Winnipeg | Downtown Developments & Discussions

[neutroniks]

I would've expected them to descale and degrease the streets before they painted Graham again, but walking home after a Sea Bears game, most of the street paintings are already peeling off. *sigh*

Why can't we ever just do something properly, once, instead of repeatedly doing something poorly.?

[Wpg_Guy]

Why do we consult?
By: Stephen Borys
Thursday, Jun. 25, 2026


STEPHEN BORYS PHOTO

Bliss watches over the sanctuary of Holy Trinity Church.

Over the past several months, I have found myself using two phrases with increasing frequency: community consultation and stakeholder engagement.

I have used them in meetings, proposals and discussions about the future of Holy Trinity Church in downtown Winnipeg. Some people nod in agreement. Others wonder whether these are simply consultant buzzwords.

Which raises a question: What do we actually mean when we talk about community consultation and stakeholder engagement?

The question feels especially timely because Holy Trinity Church is about to begin one of the most significant listening and engagement processes in its recent history — one that could help shape its future role in downtown Winnipeg for years to come. Over the coming months, parishioners, community organizations, downtown stakeholders, heritage advocates, businesses, governments and potential partners will be invited into that conversation.

The question has also been on my mind while spending time at Holy Trinity, where I serve as building project manager for the redevelopment initiative. Sometimes accompanying me is Bliss, a young Belgian malinois and recent addition to our family. As a service dog, she has joined me in my office at Holy Trinity on a few occasions.

Admittedly, if you asked Bliss to define community consultation, she would probably offer a simple explanation: find something interesting, investigate it thoroughly, meet everyone nearby, and only then decide what to do next.

Come to think of it, that’s not a bad definition of consulting.

While I am often focused on meetings and reports, Bliss approaches the church differently. Watching her explore the building, I sometimes think she sets out the way a good consultant considers a new project: assume nothing, investigate everything and never ignore something that seems out of place.

Perhaps that is where meaningful listening begins.

At its worst, consultation can feel like a box to check, a requirement to satisfy funders or a process undertaken after key decisions have already been made. Many people have attended public meetings or completed surveys only to leave wondering whether anyone was truly listening. That skepticism is understandable.

But genuine engagement is something very different.

It is not about confirming what we already believe, validating predetermined decisions or producing a report that sits on a shelf. At its best, this work is an act of curiosity, humility and openness. It begins with recognizing that no individual, board, consultant, architect, rector or funding agency possesses all the answers.

The future is not something we design alone. It is something we build together.

The most valuable outcome is not consensus. It is clarity.

Some people question whether all this engagement is necessary. Others assume the answers are already obvious and that further discussion simply delays action.

Bliss approaches every room as though there is something new to discover. Humans often walk into situations convinced they already know the answers.

The process asks us to do the opposite.

The work challenges assumptions and often reveals opportunities that might otherwise remain unseen.

Stakeholder engagement is often mistaken for a technical exercise. In reality it’s about relationships.

A place of worship does not belong only to its congregation. A museum does not belong only to its members or board. A community organization does not belong only to its leadership. Each exists within a larger network of people and communities whose lives intersect with its work.

Many people assume the church is closed. It isn’t.

Worship services continue. Music fills the sanctuary. Community groups use the building. Meals are prepared and served each week. Volunteers care for the property. Yet Holy Trinity stands at a crossroads, facing questions about sustainability, relevance, partnerships, programming and the role it can play in a changing downtown.

Those questions deserve more than quick answers. They deserve conversation.

This work would not be possible without the support of CentreVenture, whose mandate is to foster development, partnerships and investment in downtown Winnipeg. For more than two decades, CentreVenture has helped bring together public, private and community partners to strengthen the downtown core. Their support of Holy Trinity recognizes that the future of individual buildings and organizations is inseparable from the future of downtown itself.

