from FreePress Jul. 27, 2023
On the outside, it may appear to be an old, sleeping giant. However, inside the former downtown Winnipeg flagship Hudson’s Bay Co. department store is a hive of activity and awakening opportunities, as its redevelopment begins.
“Work has started,” said Jerry Daniels, grand chief of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization redeveloping the 655,000-square-foot, century-old landmark at Portage Avenue and Memorial Boulevard.
It was gifted to the 34 Manitoba First Nations by the retailer at a ceremony attended by the prime minister, premier and mayor in April 2022.
Crew leader Arron Lavis jokingly looks for his photo in the “book of shame” found at the former Bay building, a 1970s-era photo album of people banned for life from the store for shoplifting.
“We’re prepared to move forward,” Daniels said Thursday of the project called Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn (“it is visible” in Ojibwa).
It will include more than 300 affordable housing units, assisted living for Indigenous elders, as well as businesses, restaurants and cultural spaces.
The SCO awarded the main contract to PCL Construction, based on a point system that includes cost, compatibility with the First Nations and their team, and its commitment to involve Indigenous people throughout the project.
“Our team were comfortable with them,” Daniels said.
The preliminary work underway is being done by BUILD Inc. (Building Urban Industries for Local Development), a non-profit contractor and training program for people who face barriers to employment.
It is clearing the decks for PCL.
“The top two floors were packed wall to wall to wall to wall with clothing displays and sunglasses racks,” said Sean Hogan, BUILD executive director.
The crew of 15, including nine trainees, has been at the site for nearly seven weeks, sorting and disposing of stuff HBC left behind — including an army of mannequins and some unexpected finds, such as the “book of shame,” a 1970s-era photo album of people banned for life from the store for shoplifting.
“I’ve got to be in here,” BUILD crew leader Arron Lavis said half-jokingly, leafing through the album on a break.
Lavis said he was 13 when he was banned. After a troubled youth and “really bad criminal history” that was a barrier to him getting hired anywhere 20 years later, he got a break from BUILD.
“When I applied, I was still under house arrest,” he recalled. “I needed something. I couldn’t go back to the system.”
Eight years later, the 50-year-old is now a trainer at BUILD and is soon to be wed. “I’ve got the will to live.”
By removing barriers to employment, people who’ve been excluded from the economy can rejoin it and prosper, said Hogan. “Our philosophy is if you don’t give someone a seat at the campfire, they will burn down the teepee.”
BUILD expects to have the place emptied top to bottom by Sept. 14.
The workers are sorting the material by stuff that can be reused, and into bins for metal and wood waste.
“There’s a heavy waste-diversion element to this job, so we’re not being overbearing on the environment,” Hogan said. “We have just started doing minor demolition prep work for the general contractor to come in after us and do the major transformation.”
None of BUILD’s work will involve anything hazardous, such as asbestos removal, Hogan said. “There are some elements that need to be taken care of by remediation companies.”
All but one member of the BUILD crew at the site of the former HBC store (a company built on centuries of fur trade and colonialism) are Indigenous, Hogan noted.
“A job like this, which is on land that has a really uncomfortable and painful history for a lot of Indigenous people, becoming an economic tool for the Indigenous people working in this building is quite powerful.”
The crew of 15, including nine trainees, has been at the site for nearly seven weeks, sorting and disposing of stuff HBC left behind.
That’s not lost on trainee Dylan Anderson.
“I think it’s very interesting we get to be part of this project,” said the 28-year-old member of Fairford First Nation who left school before graduating.
There’s also some nostalgia, said Anderson, who recalled shopping at the Zellers closing-out sale in basement of the Bay in 2020. He said he never could’ve guessed he’d set foot in the building again, or that it might play into his future.
“I plan on getting my foot in the door in the construction industry and learn as much as I can and go back to school and pursue a trade,” Anderson said.
His goal is part of the SCO’s vision for the project, and why it was happy to get Winnipeg-based BUILD on board, Daniels said. “They create training opportunities and their vision aligns with us.”
The “soft opening” for Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn is late 2026, the grand chief said. SCO had initially targeted a 2025 grand opening.
Daniels expects the cost of the entire project (originally estimated at $130 million) is now closer to $160-180 million.
The three levels of government are putting money into the redevelopment: $65 million from Ottawa; $35 million from the province (which includes $10 million for the housing component and $25 million for historic preservation); the City of Winnipeg will provide tax incentives.
Daniels said he’s not concerned increased costs will potentially stall the housing, education and daycare project expected to breathe new life into Winnipeg’s dormant downtown.
“In any major city, you’ve got to have people living downtown, and there’s a huge demand for housing projects like this,” Daniels said.
“The impact of this place is going to be phenomenal. There will be 500 people downtown, with students and elders. It creates a lot of vibrancy.”
The SCO is seeking to partner with its downtown neighbours on various initiatives.
“We have a clear, well-thought-out process that gives government a lot of confidence that we’re able to do a large-scale development within reason,” Daniels said.
The project is being managed by one of the biggest construction companies in Manitoba and “we’ve got a great team that we were able to pull together,” he added.
“Those involved in the construction industry, in government and financial contributors are aware of that. They want to be a part of it. I have no doubt the federal and provincial governments and the city want this to succeed.”