Saturday Night Live - Winnipeg Fan 1975-2025

It was October 11, 1975 when Saturday Night premiered on NBC. The Saturday Night Live moniker would not be used till the following year. I was a ten year old kid at the time still getting used to cable. It only arrived at our house in 1971, the same year we got a colour TV. By 1974 CKND arrived and in 1975 Prairie Public TV was in place. For kids though, it was an avalanche of programming from CBS, NBC and ABC aimed at youth. Saturday morning cartoons was not something that was found on our CBC, CKY and CKND channels.

By 10 years old, most Saturdays were filled with sports but soccer and hockey were largely played outdoors. It still left young kids able to watch cartoons which started at 8 AM or earlier in the central time zones and ran to noon-ish. Most kids in sports were home early enough for dinner and Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday. 

In 1975, almost everything was closed on Sundays in Manitoba except church which generally had 11 am services. This meant that if kids were going to stay up later hours, it was going to be Friday and especially Saturday because of being able to sleep in a bit later than all the rest of the week. Entire families watched Hockey Night in Canada on Saturdays. Back then it was only one game on that night. And while Winnipeggers loved the WHA and the Winnipeg Jets from their start in 1972, they could love an NHL team as well because it was different league. In our house and many homes in Winnipeg, it was the Montreal Canadiens.

After a game, my parents were usually exhausted and whereas, week nights where they had lunches to make and kids to organize, no extra child care was needed when all that was happening was church the next morning. Stores were closed, workplaces closed. It was very sleepy most Sunday except for maybe some kids sports. 

So what did Gen X kids do on a Saturday? At 10 years old, as long as I wasn't outside, I was able to stay and watch TV in the living room as my parent's slept. My siblings sometimes stayed up but were often asleep as well by 10:30. Most networks would show movies before going off the air shortly after midnight. There were no 24 hour stations back then. But what could I watch?

I was a Winnipeg Tribune carrier which was delivered 6 days a week after school or afternoons Saturday. Both the Free Press and Tribune had TV guides in their Saturday papers and at 10, I had several part of the paper that I read first: comics, sports and TV guide. It was there and other places I noticed something on NBC called Saturday Night which was going to be on after the hockey game.

At the time, I didn't know the show format had been pitched to the CBC and rejected or that that executive producer was a Canadian named Lorne Michaels. I was too young to remember the Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour in 1970 that was on Saturdays at 9 PM on CBC. Lorne Michaels had been working on both sides of the border for comedy. There were so many variety/music shows in the 1970s. The TV guide just said there was a live comedy variety show on Saturday after the hockey game.

NBC already had a musical variety show called the Midnight Special. In central time zone it came on at midnight but in east and west zones it was at 1 AM.  It was the first time I got to see Wolfman Jack. The Royal Canadian Air Farce was a comedy sketch series in Canada that started on CBC Radio in 1973 so I was familiar with the format so a live TV comedy/music show sounded awesome.

In the end, when everyone else went to bed, I watched the very first episode of Saturday Night and was introduced to the characters  of John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Dan Ackroyd along with the rest of the cast. I was delighted by the sketches, the musical guests and the whole rebellious demeanor of the show. It felt very Canadian and of course, I didn't know that so many of the people involved were Canadian.

For young people who had few options for going out Saturday night or who were coming home from hockey, movies and the like, watching Saturday Night Live at 10:30 PM was a real treat. The show started a little rough but by the fourth episode or so started to take shape. I saw Weekend Update with Chevy Chase and it was a fascinating and funny look U.S. news. It would be Chase who would be the first big film star to emerge from the cast. But soon after Belushi and Ackroyd would go to take their SNL characters of the Blue Brothers to film.

The show has ebbed and flowed for the 50 years it has been on. Some amazing years and some awful ones. In some years I was busy and sometimes was doing things on a Saturday night but I have kept coming back in years when things are really top level. And nowadays, segments will appear on social media if I miss an episode.

I do still try to see the show on and off. Sometimes it will be a guest music act or a host that will bring me in. Sometimes it will be the outstanding performances. In 2025, I think they have an excellence in their cast that has really made for a new relevance. It is curious though if the medium of TV continues to be relevant long into the future.

Is the Fairmont Hotel the Issue for NHL Players?

The digital sports newspaper polled 111 players in the league about what city was on their no trade list. Just under 50% said this. Many of the seven cities were listed with the general consensus that it was cold living there. An actual Jet said the ride in from the airport is underwhelming. 

This was a direct quote from the self-identified Winnipeg player.

"I don't think that hotel meets the criteria for the league, but it would be better than staying downtown."
 

This hotel being the Fairmont Hotel in Winnipeg.

Not the first time we have heard criticism of the city by NHL players but when food and hotel are talked about, it feels more like this could be a Fairmont Hotel issue.

In fairness, the Richardson family has repurchased the hotel and it is understood to be under renovations now. The word dated is used by many business travellers so Richardson investment will be appreciated. 

Post Covid though the area around the hotel probably feels deserted. The words "nothing to do" came up often. From the perspective of a young NHL player visiting the city from elsewhere, they are in a hotel where few people are on the street, have limited food options super close to where they are staying and unknown entertainment options in the short time they are around.

Alas, this wasn't supposed to be. The story was that the Sutton Place Hotel would be the new home of visiting NHL players and they'd be within walking distance of all sorts of amenities from their 5-star hotel. Instead we have the slowest construction of a hotel in the history of Winnipeg.  It is now eight years since it was first announced.

The Jets can't do anything about taxes in Manitoba. They can't do anything about winter. No Canadian team can. But they can improve the player experience. Winning is the tonic for a lot a doubters in the league. If a player is interested in winning, they will look for teams that win. If a player is interested in their golf game and not playing in playoffs, they seek something else. And there are players who wanted to be in Arizona, not get media attention and hit the links regularly. Many did not want to go to Salt Lake City.

In terms of playoff experience, the Jets don't get too many complaints about their facility. A team can have a bad facility and still have people lined up to play. Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL have their own players rank their locker room terrible. But who wouldn't want to play on a team that wins?

Teams go through cycles. Chicago and Detroit were the best out there but are rebuilding. For some NHL players, the attraction to play there is less. If they are going to lose all the time, why not play in Arizona? Winnipeg Jets are on an upcycle and we have been able to attract a variety of players. This is a team that pays right to the cap so salary is not the issue. 

NHL athletes are among the elite pay levels that are rarely achievable for the majority in their age bracket. As the theft rings across North America have shown, these athletes are targets so they look for safe and secure places for themselves and their families. There are a number of neighbourhoods in Winnipeg that the players have gravitated to. Those are usually large suburban home with walkable paths. Many players on the Jets have dogs and do walk them all the time. Many are married and have kids who are in the school system so choose areas with schools and sports programs. And there are many Jets who want passionate fans. Some might not care about a quiet church crowd watching but 41 home games and playoffs like this is not what many players want.