Over the coming months, we will meet with parishioners, neighbours, government representatives, businesses, social service agencies and developers. Through interviews, public forums and community gatherings, we will ask: What role should Holy Trinity play in the future of downtown Winnipeg?

That is why Holy Trinity, with the support of CentreVenture, the Anglican Foundation of Canada, the Diocese of Rupert’s Land, the parish itself and Civic Muse, is launching a broad community listening and engagement process grounded in a simple belief: the strongest futures are built with communities, not merely for them.

Not because a grant application required it. Not because a consultant recommended it. But because important questions remain unanswered.

How can Holy Trinity’s spaces better serve the community? What partnerships should be explored? What needs exist that the church might help address?

No consultant, parish council, bishop, architect or funding agency can answer those questions alone.

The answers will emerge from the collective wisdom, experience and aspirations of the community itself.

The best engagement processes build relationships, create trust, uncover opportunities and help communities see themselves more clearly. At its heart, this work is about listening, learning, and imagining what might be possible.

As Holy Trinity begins this work, I find myself appreciating curiosity a little more. Good engagement begins not with answers, but with questions — and with the humility to admit that no one person has all of them. Watching Bliss explore the church, I am reminded how much can be discovered simply by paying attention.

Perhaps that is what community consultation and stakeholder engagement are really about. Not checking a box, completing a task or fulfilling a requirement, but asking questions with enough honesty and creativity that the answers can help shape a better future.

After all, we ask questions not because we are lost, but because we are trying to find a better way forward.

Stephen Borys is president and CEO of Civic Muse, an arts and cultural consulting practice based in Winnipeg.

Winnipeg Free Press

[pspeid]

Glad to see the process beginning for the future of Holy Trinity. I like the fact that the article points out the current community uses of that beautiful building, and what it's future might be.

"Worship services continue. Music fills the sanctuary. Community groups use the building. Meals are prepared and served each week. Volunteers care for the property. Yet Holy Trinity stands at a crossroads, facing questions about sustainability, relevance, partnerships, programming and the role it can play in a changing downtown."

[ColdRain&Snow]

It's hard to see, but work on the Boyd Building continues. I could see workers on the inside doing framing and drywall.

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by ColdRain&Snow

It's hard to see, but work on the Boyd Building continues. I could see workers on the inside doing framing and drywall.

The CRU space has been listed for rent.

384 Portage Ave
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C0C8
Brochure
Listing Description
Positioned directly south of the new Portage Place development in downtown Winnipeg, the historic Boyd Building has been a celebrated architectural landmark since 1912, distinguished by its timeless design. Tenants can enjoy access to restaurants, cafés, shopping, and high-frequency transit — all right outside the door. Within a one-minute walk, step into Winnipeg’s enclosed skywalk system, providing year-round indoor access to the Portage Place development, Cityplace, Winnipeg Square, True North Square, and a wide selection of dining, retail, medical, and professional services. Modern, accessible, and connected, 388 Portage Avenue combines state-of-the-art space with the energy of downtown — making it the ideal address for your business to thrive. – Full floor opportunity available with signage – 3,000 sf – 10,000 sf contiguous available – Excellent location on 25 major transit routes – Underground and surface parking nearby – Medical build out existing or can be renovated – Lower level storage available, size TBD – Both open concept and extensive build out options available – Net rent: $22 psf / annnum

[WinCitySparky]

Really happy this building will have a new life, it’s such a beauty and been such a tragedy to see it sit unused

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

The CRU space has been listed for rent.

Are most of the upper floors still to become residential?

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by BAKGUY

Are most of the upper floors still to become residential?

Yes indeed they are, 133 Units and 2 main floor CRUs.

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

Yes indeed they are, 133 Units and 2 main floor CRUs.

Perfect. Portage Avenue will one day come back with both residential supporting it & Retail to contribute to a healthier mix downtown.

[Wpg_Guy]

Fairmont Winnipeg

A new chapter is dawning at Portage & Main.

