Winnipeg.ca (UD) : Historical Dates

Winnipeg's History

1670 - 1875	1875 - 1886	1886 - 1911	1911 - 1921	1921 - 1950
1950 - 1965	1965 - 1977	1977 - 1989	1989 - 1993	1993 - 1996
1996 - 1999	1999 -

1670	May 2 - Charter granted by King Charles II to "The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay" (Hudson's Bay Company). This charter deeded to the Hudson's Bay Company "all that territory draining into the rivers flowing into Hudson's Bay". Thus the greater portion of the Dominion of Canada came into possession of the Hudson's Bay Company and so remained until 1869, when the company relinquished its territorial rights to the Dominion of Canada.
1738	Fur trading post of Fort Rouge established.
1812	Lord Selkirk's Colonists reached the banks of the Red River where Winnipeg now stands.
1816	Governor Semple killed at Seven Oaks.
1820	St. John's College founded, oldest seat of learning in Western Canada.
1822	Fort Garry (formerly Fort Gibralter) erected.
1835	Fort Garry rebuilt.
1855	February 28 - First post office in Western Canada opened. William Ross appointed Postmaster.
1859	First steamboat navigating the upper Red River reached Fort Garry.
1869	Transfer of land by Hudson's Bay Company to the Dominion of Canada.
1869	Uprising of Metis population under leadership of Louis Riel.
1870	Thomas Scott, opponent of Louis Riel, shot March 4 by order of Riel.
1870	Military expedition from Eastern Canada led by Colonel Garnet Wolseley reached Fort Garry. Louis Riel fled to the United States and uprising was terminated.
1870	Province of Manitoba formed and became the fifth province in the Dominion of Canada.
1873	November 8 - Winnipeg incorporated; four wards with three aldermen for each ward.
1873	City Limits - Bounded on north by Burrows Avenue west of Main Street, and Aberdeen Avenue east of Main Street; on south by Assiniboine River; on east by Red River; and on the west by Maryland Street, Notre Dame Avenue and McPhillips Street.
1874	January 19 - 12 o'clock noon. First meeting of City of Winnipeg's Council held on the second floor of Bentley's new building at north-west corner of Portage Avenue and Main Street.
1874	September 16 - First Civic Holiday observed.

1875	City Limits extended to Aberdeen Avenue between Main Street and McPhillips Street.
1875	Cornerstone laying ceremony for the first City Hall
1876	First City Hall and Theatre erected.
1876	October 12 - First shipment of wheat exported from the Province of Manitoba (857 1/6 bushels at 85 cents per bushel). Exported by Higgins & Young, Winnipeg; consigned to Steele Bros., Toronto.
1877	University of Manitoba founded.
1877	Arrival in Winnipeg of C. P. R. Engine No. 1, Countess of Dufferrin.
1878	First Railway service to Winnipeg from St. Paul, Minnesota.
1878	First telephone brought to Winnipeg by Mr. H. McDougall.
1880	R. M. of St. Boniface annexed part of St. Vital.
1880	R. M. of Assiniboia incorporated.
1882	Ward One, being the district known as Fort Rouge, taken into the City. Wards increased to six in number.
1882	City limits extended north to Kitchener Avenue and lane north of Luxton Avenue; south of Wilkes Avenue, Waverley Street, lane south of Parker Avenue to Red River and west to Keewatin Street, St. James Street and west boundary of Parish of St. Boniface (86 feet west of Kenaston Boulevard).
1882	First water supply in Winnipeg from Assiniboine River.
1882	First street railway system inaugurated (horse drawn cars).
1883	Town of St. Boniface incorporated out of R. M. of St. Boniface.
1884	Council reduced to two Alderman for each Ward.
1884	July 19 - Corner stone of second City Hall laid by Mayor Alexander Logan.
1884	December 8 - Inauguration of ballot system of voting at Municipal Elections in Winnipeg.
1885	November 16 - Louis Riel hanged for leading two Metis uprisings and for the 1870 execution of Thomas Scott.