Once players are in the Jets system, it has been easier to get them to come back. They see the benefits and are more like to sign contracts. And even when they don't it could be about the length of contract and money. Jets can pay to the cap but they have not been signing crazy contracts like some other NHL teams are for free agents. There are a lot of players getting bought out because they just aren't playing anymore. The Jets don't like burning salary cap that way.

Let's start with the cons that some NHL players have about Winnipeg.

Cons:

Cold

Small market

Higher taxes

Less top retail stores

Less top restaurants

Smaller arena

Fewer sponsorship opportunities

Longer/farther travel schedules

No gated communities

No other big league sports to go see

No year round golfing

No big media

Pros

Passionate fans

A max cap salary team (paying their players right up to the line)

Farm club and NHL club same city

Safe suburban districts

Good schools for kids

Support system for families

A winning team

Good local media coverage

Good coaches

Good health and medical supports

Good neighbourhoods where players live

In terms of the site of the Canada Life Centre, the Chipmans, Thomsons and Richardsons have all done their part to create the entertainment districts between the convention centre and the arena. The Gagladi Family is the builder of the Sutton Place Development which includes a hotel, suites and restaurants that the family own like Chop near the RBC Winnipeg Convention Centre. The family owns the Sandman Hotels, the Shark Club, Moxie's and Denny's. It is this block which has had a prolonged delay in being built. 

This block is key to both the convention centre and arena. Some major conventions are in great need of a luxury hotel connected to the the RBC. Likewise, True North needs specialized rooms for 82 regular seasons games for Manitoba Moose and Winnipeg Jets. Officials require rooms as well. Play-offs are additional rooms. 

The hotel has been delayed for eight years as mentioned earlier. It is without doubt that visiting NHL players would be staying at the new 5-star hotel if it was up. The only 5-star hotel the city has is at the airport and not suitable for hockey players due to distance from arena. To reach top level rating, room size is the difference maker. Fairmont and Delta cannot change the structural size of their rooms. This is a key to the 5-star ranking: room size.

The new Sutton Place Hotel still might be two years away from completion but it is probably something that that could help with impressions of visiting hockey players. The entertainment district in five years could feature enough attractions for a player who is in only once or twice a year. Better food offerings, better proximity to arena and other entertainment. While it might not be golf or the ocean, players do not just stay in their hotel rooms.

The impression should be when a hockey player or anyone travels to the city is that there is something to do, somewhere safe, somewhere convenient and ultimately, something cool. And that just isn't happening in a hotel which is an island away from the entertainment district. At least they seem to have solved the high speed Internet issue.

The Sandbaggers on Tubi

A few years ago I mentioned the the BBC's Sandbaggers has been one of the best spy series ever to air on TV. It might come as a surprise to some that the series preceded the BBC/PBS series Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by a year. Like Tinker, it had a creator linked to MI-6 or SIS, the foreign intelligence service. From 1978 to 1980 the series was on British TV and did appear on CBC. However, while I remember Tinker and watching it with family on PBS, I don't recall seeing Sandbaggers. I was in junior high and it might have been on later that I would normally be up during the week. This was often true of the original Hawaii Five-O that was on later than I'd be up.

The 1970s were the days when the national news programs of CTV and CBC were at 11 PM. Networks liked to put in programming in the 10 PM slot in central time or later that might not fit in the prime time schedule. No one had 24 hour TV back then including the stations down in North Dakota. The CBC would often squeeze in shows like Fawlty Towers and Sandbaggers at end of day schedule. I know I missed both when they aired on CBC but by early 1980s Fawlty Towers was endless played on PBS. It would take years before I'd catch The Sandbaggers to watch in it's entirety. Prairie Public Television carried a lot of British TV but they were often comedies and dramas. That remains true today.

Tubi has got the Sandbaggers on now which is rather amazing since it will bring a whole new audience to the show.  Some find their way to show by following the work some of the actors did through the 1970s and 1980s. This is very much the case for Roy Marsden who gained fans on both sides of the Atlantic for the P.D. James series Dalgliesh. Many loved his cool performance as a detective. And if they liked that, they searched out and loved his acting in Sandbagger as director of operations for SIS.

The writing of Ian Mackintosh was exceptional and nuanced. His background as a naval officer had served him well as a writer on the BBC series Warship. However, it was rumoured he had experience with the Security Intelligence Service as well. This contributed to the sense of realism. Any variance from the actual SIS was probably to avoid running into the Official Secrets Act. In fact one episode was torpedoed because of the act.

The series was filmed in Leeds and some location work in London and Malta. The large population of Leeds made it possible to film many locations as eastern European. Casting was also done in such a matter that scenes felt authentic. The budget for The Sandbaggers was not huge. The studio work was shot on videotape and location on cheaper 16 mm film. A lot of stock footage was used to great effect. It is striking that filming took place inside McDonald's or featured Hilton Hotels. Such things seem less likely nowadays. It seems to provide a time capsule of what Britain was like in the late 1970s/80s.

In 1978,  the time of Britain's Winter of Discontent weighed heavy. Massive strikes were happening all over and the Labour government of James Callaghan struggled to keep the country going. Strikes even shut down Sandbaggers producer Yorkshire Television. Even the BBC was shut down by the end of the year. Shows about corrupt and violent police were more likely to be seen in the UK over an urbane and realistic spy series. James Bond series and The Saint were more likely to be seen than The Spy that Came Out of the Cold- type of series.

The Sandbaggers name was used for the Special Operations Section of the SIS consisting of three operatives who take on the most dangerous or politically sensitive assignments around the world. The term came from how thugs would fill socks with sand to beat someone for their goods. Neil Burnside was D-Ops and responsible for sending Sandbaggers 1 through 3 out on jobs. As former Sandbagger 1, Burnside knew what it took. Burnside reports to the Deputy Chief and Chief of SIS (known as C) and is often in conversation with the Permanent Undersecretary of the  Foreign Office Sir Geoffrey Wellingham, his former father-in-law.

For non British watching, they often miss the class visuals. Ties that indicate Oxford colleges or military background abound. Top administrators are often knights with the title Sir added to their name. The Deputy Chief Peele seems to aspire to that type of recognition. 

The Sandbaggers themselves such as Willie Caine and Laura Dickens seems to come from more common folk. Caine has a military background but not particularly fond of guns. Dickens wants to serve her country as an intelligence analyst but in her introduction shows her deliberately overturning a car to make a contact with the son of a foreign leader. Her relationship with Burnside ends tragically when under his orders she is shot in a prisoner exchange to prevent the French from interfering with the special relationship with the U.S. government.

