New list names endangered landmarks in Manitoba

Bruce Head's "The Wall" in the underground concourse at Portage and Main is shown on Feb. 3, 2025. (Jason Shields/University of Manitoba)

A decades-old art installation, a community church and a remnant of the Hudson’s Bay Company Fort are among the most vulnerable historical structures in Manitoba.

On Tuesday, the Manitoba Historical Society announced its annual list of the 10 most endangered landmarks in the province with the goal of preserving Manitoba’s history.

“Each year, the Endangered List reminds us how quickly Manitoba’s heritage can slip away if we are not attentive,” said Lawrence Prout, chair of the Manitoba Historical Society, in a news release.

“These things—large and small, urban and rural—tell the story of who we are. By drawing attention to their vulnerability, we hope to encourage thoughtful discussion and collaborative action before they are lost.”

This year’s list includes the Upper Fort Garry Gate, which was built in 1853 as part of a northern extension of the Hudson’s Bay Company Fort.

According to the historical society, the gate, which is the only above-ground remnant of the fort, was the subject of Winnipeg’s first heritage preservation campaign.

The organization noted that the gate is in need of repairs, adding that there’s evidence of fire damage, cracks and graffiti.

Another landmark that made the list is the Kenton United Church in the RM of Wallace-Woodworth.

Built in 1904, the church now faces a slew of pressures, including demographic changes, diminishing congregations and a shortage of ministers.

The historical society noted that the building remains largely vacant, adding that it could find new life through creative adaptive reuse or as a community church serving a broad road of residents.

The newest landmark on the endangered list is “The Wall”—a 1977 art installation in the underground concourse at Portage and Main.

The sculpture, created by Manitoba artist Bruce Head, was commissioned in the 1970s and is the largest cast-in-concrete artwork by an artist in Canada.

According to the Manitoba Historical Society, the future of the sculpture hangs in the balance as the city considers decommissioning the concourse. Work is underway to immortalize the piece through digital replication.

The other sites on the endangered buildings list are a multi-family housing complex on Nassau Street in Winnipeg, Leaf Rapids Town Centre Complex, Mariapolis Collegiate, a pair of grain elevators in Napinka, Ruthenia Community Hall, the Manitoba Government Display Building and the Manitoba Air Photo Library. More information is available online.