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

April 16, 2025

Advocating for Heritage Sensitive Development

Today, at the City of Winnipeg’s SPC on Property and Development meeting, Executive Director Cindy Tugwell spoke in opposition of an appeal for a variance at 120/128 James Avenue regarding a 4-storey addition, and an adjacent 109 ft. new build.

April 14, 2025

Lemay Forest to Stand Tall

On Monday, April 14th, 2025, Premier Wab Kinew announced the Province of Manitoba’s plans to expropriate the Lemay Forest and conserve it as a provincial park. Located in St. Norbert, the roughly 18-hectare property is currently owned by the Tochal Development Group, who resumed deforesting it to make way for a proposed assisted living facility….

April 11, 2025

Congratulations 2025 Preservation Award Winners!

Heritage Winnipeg’s 39th Annual Preservation Awards were held on Thursday, April 10th, 2025, to celebrate the individuals and organizations who went above and beyond to conserve and restore Winnipeg’s built heritage!

March 14, 2025

Curtains Up at the Palace Theatre

This week, a new initiative to restore the historic Palace Theatre at 501 Selkirk Avenue was announced. The building will become a hub for arts and culture in the North End.

March 10, 2025

Doors Open Winnipeg 2025: Call For Volunteers!

Do you love Winnipeg? Do you love history? Do you love our city’s built heritage? Then, Doors Open Winnipeg needs YOU! Heritage Winnipeg’s Doors Open Winnipeg is a FREE annual event held on the last weekend of May, inviting the public to explore our built heritage treasures, cultural institutions and historic streetscapes. It is an…

February 28, 2025

New Plans for Former Site of Sutherland Hotel

On Thursday, February 27th, it was announced that the site on which the historic Sutherland Hotel once stood will be the home of an affordable apartment building.

Subscribe to Heritage Winnipeg Blog