It is the sad and singular life that Burnside lives. A dedicated intelligence service man, divorced and with no outside interests. His best friends are the CIA station Jeff Ross chief and his Sandbagger 1 Willie Caine. He resists pretty much any attempt to set him up with a date. And the one person he does form affection for he has to order to be shot. It is likely we have never seen this type of storyline before on TV and may never see again.

Some have called Sandbaggers the best spy show there ever has been. Since I enjoy many spy TV/movies like James Bond and Tinker Tailor, I wouldn't want to limit myself. I can say that many probably enjoy the show so much is because the characters are very well developed. The friendship between the intelligence officers, especially SIS and CIA, seems sincere and authentic.

The show ended suddenly with the death of the producer/writer Ian Mackintosh in a small plane crash in Alaska. The network didn't believe anyone else could write the show like he could. A lot of mystery surrounded the death of the show and some even wondered if it was related to espionage. 

Sadly, unlike other shows that the British have done, the Sandbaggers has never been set for a sequel, remake or anything of the like. This is a mystery since so many American shows or productions from other countries seem to be re-made. If Matlock can come back, why not Sandbaggers?

Watch while you can on Tubi.

Peavy Mart Closes All Stores in Canada, Two in Winnipeg

Peavy Mart started in Winnipeg in 1967. It presently has five stores in Manitoba, two in Winnipeg. The company head office is now in Red Deer along with their flagship location. All this year they have been struggling and it looks like this week it ends. The 22 stores announced for closure so far will not be enough. The entire company will shut down.

The National Grain Company of Minneapolis  set up National Farmways, a "super farm market" based in Winnipeg with their first store in Dawson Creek. In 1975 the company became Peavy Mart, a subsidiary of Peavy in Minneapolis. In 1984, the company was bought by Canadian owners and remained as such till 2025.

The Peavy Marts in Winnipeg were former Zellers locations on Pembina Highway and Nairn. They are a mix of farm supply and do it yourself shop. They had grown in size in company by taking over TSC stores a few years back and their association with Ace Hardware.

It would be appear that the association has failed and the expansion has left them with underperforming stores. It will be saw for the Winnipeg locations but the pain will be felt a lot harder in many of the rural locations where stores are closing.

Tubi Finds New Fans in Canada

It is hard to imagine that Tubi is more than a decade old launching in 2014. During that time, it has tried to ensure that it is part of what comes installed or connected to any digital device from phones to televisions to computers. Netflix had no real competition when it launched in 2007 and they certainly were not alarmed by Tubi. The major studios were content to distribute series and films to Netflix and most of them were only in the concept plan for their own streaming services. Tubi was given less desirable option to distribute and had no big budget to produce their own works of substance.

Most of the studios still regarded streaming as something like  saw with YouTube which started in 2005. They thought of it as poor quality home videos or pirate material from their own shows. Even Google acquiring YouTube didn't make TV networks and studios think they'd be supplanted by future cord cutters. Netflix was a form of distribution they had established with the company with DVD being mailed out so when streaming started to emerge, they were at least working with a group they knew.

Technology had to catch up. Smart phones were still not around, high definition television and high speed Internet were a few years away. If there was one industry that was going all in on digital, it was the adult industry and it was Canada that was a leader in that field. In 2007, many of the major studios cooperated and created Hulu so that people would have a place to go to watch recently aired TV episodes. In 2025, Hulu has been largely swallowed into Disney. Content deals still exist with many other studios though. This is probably because the federal government would intervene if competition suffered. Already Disney has absorbed a major studio.

Some of the major streamers have dropped series and movies even when they were the original producer. It always catches fans by surprise because the expectation is that shows will always be there. This is the catch when it comes to digital media. In the past, you could always count on a media such that you physically possessed. When it came to rentals in the VHS/Beta and DVD days, there were a lot of variation from store to store. Some like Blockbuster would have all the hits in quantities and then sell them off over the weeks. They would have some regular popular item that would fill out the store. Some rental places like Movie Village would have a wide variety of material from British movies to every Oscar winner they could get their hands on.

Today streaming services are like those days of video stores. Netflix has all the hits but creates content based on internal data that will tell them which star and which genre will generate interest in subscribers and keeping subscribers. And now with commercials revenue has climbed even as Netflix grows more popular. They have announced their fees are up again despite the profits. The best guess why fees are going up is that Netflix is going after more live sports and will need the money to beat competitors.

One of the reasons cable was so popular was because news, shows, sports and everything in between was on there. For Canadians, it was cable that gave us ever more insight and interest in the U.S. And if polls are any indication, bigger supporters of Canada being different. In Canada we don't really have homegrown streaming services save for CBC's Gem. It has very light offerings on Canadian and international fare and is free. Each network has a streaming version of their service. There is Crave which a premium subscription service that has HBO. 

Canadian material is on all services. However, there is nothing to compel U.S. services to place Canadian content on their platform. It certainly put TV and radio stations at a disadvantage in Canada. Laws are going into effect that would work to change that. However, the election in the U.S. has put pressure on change to laws in this regard. Also, a future election in Canada could see the end of the CBC and Gem. It could see the end of all Canadian TV, radio and newspapers. There just seems so little interest in keeping them going.

There are a lot of unknowns. All this brings us back to Tubi. It has been around a fairly long time. From time to time, many of us have checked in because it was free. Likely, the first feeling people might have had was that there wasn't anything current. It's true. If you are looking for the latest TV series or movie, you won't find it here. Famous series like Fast and Furious and Mission Impossible won't likely be found here. However, what will be found here is increasingly surprising. There is a lot of independent film and horrors. A ton of kids programming. 

Original material is being produced and has been since 2021, a year after the purchase by FOX in 2020 for $440 millions. Other FOX subsidiaries that produce animation and documentaries have found a home on Tubi. And now Tubi produces its own animation, documentaries, genre series and movies. It even has a regular talk show. The quality keeps rising. FOX doesn't use the channel for repeats of its popular series like Simpsons but they have sufficient product elsewhere that they can add.

Tubi has recently received offers of $2 billion to FOX to buy the company. Although they have sold 20th Century FOX studio to Disney, they seemed disinclined to sell their free streaming service. With the huge value increase, it should surprise no one. Tubi has also signed deals with major networks worldwide and other Hollywood studios. The only one not included it seems is Disney. Not that it matters, Tubi has now got a library easily the largest of any studio out there. At last count around 40,000 items to watch.

In Canada, Tubi is available everywhere and Shaw/Rogers distributed it to even further places. While Netflix continues to produce some of the better stuff out there and has some of the most popular series and movies that have recently come out, it is a pay service while Tubi remains free. 

Tubi, like a lot of streamers, is getting into sports. For big events, they often have the repeat of it about a half hour after it has aired. In some cases Fox Sports broadcasts the games they cover on Tubi. This isn't unlike Gem in Canada that often puts CBC sports events that can't be shown on main network such as Olympics on Gem. Canada is a separate market though so some games are blacked out in favour of the Canadian broadcaster.

