Address: 1396 - 1400 Henderson Highway (Map)
Constructed: 1956
Architect: Uknown
Contractor: Unknown
January 30, 1924, Winnipeg Tribune
The Rural Municipality of North Kildonan was established in 1925 after it split from the Municipality of East Kildonan. People in the north, many of whom were small-hold farmers, were concerned about the amount of urban development coming to the municipality. They wanted to retain their semi-rural lifestyle and not be faced with higher suburban tax bills on their large, agricultural lots.
The Rural Municipality of North Kildonan came into being on January 1, 1925 with H. C. Whellams as reeve. (If you want to read more about the early history of North Kildonan, see this accompanying post at my West End Dumplings blog.)
Source: Winnipeg Architecture Foundation
The first municipal office for North Kildonan were located in rented space on the second floor of the Imperial Bank Building at Main Street at Bannatyne Avenue. This was part of a bid to keep taxes low as the municipality owned no suitable buildings in the community and did not want the expense of constructing one.
Suburban development after World War II began to change the nature of North Kildonan. As the population swelled to over 4,000 in the early 1950s, the tax base increased along with the demand for more urban services. Having its municipal office in downtown Winnipeg was no longer an option.
Source: City of Winnipeg Archives via North West Winnipeg Historical Society
The building was constructed in 1956 - 1957 at a cost of nearly $31,000. It is 4,700 square feet in size spread over the main floor and full basement. The original layout contained a large general office, private office, council chamber and a public foyer. The architect is unknown.
The municipality's public works department was located behind the building which had a large garage for machinery and vehicles. There was also a house built for the head of public works.
The official opening took place on March 16, 1956 in front of a crowd of over 200 people. Mayor Jack Pierce presided over the ceremonies. The first council meeting was held in the building ten days later.
Located to the south of the building is a small park.
In 1968, the North Kildonan war memorial was erected in this space. It reads: “In memory of those who fell in defence of our Country 1914 - 1918, 1939 - 1945, Korea 1950 - 1953; Lest we Forget.” The memorial was moved in 2019 to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 215 on Maxwell King Drive in East St. Paul.
The park was named John Dixon Park in 1969 after a monument bearing his name was laid on the grounds. Scottish-born Dixon served for five years on the North Kildonan school board and was elected mayor in 1957, 1959 and 1961. He died of a heart attack while in office on December 14, 1961 at the age of 57.
Source: City of Winnipeg, 2007
On Janury 1, 1972, the Rural Municipality of North Kildonan was absorbed into the new "unicity" of Winnipeg and the building became property of the City of Winnipeg.
In 1972, it was leased by the province for use by its department of health and social development. This lease was then picked up by the WRHA after its creation in 1999 until 2003.
A major renovation of the building took place in 2007 so that it could be used as a Winnipeg Police Service Centre. The most noticeable change to the building was the addition of the orange clad accessible entrance at the front which allows wheelchair access to both levels.
The Winnipeg Police Service used the building from 2008 to 2014 as a community service centre. Since then it has been mostly vacant with the exception of housing a private health lab. The city has put the site up for sale.
Source: Lord Kitchener 50th Anniversary book
UPDATE: The East Kildonan Transcona Community Committee approved the development of a new mixed use building on this site. It will contain a commercial unit on the main floor and 59 residential units above. The plans, which still need final approval by city council, can be seen here.
Related:
More photos of the site
Facebook page of the North East Winnipeg Historical Society Facebook page
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