Walk on the Wild Side of Winnipeg – Our Communities

North end

I was recently invited to participate in a guided tour of Prohibition and Prostitution: A Journey to the Wild Side of Winnipeg hosted by Michael Soncina of Soncina Travel.

Tour 389 Main St., built between 1910 and 1912. started at the Millennium Center at The building's first tenant was the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, and this part of Maine was once known as Banker's Row, one of the most famous centers in North America. prosperous and fastest growing economic centers. This area expanded into what is now known as the Exchange District.

The Millennium Center is an architectural feat, with an expansive marble ceiling and a 50-foot round arched window. (The last time I was in this magnificent building was about 10 years ago for a concert by saxophonist Colin Stetson). Michael led the tour and Cindy Tugwell, executive director of Heritage Winnipeg, also spoke about the historic building, which received Heritage status in 1997.

Winnipeg has been a major transportation hub between eastern and western Canada since the late 19th century. Many people flocked to “North Chicago” at the turn of the century to find jobs in the railroad industry. After Winnipeg was incorporated as a city in 1873, its population grew from 7,900 in 1881 to over 179,000 in 1921. Accordingly, Winnipeg's bars flourished. By the late 1880s, the town had 330 bars, the Woodbine Hotel being one of the first. Various brothels expanded their business, especially in the Point Douglas area, which had the distinction of being one of the busiest red light districts in North America. Winnipeg's first police chief, John S. Ingram was arrested by his own officers on June 7, 1875, in a brothel on Colony Street.

After boarding the bus, the next stop for our group of about 30 adventurers was Patent 5 Distillery at 112 Alexander Ave., where we split into two groups. One group was offered a tour of a distillery where gin and vodka are made, while the other group tried free alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic muskets. The original tenant of this building was The Dominion Express Company in 1904. A modern building at that time, the second floor housed stables for horses, and the main floor housed carriages. Stables were electrified, and everything from herding to feeding was done by machine.

Back on the bus, we headed to our final destination, the Belgian Club on Boulevard Provencher. The Belgian Club was built in 1905 and in 1938 a statue in the median in front of the building was erected to commemorate the Belgian soldiers who fought in the First World War. We ordered food at the club and watched a burlesque show. Then we went down to the basement where we tried our hand at Belgian bowling. The historic Belgian club still operates as a legion and offers karaoke, music jams and rents out its premises for social and other events.

For more information on excursions offered by Soncina Travel, visit soncinatravel.com

Doug Kretchmer
North End Community Reporter

Doug Kretchmer is a freelance writer, artist and community reporter for The Times. Email him at [email protected]

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