The biggest coup for Tubi is that they have landed the Super Bowl and will be airing the FOX broadcast. They will be even having their own pre-game show. It is unclear whether the game on Tubi will be blacked out. CTV/TSN own the NFL rights. When this happens, Amazon and Netflix games appear on CTV. In any event, it is a huge new move for Tubi.

The amount of material available on Tubi today has likely taken it to a level where ads can sustain it as long as they don't seek to do what the big studios do which is spend hundreds of millions on original work or sports. Many producers in the world now have a platform to get their work seen if some of the majors drop them or don't even consider their productions.

The CBC, CTV and Global only seem interested in their apps and distributing a limited number of productions that are not their own. They are not terrible but they are so limited in what they license. And there are aspirations to go world-wide like BritBox, the BBC service has done. Crave TV is a premium streamer and HBO material often drives its subscriptions.

There is nothing Tubi in Canada. And Tubi distinguishes itself in the U.S. as well.  For those who long for the days of the video store with staff recommendations and discovery walking down an aisle, this is the streamer for you. In this case, the walking is with your clicker. And perhaps you hum the Toooo Beee...Tubi opening tune much more often. And what's best, unlike Netflix, you can watch free with ads.

Pony Corral to Close at Grant Park

Pony Corral Grant Park has had a long run of 28 years but the restaurant that took over the spot of the former Bombay Bicycle Club in 1997 could not get improvements on their leased property to continued on. The classic cars shows that ran on the property will move to their owned and operated location on Nairn. They also have their location on Pembina Highway.

For restaurant starved people of River Heights and Fort Rouge and for those wishing for a bite before or after a movie, for those wanting live music or to enjoy the classic cars on Sunday Cruise Nights, the Pony was the place to go. The Ginakes family have always staked a huge contributing effort into wrestling, classic cars and live music and it has been bestowed a love that comes from people gathering, eating and enjoying each other's company.

When the Pony Coral first moved into the corner restaurant, it shared the lot with Zellers. Then Walmart. Then Zellers again. Then Target. Then Goodlife Fitness and Canadian Tire. It seemed the only consistent thing was the Pony Coral. The Grant Park Mall has gone through a lot of changes.

The last time there was a major renovation of the restaurant was under the Bombay Bicycle Club in 1984 when they added space and re-did the interior and exterior. Before that it was Barnacle Pete's, a seafood restaurant. Even back then, the restaurant needed plumbing and sewer work and apparently still does. Today, it is need of roof repairs.

From 2000 to 2020, Pony Corral operated a restaurant downtown at 444 St. Marys Avenue in a former Keg location. The intention was to build on Donald Street but Covid put a damper on that. Oddly enough, it is The Keg that is building a Donald Street location.

There will be many people sad to see Pony Corral leave the Grant Park area. There will certainly be concern about how Sunday Cruise Night will be affected. Portage Avenue has been the site of cars cruising and while Grant Park is not super closer, it is closer than Pembina or Nairn locations. However, given the issues of cruising on Portage in recent years, perhaps a change will be good.

The restaurant business has always been a tough one but there have been a lot of closings so far. Rent is too high in some cases, restaurants are downsizing and patrons are not going out as late as they did pre-Covid. Even big national chains are still not back to full lunch service as were five years ago.

It is hard to imagine a restaurant that served so much of the community in a variety of ways besides besides serving food. They will be missed for sure. And it will be curious what comes next. It could be that only a national group like Earls or Joeys can afford that corner.

Ricki's, Cleo and Bootlegger go Bankrupt

The long history of Ricki's in Winnipeg comes to an end as the national company has declared bankruptcy. Founded in 1939 in Brandon, it spread out across Canada and in recent years has been owned by Winnipeg Free Press owners Ronald Stern and Bob Silver. Part of the holdings in the same company called Comark are Bootlegger and Cleo.

Cleo had just built a new concept store in Polo Park in the fall. Formerly Irene Hill, Cleo became part of Comark in 1979. Bootlegger was founded in 1971 in Vancouver and became a national chain. Comark itself was founded in 1976 and is based in Vancouver where Ronald Stern, former Winnipegger, now calls home. However, the combined company used Winnipeg as a logistics hub in the former McLeod's warehouse on McGillivary.  It has around 200 employees and is about 400,000 square feet. It is unclear what happens to Parian Logistics, the company that manages that hub and is also owned by Stern and Silver.

Together all three stores have 221 locations across Canada. There are 13 stores in Manitoba with ten in Winnipeg and with three in Brandon. Some industry people have speculated how fast fashion online from a number of companies has hurt mall stores like Ricki's and Cleo. Creditors believe they can salvage some of Bootlegger. And this might be because everyone could use blue jeans. There seems to be less dressing up by women because of the expense and perhaps because some items are just not as versatile.

Retail is in flux all over the world and malls are particularly having to adapt. It is why malls are looking to build housing and actually have other services asides from fashion stores. Even Kildonan Place sees that they need for an upgraded food court.

In Winnipeg so far, stores like Polo Park and St. Vital have done mostly a good job of filling in places that have vacated spots. The second floor of Polo Park will see a new London Drugs which will fill space in an area that has often had a few vacancies. If women's fashion stores won't fill spaces, I expect we see more day spa, gyms, nail salons and optical stores. And this is always a good opportunity for Winnipeg-based businesses to occupy mall space. It is sad to see Canadian businesses in retail go bankrupt but hopefully, the retail sector will be more diverse and resilient as a result.

Five Guys Restaurant Portage Avenue Closed for Remodelling

The website says they are open but outside the doors of their Westwood Portage Avenue location there are two containers. All Sunday they were loaded up and the nothing remains inside. The restaurant was closed. Permanently? Apparently, a sigh is up saying they are remodeling. 

They opened at Westwood in 2014 and seems like they will be around longer.

 

Costco To Expand Footprint in West Winnipeg

As with IKEA when it began construction years ago, company execs of Costco have figured the space they are building for their store near Assiniboia Downs is not big enough. It isn't. At 166,000 square feet, it isn't so much the store size but the loading area and parking lot. It appears another acre just north of the Costco is being made available for the store.

Adding parking space is nothing new. Costco Kenaston has had parking space added twice front and back. It has helped but not enough. Hence, the new store. Compound the possible issues when St. James Costco becomes a Costco Business Centre. The store will be more aimed at supply hotels, convenience stores and restaurants than family shoppers. It surely means family shoppers will head to Kenaston or Headingley.

