Winnipeg | Downtown Developments & Discussions

[Wpg_Guy]

Fort Garry Hotel draws ‘very strong interest’ from potential new ownership
By: Chris Kitching
Tuesday, May. 12, 2026


MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES

There is a possibility the hotel will remain locally owned after the sale.

The two real estate companies handling the advertised sale of the Fort Garry Hotel in downtown Winnipeg expect it to attract multiple suitors given its uniqueness and prestige.

The landmark hotel has drawn “very strong interest” since the property was posted April 27, said Curtis Gallagher, principal and Canadian hospitality lead with real estate advisory firm Avison Young.

“With the appeal for hotel investment in Canada these days, we expect that there will be a good few choices for new owners of this hotel,” Gallagher said from Toronto on Tuesday.

Hotels such as the Fort Garry, at 222 Broadway, just west of Main Street, don’t go on the market very often.

“It’s irreplaceable. You couldn’t and wouldn’t build this anymore, so there’s a scarcity to something like this as a true trophy style of investment,” Gallagher said. “There aren’t a lot of really good opportunities on the market to acquire. There’s a little bit of scarcity to quality hotel investments.”

Avison Young, headquartered in Toronto, and brokerage Cushman & Wakefield Winnipeg represent the current owners.

A deal is expected this year. The four-star, 113-year-old hotel does not have a list price.

Gallagher said it is difficult to put a potential sale price on the Fort Garry.

“With something as iconic and irreplaceable as this, we sort of engage with qualified investors once they sign a (non-disclosure agreement), let them dig into all of the detail of the data room and have conversations about what they are thinking and sort of take it from there,” he said.

With a 1.5-acre footprint, the hotel has 236 guest rooms and suites, a spa, restaurants, conference and banquet space, Yuk Yuk’s comedy club and a seasonal patio.

Managing partners and local entrepreneurs Ida Albo and Richard Bel, along with the Quebec-based Laberge Group, acquired the Fort Garry in 1993. By then, it had already been deemed a national historic site.

“They’ve owned it for over three decades, and this is really sort of the retirement plan and time to hand it over to a new owner for the next chapter of its story,” Gallagher said.

The current owners, who received praise this week for spending millions on improvements and preserving the building’s heritage, have hopes for the Fort Garry’s future once a sale is completed.

“In any transaction, it’s not always just about price. It’s really about the whole package,” Gallagher said.

“When you have something that is so meaningful to the city of Winnipeg, but also to them — they poured their whole lives into this — they absolutely want to see it elevated, rather than diminished.”

Albo told the Free Press in March she and her business partners had invested about $5 million in the hotel since the COVID-19 pandemic, including a new, exclusive “vice regal floor.”

The Fort Garry welcomes about 80,000 guests per year, and employs nearly 400 full- and part-time staff.

The hotel was constructed in Château style by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. It has welcomed everyone from British royals and A-list actors to newlyweds and staycationing families over the years.

In a news release, Avison Young likened the Fort Garry to six Canadian hotels — the Château Laurier in Ottawa; Hotel Madonald in Edmonton; Banff Springs and Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta; Hotel Vancouver; and the Queen Elizabeth in Montreal — “with comparable recognition and rich histories.”

All six are owned by large — multinational, in some cases — real estate investment or hospitality firms. The Fort Garry’s current ownership is local and independent.

The odds of the Fort Garry remaining locally owned after the sale should not be considered slim, according to Gallagher.

“Winnipeg is a very important city and there’s a lot of wealth in that city,” he said. “Because somebody may not have invested in a hotel before, that doesn’t matter. There are third-party professional companies that can operate the day-to-day for these potential owners that can treat this as a passive investment.”

The Fort Garry was previously put on the market in 2019. A potential sale was scuttled by the pandemic, which caused a temporary downturn in the hospitality sector amid lockdowns and travel restrictions.

The current owners and a prospective buyer mutually and amicably agreed to terminate a deal, Gallagher said.

“While it was painful at the time, (the owners) continued to put and invest money into it, and then the performance improved,” he said. “It’s a blessing in disguise in the sense that the market is stronger, the asset is stronger and the asset is performing better.”

A recent Avison Young analysis said Winnipeg’s hospitality sector experienced growth in 2025, with one of the highest year-over-year increases (6.9 per cent) in revenue per available room among major Canadian markets.

Gallagher said the hotel industry is seeing a lot of new interest from non-traditional owners.