Fairmont Winnipeg will temporarily pause operations on July 1, 2026, and reopen in late Spring 2027 as something truly reimagined. A reinvention that honours our storied legacy while celebrating the spirit of this remarkable city.

We are building the great beauty this city deserves, and when we return, we look forward to showing you Winnipeg in a whole new light.

Fairmont Winnipeg

[Wpg_Guy]

A couple new permits have been issued for the Fairmont, gives an idea on the scope of the work to be done on the plaza and interior.

Fairmont Winnipeg - Hotel Renovation
Location: 175 Portage Avenue East
Neighbourhood: Downtown - Point Douglas Ward (Lord Selkirk-West Kildonan Community Committee)
Developer: Lombard Hospitality Limited subsidiary of James Richardson & Sons, Limited.
Architect:
Status: U/C
Documents:
Media:

• Refresh coming to Fairmont Winnipeg after hotel acquired by James Richardson & Sons-CBC News Feb 2024
• Richardson & Sons sees ‘lots of opportunities’ in Fairmont purchase-Winnipeg Free Press Feb 2024
• Fairmont Winnipeg to close for months for top-to-bottom renovation-Winnipeg Free Press Mar 2026

Description: The Fairmont Winnipeg, the city's iconic 21-storey luxury hotel with 340 rooms at the historic Portage and Main intersection, is undergoing a significant, once-in-a-generation $120M+ renovation to reimagine the guest experience requiring it to close from July 1 until the spring of 2027. In February 2024, Lombard Hospitality—a subsidiary of James Richardson & Sons, Limited—acquired the property, which the family originally developed and owned until selling it in 2000. This move brings it back under familiar local stewardship as part of the Richardson Centre. Company representatives have emphasized the need for periodic refreshing to maintain its status as Winnipeg's premier hotel, with the transformation positioning Fairmont Winnipeg as Canada's only true luxury hotel between Toronto and Calgary. The hotel continues to operate under the Fairmont brand, and ongoing updates aim to enhance its appeal for business, leisure, and events in a revitalized downtown.
Permits:

• 26-149988 PE-2026-06-23, Alter Exterior. Fairmont Hotel Reconstruction of existing driveway court. Work includes removal of existing paving and surfacing materials and new waterproofing membrane, new paving, surfaces, curbing, drainage, Porte couchere lighting, bollards, landscaping and stairway guards over existing structural slab. Mechanical and Electrical work is involved.
• 26-156533 PE-2026-06-26, Interior Alteration. Fairmont Hotel: Interior alterations to the existing hotel with proposed work including complete repair work with demolition of the walls, doors, escalators guards, ceiling, etc, to the ground floor and all the floors. Mechanical and Electrical work is involved.

From the website:

Winnipeg in a New Light

Fairmont Winnipeg is undergoing a complete metamorphosis. This is a total reinvention that honours our storied legacy while presenting a luminous new centre point for our city experience, right at Portage & Main. To do this right, we will temporarily pause operations from July 1, 2026, reopening in spring 2027.

This comprehensive renewal will celebrate the city’s soul, and usher in a new era in cultivated urban moments. Expect a new depth of design expression, where Winnipeg’s distinctive bold architecture weaves with the warm tones of prairie hospitality. Guestrooms will be utterly transformed, crafted for the modern traveller. Elevated event spaces will host the city’s most momentous gatherings. The culinary and social scene will put Fairmont Winnipeg in the very heart of the city’s culture – reflecting, and elevating, everything around us.

This is not a renovation. It is a reinvention.

Grounded in place, crafted with vision, and designed to celebrate the spirit of this remarkable city. This is a point of pride. For us, and for you. We look forward to welcoming you back, to see and experience Winnipeg in whole a new light.

fairmont.com

[Biff]

$120m is a ton of money.

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by Biff

$120m is a ton of money.

It’s hard to imagine a spring 2027 opening on a budget of this scale—the scope of the project would be truly immense.

