Business in Winnipeg & Manitoba

[drew]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I'm just sad all the old dive bars are being torn down I guess lol The Pal, Pemby, Cambridge, Sherbrooke. Balmoral.

The problem lies with out archaic liquor laws here. Dive bars can be charming, but here they need to come along with dingy SROs or rundown hotels - or be attached to a restaurant and/or serve food.

[bomberjet]

Needs to be changed for sure.

[Jeff]

Winnipeg’s office vacancy rate to tick higher downtown, tighten in suburbs: report
By Talha Hashmani Global News
Posted February 27, 2024 1:57 pm

https://globalnews.ca/news/10320133/winnipeg-commercial-real-estate-trends-2024/

As noted in the outlook report, higher vacancies can be turned around to create a “healthier downtown.” The opening of the Wawanesa Tower downtown and possible conversions of two downtown buildings that once hosted the company could help in “moving real estate from the office designation,” according to CBRE.

This is an interesting tidbit. Their Main at York building has been sold, so this leaves one to speculate on their current HQ on Broadway or the space they have at 330 Main. Both would be great to have re-purposed and taken out of the office classification ultimately.

[wags_in_the_peg]

Winpak Ltd. is adding 210,000 square feet to its Saulteaux Crescent facility. Great to hear!

[wags_in_the_peg]

Artificial intelligence companies propose natural gas-powered data centre for rural property south of Winnipeg

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/iles-de-chenes-data-centre-ai-natural-gas-9.7017266

[optimusREIM]

Build it. Blocking these types of players from entering the province is exactly why we still rely on transfer payments. I’m sure we can come to some sort of deal that would involve these corporations paying a large amount of tax here.

Unless we wanna be a have not province forever…. Same thing I was recently told about mineral extraction. Worst jurisdiction in North America for approving projects, yet one of the most mineral rich provinces

[borkborkbork]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

Artificial intelligence companies propose natural gas-powered data centre for rural property south of Winnipeg

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/iles-de-chenes-data-centre-ai-natural-gas-9.7017266

They've built AI data centres in North Haverbrook, Ogdenville, and Brockway, and by gum, it put them on the map

[bomberjet]

From my understanding on mineral rights and royalties. We are set-up so the landowners benefit greatly. The Province less so. Unlike Alberta in which the Province gets rich of oil royalties while the locals not so much (relatively speaking).

But ya we should be developing mining way better than we have. Cut the red tape.

[biguc]

Unless you like more expensive power and lower water pressure AI data centers are a terrible deal

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

Artificial intelligence companies propose natural gas-powered data centre for rural property south of Winnipeg

Going back 40+ years Pinawa was home to the same type of small nuclear reactor a lot of AI companies are looking at now. Sadly, it has been partially decommissioned. Source

It would really make sense for Canada's "nation building" efforts to dust off that work and update. Then one or more data centers like this could be attracted to be nearby but off the research lab property. The data center could be the proof of concept client for the reactor. Canada could then potentially build and operate more of these for data centers locating within Canada. After all most of the material, including the nuclear fuel, can be sourced from within Canada.

[Jack1983]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Going back 40+ years Pinawa was home to the same type of small nuclear reactor a lot of AI companies are looking at now. Sadly, it has been partially decommissioned. Source

It would really make sense for Canada's "nation building" efforts to dust off that work and update. Then one or more data centers like this could be attracted to be nearby but off the research lab property. The data center could be the proof of concept client for the reactor. Canada could then potentially build and operate more of these for data centers locating within Canada. After all most of the material, including the nuclear fuel, can be sourced from within Canada.

There is a company that is actively hawking installing a SMR at Pinawa:
https://starcorenuclearpower.com/pinawa-demonstration-reactor/

There was an article in the WFP about this a few days ago:
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/2025/12/12/big-plans-for-small-modular-reactors

[The Jabroni]

Originally Posted by optimusREIM

Build it. Blocking these types of players from entering the province is exactly why we still rely on transfer payments. I’m sure we can come to some sort of deal that would involve these corporations paying a large amount of tax here.