Chris Macsymic, executive vice-president and principal of Cushman & Wakefield Winnipeg, said more than $1 billion is now being spent on various hotel projects in the downtown area over the next three to five years.

“People are really starting to see the benefits of downtown, and are quite excited about what’s happening and what’s to come,” he said. “We’ve used the word ‘iconic’ a few times, but that’s the perfect word to describe (the Fort Garry).”

The locally owned Fairmont Winnipeg hotel, at Portage Avenue and Main Street, is scheduled to close from July 1 to spring 2027 for a full renovation.

Shiu-Yik Au, an associate professor of finance at the University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business, said he wouldn’t be surprised if a national or international firm purchases the Fort Garry Hotel.

“It may be that we lose local ownership, but it will still physically be here and the heart will still be here,” he said.

The hotel was listed for sale at a time when there is a huge demand for travel post-pandemic, and many Canadians are choosing to vacation within Canada or seek luxury experiences, Au said.

“Places like the Fort Garry, this is not a low-end (hotel). This is one of our premier spots in Winnipeg,” he said.


MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES

The Fort Garry Hotel was first listed for sale April 27.


MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES

Landmark hotels such as the Fort Garry don’t go on the market very often.


MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES

The hotel was constructed in Château style by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway.

FREE PRESS

[asher__jo]

Originally Posted by peg

Ahh thats probably why broadway got so many structural cells during the redo!

Does anyone know the logic why they clear cut Broadway when doing sewer work? Everyone has said they were all diseased; this would be pretty negligent on the cities part. To me this should be far more of an issue as Broadway was the only downtown arterial with old Elms.

[NewIreland]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

FREE PRESS

Ideally the Richardson's would buy it, slap the Fairmont brand on it, proceed with renovating the brutalist behemoth at P&M, but rebrand it a Hyatt or Marriott. This is the only acceptable outcome.

[cllew]

If anybody is interested here is the conceptual plan for the tree renewal on Broadway from 2024


https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/finance/finda...24_Appendix_B_Broadway_Tree_Strategy.pdf

[dennis]

I was wondering if anyone has heard any news on the refurbishment of the Winnipeg Railway museum? The target opening was for November 2025, but I haven’t heard of any news for a long time.

[bomberjet]

It is to be relocated if the highline BRT goes ahead. I know it's still a ways out yet. But would they refurbish something like that just to be relocated?

I was in there recently, but have no context as to what it looked like before. But it's basically just a bunch of old rail cars and some other equipment in the train shed. What would be refurbished?

[Wpg_Guy]

Organizations get $2M to improve downtown safety
Posted: Thursday, May. 21, 2026

The provincial government is giving more than $2 million to improve safety in Winnipeg’s downtown this summer.

Five business organizations are receiving the funds “to build and enhance community partnerships that protect public safety with a focus on de-escalation and wellness,” a provincial news release Thursday stated.

The Downtown Community Safety Partnership and Downtown Winnipeg BIZ will each receive $750,000. The West End BIZ will get $300,000, the Exchange District BIZ $250,000 and the West Broadway BIZ $150,000.

“These investments are about bringing people, fun and life back to our downtown for another incredible summer,” Premier Wab Kinew said in the release.

They organizations may use funding for security upgrades, including cameras, alarm systems, anti-graffiti coatings, fencing or vandalism repairs.

Free Press

[peg]

I was at the Railway Museum like 7 years ago. I asked one of the guys working there what would happen to the museum if the high-line idea goes through.

He said there are no plans for the museum. He seemed to think that the highline will never happen (just his hunch IMO). He did say that unless there is a generous doner to relocate/fund the museum, it would likely just disappear.

He also made a good point about relocation - the trains would need to be moved via track, so any new museum would need to be near an active railway.

In a perfect world, I would love a train museum at 170 William Stephenson way, with the Blue line extension running through the building, similar to the light rail passing through the Calgary central library.

(it was the location of Winnipeg's first train station, and an immigration hall, until 1911).

[Sheepish]

I'm not sure what an average police officer or cadette earns in a year, but seems to me that 2Mill could get provide for at least 20 officers for a year...or 80 officers for 3 months. Wellness and de-escalation sound great. Deterrence and apprehension is what is required. Public intoxication, sleeping on sidewalks, in front of buildings and in bus shelters, panhandling on every corner and on every island, and sprawling tent cities cannot coexist with the objective of fostering a fun, safe active downtown.