[WinCitySparky]

My employer has the electrical contract for the Fairmont and the guys saying it’s barely gotten started and is not close to a real ramp up quite yet

[Wpg_Guy]

New plaza graced by art with heart
By: Tiago Resko
Posted: 2:00 AM CDT Friday, Jul. 3, 2026


JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS

Barbara Bruce smudges artist Fredrick Spence in front of Maamaawi Naanaagadawendamowin.

Tears fill the eyes of an Ojibwa sculptor from Peguis First Nation as he talks about the spiritual journey and deep friendships that came out of creating his first public art piece.

Maamaawi Naanaagadawendamowin, which means Gather Your Heart, was created for the new Kevin Walters Plaza that opened June 26 outside the Burton Cummings Theatre. The piece was commissoned by the Winnipeg Arts Council for the City of Winnipeg Public Art Collection.

Artist Fredrick Spence, along with partners Darren Sakwi and Rob Peristy, who fabricated the metal sculpture, were celebrated for their work Tuesday at the plaza.

“Me, Rob and Darren, we cried together many times during the process of making this. It really took the time, it took all our hearts,” Spence says.

The piece is a drum shaped like a film reel — a nod to the Burt’s history as a movie theatre — with the Seven Grandfather Teachings engraved in it. The film unravels into a cross-legged figure holding up a mallet, which also resembles a bass clef, while the upper body and head of the piece form a treble clef. The musical symbols are apt considering the park’s namesake; the late Kevin Walters was a concert promoter and champion of the local music scene.

The crossed legs twist into an infinity symbol, representing the bond between Métis and First Nations Peoples.

Spence wanted to create a design that represented different pieces of himself, along with things that make the area special to him and other people.

Growing up, Spence would visit the Towne 8 Cinemas adjacent to the plaza for affordable movie nights with his family. Having his artwork beside the now-closed theatre is full circle for Spence and his parents, who watched with tears in their eyes as he shared the story with the crowd.

Spence’s son plays music and inspired the treble and bass clefs; the scultptor also wanted to create something long-lasting his son could eventually show his kids.

The artist says he immediately clicked with Sakwi and Peristy when they first met.

“If it was any other fabricator, I don’t think it would’ve turned out the way it did,” he says.

When Spence first brought forward a small model of the piece, Sakwi and Peristy weren’t sure they could execute it. After thinking on it, they slowly figured out how to make it work, and 500 hours later, they brought Spence’s vision to life.

“It’s time-consuming and it’s painful, but it’s what this piece deserved,” Sakwi says. “It’s not a job at that point, it’s a piece of art and if it’s not to his satisfaction, we’re not satisfied.”

To make the figure, they laminated five pieces of material together and twisted them into shape. He says the hardest part was balancing the needs of the engineer while maintaining Spence’s artistic vision, going through many variations to get it right.

Sakwi and Peristy are the founders of Stainless Concepts, a fabricating business that has worked on several stainless-steel public artworks around the city.

The process of making this sculpture was very spiritual for Sakwi.

“We’ve had many tears at our welding bench. Talking about not just art, but life and the meaning behind life and the importance of family and connection,” he says.

Sakwi is also from Peguis First Nation; he and Spence connected over their shared ties to the community.

He wasn’t in touch with his culture growing up, and working with Spence on this project helped him reconnect with that part of himself.

“You can’t put into words how he opens people up,” Sakwi says.


JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS

From left: Darren Sakwi and Rob Peristry of Stainless Concepts and artist Fredrick Spence with their creation, Gather Your Heart


JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS

Alie and her son Teddy look at the new public art piece, Gather Your Heart.

Winnipeg Free Press

[Wpg_Guy]

‘They’re getting shredded right now’
Businesses report ongoing struggle amid reduced walk-by traffic 1 year into Graham Avenue transit corridor rework
Gabrielle Piché
Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026


MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
Eric Saniuk, owner of Blazing Chicken Shack on Graham Avenue, says pedestrian traffic has recently ticked up, but too many hindrances remain for local businesses to regain their footing.