Make no mistake a Business Centre fills a need and could help divert businesses to switch there for goods that they get at regular Costcos. However, the city likely needs four regular Costcos all with gas stations. We'll have to do with three as zoning for a Costco even where there there is space can take a decade to get. This will be for Costco to decide. They probably would like to be just outside of Winnipeg but Walmart has tried this. It depends on Winnipeg road access and most municipalities are are not willing to build the highway access to make it possible. And Winnipeg is not going to let a road be overused within city boundaries to service a Costco that doesn't make taxes in the city to maintain it.

For all these reasons Costco is looking to turn the west Portage Avenue location into the right size to serve a very large section of the city. They'll need a lot of parking. More than the 900 parking spaces have been listed this far. They'll need traffic lights and turning lanes for this massive amount of traffic.

And Costco is just the first part of a much larger commercial development in that area. It is still within Winnipeg's boundary so it will be a boon for taxation. It will also be huge for housing. What will be needed is bus transport. The Costco construction continues so expect to see it open in this year.

The Jordan Peterson Interview of Pierre Poilievre

It has been seen by over 30 million as the world-wide conservative movement looks to see Pierre Poilievre become prime minister of Canada. Even Poilievre is trying to lower expectations because they are so high right now and that some are hoping he wins every single seat in Canada and that change is instantaneous. This can be a dangerous time since he will possibly have the majority to push through whatever he wants quickly but will the results be just as quick?

I have already written here that I believe that Poilievre will win the election and within his first year, I believe he will cut the carbon tax, pull out of international agreements on climate and cut federal environment engagement in favour of the provinces. I don't believe there will be controversy on lowering the gas tax. NDP governments including in Manitoba have lowered the tax to great popularity. With Trump as president in the U.S., there is likely not going to be any free passes.

Defense policy out of Poilievre's camp seems under developed. This should be of no surprise because the Harper government which Poilievre was part of only spent 0.8 of GDP on defence. That is 47% lower than todays Trudeau government. This is increasingly not being accepted by NATO and especially by Trump. There has has been extreme pressure on Trudeau. It will be no less on Poilievre. Will he support NORAD or NATO? Will he have an answer for Trump when penalties for poor defence spending? As much as Poilievre might want to blame Trudeau, he will have to have some coherent policy here. If the policy is isolation, expect Canada to withdraw in some fashion from alliances. There are certainly some isolationists in the party that want to pull out of the U.N. and other groups. What does it all mean? It means they will have to choose a direction that someone in the party won't like. The Liberals have been doing the same thing for the last several years.

Poilievre mentioned a few potential cabinet ministers. It is fairly weak tea. But then it doesn't matter. All that matters is the Prime Minister's Office. If his party is as weak as the Liberals they won't say a thing as long as he has the polls. Unlike other Commonwealth countries, it is impossible to remove the leaders of parties here. It is how we have set it up. It is a leader-centric party and will cause issues for the Conservatives just as it has with the Liberals. Just as it has for every party with all an all powerful leader and weak cabinet and caucus.

A tough on crime stance was made but no real indication of how that happens. There is no policy, timetable or budget listed for it. Is it more police, change in the parole act, build more prisons or what? Is there a budget for it? Timetable?

The problem with just a long interview with Jordan Peterson is that he is not a journalist. This is a campaign ad. However, given the deep misgivings towards the Liberals, it is possible that the Conservatives don't have to engage any media for the entire election. It has been often said that elections are no places to talk about policy. Perhaps the Conservatives win a massive majority with few details. The danger of this is that is not necessarily an affirmation for that all the party wants to do. Massive majorities in Canada often come from 39% of the vote. That is hardly a ringing endorsement. It is a reason why the Liberals have seen support fall in every year since 2017.

The large majorities Mulroney and Harper got had a far greater amount of policy that was thought out that what we have seen here. Given that Trump is not likely to give the Canadian government a lot of time to develop a coherent plan, expect chaos. And while the Conservatives will blame the Liberals, it is going to be hard to say that over and over again for four years if the country truly suffers. Given the lack of a plan so far, we could be in trouble no matter who wins.

Those hoping for the NDP to breakthrough will find they still don't have strength in Quebec and don't really have a defence policy. The agreement they had with Liberals means they are weaker, not stronger. Those that are in opposition to the Liberals just lump the NDP in there with them. If any party gains strength it is the BQ who look to have another referendum on separation in 2026. It is curious what the Conservative response to that might be. So far there is none.

While the Conservatives under Poilievre seem destined to win in the new year, they don't seem the least temperate in their disposition. We can expect a lot of ripping stuff up like the CBC. However, we can likely see unexpected outcomes as a result. For example, while Conservatives like hockey, their moves on broadcasting might make fewer Canadians have access to it. Unintended consequences.

The mistake in believing your own publicity is that if it is not based on solid policies. And to stay in power, it requires a frequent refreshing of people and idea. This is something the Liberals and the Conservatives don't seem to learn. We have been leaning on cult of personality too long and it is hurting the country.

Quiet January 1st in Winnipeg

The First of January is generally one of the quietest days of the year. It isn't a religious holiday per se. It isn't one where a family dinner or gifts are required. Over the decades in Winnipeg it has entailed going out for dinner and dancing but this has greatly been reduced by the falling amount of bars, cabarets and lounges. This is a change long is coming with young people's relationship with alcohol. It also has to do with tobacco.

The late night opening of some stores and restaurants is a story about liquor and cigarettes. No need for a 24 hour Shopper's if people are not coming in at all hours to buy tobacco. Likewise, no need for a 4 AM closing at a restaurant if booze is not sold in sufficient quantities. The aging population means that people don't roll into a restaurant at midnight and spend a few hours there.

And so it goes for a day like January 1st. The evening event on the Eve in places like The Forks and Assiniboine Park end early. There are no fireworks. Skating and restaurants are still open although close before midnight in the parks. City parks are largely empty after 10 pm. There really has been a turn against fireworks in the city of Winnipeg.

Fireworks have largely been left to the community clubs and few of them do it on Canada Day or January 1st. I suspect a bylaw at some point to ban them in Winnipeg including sports events. The opposition to them has grown so determined that it will probably be something that could preclude fireworks for Grey Cup. Much of the resistance to fireworks has centered on the noise that affects animals. However, we have come to see public parks largely abandon evening events on New Year's Eve entirely.

The night lights program over winter at the zoo and Assiniboia Downs are good but the days of a New Year's celebration in the evening are largely gone. If New Year's Day is not that important or overrated as a holiday in Manitoba, it strikes me that more stores and services should be open. If city, provincial and federal governments think the day should be devoid of real celebration, open it up and remove it as a statutory day. Have people return to work that day if it is a normal day of the week. Or at the very least, let's grocery stores and malls open.

Federal holidays should be re-evaluated after consultations with the public. It is likely July 1st Canada Day and Christmas remain statutory days. However, does Victoria Day mean anything? Truth and Reconciliation is new and likely to stay but I expect it evolves over the years. Thanksgiving is unlikely to change as is Remembrance Day (although I can see it becoming a Monday at some point). However, Good Friday and Easter Monday are probably not needed. 