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by Sheepish

I'm not sure what an average police officer or cadette earns in a year, but seems to me that 2Mill could get provide for at least 20 officers for a year...or 80 officers for 3 months. Wellness and de-escalation sound great. Deterrence and apprehension is what is required. Public intoxication, sleeping on sidewalks, in front of buildings and in bus shelters, panhandling on every corner and on every island, and sprawling tent cities cannot coexist with the objective of fostering a fun, safe active downtown.

I can't disagree with your conclusion Sheep. We've seen how increased security has helped things in Osbourne Village. I think we need to ask, though, why crackdowns like this don't happen regularly. One of the biggest hurdles seems to be legal barriers.

We just saw a few days ago where there is a court challenge against Kinew's facility to hold heavily intoxicated/drug addicted people for up to three days only. Attempts to reduce the humber of intoxicated/panhandlers/homeless camps are regularly challenged in court as an infringement on an individual's rights. In this case, a Dr. Simm has challenged the three day holding based upon what he thinks is a lack of medical oversight in the facility, but court decisions often seem to lean towards individual vs community rights. It's not "supposed" to be that way, but there you go.

Simple "vagrancy" isn't a crime in Canada, and while aggressive solicitation, disturbances and vandalism are, proving them in court requires witnesses, court dates, and other legal processes. Unless a crime is violent, fines are usually the first sentence, and try to collect a fine from someone with no money and no fixed address.

It's probably difficult to deter someone who has reached a state where they don't care much about themselves anymore, an apprehension is very costly and time consuming within the legal system.

[WayneShuster]

Originally Posted by pspeid

I can't disagree with your conclusion Sheep. We've seen how increased security has helped things in Osbourne Village. I think we need to ask, though, why crackdowns like this don't happen regularly. One of the biggest hurdles seems to be legal barriers.

We just saw a few days ago where there is a court challenge against Kinew's facility to hold heavily intoxicated/drug addicted people for up to three days only. Attempts to reduce the humber of intoxicated/panhandlers/homeless camps are regularly challenged in court as an infringement on an individual's rights. In this case, a Dr. Simm has challenged the three day holding based upon what he thinks is a lack of medical oversight in the facility, but court decisions often seem to lean towards individual vs community rights. It's not "supposed" to be that way, but there you go.

Simple "vagrancy" isn't a crime in Canada, and while aggressive solicitation, disturbances and vandalism are, proving them in court requires witnesses, court dates, and other legal processes. Unless a crime is violent, fines are usually the first sentence, and try to collect a fine from someone with no money and no fixed address.

It's probably difficult to deter someone who has reached a state where they don't care much about themselves anymore, an apprehension is very costly and time consuming within the legal system.

All of which is true, and goes against the premise that the law is meant to protect and provide oversight for the greater good of the public. At least that is what I was taught in my intro to Canadian Law courses. What is currently playing out is that the law is on the side of a group of people who form a minority, and the greater good for the majority of people clearly comes after that, if at all.

As a society, we have deviated from the social and legal norms we had set out for ourselves over the past few centuries. It breaks my heart to see people in need, but equally hurts to see our societal desire for safe and clean communities wither away simply because the cost is considered too high to provide adequate assistance to address the root problems of those in need, and the fear of offending certain segments of society and becoming labelled as racist, bigoted, xenophobic, misogynistic, etc.

The society we desire and wish to restore will dissapear altogether if we continue down this trajectory, and we will all suffer the consequences of the new, permanent 'normal'.

[Wpg_Guy]

Wînipêk Future Roots Artwork Plaza on Broadway



Call to Indigenous Artists for Expressions of Interest and Qualifications

The Winnipeg Arts Council invites First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists and artist-led teams with a meaningful connection to Winnipeg to submit expressions of interest and qualifications to create a public artwork and plaza on the Broadway median near Kennedy St. in Winnipeg, Manitoba, located on Treaty 1 territory and the Homeland of the Red River Métis.

Winnipeg marked its 150th anniversary in 2024, creating an opportunity to reflect on the city. This project invites Indigenous artists to imagine a shared future rooted in place, relationship, and Indigenous presence.

Budget: $800,000
With support from the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, and the Winnipeg Foundation.

The artwork will be selected through a two-stage process, with the first stage focused on the artist’s approach and qualifications.

Deadline: June 30, 2026

Interested artists must submit a complete application package to be considered, as outlined in the Call to Indigenous Artists below.

