fbpx
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

January 17, 2025

Historic Sutherland Hotel Lost to Fire

On Wednesday, January 15th 2025, sadly the historic Sutherland Hotel at 785 Main Street burnt down.

Built in 1882, with an addition by architect, Frank Evans in 1913, this building had been vacant for a few of years, but a deal to sell it had closed only a few days prior to the fire. The new owners intention was to convert the Sutherland Hotel into much needed housing.

While it was modest in design, the hotel held strong historical significance. Originally the Cosmopolitan Hotel, then the Palace Hotel, and later renamed to Sutherland, the 140 year old building was one of the oldest in the North End, and largest downtown building north of the CPR lines when built. It was not designated by the city, but was recognized on their Commemorative list.

The Sutherland had also become a recipient of public art in the neighbourhood. A mural titled “The Fancy Shawl Dancers” was completed on the facade of the building in 2018, by Dee Barsy and Kenneth Lavallee. The artwork celebrated Indigenous culture by depicting a powwow dance style.

We are disheartened by the loss of this historic building, but we hope that this story will bring much-needed attention to the dangers of leaving buildings vacant with no day to day oversight.

Read More:

City News – Loss of Sutherland Hotel to fire “very sad”

CBC News – Sutherland Hotel reduced to rubble as heritage advocates call for more protection for vacant buildings

Winnipeg Free Press – Sutherland Hotel Destroyed by Fire

Recent Updates on 785 Main Street:

February 28th, 2025 – “New Plans for Former Site of Sutherland Hotel”

logo

 / Recent News

July 29, 2025

A Magical Evening Awaits!

Tickets for Heritage Winnipeg’s 2025 Fall Fundraiser, Magician & The Muse, are now on sale! Join us for a spellbinding event on Friday, October 3rd, 2025 in the magnificent Millennium Centre at 389 Main Street. This year we are excited to be presenting a world class magic show featuring Masters of Illusion Sean Watson and…

July 18, 2025

Our Heritage is Worth it!

On July 4, 2025, the City of Winnipeg’s Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development voted in support of increasing the budget for the conservation of the 1905 Carnegie Library at 380 William Avenue by $3.5 million. The city originally planned to spend $12.7 million conserving the library, but market conditions have driven the cost…

July 15, 2025

Bigger, But Not Better

On July 14th, 2025, Winnipeg’s City Council approved construction of a 168 foot residential tower on King Street as part of phase two of the Market Lands project. It will be built on the site which included of the former 1966 Public Safety Building at 151 Princess Street. While the property is surrounded by built…

July 14, 2025

Another Smiling Face

Heritage Winnipeg would like to thank Robert Baxter for his generous donation of a Tribune Building shard. This shard, salvaged from the facade of the 1914 structure at 257 Smith Street in 1969, is the second of 14 terracotta heads from the Tribune Building to find a home in our office. We hope the two…

June 27, 2025

Portage & Main: Open After 46 Years

Portage & Main officially opened to pedestrians on June 27! This marks the first time in 46 years that pedestrians are allowed to cross the intersection. The prospect of this reopening has long been a topic of debate. For nearly five decades, concrete barriers prevented Winnipegers from crossing the corners of these roads, known as…

June 25, 2025

Meet the Winners of Doors Open 2025!

Results are in, and we’ve found our winners! Heritage Winnipeg is proud to present the winners of Doors Open 2025! A special thanks to all of the hosts and volunteers for their amazing work during the weekend, making it possible to share the stories that our buildings tell. Another thank you goes out to everyone…

Subscribe to Heritage Winnipeg Blog