It is clear that many public places would rather not do much on New Year's Eve so what is really special about it? Perhaps it should be just like any other holiday like Halloween or Valentine's Day: Just a regular work day.

 

Canada, the 51st State?

Canada isn't the only place where Donald Trump has expressed American Manifest Destiny. He has set his aim at Panama and Greenland as well. The Panamanian and Danish leaders have rebuffed the overtures. It isn't entirely sure whether it is to get concessions or to actually lay claim to other parts of the world. The thing is that when a president asks his intelligence services or military to do something, they just might actually do it.

There are constitutional mechanisms in both the U.S. and Canada for major changes such as this. Hawaii and Alaska became states in 1959. Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico have been waiting statehood for decades. The U.S. continues to have territories all over the planet but there has not been a big push to add more states or even sub-divide the big states like California.

One major consideration for America is balance of power. Republican party members might only be interested if they felt new states would not automatically be Democratic. This, in part, has held up Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico from statehood. For D.C., there many be grounds based on intent of founding fathers but for Puerto Rico, the reluctance could be the balance of power argument. It is a possible fear that the state would lean to the Democratic party. In other words, Republicans would want another state added that would lean the other way.

This is possibly the biggest argument from the American side about that would prevent Canada from becoming a state. It is the fear that it would be a possible shift in American electoral balance with both senators and a passel of representatives being Democrat. Some senators last week suggested Canada be broken up into two as if western Canada or just Alberta alone would be a sure bet Republican.

No province can separate from Canada. The Clarity Act makes it clear what needs to be done. To even vote on it requires a clear question and negotiation. It cannot be a unilateral decision despite what some separatist leaders have said. It also is worth noting that if Canada is divisible so are the provinces. Arguing that provincial territory is inviolable rings hollow for those looking to separate a province from Canada. 

Trump continues to say Canada should be part of the U.S. but never says how he goes about that. It could all been jibes and negotiating tactics. Canadian TV investor Kevin O'Leary says he wants to meet Trump to discuss economic union or even the 51st state. He says they will meet at Mar-a-Lago. Perhaps they think a new Conservative Conservative will embrace this in Canada.

The Parti Quebecois leads the polls in Quebec for 15 points. The provincial Liberals don't even have a leader. The next election is in 2026 but the CAQ leader will in his late 60s by then and might look quite old compared to the PQ. If there is a federal Conservative government, do they even care if Quebec separates? Does Trump play hardball and say the dairy marketing board end if they separate and ask for a trade deal? Does Alberta try to separate and join U.S. as a state?

The question of what Pierre Poilievre does to respond to Trump could be an huge election issue. It is likely why he is desperate to have the election now before Trump can act as President. It may be hard to explain how flaccid his response is if Trump starts calling him names and slapping tariffs on a government under his Conservatives. 

Would Poilievre stand up for Canada if provinces were trying to separate or would he facilitate it and the chaos that might result.  The level of disruption in the next year could be substantial and it is not really clear who stands up for Canada. Will Canadians do it if politicians don't? 

I do believe overall that Canada will do well into 2025 but it could all be overturned by world instability. And the country being threatened with separation or turning into a state is as fraught with uncertainty as you can get in our history.

Winnipeg in 2025

Many large projects are slated to begin in 2025 across Winnipeg head to next phase in the new year. This comes at the same time as city council has indicated they have drained the rainy day fund and are in the hole for next year. The threat of tariffs by Donald Trump will certainly spook many export related businesses in the city and beyond. Is it a negotiation tactic or will there may be some painful times coming?

The election of Donald Trump who takes office in 2025 could have huge influence on how well Canada does and by extension Winnipeg. A tariff war could hurt Winnipeg which is geared for exports. There is a promise by the Conservative to cut the $122 million accelerator housing program funded by the federal government and awarded by the city if they get in office. It has attracted huge interest across the country and housing projects are starting in the new year or are under way. But does it stop after next year?

Portage Place is now fully in True North's hands and signals the largest investment in downtown in a generation. The new Pan Am Clinic will be the best health clinic of its kind in Canada when completed. And just like Grant Park will be busy seven days a week.  And it is this type of activity which is needed centrally in Winnipeg. Grant Park is along a bus route that is not nearly as well used as Portage Avenue.

Portage and Main, for better or worse, is under construction as it ends the days of the Concourse. The first section is around the former Bank of Montreal where the Metis are building offices and a museum. This section along East Portage could look quite different in 2025. If the museum attracts the tourism that is expected, this could result in a lot of surface foot traffic.

The Manitoba Metis Federation is not the only indigenous group with big downtown plans. The MMF will be working on the Bank of Montreal museum but also absorbing their office building purchases along Main Street. Meanwhile, the Southern Chiefs Organization will continue their work on converting the down Bay into offices and housing with the $200 million budget they have. The only problem is that their chief has been replaced and it is still unknown how it might affect the schedule or direction of the work. The SCO really needs to make clear what is happening.

In the southern party of the city, the long awaited University of Manitoba acquired lands of the Southwood Golf Club. It has been a painfully slow period of development. The housing needs of students on campus remain a concern and yet nothing announced these last years. Construction was to start this year but so far no announcements have been made. The expected 10,000 units of residential units over the next decades is estimated to cost around $6 billion. It will transform the area with 12 million square feet of development. 

We should see some announcements in 2025 as it is likely the demand in this area will be immense. It is odd that the smaller University of Winnipeg that doesn't have the large land gift U of M has next to it has not seen as much housing as the University of Winnipeg. 

The University of Winnipeg has been the most consistent builder of apartments in the downtown in recent years. The above picture shows another apartment town amidst a bunch that the University has built in earlier years. They don't seem to be slowing down which is good as they are building today's and tomorrow's neighbourhoods.

There are several other areas of the city that should show physical growth in terms of retail and residential. Very few offices are being built. The post pandemic world means more people work from home. It might be a while before we see another office tower go up. As far as business investments go, we are seeing many manufacturers gear up although many in Manitoba will be wary on Trump tariffs. It seems the sustainability of growth in Winnipeg and Manitoba will depend on that. 

Will Chi Chi's Return to Winnipeg?

Excitement in the U.S. about the return of Chi-Chi's had a number of people remember when the restaurant opened on Maroons Road and St. James in Winnipeg in 1982. The above grainy picture shows Chi Chi's, Fingers and the large McDonald's that were popular places to go to when shopping at Polo Park or attending Jets and Bombers games or the Red River Ex which for many years was called Manisphere.