1886	July 1 - First Railway train over the Canadian Pacific Railway from Montreal to Vancouver.
1886	Second City Hall completed.
1887	View North down Main Street from Graham Avenue.
1892	First electric street cars inaugurated.
1893	R. M. of Rosser organized.
1893	First meeting of the Winnipeg Public Parks Board
1897	Fort Garry Gateway presented to City by Hudson's Bay Company.
1899	City of Winnipeg purchased Water Works Company and, from 1900 - 1911, supplied water from wells.

1902	Brookside Cemetery included in City limits.
1902	Province of Manitoba grants the City a second Special Charter of Incorporation after repealing the first in 1886.
1903	R. M. of St. Boniface changed to R. M. of St. Vital.
1905	Assiniboine Park included in City Limits.
1906	Part Municipality of Kildonan (Elmwood), taken into the City and wards increased to seven in number, Elmwood being designated Ward Seven.
1906	Lots 3 and 4, Parish of Kildonan, lying west of McGregor Street, taken into the city.
1907	Lot 3, Parish of Kildonan, lying west of McGregor Street, taken into the City.
1907	Board of Control System inaugurated and was later abolished in 1918
1908	Redwood Bridge built.
1908	High Pressure Pumping Station and piping system constructed.

1911	Town of Tuxedo incorporated.
1911	Provincial Government purchased 543 acres of land for an agricultural college which was to become University of Manitoba.
1911	Municipal Hydro-Electric Works at Pointe du Bois completed and in operation.
1912	Selkirk Centennial.
1912	April 16 - R. M. of Fort Garry incorporated. Formerly part of R. M. of St. Vital.
1912	Elm Park Bridge built.
1912	Town of Transcona incorporated.
1912	Provincial boundaries extended to shores of Hudson Bay.
1913	Lots 1 and 2, St. Charles, added to City and made part of Ward One.
1913	R. M. of Charleswood incorporated.
1913	City limits extended west to Doncaster Street.
1914	R. M. of Kildonan split into the R. M. of West Kildonan and the R. M. of East Kildonan.
1914	Portion of St. Vital annexed to City of St. Boniface.
1915	R. M. of St. Paul split into R. M. of East St. Paul and R. M. of West St. Paul.
1918	Kildonan Park and Golf Course included in City Limits.
1918	City Charter revised and consolidated.
1919	April 5 - Greater Winnipeg Aqueduct completed and soft water from Shoal Lake piped into Winnipeg water mains.
1919	May 15 to June 26 - The Winnipeg General Strike. The Strike was a major impetus towards recognition of unions and collective bargaining in Canada.
1920	March 27 - Legislation passed to reduce the number of Wards of the City from seven to three, and increase the number of aldermen from fourteen to eighteen.
1920	December 3 - First Civic Election held under the Proportional Representation system.

1921	R. M. of St. James incorporated.
1921	Rural portion of West Kildonan separated from R. M. of Old Kildonan.
1921	Village of Brooklands incorporated.
1924	June 18 - Celebration of 50th Anniversary of Incorporation of City of Winnipeg.
1925	Farming community of East Kildonan separated and incorporated as the R. M. of North Kildonan.
1930	June 15 - Celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Manitoba's formation as a Province and inclusion in Dominion of Canada.
1931	September 1 - Municipal Hydro-Electric Generating Station at Slave Falls officially opened.
1933	November 8 - 60th Anniversary of Incorporation of City of Winnipeg.
1935	August 27 - Work commenced on Greater Winnipeg Sewage Disposal Project.
1937	October 9 - 60th Anniversary of the arrival in Winnipeg of C. P. R. Engine No. 1 - "Countess of Dufferin"
1937	North Winnipeg Sewage Treatment Plant completed.
1938	Winnipeg Charter amended to provide for two-tear term for Mayor.
1939	May 24 - Official visit of His Majesty King George VI and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
1940	November 22 - Question of extension of franchise to all British subjects over 21 years resident in Winnipeg carried by Referendum.
1942	November 27 - First Civic Election with Adult Suffrage in effect.
1949	June 5 to 11 - Celebration of 75th Anniversary of Incorporation of City of Winnipeg.

