These are great
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZvUME_VAAAHf6K.jpg:medium)
@brent_bellamy
Apr 1
#WinnipegNow+Then: The intersection of Portage Avenue and Main Street.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DY7JyvtUMAAZElV.jpg:medium)
@brent_bellamy
Mar 22
#WinnipegNow+Then: View down Portage Avenue. 1940’s and today.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DYxeg7tXcAAGwB1.jpg:medium)
@brent_bellamy
#WinnipegNow+Then: Portage and Main.
1940’s: Cars. Streetcars. Bikes. People.
2018: Cars. Busses. Barricades.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DUrMW0SUQAAMPcF.jpg:medium)
@brent_bellamy: #WinnipegNow+Then: MainStreet. Merchants Bank (right) lost for the Richardson Building, McKintyre Block (left) lost for a parking lot, streetcars lost for cars and busses.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSlVWkGVwAAoZ6W.jpg:medium)
@brent_bellamy
#WinnipegNow+Then: Aerial view comparison of the south side of downtown. Early 1960’s and today.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DNzGEWEVQAQ6JzC.jpg:medium)
@brent_bellamy
#WinnipegNow+Then: The city’s industrial waterfront in 1963. Today being transformed @TheForks.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DMTXRtvV4AAOKA0.jpg:medium)
@brent_bellamy
#WinnipegNow+Then: @RRC Exchange District campus built in 2003, retained four historic facades. A pioneer of modern green building design.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DLQXD-NVwAAxAQe.jpg:medium)
@brent_bellamy: #WinnipegNow+Then: The view of downtown from St. Boniface in 1962 and today.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C-OIN_oUMAAx_zx.jpg:medium)
@brent_bellamy
#WinnipegNow+Then: Lindsay Building on Norte Dame - started the modern trend of transforming heritage buildings into residential.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cyjne_mXUAEIOGr.jpg:medium)
@brent_bellamy
#WinnipegNow+Then: Leland Hotel, lost to arson in 1999. Replaced with @RRC Paterson Global Foods Institute in 2013.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DhTlsYiUYAA-D5U.jpg)
Portage Avenue #WinnipegNow+Then comparison, showing the change in street life and sidewalk retail shops.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DhOT8Q-UwAEH3W8.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Portage Avenue in the 1960’s and today. More buildings - Fewer people.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DgvY8__UYAAcdVA.jpg:medium)
WinnipegNow+Then: Portage Avenue. (A stairwell kept me from getting further left) the two storey Curry Block replaced the Spencer Block and was intended to be the base of an 8 storey tower, but it was stopped because of World War One.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DgFgGlTU8AEl6gR.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Streetcar on Notre Dame Avenue. Today the tracks are exposed during a street renewal project.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DfIg3woVMAEQ2io.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Provencher Boulevard with streetcar lines running down the centre median.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DescPtoUcAACR3h.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Royal Alexandra Hotel at Main and Higgins. A grand CPR Hotel - The finest in the city. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II both stayed there. Demolished in 1971.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DeAYAJ3V4AAOaYd.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Graham Avenue before it became a surface parking lot.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DczC5GjVAAE28vX.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Victoria Theatre on Fort Street near Portage (beside the Vendome). There’s an urban legend that the current building might be the same one.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DcokKrWV0AA8zbL.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Donald Street in the 1890’s and #WPGWhiteout
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbMGIt7UwAEHt-n.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Portage Avenue - Paris and Avenue Buildings from the 1950’s - almost all the same buildings, and all fully occupied, including 60 new residences, but which looks like it would create more pedestrian activity on the sidewalk?
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZQWDSEV4AAcacu.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Gingerbread City Hall. Built in 1886. Replaced by the current structure in 1964.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Db9nCtYUQAALSnN.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: On an @NHLJets game day. Incredible that a 15,000 seat arena could be dwarfed by a department store. Eaton’s was the 10th largest department store in the world and at 700,000 square feet was 25% larger than 32 storey, 201 Portage, Winnipeg’s tallest building.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dblxcv9XUAAfALm.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Sherbrook Street at Portage Avenue.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DaYhCC7VwAAGTgt.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: McKintyre Block at Portage+Main. Awnings to protect pedestrians, bikes propped up on the curbs. Today, lots of places to park a car.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DX4r_5kVoAAMRuk.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Royal Albert Hotel before the terrible glass addition. Soon to be home to the famous Alycia’s Restaurant.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXK1x8PVoAAla4i.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Bank of British North America (now Palomino Club). The oldest bank on Banker’s Row. Beside it, Dominion Bank at Main and McDermot. Demolished in 1966.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DUbvcAuUMAELy_4.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Bank of Montreal under construction in 1913. Designed by McKim, Mead and White, the same architects as Penn Station and the interior of the White House.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DTtdKWrV4AAIZOU.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Corner of Donald and Graham. Gas station replaced by Millenium Library - part of the transition of the area from a downtown residential neighbourhood to large public buildings. (Tribune Building behind left)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DNU3rhhUMAAT4Ti.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Albert Street. Showing value of small, old buildings. They create interesting streets & opportunity for small business.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DL0eTNnUIAEZgCe.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Loss of fine grained buildings & retail storefronts has hurt the economy & pedestrian quality of Main Street & downtown.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DKgKIZLUQAAkqlh.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: @CBCManitoba building on Portage Avenue. TV broadcasting began from here in 1954, Canada's 4th television station.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DFDKZvyUQAAeUkD.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then Gray'sAuction @Ex_District_Wpg 2010. Today @kingandbann @chosabican @bronutswpg
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DE5mElMUIAAda6_.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Construction of beautiful Église du Précieux Sang, St. Boniface in 1968. Is that architect Étienne Gaboury at the top?
