Heritage Winnipeg

Heritage Winnipeg We are a non-profit charitable organization advocating for and celebrating Winnipeg’s built heritage!

The Great Canadian Giving Challenge was created by GIV3 as a public contest to benefit registered Canadian charities. Fo...
06/02/2026

The Great Canadian Giving Challenge was created by GIV3 as a public contest to benefit registered Canadian charities. For every $1 donated to a registered charity on CanadaHelps.org in June, it automatically enters a “ballot” in support of that charity. Every ballot donated gives Heritage Winnipeg a chance to receive an additional $10,000 through the Great Canadian Giving Challenge! Your support helps protect, celebrate, and advocate for Winnipeg’s historic places.

Since 1978, Heritage Winnipeg has been a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to advocating for and supporting the conservation of Winnipeg’s built heritage. As a registered charity, we provide a variety of services and resources that support building owners, NGOs, government, and the public, while also collaborating on projects and events with like-minded organizations. Through initiatives such as 23 years of Doors Open Winnipeg, 40 years of our Annual Preservation Awards and an array of digital educational programs, our mission is to build community and raise awareness about the importance of heritage buildings in Winnipeg.

With Winnipeg losing its built heritage to neglect, fire and demolition. Your support allows Heritage Winnipeg to:
-celebrate heritage buildings that contribute to diverse, sustainable and thriving communities
-advocate for heritage conservation and adaptive reuse
-educate professionals and the public on why and how to save built heritage
-provide opportunity to create more community based events that promote the importance of historic buildings

Donate this June through CanadaHelps.org and help keep Winnipeg’s stories alive while giving us a chance to win an extra $10,00!

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/heritage-winnipeg-corporation/

The story of Winnipeg’s Arlington Bridge is set to begin its final chapter. The bridge, which had connected the North En...
06/01/2026

The story of Winnipeg’s Arlington Bridge is set to begin its final chapter. The bridge, which had connected the North End to central Winnipeg since 1912, was designed and built by the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company of Darlington, England. The structure is the city's longest bridge, spanning the Canadian Pacific rail yards. The bridge connected Brown Street, on the north side, to Brant Street, on the south side. Brown and Brant were later renamed Arlington Street.

Originally built as part of a larger vision to improve north-south travel across the city, it was designed to carry streetcars, but its steep approaches made that impossible, resulting in the removal of these tracks in 1926.

Since its construction, an urban legend has circulated claiming the bridge was originally built to cross the Nile River in Egypt. The legend explains that the bridge was too short to span the Nile River, resulting in its sale to the City of Winnipeg at a bargain price. In 1946, newspapers reported the story, and it quickly became embedded in urban lore until it became accepted as truth. Even the city Engineer, William Hurst, backed the story, despite there being no existing concrete evidence.

The truth is, the Arlington Bridge is only two-thirds of the length that would be required to cross the Nile River and its two tributaries. Evidence suggests that the bridge was never built for the Nile, as it was 1,394ft (422m) too short. A more likely possibility is that the bridge was designed for the Nile but never built and was instead redesigned for Winnipeg’s needs. Modifying an existing design drawing is cheaper than creating a new one, thereby saving considerable money, which could account for the lower bid submitted to the city by the Cleveland Bridge Company. This scenario is a plausible alternative to the urban legend.

In 2000, there were three incidents in which trains derailed, striking the bridge piers and supports, causing a two-week closure in each case and requiring major structural repairs to these supports. The bridge has undergone numerous upgrades and repairs over the years. Despite significant corrosion issues, the bridge endures, though it was indefinitely closed in 2025.

Demolition of the bridge will begin in phases starting today, June 1st, 2026, with the southern section removed first, followed by the northern portion in 2027. The work will be done alongside CPKC rail operations below.

For many Winnipeggers, the Arlington Bridge was an important piece of the city’s history. Its demolition marks the end of an era.

📸 The Arlington Bridge in 1946, with the CPR yards below it.
Source: City of Winnipeg Archives Photograph collection

We would like to take the time to thank our Doors Open Winnipeg 2026 Sponsors! Your support helps make this FREE communi...
06/01/2026

We would like to take the time to thank our Doors Open Winnipeg 2026 Sponsors! Your support helps make this FREE community event possible! Due to your support, many Winnipeggers are able to explore the amazing built heritage the city has to offer. Thank you for supporting our event, and helping us celebrate and share the city’s rich history with the public.