1950	April - June - Red River Valley Flood with damage running into millions of dollars. River level (30.3 feet above City Datum) highest in 89 years. Other major floods by the Red River: 1826 ….. 36.5 feet above City Datum 1852 ….. 34.7 feet above City Datum 1861 ….. 32.5 feet above City Datum 1882 ….. 26.0 feet above City Datum 1892 ….. 23.5 feet above City Datum 1904 ….. 24.6 feet above City Datum 1916 ….. 24.0 feet above City Datum 1948 ….. 23.4 feet above City Datum 1966 ….. 26.3 feet above City Datum
1951	October 16 - Official visit of Their Royal Highnesses the Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh.
1952	Completion of construction of system of permanent dykes along Red River and part of Assiniboine River within the Greater Winnipeg area to give flood protection to a level of 26.5 feet in most areas and 30.3 feet in the downtown and Riverview areas.
1954	City limits extended west to centre line of Edgeland Blvd.
1955	September 19 - Last street car line - Portage Avenue and Main Street - discontinued and street cars replaced with diesel buses.
1956	Winnipeg Charter revised and consolidated.
1956	December 28 - Fluoridation of water supply completed.
1956	City of St. James incorporated.
1957	July 1 - City of East Kildonan incorporated.
1959	July 24 and 25 - Visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.
1960	March 26 - The metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg incorporated.
1960	Town of Brooklands incorporated.
1961	October 16 - 50th Anniversary of Hydro Electric System
1962	City of Winnipeg limits extended westerly to west limits of No. 6 and No. 7 Provincial Trunk Highways to include area of approximately 3500 acres effective January 1, 1963.
1963	Opening of Red River Community College.
1964	October 5 - Official opening of new "Civic Centre".

1965	December 14 - Official opening of new St. Vital Bridge.
1966	March 4 - Winter Blizzard - Length 20 hours Temperature (Max/Min) - 7.8 degrees c/-13.3 degrees c, 18 degrees f/8 degrees f Amount of snowfall 35.6 cm, 14 inches Wind Speed 80 km, 50 mph
1966	May 18 - Official opening of New Public Safety Building.
1967	Celebration of 100th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation.
1967	City of St. James-Assiniboine incorporated.
1967	Fifth Pan American Games held in Winnipeg.
1968	St. Boniface Basilica destroyed by fire.
1968	Opening of Red River Floodway.
1970	Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Province of Manitoba.
1971	October 6 - Election of first council of new unified City of Winnipeg.
1971	Royal assent given to Bill 36 known as "The City of Winnipeg Act creating Unicity".
1972	January 4 - Inaugural meeting of first council of new unified City of Winnipeg.
1972	Deacon Reservoir completed.
1973	November 8 - 100th Anniversary of Incorporation of City of Winnipeg.
1974	May 10 - Official visit of Her Royal Highness the Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon.
1974	September 16 - South Winnipeg Sewage Treatment Plant went into operation.
1975	January 11 - Winter Blizzard - length 23 hours Temperature (Max/Min) -14.4 degrees c/-24.4 degrees c, 6 degrees f/-12 degrees f Amount of Snowfall 12.2 cm, 4.8 in. Wind Speed 66 km, 41 mph.
1975	January 14 - Official opening of the new Convention Centre.
1976	April 30 - Official opening of the new Royal Canadian Mint.

1977	May 4 - Official opening of Winnipeg Centennial Library.
1977	October 26 - Communities reduced from twelve to six and Wards reduced from fifty to twenty-nine.
1978	November 15 - Official opening of "The Fort Garry Bridge".
1979	Official opening of City of Winnipeg Pedestrian Concourse at Portage Avenue and Main Street.
1981	Winnipeg Core Area Initiative - A five year $96 million tripartite governmental initiative was launched to revitalize the economic, social and physical core area of Winnipeg.
1982	Official Opening of KilCona Park and Harbour View Golf Course.
1982	100th Anniversary of Winnipeg Transit.
1982	Official Opening of replacement bridge, Portage Avenue at Sturgeon Creek.
1983	Official Opening of Eldon Ross Swimming Pool.
1984	October 29 - Official opening of "The Slaw Rebchuk Bridge".
1986	Renewal of Winnipeg Core Area Initiative - Agreement renewed for an additional five years, and a one year extension, for $100 million tripartite government initiative launched to revitalize the economic, social and physical core aspects of Winnipeg.
1986	General reassessment of all properties in the City of Winnipeg.
1986	November 7 and 8 - Winter Blizzard - Length 11 hours Temperature (Max/Min) -6 degrees c/-12 degrees c, 21 degrees f/10degrees f Amount of Snowfall 35.2 cm, 13.9 in. Wind Speed 70 km, 44 mph.
1987	Opening of North Portage Development in downtown Winnipeg, including shopping mall, pedestrian bridges over Portage Avenue, and apartments. A joint development by the Federal, Provincial and City Governments, and private enterprise.
1988	Completion of 1.2 miles of continuous weather-protected pedestrian walkway linking The Bay Department Store to Winnipeg Square, Lombard Concourse and the historic Grain Exchange Building.
1988	July 28 - Sod turning ceremony - The Forks Development