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCZ8MiUV0AELWp6.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Main Street at McDermot looking towards Portage. Dominion Bank in the foreground. Merchant's Bank on the left.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCPCOTpVoAAhJ8Y.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Gas station near Old Market Square - today @Bodegoes restaurant (slated for demo). Shows the amazing impact of trees.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCFSdKsVoAAub-s.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Osborne Village from the 1950's.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9GDabeUMAAL81i.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Mitchell Copp Building on Portage Avenue. Now part of the @CentrepointWpg. Fire reduced its neighbour to one floor.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C6qHGX8U0AAian4.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: The Tribune Buildings at Graham/Smith. Now a large surface parking lot.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C4wPs3hUoAACGMT.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Demolition for Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. National Historic Site and beautiful Brutalism.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C25uH5wUUAE5GYI.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Main and Bannatyne. Ashdown Warehouse burned and rebuilt in 1904. Big4 Sales stuccoed in it 1959, re-bricked in 00's.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C2auIBLUcAAd-zc.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Public Market then Public Safety Building. What will it be next? #MarketLands
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C1IY1aLUoAEo31B.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Royal Bank in 1909 by Carrère & Hastings (also designed New York Central Library-featured in 1st scene of Ghostbusters)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cx6ie-mUAAE4IMR.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then via @LBJBrewing -old buildings provide affordable opportunity for start-ups like this. Progress through preservation
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cxgu9M1UsAAApXp.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Dominion Bank on Main Street. Demolished because that's what they did in the late 60's.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CxgBB_yUcAA_10P.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: McDermot at Main Street.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cxa1n1AVQAARNR2.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Main Street at Portage. A streetscape lost.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CunJJmaVIAEc3yL.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Bannatyne Avenue. Siberian Elms planted in 1974. Looks like a good boulevard tree option. Seeds be damned
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cuh060RVUAIjMFo.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: City's first post office on Lombard, became Great West Life's first building.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuC9ZHWVUAATpl8.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Main Street at William Stephenson Way.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CswkHuKUMAQ4soE.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: September 19, 1955 the streetcars stopped running...including the ones that ran on the median of Broadway.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Csb8s0IVYAASZrR.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: The evolution of Hargrave Street, from residential neighbourhood to office district.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqbbEqPUkAAQoXF.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Before the Richardson Building, there was a cute little gas station at Portage+Main.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cpdb_vtVUAAsgZD.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: La cathédrale Saint-Boniface before the devastating 1968 fire.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ClhF_i_UYAE-6sG.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Portage Avenue looking back to Main Street.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CkgvQQvUYAA29z0.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: The WWI soldier at Portage+Main protected by a concrete bunker.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ckgt1JaVAAUM2Pg.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: McDermot with a missing tooth. Middle building is now home to @Forth_Wpg
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ckgs_2UUoAAzhU7.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Ashdown Warehouse. City's first loft condo. Amazing what a good cleaning can do
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CkWieZZUUAQPYeU.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: 110 years of Main Street.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChvMHcWVIAAbj7L.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then: Majestic Portage Avenue Post Office - replaced by the Dreman Building/Parkade in 1962.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CfZusTUUEAAPKUi.jpg)
#WinnipegNow+Then: Portage Avenue beside @uwinnipeg
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CfKR3ngVAAAPQde.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then - Portage Avenue entrance to the Capitol Theatre replaced by Dollarama.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CeHS-WmUsAAbPZ0.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then - Block of small Main Street businesses demolished for Pantages Theatre addition and plaza in 1990
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdoaNNOUYAEON1h.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then - The small retail storefronts (and corresponding pedestrian activity) gone from Main Street.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdOyMmRUUAE_TBV.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then - When the Grain Exchange Building could be seen beyond the parking lot at Portage+Main. (1960's)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ca-oUq4VAAEasfG.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then - first @greatwestlifeca building, before it grew. One of my favourite heritage buildings.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZh7LIOVAAAAOgW.jpg)
WinnipegNow+Then - 53 years of McDermot Avenue. Slow growth is sometimes a lucky thing.
Courtesy of: @brent_bellamy Twitter