We encourage applications from all Indigenous professional artists, and those with intersections in their identities such as Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, non-binary, Deaf artists, and artists with disabilities.

Winnipeg Arts Council

[Wpg_Guy]

Jim Ludlow, the President & CEO at True North Sports & Entertainment recently sat down for an interview with the Careers Under Construction podcast and he had a few interesting tidbits to offer regarding downtown Winnipeg.

1. He mentioned that they are on the cusp of a very significant announcement regarding downtown grocery, which is a development that the community has been seeking for approximately 25 years. He highlighted that delivering a major grocery store within the redeveloped Portage Place asset class is a key piece of the puzzle, as it will provide essential support for the growing residential density in downtown Winnipeg.

2. He explains that the development of the Sutton Place Hotel in downtown Winnipeg, a project managed by Tom Gaglardi of Northland Properties, whom True North partnered with after their arrival in the NHL at the same time includes important connectivity to the True North Square development and the RBC Convention Centre. And while the project has taken it's time, he confirms it is indeed currently under development and coming.

3. He explained that True North is eyeing other opportunities to replicate the success of the Wawanesa Insurance consolidation within pockets along Portage Avenue, smaller head office consolidations. He stated that they are looking to engage other dynamic, growing organizations (and he knows of a few) that want to establish a consolidated brand presence in downtown Winnipeg along Portage Avenue.

4. He mentions True North's focus for the future is on Portage Avenue, the stretch between Portage and Main and the University of Winnipeg for opportunities that can impact the city core, including multifamily housing, affordable/transitional housing, and addressing broader social issues like safety, security, and homelessness.

• Video Link

[ColdRain&Snow]

Nice to hear that the grocery store is still in the works.

[dennis]

Originally Posted by peg

I was at the Railway Museum like 7 years ago. I asked one of the guys working there what would happen to the museum if the high-line idea goes through.

He said there are no plans for the museum. He seemed to think that the highline will never happen (just his hunch IMO). He did say that unless there is a generous doner to relocate/fund the museum, it would likely just disappear.

He also made a good point about relocation - the trains would need to be moved via track, so any new museum would need to be near an active railway.

In a perfect world, I would love a train museum at 170 William Stephenson way, with the Blue line extension running through the building, similar to the light rail passing through the Calgary central library.

(it was the location of Winnipeg's first train station, and an immigration hall, until 1911).

https://wpgrailwaymuseum.com/winnipeg-railway-museum-renovation-updates/

Winnipeg Railway Museum Renovation Updates
13 May 2024

The museum now has a new roof, windows, sky lights and lighting. There have been leaks in the new roof but they were quickly repaired. Sunlight shining through the new windows lights up the museum in the afternoons.

We have purchased and assembled better storage for many of our documents. We are in the process of reorganizing our books, maps, photographs, diagrams and other documents.

We need to replace three wooden walls and upgrade the electrical and fire safety systems. We aim to reopen in November 2025.

Our goal is to raise $3 million to accomplish the necessary upgrades. All donations are appreciated.

[dennis]

The kast update on their website was in 2024 showing renovations done with an expected opening in November 2025.

[WayneShuster]

Originally Posted by dennis

The kast update on their website was in 2024 showing renovations done with an expected opening in November 2025.

I just sent them an email inquiry about this. Let's see if they respond, and if they do, what the new update info will be.

[Wpg_Guy]

Renewed energy: A downtown on the rise where culture, commerce and character collide
by JEREMY DAVIS Published on 05 / 22 / 2026



When you visit a new city — whether for business, vacation, or family — there’s one place you’re almost guaranteed to go: downtown. It’s the heart of the city, where first impressions are made and lasting ones are formed. While cities extend far beyond their cores, downtown is where culture, commerce, and character collide. Today, many downtowns are evolving into dynamic, mixed-use districts — blending sports, arts, dining, entertainment, and residential life into vibrant, 24/7 communities.

In Winnipeg, that evolution is gaining real momentum. A downtown renaissance is underway, fueled by significant public and private investment and a growing sense of optimism.

Amidst positive development underway with construction on the Market Lands project, Railside at The Forks, the redevelopment of Portage Place and Hudson’s Bay buildings, along with the existing True North Square and Canada Life Centre, mixed use development at 300 Main and a host of housing projects recently announced by CentreVenture, there is a lot to be excited about.

