Winnipeg | Downtown | The Forks Market | Railside at The Forks - Page 162

bon_vivant · #**3221** Posted **Jul 19, 2026, 12:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Jabroni

Definitely the space needs to be opened up to the public. Either as open air and made an observation area for both summer and winter, or open to the public with smaller merchants and vendors inside.

It's been 20 years of twiddling thumbs with restaurants that have came and went with little to no return because of its isolated location. I don't know who's original idea it was for what is essentially the "$1 million toilet" on the bridge, but this has proven all these years later that this was concept that has failed numerous times.

The city should just cut its losses and have The Forks manage that space, and get whatever tax revenue they can get from The Forks instead.

Agree. The city clearly has no vision for it. It makes me angry because it was built for locals and tourists alike to enjoy, an added attraction to the Forks. A couple of restaurant failures and they give up and rent it out as office space. Try harder, Winnipeg.

Wpg_Guy · #**3222** Posted **Jul 19, 2026, 1:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bon_vivant

Agree. The city clearly has no vision for it. It makes me angry because it was built for locals and tourists alike to enjoy, an added attraction to the Forks. A couple of restaurant failures and they give up and rent it out as office space. Try harder, Winnipeg.

To be fair, the City’s last RFP for 50 Provencher Boulevard attracted only two proposals. One was the successful bid from the Manitoba Technology Accelerator (MTA). The other, if I recall correctly, came from a local high school interested in leasing the space.

That said, the process felt rushed. You’re right that, given the iconic location on the Esplanade Riel, the City should have worked harder to secure a tenant whose use better serves both the community and tourists.

MTA’s proposal sold the City on the idea that they would renovate the space to house their head office and an “applied innovation and celebration centre.” In hindsight, it appears they significantly overstated their plans.

Wpg_Guy · #**3223** Posted **Jul 19, 2026, 1:24 AM**

live cam:

Screenshot 07/18/2026:

bon_vivant · #**3224** Posted **Jul 19, 2026, 2:41 AM**

"Applied innovation and celebration centre"(?) – that's never open. All it brings to the area are bewildered looks from passers by.

borkborkbork · #**3225** Posted **Jul 21, 2026, 2:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

To be fair, the City’s last RFP for 50 Provencher Boulevard attracted only two proposals. One was the successful bid from the Manitoba Technology Accelerator (MTA). The other, if I recall correctly, came from a local high school interested in leasing the space.

It feels like the standard City approach of "post an RFP on MERX and wait to see what comes in" is probably the wrong way to find the highest-value use of a distinctive but challenging public property.

bomberjet · #**3226** Posted **Jul 21, 2026, 3:55 PM**

Definitely the wrong approach. This location is more of a service to the public than a private money making venture. And i dont want to subsidize some ice cream stand that operates 3 months a year. Make it something else. What that something is, I have no clue.

Sals was great, I loved going there. The location is maybe not the best for that, as Sals attracts an older crowd. And being out on a bridge obviously was not great for that.

I wouldn't be sad if it was turned into an open air seating area..

Phil's neighbour · #**3227** Posted **Jul 21, 2026, 4:08 PM**

The city should treat this as a seasonal asset and lease it for six months of the year when pedestrian traffic would support a restaurant. Let them put small tables and benches along the railing. Make it a destination. Forcing someone to run a business there in the middle of winter is nuts and has been shown not to work. Or simply price it for six months for a longer term tenant.

Wpg_Guy · #**3228** Posted **Jul 21, 2026, 11:51 PM**

Vertical on 3 sites now, site 12, site 10, site 08.

Mr Tall Forehead · #**3229** Posted **Jul 22, 2026, 12:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

Vertical on 3 sites now, site 12, site 10, site 08.

And construction on two others now it looks like.

bomberjet · #**3230** Posted **Jul 22, 2026, 3:23 PM**

What's the timeline for completion on these builds, if anyone knows? I'd expect it'll probably be 2 seasons before it'll be open to public.

trueviking · #**3231** Posted **Jul 22, 2026, 6:45 PM**

the big building under construction will be complete in December 2027.
It will start rising out of the ground in the second week of September.
Framing finished end of March.

the other three smaller ones under construction are slated to be complete mid 2027.

bomberjet · #**3232** Posted **Jul 22, 2026, 7:56 PM**

Thanks for the info. What is the plan to finish the courtyard and surrounding spaces. Is that up to the Forks to complete?