Unless we wanna be a have not province forever…. Same thing I was recently told about mineral extraction. Worst jurisdiction in North America for approving projects, yet one of the most mineral rich provinces

Not like this.

AI has proven that these tech billionaires have gone all in, which consequently, caused a surge in prices of memory chips in literally everything in the last 2 months. Not only in your typical home PC, but in common everyday electronics from your phone to a point of sale terminal at a store.

Never mind the resource hungry AI-powered data centres that will be hungry for utilities such as hydro, and water for cooling these systems.

6-8 years ago, crypto-currency was on the rise, and peaked through COVID before it crashed hard. Since then, the focus was on AI, and right now, we are at a period similar to when crypto-currency was booming. Like crypto-currency before, AI and its slop that came with it, will have its bubble popped before this plan goes to full fruition, even if it gets built.

I want Manitoba to be a have province like everybody else, but doing AI is not the end-all be-all, nor is the only answer to bring prosperity. Yes, AI does have its benefits, but as it stands, it's also heavily abused by everybody right now and in need of regulation, as well as the Laws of Robotics need to be amended and enforced heavily over AI.

[Wpg_Guy]

P3 Realty will be leaving Osborne Village for Bridgwater.

Western Canada office construction hits 20-year lows
Vancouver and Winnipeg lead the West in office builds



The District at Bridgwater in southwest Winnipeg was the only significant office project to launch in Western Canada last fall.P3 Realty Services Inc.

This isn’t the case in Winnipeg, where the second phase of the District at Bridgwater launched last fall. It will see one floor occupied by the developer, Private Pension Partners, when it completes later this year.

Western Investor

[Wpg_Guy]

Nutri Group rebrands as Lovo; Steinbach division renos continue
By: Aaron Epp
Saturday, Mar. 28, 2026

A Quebec-based egg grader and processor with a division in Manitoba has launched a new brand identity and is investing millions of dollars into its operation in Steinbach.

Nutri Group will now be known as Lovo. Leadership at the 39-year-old company revealed the new name to stakeholders earlier this week, and they are announcing the change publicly today.

The new name is derived from “love” and “ovo,” the Latin word for egg. It’s meant to be upbeat and focus on “the sunny side of life,” said Sébastien Léveillé, the company’s chief executive. The new brand includes updated packaging Léveillé hopes will catch consumers’ eyes in the supermarket.

“The egg section in grocery stores is pretty beige and there’s (been) no upgrade in this section for years,” he said.

The new identity is the result of market research the company conducted over the last 18 months. “In this time of anxiety, of geopolitical confusion or challenges, I think that people want to see life on the sunny side,” Léveillé said.

Lovo is owned by Quebec farming families and has additional divisions in Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia. The company grades, processes and markets more than 2.4 billion eggs annually.

The rebrand comes at a time when Lovo is making significant upgrades to its Manitoba division, formerly known as Countryside Farms.

Last June, the company started a $20-million expansion and modernization of its facilities in Steinbach.

The project aims to consolidate the company’s grading operations into a single building, increasing operational efficiency so that the company can respond adequately in the long term to increased supply and sales growth, a company spokesperson said.

The expansion is scheduled to be completed in August.

“The renovation is going very well,” said Shawn Harel, director of operations at the Steinbach facility. “It’s going to align very well with this rebranding. It’s like a brand-new face throughout everything.”

“We’re investing in Manitoba because it’s important to us,” added Nicholas Marchand, the company’s chief operating officer. “It’s a commitment for our employees in Manitoba, for the farmers that are sending their eggs to us and to our customers.”

Lovo employs 75 people in the keystone province.

Winnipeg Free Press

[Wpg_Guy]

Ottawa tabs $19.5M for defence-sector firms
‘Runway to do things right’: expansion on menu for Magellan Aerospace, StandardAero, Win-Shield Devices
Gabrielle Piché
Friday, Apr. 24, 2026


Ruth Bonneville / Free PressRon Drepaul, GM of Magellan Aerospace (from left); Rob Ranson, founder and president of Win-Shield Devices; and Chad Flowers, vice-president and general manager of StandardAero, talk Friday after Northern and Arctic Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand announcement.