We would like to thank our social media contest supporters! We are thankful for your donations and your help in making D...
06/01/2026

We would like to thank our social media contest supporters! We are thankful for your donations and your help in making Doors Open Winnipeg’s social media contest a success! For those wondering, you still have time to enter our social media contest supporters contest! All you need to do is post a picture of you enjoying yourself at Doors Open Winnipeg to Facebook or Instagram with the caption “I love Doors Open Winnipeg because…..” Don’t forget to tag Heritage Winnipeg! The contest closes on June 5 at 11:59pm, so get your entries in!

Did you take any selfies during Doors Open Winnipeg weekend? Share that photo and tell us why you love Heritage Winnipeg...
06/01/2026

Did you take any selfies during Doors Open Winnipeg weekend?

Share that photo and tell us why you love Heritage Winnipeg’s Doors Open Winnipeg for your chance to win a great prize pack! Just post a selfie from this past weekend at Doors Open Winnipeg 2026 to social media with the finished caption “I love because…” to be entered to win and don’t forget to tag Heritage Winnipeg!

The contest closes on Friday, June 5th at 11:59pm. Good luck!

Thank you to the community for coming out and celebrating the stories our buildings tell during Doors Open Winnipeg 2026...
05/31/2026

Thank you to the community for coming out and celebrating the stories our buildings tell during Doors Open Winnipeg 2026 - it was a huge success! ❤️

We could not have done it without all of our wonderful hosts, volunteers, and sponsors. Their dedication and hard work made this event possible. Thank you so much for continuing to support Winnipeg's built heritage throughout the years! ❤️

Make sure to vote for your favourite buildings, events and tours in the 16th Annual People’s Choice Awards - voting is open until Friday, June 5th at 11:59pm. Cast your vote here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefCQiyB_5FIoq8eQ8GHGCTz05H-cq6M75r7_2w33EtBE8Amg/viewform?usp=dialog

Did you take a selfie while at Doors Open 2026? Post it with the finished caption “I love because…” and tag Heritage Winnipeg for the chance to win a fantastic prize pack! More info: https://doorsopenwinnipeg.ca/contest/

Don’t forget to submit your pictures of the Golden Boy that you found at Doors Open Winnipeg 2026 to enter the Scavenger Hunt! More info: https://doorsopenwinnipeg.ca/scavenger-hunt/

We hope you will join us again next year on May 29th and 30th to celebrate the stories our buildings tell!

Don't forget to take your Doors Open Winnipeg selfie today! Snap that photo and tell us why you love Heritage Winnipeg’s...
05/31/2026

Don't forget to take your Doors Open Winnipeg selfie today! Snap that photo and tell us why you love Heritage Winnipeg’s Doors Open Winnipeg for your chance to win a great prize pack!! Just post a selfie while having a blast at Doors Open Winnipeg 2026 to social media with the finished caption “I love because…” to be entered to win and don’t forget to tag Heritage Winnipeg!

GOOD LUCK!

Contest closes Friday, June 5th at 11:59pm. By entering this contest you are giving Heritage Winnipeg permission to use your photo and caption in Doors Open Winnipeg promotional material. For complete contest details, visit https://doorsopenwinnipeg.ca/contest/

Our friend the Golden Boy has been very busy checking out Doors Open Winnipeg 2026! Kids, did you see him?If not, there ...
05/31/2026

Our friend the Golden Boy has been very busy checking out Doors Open Winnipeg 2026! Kids, did you see him?

If not, there is still time to join in the Scavenger Hunt! Find the Golden Boy while exploring the buildings apart of Doors Open Winnipeg. Once you spot him, take a picture. After you have found him at three different locations, email the photos to [email protected] or post them to social media with the tag to be entered to win a fun kid’s prize pack.

The contest closes on Friday, June 5th at 11:59pm and is for kids aged 12 and under. Good luck!

Address

509-63 Albert Street
Winnipeg, MB
R3B1G4

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12049422663

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