While the Polo Park location wasn't the only place in the city that Chi Chi's was, it had that reputation that it could be open till 4 AM on game days. The Mexican menu was a hit, the deep fried ice cream was a treat and the birthday party liquor flowed. It became very popular for hockey and football players to visit Chi Chi's. It was a very different time as smoking was permitted in restaurants but not permitted at the sporting venues except in designated areas. It meant that people went to the lounges at Chi Chi's and Fingers and smoked like crazy. Add to that legal happy hours. A smoking ban would not come till 2004. Around the same time happy hour limitations came into place.

Since Chi Chi's closed in 1992 in Winnipeg, the name has been by Hormel Foods in Minnesota which has licensed food products with the restaurant name with some success. The last restaurants before bankruptcy in the U.S. were around 2004. A Hepatitis outbreak pretty much defeated them at that time. 

The son of the former owner from Minneapolis has been given permission to start opening updated versions of Chi Chi's. At it's height, over 200 locations were across North American and beyond. They key of course is updated versions of what worked way back and none of what didn't work out and won't now. For example, most restaurants now have to be part of the pick up and delivery system. Perhaps not a drive-thru but an area of the restaurant for takeaway. We see it less in Canada but it is everywhere in the U.S.

Cost is having a huge impact on the restaurant industry. Chili's has made a bit of comeback because they have been very price conscious. TGI Fridays has struggled. And so it goes in the restaurant industry. The novelty of Tex Mex isn't a thing anymore. Shredded lettuce in abundance might have worked in the past but an improved Chi Chi's menu with some of the faves and a new offerings is probably the only thing to avoid a repeat of the previous failure.

The Polo Park Chi- Chi's was simply the biggest restaurant in all of western Canada with 400 seats. That title eventually went to the IKEA restaurant in Winnipeg which has 650 seats.

It is shocking how any people can point to work experience at Chi- Chi's, a birthday event or pre or post sports attendance at the restaurant. If two Chi Chi's are planned for Minnesota, I expect we'll see quite a few people from Manitoba visit those locations. And I fully expect there will be a few enquiries from Winnipeg on franchise opportunities. The big question is where. Polo Park no longer has the sports facilities that made it is a triple threat. Close to the football stadium seems unlikely. If it didn't work for Earls, why would it work for Chi Chi's? Downtown is possible with The Keg building a new location. Would a Chi Chi's near the arena where Jets, Moose and Sea Bears games are? Or is Polo Park still king even without sports?

Corus Cuts CJOB Jobs in Winnipeg

 Corus is facing huge debt that resulted from its takeover of Global Television in 2016 for $2.65 billion. While the TV and radio stations are profitable, they can't keep up with the massive debt of acquisitions. The result is 800 jobs have been chopped and more and more are coming as they seek a buyer.

In the last week we have seen more radio hosts lose their jobs in places in Alberta and now the bad news is here in Winnipeg. Long time radio hosts Tom Milroy and Julie Buckingham have lost their jobs. In recent years Tom Milroy has been a CJOB weekend host. He has been broadcasting since 1976 and at Corus since 2013. Bucking has been co-host with Richard Cloutier since 2016 on the 4 pm to 7 pm timeslot.

Radio stations go through format changes and live and die by ratings but the debt around Corus means they go through these cuts like some of the other major media groups to pay creditors. Their solution seems to be even more consolidation until, like newspapers, their solution has been to sell to American companies. Winnipeg newspapers being the pleasant surprise.

Radio is very much a corporate affair and radio staff are often canned but it is getting to the point that some stations are likely to close in the next round.

Winnipeg Unicity Shooting 2024

The above is the final moments of a video posted Sunday, November 24 at Unicity of a suspect in a stabbing of a Winnipeg Police officer. The officer survived and was hospitalized but the suspect was shot multiple times. Audio has officers shouting for suspect to drop what is in their hand.

The acting police chief asked public not to judge based on the videos that were shot outside the Walmart at Unicity. Fair enough. There is likely video at Walmart inside and out as well. The Independent Investigation Unit has been called in for officer involved shooting. 

The deceased has not been named yet. It is likely we hear who they are soon but also if there has been past involvement with police. It can be a painfully slow process and sometimes very little information is given out. The information we might get initially is usually family who are feeling the loss and bewildered how it came to this.

There won't be a lot of sympathy in some quarters to the death of someone who may have been responsible for store shoplifting and an attack on police. Some will declare more of this is necessary. Still, keep in mind police don't want to be shooting people every day. Most want their job to be about deescalating things and not having to face people with weapons aimed at hurting them.

The province already as this week another police shooting in Norway House where an armed youth was killed by RCMP. It is under investigation as well. The community there is brokenhearted. Even when stun guns are used, the community has responded that they feel other methods would be better. It was a bad week with another homicide just days earlier. The Cree of the area are hurting.

There is a group of people who wish to eliminate the police or redirect their spending elsewhere. To be sure, there has to more done on mental health, addictions and poverty that can contribute to issues involving crime and violence. It is often a slow process and many do not want any of those three things in their neighbourhood. But even police say they cannot fight poverty, mental health or addictions. That is, unless we want a prison system that has hundreds of thousands in it.

As for those wanting police eliminated or defunded, I have not heard too many alternatives for many of the areas law enforcement works in. However, like the medical system, there is room for evolution. In medicine, doctors no longer need to be writing some prescriptions that pharmacists can write. Testing of blood and other samples are done offsite. Vaccines have been revolutionized in that they are available everywhere and tracked centrally. They don't have to be given by doctors which can save time in outbreaks.

Police were at Unicity as part of the retail theft initiative. Some police are at shops as part of voluntary overtime to deter crime while others are there as part of teams intended to stop shoplifting/violence and take people into custody. The police briefing noted that there were undercover officers present Sunday night. It entirely likely undercover officers did not have Taser or other less lethal weapons. Neither officer had bodycam video which is being introduced as a tool in Manitoba but not presently being used in Winnipeg.

There have been several police involved shootings in Winnipeg over the last few years. Many are still under investigation. It is a difficult time for Winnipeg but this is happening all over Canada. A lot of people have been feeling very sad and often scared that things have gotten this bad. Many things will have to change over the next while to turn things around.

Manitoba Contemplates Local Media Support

Premier Wab Kinew has called for an all-party committee to look at how local media can be supported in Manitoba. It is uncertain how the PCs will respond. As noted here, much of the print newspapers in the province is owned locally. The Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg Sun as well as papers in Brandon, Portage and Steinbach are locally owned. There are a fair amount of locally owned radio stations in Manitoba as well. A fair amount of independent media exist. No major television stations are owned locally owned in Manitoba including affiliates.

The big players in Canada of Bell Media, Quebecor and Corus have massive amounts of debt due to acquisitions. While many remain profitable, it is debt repayment and dividends that has them cutting employees regularly. Throughout the world ad revenue has gone to large international companies like Microsoft, Google, Facebook and others. Newspapers, radio stations and TV stations have closed across North America. Even this week Corus and Bell continue to lay off long time employees.