1989	For the first time, new legislation required the Mayor to appoint a Deputy Mayor, Acting Deputy Mayor and Charipersons of all Standing Committees, and required the Mayor to Chair the Executive Policy Committee.
1989	Councillor J. Eadie elected as City Council's first speaker.
1989	October 4 - Opening of the Forks Market.
1989	October 18 - Opening of Keewatin Underpass.
1990	General reassessment of all properties in the City of Winnipeg (1985 market value).
1990	June 15 - Closing of Amy Street Central Heating Steam Plant.
1990	July 6 - 14 - Western Canada Summer Games held in Winnipeg.
1990	October 19 - Official Opening of Kildonan Bridge over the Red River.
1990	November 8 - Official Opening of Pembina Highway overpass at Bishop Grandin Boulevard, and extension of Bishop Grandin Boulevard to Waverley Street.
1991	March - Winnipeg hosts World Curling Championships.
1991	November 1 - Official naming of the Chief Peguis Trail Roadway which connects the Kildonan Bridge to Main Street and to Henderson Highway.
1991	November 20 - 24 - Winnipeg hosts Grey Cup Festival.
1992	April 21 - First meeting of the Board of Adjustment established by Council on January 22, 1992.
1992	May 6 - First Hansard recording of Council meetings.
1992	May 9 - Headingly incorporates as separate municipality.
1992	October 7 - Amendments to The City of Winnipeg Act provided for the definition and recognition of five Community Committee areas comprising a total of 15 wards, as recommended by the Winnipeg Wards Boundaries Commission.
1992	November 3 - Inaugural meeting of newly elected reduced Council following 1992 Civic Election.
1992	October 28 - Susan A. Thompson became the first woman to be elected as Mayor of Winnipeg.
1992	December 21 - Amalgamation of Districts 1 and 2 of the Operations Department.

1993	February 1 - 100th Anniversary of the Parks and Recreation Department.
1993	June 23 - By-law No. 5915/92, Plan Winnipeg... toward 2010, is passed, which establishes a long-term plan to guide Winnipeg into the 21st century by addressing the physical, social, economic, and environmental conditions in Winnipeg.
1993	July and August - Winnipeg experienced close to double the normal rainfall amounts. Three major storms struck the city in a 21 day period, between July 24 and August 14. Total damages due to flooding were estimated roughly between $175 - $200 million. Statistics: 1^st Heavy Rainfall - July 24-25. Amounts of precipitation varied from 97mm (Charleswood) to 195mm (St.Boniface/St.Vital). 2^nd Heavy Rainfall - August 8. Amounts of precipitation varied from 38mm (St.Norbert) to 93mm (Lord Selkirk-West Kildonan area). 3^rd Heavy Rainfall - August 14. Amounts of precipitation ranged from 42mm (Ft. Richmond) to 58mm (North Kildonan).
1993	September - Winnipeg became the first Canadian Municipality to implement a Council Page Program.
1994	February 21 - Winnipeg Police Department renamed Winnipeg Police Service.
1994	April 27 - Council approved "A New Direction for Civic Administration", approving the restructuring of the organization, based on 17 departments.
1994	April 28 - Council passed City By-law No. 6402/94 for the provision of municipal services in both official languages. The by-law contains the City's 5-year implementation plan for delivery of French language services, including the provision of an "Access Guide to Civic Services in French".
1994	Winnipeg awarded as host of the 1999 Pan American Games.
1994	March - Winnipeg Development Agreement - A five year $75 million tripartite governmental initiative was launched to revitalize the economic, social, and physical aspects of Winnipeg.
1995	June - Week of record breaking summer temperatures - 37.8 degrees c (100 degrees f). Daily records from 1888 and 1931 broken.
1995	October 24 - Opening of the 'Charlsewood Bridge'.
1995	October 25 - Automatic Voting Introduced.