Beards and hijabs are sometimes hard to fit in standard military protective equipment.

Rob Ranson and his team at Win-Shield Devices have been creating tactical masks for personnel with these considerations. Interest is growing, Ranson said.

Including from the federal government: Ottawa announced $3.5 million for Win-Shield Devices, a Winnipeg-based firm, on Friday.

It was part of a $19.5 million package for local companies. Magellan Aerospace and StandardAero are receiving $8 million each to expand operations, with output directed to military and civilians.

“We are entering (an) unprecedented era of defence,” Northern and Arctic Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand said upon announcing the money in Winnipeg. “We need investments to support that.”

The funding comes through Ottawa’s $379.2 million regional defence investment initiative. The program falls under a national defence industrial strategy, unveiled in February.

Win-Shield Devices — among the first Manitoba recipients — is working on a number of projects for the Canadian military, Ranson said. He declined to share details.

His company has a background in personal protective equipment: it made face and head shields for health-care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Canadian military will likely be able to buy new Win-Shield products by the end of 2026, Ranson estimated.

Ottawa’s funding erases his need to raise private equity.

“It gives us the runway to do things right,” he said. “Buying the right equipment, setting up the right manufacturing facility.”

He expects to double Win-Shield’s 16-person team by next April, and he’s scouring Winnipeg for a facility. Win-Shield engineers have been using North Forge’s fabrication lab.

The $19.5 million should create more than 150 jobs and also maintain at least 100, Chartrand said.

Magellan Aerospace is expanding through a phased approach — one that could see 50 new staffers over the next five years, said Ron Drepaul, general manager of Winnipeg operations.

Magellan is making an advanced machining centre at 660 Berry St., its established hub. The new centre will support the creation of F404 and F414 engines, which end up in Boeing and Saab fighter aircraft, Drepaul said.

He anticipates renovations to end by 2028.

StandardAero is adding 70,000 square feet to its St. James campus. It does maintenance, repairs and overhauls of gas turbine engines and accessories; the $8 million will cover new equipment and technology integration.

StandardAero has hired 60 employees, including mechanics and inspectors, since last year. The provincial government funnelled $3 million into the expansion in 2025.

“When we cut the ribbon and we can inhabit the building, it will further accelerate … the number of new jobs,” said Chad Flowers, vice-president and general manager for StandardAero.

The $6-billion company began in Winnipeg 115 years ago. It counts more than 1,500 Manitoba employees and has locations internationally.

Manitoba’s aerospace sector accounted for at least $414 million of the province’s gross domestic product in 2024, Manitoba Aerospace shared.

Chief executive Wendell Wiebe said he suspects the industry makes close to $2 billion in sales annually. It generated $1.7 billion in 2023.

Still, more government funding is needed to boost Manitoba’s defence sector contributions, Wiebe said: “Companies need to grow their capacity.”

“On the defence side, all you need to do is look around. You’ve got Russia, China. You’ve got the war, U.S. and Iran,” Wiebe said. “We need to be prepared so that we have the resources here that can be a deterrent.”

An increased desire for air travel has bolstered the local industry, which employs at least 5,000 people, Wiebe added.

Last week, Boeing publicized its own $36 million investment for research and development in Winnipeg.

Ottawa’s regional defence investment initiative will accept applications until the end of 2027, or when funding runs out.

Andrea Ladouceur is eyeing money for Manitoba’s biosciences industry. Medical elements — such as wound care and countermeasures to wartime exposures — could be funded through the program.

There are Manitoba manufacturers for that, said Ladouceur, president of Bioscience Association Manitoba.

“Nothing to share yet,” she added. “We’ve got good engagement with the feds, good engagement with the province.”

Premier Wab Kinew and a delegation of business groups travelled to Ottawa last week. Part of their focus was promoting the province’s aerospace and bioscience sectors.

Mayor Scott Gillingham, who attended the Friday announcement, has been promoting Winnipeg’s “sky economy” — aviation, aerospace and defence.

