Heritage Winnipeg recently held its 40th Annual Preservation Awards to honour the people and projects that preserve Winnipeg’s built heritage.
Winning a Residential Conservation Award was the Roslyn Square Apartments.
Built in the early 20th century, the five-storey Roslyn Court Apartments, as it then was called, was one of the largest and most luxurious apartment blocks in the city at that time.
Situated on the corner of Roslyn and Osborne within sight of the provincial legislative building, the Roslyn Court had red brick Queen Anne Revival facades, topped with a quirky roof line of red and green tiles.
Richard Morantz, president and CEO of Globe Capital Management, which owns the Roslyn, says it comprises two buildings that are attached to form an interior courtyard.
Now a designated National Historic Site, much of the building is relatively unchanged, including its copper cage elevator, one of the oldest elevators in Canada.
Maintaining Roslyn Square is an ongoing project, says Morantz.
For example, almost 600 uniquely shaped windows had to be replaced.
“The job took more than two years to complete over two summers,” says Morantz.
Keeping the building going has been “a labour of love.”
“But it’s been well worth it. We’re very proud of what we’ve been able to do.”
The Fort Garry Hotel, the last of Winnipeg grand old railway hotels, won Heritage Winnipeg’s Commercial Conservation Award.
Located near the intersection of Portage and Main, the Fort Garry was built by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and was opened at a grand ball in 1913.
Heritage Winnipeg recognized the Fort Garry in 2021 as well as 2026. The most recent award was presented in recognition of its preservation of the Oval Room and mezzanine, Vice-Regal Suite and the limestone exterior and copper roof.
The hotel almost didn’t get this far. In the late 1980s, the building faced serious decline and there were questions about its future.
However, managing partner Ida Albo has worked to return the Fort Garry to a going concern.
Guest rooms, the lobby and other public areas have all been revitalized, and with respect for the hotel’s architectural integrity.
Much of the restoration and preservation work was done by Toronto interior designer Hannivan and Company.
“Our involvement with the Fort Garry Hotel goes back at least 25 years to when my wife and partner Patti Hannivan and I were contacted by Ida and her partner to carry out a study on the original colours and finishes on all of the principal banquet and entertainment spaces on the seventh floor,” says David Hannivan. “Once the study was completed to everyone’s satisfaction – meaning all levels of heritage and conservation in three levels of government – we proceeded with the actual physical restoration of the seventh floor spaces.”
Hannivan worked with local painters who had been hired for the job.
“I taught the crew how to do the more complex traditional finishes, such as gilding and patina glazing,” says Hannivan. “Once the local painters had learned the traditional painting and finishing techniques, they were able to carry on when the restoration moved down to the main lobby and the Provencher Ballroom.”
The Ches-Way Apartments, located in the residential Wolseley neighbourhood, won a Residential Conservation Award.
HERITAGE WINNIPEG — The Ches-Way Apartments, located in the residential Wolseley neighbourhood, won a Residential Conservation Award. Like Roslyn Square, Ches-Way comprises two buildings. One is a two-and-a-half-storey wood-frame house that was built early in the 20th century. The other half is a two-and-a-half-storey apartment block behind the house that was built in 1930.
Like Roslyn Square, Ches-Way comprises two buildings. One is a two-and-a-half-storey wood-frame house that was built early in the 20th century.
The other half is a two-and-a-half-storey apartment block behind the house that was built in 1930.
A small fire that broke out on a wooden fire escape in 2018 spread and damaged several apartments.
When the fire marshal inspected the damage, he saw the decrepit state of the ill-maintained building and immediately ordered it evacuated and bordered up.
Chris Knight and Tom Monteyne, architects with Monteyne Architecture Works Inc., bought the Ches-Way in 2023 and set to work restoring it.
“We stripped out everything and added a corridor that connects both buildings,” says Knight. “We also installed a new four-storey stairwell.”
Reopened to tenants in October 2025, the Ches-Way now contains12 new apartments.
There is also a new roof on the house to accommodate a two-bedroom attic apartment and a new roof terrace on the top of the apartment block.
Other Heritage Winnipeg award winners are:
The Saddlery Building, near Winnipeg’s original Market Square, won a Commercial Conservation Award;
Laurie Goetz, long-time owner of the historic Purple House in suburban East Kildonan, won a Distinguished Service Award; and
Jordan Makichuk won the Youth Award for researching and documenting history for more than a decade.
For details on the 2026 awards, go to https://heritagewinnipeg.com/news/2026apa-winners/