To truly gain a sense of the transformation underway downtown, we sought out the perspectives of some champions of Downtown Winnipeg to gain insights behind this momentum, what they’re most excited about and how to keep things moving in the right direction.

Rochelle Squires, CEO of CentreVenture, expressed excitement in the sheer number of mixed-use developments currently underway where each can become a neighbourhood hub that will spur on retail, restaurants, and other public amenities.

CentreVenture is an arms-length agency of the City of Winnipeg whose role is to lead the planning, development, coordination and implementation of projects in the downtown.

Fresh off the launch of CentreVenture’s Strategic Plan which aims to double downtown Winnipeg’s population by 2050, Squires spoke glowingly about five recently announced heritage conversion projects, which includes the redevelopment of the Marlborough Hotel. In total, these five projects will bring more than 600 new units of housing.

When asked about what project could have a catalyzing impact, Squires highlighted a few projects like the Portage Place redevelopment, the Hudson’s Bay redevelopment, and the opening of Portage and Main, as all having positive influences on their immediate surroundings. She believed that the Market Lands development will have the greatest impact on a larger area, one that has the potential to bring the entire downtown together.

“The Market Lands project will be transformational for Downtown Winnipeg. It will change the center of gravity in that area and create a wonderful neighbourhood with close to 400 units of housing, along with a food hub, creative hub, and childcare that will change the dynamic of that neighbourhood,” said Squires.

When asked about what can help keep the momentum downtown strong, Squires said “We have to advance the narrative that Downtown Winnipeg is a neighbourhood, not just a commerce, cultural or entertainment hub. Ensure that people see it as a vibrant community, that’s equally attractive on a 24/7 basis as with other neighbourhoods across the city. It’s a dynamic shift that’s gaining momentum because there are so many champions of the downtown and everyone is committed to doing their part.”

This was a viewpoint shared by Kate Fenske, CEO of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, who added “I’m seeing more collaboration and coordination between government, private sector, non-profit and community organizations now than I have at any other point in my seven years in this role. I think organizations view that as important right now to ensure we’re aligned on the vision for downtown, and using our unique roles in delivering on that vision.”

The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ promotes, cares and advocates for a vibrant and inclusive downtown where businesses thrive, and people are drawn to work, live, invest and explore. Through a variety of events and programming, and maintaining clean and attractive public spaces, the BIZ is focused on creating a downtown that drives prosperity, invites belonging and feels alive all year round.

As a strong advocate for downtown, Fenske has been at the forefront of collaborative efforts between government and safety partners to strengthen visible presence in the community, support for businesses, and improve the overall experience downtown.

“Currently, there are 3,000 residential units under construction or being planned. This is the most significant investment we’ve seen in decades. It is really exciting but we’re not going to see the results right away so we’re really focused on what’s needed in the immediate term to ensure people want to come downtown, feel safe, and have a great overall experience. It’s about focusing on basic things like what the walk is like from one point downtown to another, how the streetscaping impacts the experience, and making sure its free from litter. Those are basic goals that are a lot more complicated to accomplish than they may seem but have a big impact,” Fenske said.

When asked about why it is important for all residents to have a successful downtown, Fenske described it from an economic perspective. “Aside from the impact on tourism, downtown is the neighbourhood that generates the highest percentage of business and commercial taxes, which means it’s supporting the City’s taxbase to a higher extent than other areas of the city. So, in real terms, a successful downtown directly helps all residents,” said Fenske.

This same question was posed to Hazel Borys, the City of Winnipeg’s Director of Planning, Property and Development, and she responded similarly: “A great way to answer that is a reference to Complete Communities 2.0 as it says downtown Winnipeg is the heart of our city and our window to the world. I truly believe that the image of our downtown is how we market our city to tourists and to those who are interested in pursuing business opportunities here. But it’s also important to Winnipeg residents. It’s a place to come for work, entertainment and all sorts of other activities. It’s also the economic engine of our city and, perhaps the province, as it’s where most business is conducted and where the City generates the most tax revenue, per capita and per acre compared with anywhere else, in any other area of Winnipeg.”

The City will help lead the positive momentum downtown by “…reinforcing the commercial character of our streets such as with the Graham Avenue Retail Retention and Recruitment Strategy. Parks and street enhancements are also underway to make our downtown more attractive and regulatory changes are continuing to make more development, more predictable and streamlined. We’ve already eliminated the public hearing process and lengthy decision-making from 99% of downtown development. More changes associated with the zoning bylaw rewrite will be in motion soon. These changes will increase clarity around development, expectations and permit approvals,” said Borys.