1996	January 1st - "Access to Information By-Law" No. 6420/94 enacted.
1996	January - Winnipeg experienced some of the coldest January temperatures on record : Average High -18.1 degrees c, Normal High -13.2 degrees c Average Low -27.4 degrees c, Normal Low -22.6 degrees c Warmest day of the month: January 12, 2.8 degrees c Coldest day of the month: January 19, -39.4 degrees c
1996	February - For the 3rd year in a row, the City of Winnipeg was awarded the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting (CAnFR) by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA), for its 1994 Annual Report.
1996	February 9 - 13 - Winnipeg hosted the 7th International Winter Cities Conference.
1996	November 17 - Heaviest recorded snowfall in a single day in 30 years.
1997	February - Official opening of the Sir William Stephenson Library.
1997	March - Council adopted "Reshaping our Civic Government", Executive Policy Committee's Strategic Direction of City Government.
1997	April 5-6 - Worst recorded blizzard in Winnipeg this century. Total accumulated snowfall: 48 cm (Friday to Tuesday). Previous record: 1966 - 38.1 cm snowfall. Duration of storm: 24 hours, Average wind speed: 60km/h, gusting as high as 85 km/h.
1997	April-May - Severe flooding in the Red River Basin, which became known as the "Flood of the Century". The City of Grand Forks, North Dakota was devastated and many rural communities sustained severe damage, but the City of Winnipeg was protected by the Red River Floodway and the Portage Diversion.
1997	September 20 - During a ceremony to reaffirm and permit the Fort Garry Horse Regiment to exercise their traditional right of the "Freedom of the City", the City Zoo's 18 month old black bear Winnie was named as the regiment's mascot. The first Winnie the Bear, later to become famous as Winnie the Pooh, was the regiment's original mascot during World War I.
1997	October 29 - City of Winnipeg Act amended, replacing the Board of Commissioners with a Chief Administrative Officer Model. Also provided for a four-term of office for Mayor and Councillors.

