Winnipeggers – if you can, go outside & enjoy the absolute beauty of the hoarfrost this morning.

This mid-century beauty was torn down last week. Makes me wish there was a way to better connect homes deserving of preservation with sensitive owners.

Check out this old menu from the #HotelFortGarry.

Really sad to hear this. A huge loss for the Canadian history community.

Portage Place should never’ve been built, but when I worked there in the 2000s it honestly had some charms & so I was glad to read this piece of personal recollection: “Portage Place of old an oasis for music-loving rez girl“ www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...

This is tragic. Beyond the culpability of the drunk driver, it’s also awful & very risky that this stretch of Kenaston has no sidewalk, forcing folks to walk on the shoulder of a road where ppl drive at highway speeds. www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...

Arsonists demand fewer fires.

Nice to see Manitoba Tyndall limestone featured in the furnishings of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, designed by Thom Fougere working w Winnipeg’s 1x1architecture. www.dezeen.com/2025/06/18/g...

Have long had a fondness for the late modern renovation of (and addition to) 93 Lombard, an early example of the heritage reuse in the #ExchangeDistrict. Designer was apparently Laszlo Schevelik, a Hungarian refugee (came to Winnipeg afterwards the events of 1956).

Late 1950s sketches of the fraternity houses associated with the University of Manitoba by landscape architect Cameron Man. (Most were downtown or West Broadway/Wolseley)

Unfortunately I’ll be out of town for the launch (31 May at McNally) but am excited to read Michael Durand-Wood’s new book on cities & urban quality of life. www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...

Came across some great late 1960s/early '70s Canadian book covers yesterday. #graphicdesign

I enjoy the supergraphic quality of Wpg's Wellington School, remodelled in the 70s by IKOY. Time for a return to architecture with colour.

A couple of afternoons w sun & no snow & suddenly this feels in grasp: Silver Heights, as painted by L.L. FitzGerald ca. 1931. (Painting from the Art Gallery of Ontario)

It is unfortunate that the brand new streetlights in the #ExchangeDistrict (left) appear to be in worse shape within a couple weeks than the ones that have been there for about 45 years & that are being removed (right).

Always fun to visit a historic building and see some of the historic objects inside.

Renovation of the Keewayden Building (138 Portage Ave. East) offering a rare public glimpse of the arched structure inside. (It’s being converted to housing)

Not pretty for Manitoba either...

Interesting new piece about Portage & Main, its history & future by Jacques Marcoux. Happy to have chatted with Jacques on this subject. manitoba-inc.ca/onwards-and-...

Really enjoyed seeing The Hall documentary @wpgarch.bsky.social’s Architecture+Design film fest today, feat. the story of the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, Denmark — a bldg I had the pleasure of visiting last summer. A thoughtful meditation on architecture’s purpose, heritage & climate change.

The lost art of fun signage.

The uniquely styled globe-shaped street lights that have been a hallmark of the Exchange District are fading to black.

Watercolour by former Manitoba provincial architect Gilbert Parfitt of the now-demolished flour mill that used to be on Archibald in St. Boniface (undated).

Lake Winnipeg Lionel LeMoine FitzGerald n.d.

Anyone know of a Gmail like service based in Canada?

Sad to see this former fountain at 263 York Avenue (at Garry), Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 2, was demolished today. The fountain hadn't worked for some time but it was an interesting detail. Designed by Verne Reimer with Green Blankstein Russell ca. 1990-91.

I always like a good perspective section, like this drawing of ARCOP’s absolute unit, Place Bonaventure, in Montreal. Even better if they are inhabited, Waldo or other kid’s book style.

Trying to shop local & do this. But it’s amazing how hard it is to do something as basic as buy men’s pants from a Canadian store at a mall. Seems like the only options are Bootlegger, RW&Co., Oak+Fort? Going to look at other local places or Spier & Mackay.

This one part of @umanitoba.bsky.social has #CharlesSheeler vibes.

Every day I think to myself…

Excited for this project. I hope it helps do something Wpg has long needed: to have its two big post-secondary schools become truly social, fun & urban institutions. At the same time, we’ll have to work to ensure downtown remains the city’s heart. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/ind...

Any local Wpg breweries still filling growlers, or even just doing glass bottles? Seems like it’s all cans, but I like eco-friendly 🍺 . Not even Little Brown Jug’s doing them anymore, which kinda makes the name a little odd.

Really wishing this group & initiative success! www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...

For some reason I just remembered my favourite nonstandard McDonalds, the log cabin McDs in South Winnipeg.

A lot of Canadian chains w American names/branding—Montana’s, New York Fries, Boston Pizza. Feels beta. Gotta CanCon it up: Alberta's, York Fry Co. and so on. 😆

Some of the designs for ADUs, 4- & 6-plex infill homes for Manitoba & Sask. from CMHC's new Housing Design Catalogue. www.housingcatalogue.cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Anyone know somewhere in Winnipeg where you can buy smoked goldeye without styrofoam packaging?

I’ve long liked & been interested in this concrete sculpture on Pembina at Killarney, but research has never turned anything up. I’m assuming it’s midcentury, maybe related to a former store or Fort Richmond’s development ~1965. Do any of you know it’s story?

Dear Americans, Have you always wanted to visit Chicago to see those gorgeous early 20th-century skyscrapers? Why not visit Winnipeg instead? You'll get the skyscrapers, plenty of other great buildings, great food, friendly people, and rich culture. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 carleton.ca/aah/2025/vac...

My latest #VacationInCanada blog, in which I encourage Americans to vacation up here. And celebrate our diversity, which has always been part of who we are. And give #Winnipeg another plug. @jthorsteinson.bsky.social @wpgarch.bsky.social carleton.ca/aah/2025/vac...

A bit sad to see these cute, old-timey light standards being replaced throughout the #ExchangeDistrict this week by MB Hydro with taller, less interesting ones. They date to the early '80s & were one of the 1st projects by the City of Winnipeg to enhance the historic vibe in the area.

RETVRN. (Used to be easier to shop Canadian.)

Snippets form a 1908 US magazine article on Winnipeg. "Winnipeg shall be among the great cities of the world ... the future of Winnipeg should be almost without limit" ... has there ever been "a city more wonderful, more remarkable, more thoroughly provocative of admiration"?

Kinda amazing to think that in 1988 downtown Winnipeg had 31 operational movie screens & now there's one.

Feels like Winnipeg was misled re what Seasons of Tuxedo'd be - look at this render vs reality gap. Plus the developer's description of an outlet mall & some strip malls: “It will be a form of mall unique to anywhere. I don’t think it’s in North America, what we’re planning.”😆

Yesssss!!!!! 🇨🇦

Nice day for skating on your lunch break.

The glowing beige of Winnipeg’s golden hour.

Geometric Modernist proposals for Canada's national flag (ca. 1963).

I want this for Wildwood.