, January 29th, 2020.