Layoffs, squeezed profits, reduced hours and a downsizing have plagued Graham Avenue businesses in the year since buses were removed from the former Winnipeg Transit strip.

A convenience store along the road doubled its footprint two years ago. Now, it’s operating in half the space: a wall was built in the middle of the shop last month, creating room for a new tenant.

Across the street, bong seller Aluminum Sound has laid off two staff. It’s one of at least two companies to lessen its employee count following the Transit overhaul.

“You could fire a cannon down Graham Avenue a lot of the time and not have to worry about any casualties,” said Aimee Peake, owner of Bison Books.

She’s watched the walk-by traffic disintegrate since the City of Winnipeg rerouted buses off Graham last summer.

At one point, the hub had 1,800 buses daily and thousands of travellers. Part of the stretch was reserved for buses.

The strip now includes a “pedestrian-first” stretch — or no cars — between Carlton and Garry streets. Murals and picnic tables have been added.

The road parallels Portage Avenue. It passes Cityplace and Winnipeg Police Service headquarters, and stops at the former Hudson’s Bay Co. flagship store. Cars can travel on Graham close to the old Bay.

“That corridor was designed with buses in mind, transit riders,” said Andrew Van Seggelen, owner of Bodegoes Restaurants in Cityplace Winnipeg.

“You have businesses down that stretch that fully relied on those customers being there daily, and they’re getting shredded right now.”

Bodegoes still uses the reduced hours it launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. Van Seggelen said last week he’d hoped to return to pre-pandemic hours, but the late afternoon and evening traffic isn’t there.

Outside, a Downtown Winnipeg Business Improvement Zone farmers market splashed across Graham Avenue. The event now sprawls the strip instead of being confined near Manitoba Hydro Place.

Events are part of the short-term plan to draw people to the street, said Rochelle Squires, chief executive of CentreVenture Development Corp.

The arm’s-length city agency is mandated to revitalize Graham Avenue. Squires pointed to summer events, including a September food truck festival, Salsa Sundays and 2026 World Cup soccer watch parties.

“We know that it’s going to take a lot more than a couple of events to truly and fully activate that space,” Squires said.

In the summer, CentreVenture plans to launch a program — alongside the city and province — to fund existing Graham Avenue businesses’ enhancements, such as new patios and storefront displays.

Money will be tabbed to recruit businesses to the area. Details will come later this season, Squires said. In the longer term, new housing and infrastructure should liven the strip, she said.

A building along Graham Avenue — 254 Edmonton St. — is under construction for 25 housing units. Work at the former Hudson’s Bay, which could include more than 300 residences, is also underway.

Public consultation to change the 142-year-old Holy Trinity Church will begin this summer, Squires said.

Dade Williams is among the workers to welcome new spending. He estimates Aluminum Sound, which he manages, had a 50 per cent drop in customers this June compared to last.

He has ordered giant window coverings to advertise Aluminum Sound’s wares, in a bid to draw more people. He said he’ll try to use program money to cover costs. However, it’s wasted if nobody walks by, he said.

The city placed a D19 bus stop at Vaughan Street post-overhaul, close to Graham Avenue. The change doesn’t fix the problem, Williams said: people don’t stop near the shops they used to.

Resurrecting the old stop, at Vaughan Street and Graham Avenue, would help, Williams said. “It feels like they just don’t care,” he said of city council.

The grants will come more than a year too late, Peake stated: “These things should’ve been done before the buses were taken off.”

Still, the funding is good to have — especially to attract new firms and bolster the strip’s offerings, Peake said.

She’s been worried Bison Books’ customer pool will diminish over time: it’s not gaining new clientele off the street, and regular patrons visit downtown less due to headache-filled Transit trips.