1999	January 27 - The 125th Anniversary of the first City Council Meeting, held on January 19, 1874.
1999	June - Opening of the Lyric Bandshell at Assiniboine Park with funding provided by the Asper Foundation and is located behind the Assiniboine Park Pavilion. The facility is used for summer outdoor performances and has the following amenities: rigging, sound, lighting and dressing rooms. It can accommodate large audiences and is used for annual events such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Ballet in the Park, Pooh Friendship Day and symphony, opera and jazz festivals.
1999	June - Official opening of CanWest Global Baseball Park.
1999	August - The Manitoba Theatre for Young People moved into its new building at The Forks. The CanWest Global Performing Arts Centre is a 28,000 square foot facility. It has four studios, a rehearsal room, wardrobe, prop and scene building shops, administration and the jewel, a re-configurable theatre.
1999	July 24 to August 8 - Winnipeg hosted the 13th Pam American Games.
1999	December 26, 1998 to January 5, 1999 - Winnipeg hosted the World Junior Hockey Championships.
2000	April - The first Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award was presented at Brave New Words, the Manitoba Writing and Publishing Awards gala. The $5,000 award is presented annually to honour books that evoke the special character of and contribute to the appreciation and understanding of the City of Winnipeg. The award was established by the Winnipeg Arts Council and is funded by the City of Winnipeg.
2000	November 17 - Winnipeg residents bid 124,250 Britishpounds ($177,000 US) at a Sotheby’s auction and won the only known oil painting of Winnie the Pooh by his original illustrator, E.H. Shepard. The large painting of Pooh holding a honey pot is located in the Pavilion Gallery Museum in Assiniboine Park.
2002	January - Utilizing an electronic information system developed by the City Clerk’s Department, Council meetings go paperless.
2002	February 27 - Council approved the sale of Winnipeg Hydro to Manitoba Hydro.
2002	July 25 to August 4 - Winnipeg hosted the North American Indigenous Games.
2002	September - Phase 1 of the Princess Street Campus of Red River College officially opened. The campus located at 160 Princess Street consists of three buildings: the William Avenue block; the Princess Street block opened on September 2, 2003, and the Adelaide Street block which will open for classes in September 2004. The Jubilee Atrium connects these three buildings.
2002	October 8 to 9 - Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth the II and the Duke of Edinburgh, visited Winnipeg during her Golden Jubilee (50th) Anniversary celebrations, and officially unveiled the restored provincial icon, the Golden Boy.
2002	December 11 - Council passed The Official Languages of Municipal Services By-law No. 8154/2002 for the provision of municipal services in both official languages.
2003	January 1 - The new City of Winnipeg Charter came into effect replacing the City of Winnipeg Act.
2003	April 5 to 13 - Winnipeg hosts the Ford World Curling Championships.
2003	July 1 - Winnipeg City Council implements the Smoking Regulation Bylaw prohibiting smoking in public places.
2003	Fall - The Provencher Twin Bridges are completed and the pedestrian walkway named “Esplanade Riel”. The dramatic cable-stayed pedestrian bridge is Winnipeg’s newest landmark.
2003	November 1 - The Centennial Library closes for a $17 million renovation. The facility will reopen as the Millennium Library in early 2005.
2004	Fall - The MTS Centre is scheduled to open.
2005	October 19 - Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, visits Winnipeg.
2005	October 11 - Commemoration of the 100th Birthday of the Carnegie Library Building, 380 William Avenue, presently the home of the City of Winnipeg Archives. This was the first public library building in Winnipeg, constructed with a grant of $75,000 from American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, through whose generosity a total of 2,500 libraries have been built around the world. Mayor Katz presented a plaque to the City Archivist, Gerry Berkowski, in honour of the event.
2005	November 8 - Official opening of the Millennium Library. The restored portrait of Andrew Carnegie was presented to the library by Mayor Katz.
2006	April 19 - In recognition of the achievements of Winnipeg-born Cindy Klassen, Canada's all-time most decorated Olympian, as well as other Winnipeg Olympic athletes of the 2006 Torino Olympic Games, City Council directed that: Sargent Park Recreation Complex be renamed the “Cindy Klassen Recreation Complex” the new indoor track at the Cindy Klassen Recreation Complex be named the “Olympian Indoor Track” in honour of all Winnipeg’s Olympic athletes the street formerly identified as “Recreation Road” be renamed “Cindy Klassen Way”; and designated the name of a new park to be “Olympic Park”. Notably, Klassen is the first Canadian to win five medals in one Olympic Games (the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy). With this achievement, she tied American Eric Heiden's record of five medals won at an Olympics (1980) by a speedskater. At the same time, she overtook the previous Canadian record of most medals (three) at the same Olympic games, held by Gaetan Boucher.
2006	June 30 - Skateboard Park/Plaza at the Forks officially opened. This world renowned urban skate plaza and bowl complex is sensitively integrated into the heart of downtown Winnipeg. The facility, with a total area of over 44,000 square feet, was made possible through a gift from The James Burns Family Foundation. Tony Hawk, the world’s top skateboard athlete, visited and skated at the new facility and shot an opening sequence for his “Secret Skatepark 3” DVD in downtown Winnipeg.
2006	June/July - Examples of record breaking summer days included: Highest recorded average maximum temperature of any July: 29.8°C Sixteen of the month’s 31 days were above 30°C; the norm is four days.
2006	July - City Council approved $6 million in funding for a new world-class soccer facility, to be built on the University of Manitoba campus. Completion is slated for 2007.
2006	October 25 - For this Civic Election, the City Clerk’s Department introduced the “Automark” voting system for blind/vision impaired voters.
2006	November 19 - Winnipeg hosted the 94th Grey Cup Game, between the B.C. Lions and the Montreal Alouettes at the Canad Inns Stadium. This is the third time that the Grey Cup has been held in Winnipeg.