Winnipeg, MB – At an event this morning, Councillor Mike Pagtakhan, Monteyne Architecture Works, and members of the Public Service announced the completion of the Winnipeg General Strike Monument, located at the corner of Lily Street and Market Avenue.
“Commemorating the labour movement that resulted in the 1919 General Strike is an important reminder of our shared history and values of fairness and equality,” said Mike Pagtakhan, Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Protection, Community Services and Parks and City Councillor for Point Douglas. “I want to congratulate and thank Monteyne Architecture Works for being able to create a very unique and inspiring piece of architecture that all Winnipeggers can appreciate and enjoy.”
The City of Winnipeg launched a design competition in early 2016, inviting proposals to be submitted for an interpretive installation for the Exchange District. In spring 2016, Monteyne Architecture Works was selected as the winning firm.
The structure of the monument is designed to echo the steel structures of the early 20th century and is a nod to Vulcan Iron Works, a Point Douglas landmark. Built primarily of weathering steel, the monument will acquire an oxidized patina that will protect it from the elements for the next 100 years. The total budget for the project was $500,000.
The monument is designed to be accessible to all Winnipeggers. It provides both a shortcut from Rorie Street to Lily, and a sheltered place to meet for lunch or before the theatre. The monument features a map of the immediate surrounding area and information about the Winnipeg General Strike. It also boasts bench seating and a stage area that provides a possible venue for events.
For more information, please see City of Winnipeg – 1919 General Strike Competition.
Background
The Exchange District National Historic Site was designated by the Government of Canada in 1997. The area was recognized for illustrating the City’s role as a centre of the grain and wholesale trade, as well as finance and manufacturing. The District is also known for its architecturally significant built resources that demonstrate the City’s important economic role in western Canada.
Located in the National Historic Site, the area surrounding Lily Street and Market Avenue was the site of some of the most intense fighting between the strikers and the police. Nearby Elgin Avenue became known as “Hell’s Alley.”