“I’m just really frustrated from the lack of response from city hall,” Peake said, noting new residential housing will take years to finish. “The pace of these reactions seems to be frustratingly slow.”

Meantime, Winnipeg Transit estimates it could fall $18.4 million short of its budgeted revenue this year due to lower ridership. Transit uses seasonal schedule changes as an “opportunity” improve its bus network, based on Winnipeg residents’ feedback, Mayor Scott Gillingham said in a statement.

Projects such as the redevelopment of Portage Place and the former Bay store will add people to downtown, he said, adding the D19 route brought service closer to Graham.

After what had been a down year, walk-by traffic near Blazing Chicken Shack has actually increased over the past couple months, said owner Eric Saniuk.

However, in addition to a lack of buses, there have been other hindrances, he said — extensive road construction and outside vendors, such as food trucks, diverting customers during Graham Avenue events.

Some shop owners — not including Blazing Chicken Shack — told the Free Press they were considering axing their Graham hubs.

Many businesses on the strip are struggling, but some are doing fine — largely eateries, noted Olivia Billson, communications director for the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ. She said events were helping to build momentum in the area, but more needs to be done.

Neither the city nor the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ had year-over-year foot traffic counts for Graham Avenue available on Friday.

Winnipeg Free Press

[Wpg_Guy]

Tavern United closes downtown location
For the crowd leaving a Winnipeg Jets or Sea Bears game, big name concert or just a night out downtown, Tavern United was often a familiar stop across from Canada Life Centre.

That longtime routine has ended with the sports bar’s permanent closure. A notice posted on the door of the Tavern United chain location thanks its former customers.

“We are grateful for your loyalty, support and memories shared over the years. We hope to welcome you nearby at Resto 12 or at any of our other Tavern United locations across Winnipeg,” the sign reads.

No reason for the closure was listed.

Parent company Canad Corporation of Manitoba Ltd. did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

Tavern United was established in 2003 as a Manitoba-owned sports pub brand, with multiple locations across the city, including the Transcona, Windsor Park, Garden City, Fort Garry and Polo Park areas.

“Businesses need to make decisions that are in the best interest of their operations, and there will always be an ebb and flow downtown,” said Olivia Billson, communications director for Downtown Winnipeg BIZ.

“Tavern United has been in that location for years (and) we thank them for that commitment. Given its proximity to Canada Life Centre and other major investments, I think we’ll see strong interest from others wanting to contribute to a vibrant downtown.”

Shark Club Sports Bar & Grill, about a two-minute walk from the Tavern United spot, has already seen the ripple effect.

“With the closure of the Tavern, this will definitely be giving us some more business,” said manager Tyler Carswell. “I would say they’re our closest competitor.

“We’ve already seen a small increase in revenues just over our lunches.”

He added Canada Life Centre events, including a Sea Bears game on Tuesday, have brought noticeable spillover traffic.

“Many of our guests were saying, ‘Oh, did you know the Tavern is closed? We tried going to the Tavern, but they’re closed, so we came here,” Carswell said. “It will be really cool to see what happens for the (Winnipeg Jets) season coming up. If there’s nothing put in (the empty space), then I’m very excited to see how much our sales increase.”

— Zoe Pierce

Winnipeg Free Press

[Wpg_Guy]

MMF buys long-vacant federal lab
Métis federation quickly becoming a player in downtown redevelopment
Scott Billeck
Friday, Jul. 10, 2026


Ruth Bonneville / Free Press

The former National Research Council building, on Ellice Avenue and the end of Vaughan Street, will house nurse training, research labs and, the federation hopes, an MRI machine.

The Manitoba Métis Federation has taken another major step in its effort to help revitalize downtown Winnipeg by acquiring the former National Research Council property on Ellice Avenue.

The federation has scheduled a news conference today to announce it has purchased the office tower, laboratory and parking lot at 435-445 Ellice Ave. The acquisition expands its downtown footprint to more than one million square feet of owned property and will eventually house about 70 per cent of its 1,300 employees.

