5 days ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Historical society announces Top 10 endangered buildings
The Manitoba Historical Society is getting the word out about some of the province's most threatened historic buildings before they fall further into neglect.
The society released its annual Top‑10 Endangered Structures list on Wednesday, a selection of provincial sites plagued by vacancy, decay or redevelopment pressures.
Gail Perry, chair of the society's historic preservation committee, said the main goal of releasing the list is to educate Manitobans about the under-maintained buildings that are historically important.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
The Peck building at 33 Princess Street in Winnipeg is on the Manitoba Historical Society's annual list of the Top 10 endangered structures in Manitoba for 2025. The buildings are considered historically significant landmarks that face uncertain futures due to neglect, development pressures, or lack of awareness.
'An engaged community is always a better community,' said Perry. 'If people become aware and learn more about these structures, perhaps they will want to help preserve them so others can enjoy the stories that these structures tell.'
Each structure in this year's edition represents a different building type that displays a different aspect of Manitoba architecture, Perry said, adding they tell stories about Manitoba's past, present, and future.
The Peck Building, a six‑storey landmark on Princess Street in the Exchange District has been empty for years.
Perry noted that is often the clearest sign a building's future is uncertain or in danger, as unoccupied structures miss out on day‑to‑day upkeep and become more susceptible to fire, trespassing, or simply being forgotten.
Built in 1893 by architect Charles Wheeler, the Peck's first four floors exhibit Romanesque styling, complete with rounded arches, richly detailed brickwork, and decorative carved faces. Fourteen years later, John D. Atchison added two more storeys using similar materials and window alignment.
St. Peter Dynevor Anglican Rectory, at 1147 Breezy Point Rd., in the RM of St. Andrews is listed as the No. 1 endangered building. Also included on the list are the Canadian National Railway turntable in Dauphin and the town hall in Hartney, southwest of Brandon.
Bruce Evans, reeve of the RM of Grassland, where Hartney is located, said he is not surprised the town hall is featured.
'It's in a pretty bad state right now,' said Evans. 'The roof is suspect, and the other thing is that it was deemed to have asbestos in it.'
Evans said the building hasn't been in use for several years and that there's been some chatter in the community about revamping it, but it's such a significant project that the municipality doesn't have the money for it.
Last year, the society included Holy Trinity Anglican Church on Smith Street in downtown Winnipeg on the endangered list. It may have contributed to the decision by CentreVenture Development Corp. to invest in a feasibility study to revamp the iconic building. The church was built in 1883-84 without a foundation, a common practice at the time. It will cost in excess of $7 million to repair it.
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Perry said none of the buildings on this year's list faces immediate threat, but their long‑term survival depends on public attention today.
She encouraged all Manitobans to pay more attention to the architecture around them and reach out to elected officials, heritage groups or simply spark conversations within their communities if they notice a potentially endangered building.
'Don't be afraid to stop and look around, and you'll appreciate what's there, because if you look a little bit closer, you'll see things that you didn't quite notice,' she said.
The Winnipeg Architecture Foundation offers tours of the city's popular landmarks and structures, which are free of charge. More details on this year's Top‑10 list are available on the society's website.
