Winnipeg’s 150th milestone has come and gone, but a key building in our city’s history is marking that anniversary this month. It was on March 14, 1876, that our first City Hall opened. Through the years, we’ve actually had three City Hall buildings.
“Important bylaws and initiatives that shaped the city as we know it were approved in these buildings,” said Murray Peterson, Heritage Officer.
Where it all started
The City of Winnipeg was incorporated in 1873. One of the priorities of the first Council was to build a permanent location for them to work, meet, and make decisions.
Construction of Winnipeg’s first City Hall began in August of 1875. It was built along Main Street between William and Market Avenues, essentially where the current City Hall stands today.
It was such a big deal when the cornerstone was laid that local businesses declared the day a holiday. Over 500 people were said to have witnessed the ceremony.
At a cost of nearly $40,000, it took a hefty sum to construct the building at that time. Unfortunately, it didn’t stand for that long. After it opened on March 14, 1876, it began to suffer from chronic structural problems. It got to the point that the walls had to be propped up.
“Eventually, it was deemed unsound and demolished seven years after it opened,” said Peterson.
Winnipeg’s second City Hall: ‘A Victorian fantasy’
That led to our second City Hall. Completed in 1886, the so-called “Gingerbread” City Hall symbolized Winnipeg’s coming of age at the end of the 19th century. Designed by Barber and Barber and built by Robert Dewar, it’s been described by some as a “Victorian fantasy.”
“This beautiful City Hall was quite an achievement for a city that had a population of less than 700 only 15 years before,” said Peterson.
As Winnipeg continued to grow rapidly, plans for a new city hall started to be discussed in the early 1900s. In fact, it would likely have been replaced by the winning entry of a design competition held in 1913. Then the First World War happened, and the grand building stood for another 50 years.
Current City Hall
Shortly after the Second World War, a committee was tasked with looking into growing concerns over the structural integrity of the City Hall. After a great deal of public debate, the “Gingerbread” City Hall was demolished in 1962. It would eventually be replaced by our present one.
A competition was held in the 1960s to design the new building. Winnipeg firm of Green Blankstein Russell Associates ended up winning. Their design was representative of post-war trends in both architecture and urban planning.
The site plan originally called for construction of two buildings – one for Council and one for the Public Service. The footprint was increased immediately west to include a parkade and a Public Safety Building. That served as the headquarters for what became the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service and Winnipeg Police Service.
The buildings formally opened in October 1964. Only the Council Building and Administration Building (now called the Susan A Thompson Building) remain today.
You can explore more Winnipeg history on History in Focus. It’s the City of Winnipeg Archives’ online database.
Our City, Our Podcast
Sarah Ramsden, Senior Archivist, shares more stories from the City of Winnipeg Archives on Our City, Our Podcast. This episode was released in January 2025.