The sale ends a years-long legal dispute between the federation and the research council. The federation had sued the federal agency after an earlier agreement to purchase the property collapsed in 2020.

“Everybody’s happy, they’re happy, we’re happy. And now we just got to start the transition of our plan,” federation president David Chartrand told the Free Press Thursday.

“We’re bringing another 100 to 120 employees downtown and we’ve already (moved) 500 employees there to show our support for a revision and saving of downtown. I’m very concerned as a leader, to see our cities start to fall. We need to do more.”

Chartrand said more than 100 staff who work at Métis Child and Family Services Authority will relocate to the Ellice Avenue site from offices at 2000 Portage Ave.

The laboratory building, which includes more than 70 labs, will be repurposed for nurse training, Métis-led research initiatives and, Chartrand hopes, it will eventually house an MRI machine.

“We’re going to start with (licensed practical nurses) right away,” Chartrand said, adding the course has been approved by the MMF cabinet. “I know there’s a mass shortage of nurses and nurses are having to work a lot of overtime as it is.”

He said an MRI machine would allow for 4,000 appointments annually.

“We believe we can start off with one,” he said. “Maybe we can start off with two.”

Details of a new partnership with the University of Winnipeg will be released at the media briefing today.

The federation is partnering with the Bioscience Association of Manitoba to make unused laboratory space available to industry, researchers and academic institutions at a time when demand for specialized lab facilities outpaces supply.

“Our No. 1 export is medicine,” said Andrea Ladouceur, the association’s president and CEO. “One thing that Manitoba needs more of is lab space — lab space that can be used to help, whether it’s a new or an established company or researcher, make those discoveries that help us improve health care, improve agriculture, improve clean technologies.”

Ladouceur said the shortage of lab space has forced some Manitoba companies and researchers to look outside the province.

She added the building’s specialized infrastructure, including backup power systems, makes it especially valuable for research.

“It is built to a standard that is pretty rare nowadays,” she said.

Ladouceur said that level of reliability is critical for researchers, whose work can be set back by years or result in the loss of millions of dollars if experiments are interrupted by a power outage.

The property was owned by the federal government, but the Stephen Harper government announced in April 2012 that it would be shuttered, 54 researchers would be let go and the site would be declared surplus.

In its September 2023 lawsuit, the Métis federation alleged negotiations to buy the property fell apart because the research council did not act in good faith. It argued the failed sale breached the federal government’s constitutional obligation to deal honourably with Indigenous Peoples.

The federation had offered $14.4 million for the vacant property in March 2020 and had plans to lease the lab space back to the research council at fair market value for 25 years.

The lawsuit said the sale was halted because the Public Health Agency of Canada was interested in the site during the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial purchase offer expired in July 2020.

The federation submitted a separate offer to buy the office tower in 2021, but alleged negotiations were repeatedly delayed before the research council said in 2022 it would seek other buyers.

Chartrand said Thursday the lawsuit was necessary because, in his view, an offer to purchase was accepted.

“I was very disappointed in that,” he said. “At the time, we were expanding and our own operations were cluttered everywhere.”

Chartrand said they didn’t look at other buildings because they believed there was an agreement to buy the Ellice Avenue site. Eventually, he said he bought 200 Main St. at a higher price because he had no choice.

The federation owns 11 properties in downtown Winnipeg, including the Bank of Montreal building at 335 Main St., 333 Main St., and 191 Pioneer Ave. Its headquarters is on Henry Street in Point Douglas.

Winnipeg Free Press

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

MMF buys long-vacant federal lab
Winnipeg Free Press

Sad that another Harper-era blunder has taken so long to turn around. However, this sounds like an amazing transformation for that space, especially the LPN program and one (or two) MRI machines. The MMF is doing some terrific things in the downtown.

[bomberjet]

Interesting. MMF vs TNSE. Who can acquire downtown Winnipeg first.