A book showing the history of Winnipeg buildings

When you look around Winnipeg, you can tell parts of its history through its buildings and architecture.

Now that Winnipeg has been a city for 150 years, a new commemorative book highlights this rich heritage.

Heritage Winnipeg has launched a new publication, Winnipeg 150: The Stories Our Buildings Tell, which covers 150 years of triumphs and challenges.

“I wanted something specific, I wanted a souvenir so that people who come after us would know about the hard work that went into not only preserving these buildings, but promoting them, updating them, and making them use what they are today,” Cindy said. Tugwell, executive director of Heritage Winnipeg.

“It's a story from 1874 to 2024, and that was important to us.”

The book contains 150 original drawings by artist Robert Sweeney.

It talks about the buildings that shaped Winnipeg's history and culture, including some that no longer exist.

“We have such a rich history and that connection from built heritage to social history and that's who we are, that's who we are,” Tugwell said.

He added that one reason Winnipeg has so many beautiful buildings is that at the turn of the 20th century, the city had more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in Canada.

“People came here to get rich,” he explained. “We were the last stop before going to the Wild Wild West. That's why people came here to make money, and with that money big banks were born.”

As for what Tugwell envisions for the next 150 years, he said Winnipeg understands conservation.

“I think it's very important that we learn from our mistakes and move forward because you make the right decisions going forward,” he said.

Heritage Winnipeg launches Winnipeg 150: The Stories Our Buildings Tell at the McNally Robinson on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

– With files from CTV's Rachel Lagasse.