Borys concluded our conversation by encouraging Winnipeggers to “…join a walking tour, take in a show, check out the long list of activities and events that are happening year-round. We can talk about all these positive changes that are happening, but nothing really compares to seeing it firsthand.”

What’s emerging downtown isn’t just development — it’s a shift toward a true neighbourhood. The tide is turning. The investment is there. The collaboration is there. If this momentum holds, Downtown Winnipeg won’t just recover — it will redefine itself. After speaking with Squires, Fenske and Borys, it is difficult not to feel the same sense of enthusiasm and anticipation for Downtown Winnipeg’s next chapter.

“There’s a renewed energy and we want to keep building on that,” said Borys.

Winnipeg Regional Real Estate News

[Wpg_Guy]

Room service for transitional housing
Fairmont Hotel to donate beds, chairs, tables, lamps ahead of renovations
Nicole Buffie
Friday, May. 29, 2026


SUPPLIED

More than 12,000 pieces from the Fairmont Hotel will be donated to Linking Hope, including beds, headboards, nightstands, tables and chairs, lamps and linens.

Homeless people set to move into transitional housing will get a suite treatment later this year thanks to a donation from a Winnipeg hotel making its own transition.

The Fairmont Winnipeg will donate its room furnishings, including more than 760 beds and box springs, before it undergoes a multimillion-dollar renovation this summer.

Anything that isn’t nailed down in the 340 guest rooms will be donated to Linking Hope, a non-profit that will dole the items out to its 120 partner agencies across Manitoba.

“We had always had the donation intent top of mind, we did not want all of this to just find its way into a landfill,” said Ian Taylor, general manager of Fairmont Winnipeg. “There are needs within the community and the province abroad that we needed to look at.”

Linking Hope takes in donations and surplus stock from retailers to distribute to homeless and vulnerable people. The agency recently moved into a warehouse at 323 Edwin St. from its previous home at 190 Disraeli Fwy.

The Fairmont is set to close on June 30, at which time its rooms will be stripped down to the studs and its wares donated. More than 12,000 pieces will be donated to Linking Hope, including beds, headboards, nightstands, tables and chairs, lamps and linens. Bathroom vanities and toilets will also be part of the donation. Taylor said he couldn’t put a dollar figure on the gift.

The province’s homelessness strategy has taken 223 people out of encampments since it launched in January 2025. That number doesn’t account for the number of people housed through non-profit organizations like Main Street Project, St. Boniface Street Links and N’Dinawemak, which Linking Hope works closely with.

Linking Hope’s founder Kristie Pearson said people transitioning into independent housing usually have no furniture and little money to make their space feel like a home. She is thrilled with the donation.

“This is good quality furniture, it’s built to last,” Pearson said. “And it’s more than just the furnishings, it’s all the little things, so we can then also help them with some clothing and some hygiene, that will just make it a little easier.”

In March, James Richardson & Sons Ltd., which owns the Fairmont Winnipeg, announced the facility would undergo a transformation to return it to its glory of being a “pre-eminent, top-tier hotel.”

The overhaul is expected to cost more than $120 million and take a little under a year.

Figures show homelessness in Winnipeg is growing. The most recent data released by End Homelessness Winnipeg show the number of people living without stable housing in Winnipeg rose to 8,248 in March, an increase of 104 from February.

Taylor called the partnership a privilege.

“It’s just amazing that we get to do this and be part of this amazing transformation, not only for our hotel but for the city of Winnipeg, but also I think transforming some others’ lives in their time of need, going through transitional housing and moving from where they are today to something different,” he said.


SUPPLIED

Linking Hope will dole the items out to its 120 partner agencies across Manitoba.


SUPPLIED

The Fairmont Hotel did not want the items to end up in the landfill.

Free Press

[pspeid]

My honest reactions to the Fairmont Hotel story:

1-Jealousy/resentment. "That stuff's better than anything in my house right now, and it's going to furnish transitional housing? Won't it just get ruined?"

2-Re-think. "Okay bud, take the high road. Why should transitional housing be furnished with 🞵🞵🞵🞵? Having a nice place to live can be a healing experience. It has to look better than living under a tarp by an overpass to encourage people to change their lives."

3-Jealousy/resentment. "THIS is the place that wasn't 'good enough' for a bunch of f***ing hockey players?"

It's been a morning of mood swings, obviously.