Winnipeg has had a few radio stations close or make cuts. Newspapers have been downsized. So too TV newsrooms. Federal government programs on digital membership tax credits, local journalism initiatives and periodical supports have been criticized over the years. Tax credits for print, TV and radio go to advertisers but digital ads are not included. It means 70% of digital ads go to foreign media. It seems odd to not make advertising in Canada to Canadian people on Canadian media something a tax credit should be exclusive to.

Provinces have contributed to local media by posting legal notices in newspapers, advertising and other business tax credits over the years. Ontario is committing a percentage of their Crown corporation spending to Ontario-based media. This could be about $10 to $15 million of the $100 million spending guaranteed for Ontario.

The large corporate ownership of media is Canada was profitable until it wasn't. They kept gobbling each other up or shutting down papers, radio stations and TV stations until their debt from concentration just couldn't keep up. Today, the majority of newspapers in Canada are owned by the U.S. and they continue to squeeze what they can out of their properties and shut down parts regularly.

A few newspapers have been converted to charities but it is an expensive preposition.  Some have become non-profits although you see that more in the U.S. than in Canada. The government could help with this process. A charity or a non-profit might be the way to salvage some local media from being closed. There are some co-op radio stations as well that could use a boost of support and would likely be something that survives because of community support.

Advertising though has been the lifeblood of media. Consumers have largely paid a subscription fee for newspapers and magazine or a cable fee to receive additional channels or for free after paying for your own TV and radio equipment. The costs are largely borne by advertisers. It is those advertisers that have been lost across the board in many industries to the large trans-nationals that rely on content made by others that it is often not paid for. 

Generally in business governments should not be picking winners and losers. If a government chose the horse over the car as the transportation of the future, they would have been very unwise. However, if they had let one car company be the only company supplying cars, it would be to the detriment of society. It is why antitrust exists. One dominant company can stifle further development, exert inordinate power and hurt more than it helps citizens.

The province of Manitoba can do little on antitrust as that is a federal jurisdiction. However, the province does have its own budget on advertising which, like Ontario. it can direct to Manitoba media such as TV, radio, print, podcasting and digital. The province can also add a tax credit for private advertisers to advertise in the province. There are other ideas out there but none should look like direct support to journalists which the federal government does. It should look like business to business relationships. It should be supporting business in Manitoba, not individual journalists.

The journalists get their support from their ownership, their advertisers and their appeal. It avoids accusations that they are state media or controlled by someone directly. It is a tough path to follow but when done correctly makes the media and the various views essential.

To be clear, some people want all media to collapse. They accuse it of harm. Some of this comes from anti-democratic views which have grown over the years. If freedom of the press truly falls, freedom of speech will as well. 

It will be interesting to see what ideas come from this discussion. It would be tragic if we see more small newspapers closes, more podcasts end, more radio station shutter and all regional TV stations become just national carriers or even international carriers that do not do any reporting from local areas.

Children's Hospital Expansion

The Conservatives announced a $1.5 billion expansion to Health Sciences Centre in 2023. The first step of it was buying the Manitoba Clinic to move various operations over the next year so that demolition could begin on some of the oldest parts of the campus of the general hospital. The space occupied in the Manitoba Clinic totals about 70,000 square feet and is long ter. It bails out the Manitoba Clinic but solves a complicate problem of space for the hospital. Long established facilities like HSC need to continue operating even as new facilities are being worked on. 

Hospitals like Women's Hospital took nearly 15 years from concept to completion. Various parts of the hospital that fundraise separately so it is difficult to know what other projects are yet to come. There are various charitable foundations. HSC Foundation is one. CancerCare Manitoba and Children's Hospital are others. So much money pours into these foundations and they all have plans for improvements taking place at Health Sciences Centre.

There are parts of HSC that date back to the 1890s. HSC today encompasses 39 and 4 million square feet of space. This includes all the associated aspects of the campus such as the Cadham Provincial Laboratory, a hotel and research facilities. Canadian Blood Services is across the street as well.

The construction of the new Manitoba Clinic on the old gas station with their parkade beneath it opened a lot of space for hospital expansion. Under Pallister, hospital work ground to a halt unless it was already in progress. Stefanson initiated the $1.5 billion work but it is a 6 year project so some final design work has yet to be produced.

The HSC above is a mix of old and new buildings. The Children's Hospital completed in 1983 is the oldest in Canada now. While modern in appearance, it is not exceptionally street friendly. The windows are too high up on the first floor to look out on the street which would make people who walk on Sherbrook or William feel safer. There is no courtyard for families. Ronald McDonald House has facilities inside as well as their much expanded residence nearby but the hospital.

One of the most tenacious of charitable foundations in Manitoba is Children's Hospital. They have been fundraising for several years and this past month the province added $25 million that over $75 million has been raised for upgrades. This will go to emergency room improvements, operating room modernization and other infrastructure within the hospital. It is unclear whether there is new building or if it takes place inside the same footprint. However, a new hemodialysis section is going up and more space for child mental and physical wellness. 

No pictures have been shown about what it all looks like after Children's Hospital is complete. Only a few draft pictures are available about what work is being done to the Health Sciences as a whole. A 36 bed nursing unit is shown but few details of what it looks like or how it fits along Sherbrook. The above illustration is a first floor elevation. The second floor shows clinic spaces and up to four storey bed towers.

Of interest to note in the above illustration, there is something called Phase Two Mall. Is that a central corridor or will it have restaurants and shops on it? Not entirely clear. The two ten storey hospital towers are seen in the illustration in blue.

It all makes for an enormous project and years and years of construction. And all the while construction goes on the hospital must continue to function as well as upgrade other areas. There seems little doubt that another hotel and some restaurants on the campus could be used on campus. There are only two apartments for students as well.

CBC had a more detailed location of where the new add on was going to go. As mentioned, the goal had been $75 million to raise but $86 million was brought in. In some cases the construction will be invisible from the outside but at some point it will be impossible to miss.

Given the total amount of spending and how many people work, visit and are in the area, you'd think there would associated businesses, housing and the like. And yet the area has very few businesses that thrive nearby and few who work in the massive facility who live in proximity. It is the not the job of HSC to redevelop the neighbourhood it is located in but it certainly makes it more difficult to live in the area where danger has increased in the last years. At the very least, we need to see more personal care homes closer to major hospitals. The one built right be Misericordia was the right move. Concordia as well as a close by personal care home.

Given that HSC is bigger than most cities in Manitoba, it needs a police and security force befitting it's size. The people in place now are doing their best but they need more resources and training. And they especially need people. It just can't end at the entrances.

There is unlikely to be a time when building is not taking place at HSC. The Children's Hospital is getting some much needed upgrades. There should be further announcements soon about the CancerCare and HSC new construction as well as expansion of the University of Manitoba HSC campus.