Wpg_Guy · #**3233** Posted **Jul 29, 2026, 8:28 PM**

Prep work now happening on site 13.

Mr Tall Forehead · #**3234** Posted **Jul 30, 2026, 7:33 PM**

Some pretty funky looking angled steel is now going up on the most NW site under construction.

bomberjet · #**3235** Posted **Jul 30, 2026, 7:37 PM**

I was by the site yesterday from York Ave, pulling the old u-turn at the median opening bottom of the screen. And the construction and vertical rise is a lot more obvious from being on the street. Much better than barren parking lots!

Wpg_Guy · #**3236** Posted **Jul 30, 2026, 7:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Tall Forehead

Some pretty funky looking angled steel is now going up on the most NW site under construction.

First sign of framing, how exciting, that is site 10.

Wpg_Guy · #**3237** Posted **Today, 3:26 AM**

Quote:

Water-bus service relaunches with bigger boat
Aaron Epp
Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026

ROBERT LEE / FREE PRESS

Will Belford, co-owner of Winnipeg Waterways, poses with the new boat for the water-bus service stationed at The Forks on Wednesday.

After staying docked last summer, the water-bus service stationed at The Forks is once again ferrying people up and down the Red and Assiniboine rivers.

Winnipeg Waterways launched the service for the season on Saturday, introducing commuters to the largest water bus the company has ever operated — a 10-metre-long, custom-made vessel designed specifically for scheduled passenger service.

Named after co-owners Will Belford’s and Griffin Hewitt’s fathers, the GTS (Gas Turbine Ship) Dave was built by a company in Quebec for $200,000.

“We see the rivers as being underutilized,” Belford said on Wednesday. “So we felt strongly about investing in the water bus.”

Winnipeg Waterways has operated boat tours at The Forks since May 2024 and began offering the water-bus service that August — marking the first time in six years that the Red and Assiniboine rivers had been used for transit. The company used two small pontoon boats to transport people to docks around the city centre.

The six-week season saw hundreds of visitors and was almost constantly at capacity, Belford said. When he and Hewitt realized the two boats they were using for the service were too old and not able to meet the level of demand, they designed and commissioned the GTS Dave.

Belford and Hewitt hoped the boat would be ready in time for the 2025 season, but Transport Canada took longer than expected to approve it as a passenger vessel and the business partners decided to hold off on offering the water-bus service until the new boat was ready.

Changing water levels, debris and strong currents in the Assiniboine River delayed the start of the season this year until conditions became safe and predictable, Belford said.

“Last year, the delay of the boat was gut-wrenching,” he said. “We really felt quite bad, and so we were anxious to get started this year. Now the water level is finally cooperating.”

The new boat can hold up to 30 passengers. It features a wide centre aisle, bench seating and a bathroom. Riders are welcome to bring bicycles, strollers, mobility aids and pets on board, Belford said, making it easy to combine a boat ride with cycling or walking.

The water bus operates Wednesday through Monday from 1 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Stops include docks at The Forks, Hugo, Norwood and Stephen Juba Park.

Winnipeg Waterways has created a schedule so that passengers know when the water bus will arrive, and the company offers a live online map showing the boat’s location at all times.

The company has also introduced a tiered fare system, Belford said. Riders can purchase single fares, unlimited day passes, unlimited three-day passes or unlimited monthly passes.

Reduced fares from both St. Boniface docks make travelling to The Forks and the Exchange District more affordable, he said, while unlimited passes encourage people to use the water bus as part of a full day, weekend or month of exploring the city.

Belford hopes people try it.

“The amount (of time) that we get to spend on the water is just so luxurious and we just want to share that with folks,” he said. “It’s cooler than when you’re walking around on the pavement, it’s quieter than walking down the street and you get to see critters — deer and beavers and muskrats and all sorts of birds and stuff like that. It’s just so nice.”

The Forks, which provided financing for the new boat, is excited that the water-bus service is back, said Adam Dooley, director of corporate communications.

“Viewing the city from the river gives you an entirely new perspective on the city,” he said. “One of our mandates, we feel, is to connect neighbourhoods. We do that in the winter with the skating trail and we do that in the summer with the water bus.”

Winnipeg Waterways will offer the water-bus service until at least Labour Day long weekend, Belford said.

Winnipeg Free Press