He and private-sector leads expect 17 Wing, an air force base in Winnipeg, to see more personnel in the coming years.

The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce has told defence department officials the city is open to military families, president Loren Remillard said.

He’s aiming to connect family members with job openings, though details are being worked out. If done correctly, it could be “that proverbial win-win scenario,” he said.

A spokesperson for Canada’s defence department couldn’t confirm how many new personnel will be posted in Manitoba. The size of the Canadian Armed Forces is increasing, with a plan to hit 71,500 regular force members and 30,000 in the reserves, they said.

Manitoba is also home to the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s Canadian headquarters.


Ruth Bonneville / Free PressStandardAero’s Peter Wheatley and Chad Flowers chat with Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham after the announcement Friday.

Winnipeg Free Press

[pspeid]

^ Nice to see some federal $$ trickling in to expand Manitoba businesses, but it seems to be just a trickle right now.

[Wpg_Guy]

AI data centre going into shuttered protein plant just outside Winnipeg
Bell AI Fabric will have 'small presence' at site where Merit Functional Foods once processed peas, canola
Bartley Kives · CBC News · Apr 29, 2026



A former protein-processing plant just outside Winnipeg is being converted into an AI data centre.

Bell Canada is transforming the former home of Merit Functional Foods in the CentrePort industrial development into an artificial intelligence data centre the company describes as "a small presence" in the rural municipality of Rosser.

The CentrePort data centre, under construction just west of Brookside Boulevard, is part of what Bell calls its AI Fabric — an effort to develop sovereign AI in Canada, Bell spokesperson Matt Silver said in a statement.

Sovereign AI is the ability of a country to develop and control artificial intelligence within its own borders by relying on its digital and physical infrastructure, as opposed to networks based and data stored in the U.S. and other foreign states.

Premier Wab Kinew said last fall more data centres would be built within Manitoba to support sovereign AI.

He told reporters in October to check out his state of the province speech to learn more details. That speech, issued in December, did not reference any specific plans to build data centres in Manitoba.

In March, Bell Canada announced plans to build a $1.7-billion data centre south of Regina that will require 300 megawatts of electricity. That works out to roughly eight per cent of Saskatchewan's total peak generating capacity.

The construction project underway at CentrePort, metres outside Winnipeg's northwest border, is much smaller than the Regina-area project.

A trio of building and development permits filed with the South Interlake Planning District state the data centre project in Rosser involves at least $31.5 million worth of construction.

The permits call for construction crews to modify the walls of the former protein-processing plant so the facility can serve as a data centre. The permits also call for the construction of concrete pads to support generators, chillers and transformers.

The Rosser data centre will only require 5.5 megawatts of electricity, Bell spokesperson Silver said. That works out to less than one thousandth of Manitoba's generating capacity.

In the United States, larger data centres have become political liabilities because of their impact on the electrical grid.

The Bell AI Fabric data centre in Rosser is an adaptive reuse of a 94,000-square-foot facility that cost $150 million to build and was designed to convert peas and canola into protein.

The federal government contributed $100 million to the Merit Functional Foods facility, mostly in the form of loans, in 2020.

Merit opened the protein-processing plant in 2021. Two years later, the company was in receivership.

Rosser Reeve Ken Mulligan declined to comment on the renovation project. Kinew's office also declined to comment on the Bell AI Fabric project or the prospect of more AI data centres in Manitoba.

• Video Link

[jim_bred]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

• Video Link

So it will use a lot of power and provide minimal jobs to our economy? What’s the benefits?

[trueviking]

There are no public benefits to data centres. They just sound good when politicians announce them.

Just noticed that P3 announcement above where they are moving to Bridgwater. They are selling their Osborne village building. Sucked to have an office consume that floor but now that it’s an office it will probably stay that way.

[wags_in_the_peg]

Originally Posted by trueviking

There are no public benefits to data centres. They just sound good when politicians announce them.

true in some ways. 100's of staff during construction, very few staff once up and running. they also pay more taxes to gov than an empty building.