The conservation of historical structures and districts in Winnipeg is the result of long-standing co-operation and commitment by many individuals and groups.

Since the 1970s, governments have contributed to the effort in five main ways: protective legislation, direct capital investment, financial and professional support for private-sector conservation projects, research, and commemorative recognition of sites and structures.

Winnipeg’s Historical Buildings By-law is one piece of protective legislation. It enables the City to:

• Designate structures within its jurisdiction that are of architectural and/or historical significance
• Regulate the alteration and demolition of listed buildings

The original version of the By-law (No. 1474/77) was adopted by City Council on February 2, 1977. It has since been amended by By-laws 2032/78, 3284/82, 4339/86, and 6124/93.

The Historical Buildings Committee is authorized to:

• Advise City Council on heritage issues and policies through the standing Policy Committee on Property and Development
• Research, assess, and recommend structures for designation
• Regulate proposed alterations to listed structures outside the Exchange District. (A separate design review process governed by the Downtown Winnipeg Zoning By-law 4800/88 is used to regulate changes to designated buildings in the Exchange District.)

The Historical Buildings Committee manages the programs that provide financial assistance for conservation initiatives.

The Committee’s volunteer membership includes appointees from the City, Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, Manitoba Association of Architects, and the Manitoba Historical Society.

Historical Buildings Inventory

• List of structures that have not been formally researched and evaluated, but are known to be of potential architectural and/or historical significance.

Inclusion carries no restrictions except to delay the approval of a demolition permit pending an assessment of whether the building in question warrants preservation

There are about 700 commercial, industrial, institutional, religious, residential, and miscellaneous structures in the Inventory.

Buildings Conservation List

• Official record of structures designated by City Council.
• Contains basic information about each building, including address, name, and priority rating (Grade I, II, or III).
• When applicable, any specific components of the structure that have been identified for protection.

The by-law sets out detailed criteria and processes to guide its administration. These provisions include the criteria for determining a structure’s heritage significance, listing procedures, appeal processes, and requirements for obtaining approvals to undertake alterations, repairs, and maintenance. The authority to regulate and prohibit the issuance of demolition permits is outlined, as is the role of City Council in determining whether demolition or removal of a listed structure should be approved.

Under the by-law, the Historical Buildings Committee may research and evaluate the heritage significance of a structure. The Committee may undertake an evaluation based on a request by an owner or other party or when notified that an application has been made to demolish a building on the Historical Buildings Inventory.

Evaluation criteria include:

• Significance in illustrating or interpreting Winnipeg’s history.
• Association with important historic persons or events.
• Illustration of the architectural history of the city.
• Distinguishing architectural characteristics of a style or method of construction.

If listed in the inventory, the building is assigned a priority grade. It indicates the degree of alteration that may be considered acceptable.

Grade I buildings are Winnipeg’s outstanding examples of architectural and historical merit, which are to be preserved in perpetuity. Restoration and maintenance of the entire interior and exterior of these structures are the only types of work permitted. In general, alterations, deletions, and additions to these buildings are considered unacceptable.

Grade II buildings include the majority of Winnipeg’s heritage stock. Sympathetic alterations and additions to the exterior and listed interior elements of these buildings may be allowed in order to maintain the economic viability of the structure. In certain instances, the adaptive re-use of listed interior elements may be permitted.

Grade III buildings have been identified as moderately significant heritage examples worthy of listing. Suitable exterior alterations and modifications may be permitted. There is usually no restriction on interior alterations.

Listing, Notice and Appeal Procedures

There are two methods by which a building may be included on the Buildings Conservation List:

1. Listing by City Council

• The Historical Buildings Committee recommends to the Policy Committee on Property and Development that a building be placed on the list.
• The Policy Committee notifies the owner of the proposed listing, giving him/her the opportunity to object by delivering a letter to the City Clerk. If no letter of objection is received, the building is considered to be listed by Council.
• If a letter of objection is received, the Policy Committee on Property and Development holds a hearing as part of its regular business, then forwards its recommendation to City Council. After again notifying the owner, Council hears representation on the matter. It may then include the structure on the Buildings Conservation List under the grade recommended or any other grade, or it may reject the listing.
• This procedure holds true for Grade I and Grade II listings. The only change in the case of Grade III designations is that prior to notifying the owner, the Policy Committee on Property and Development will seek the advice of the Community Committee representing the district in which the building is located

2. Listing by the Chief Administrative Officer

• The Chief Administrative Officer is empowered under the by-law to list buildings with or without the recommendation of the Historical Buildings Committee.
• Upon listing a building, the Chief Administrative Officer notifies the owner, and, in the case of a Grade III building, the Community Committee as well.
• The Policy Committee on Property and Development then holds a hearing as part of its regular business.
• The same procedures as those outlined in Method 1 apply

Certificate of Suitability

• A Certificate of Suitability is required for any exterior alteration, or repair.
• A Certificate of Suitability is required for changes to the interiors of Grade I buildings and for listed interior components of Grade II buildings.
• Application forms for these certificates are available through the Planning and Land Use Division.
• A subcommittee of the Historical Buildings Committee meets as required to consider design proposals for listed buildings.
• The subcommittee hears the applicant’s proposal, asks questions, and discusses possible changes. An open forum encourages negotiation on desirable alternatives and compromises.
• The subcommittee makes a recommendation to the full Historical Buildings Committee, which issues the Certificate of Suitability provided the applicant agrees in writing with its recommendations.
• When the Historical Buildings Committee recommends to the Policy Committee on Property and Development that a certificate be refused, the reasons for that refusal are forwarded to the owner who then has the right to appear at a hearing of the Policy Committee on Property and Development as part of its regular business.

Certificate of Ordinary Maintenance

• A Certificate of Suitability is not required for ordinary maintenance or repair of a building provided the work does not involve a change in any element of design affecting the appearance of the building or its architectural or historic interest.
• A Certificate of Ordinary Maintenance must be obtained.
• Applications may be made through the Planning and Land Use Division.

Sandblasting

• Sandblasting and other abrasive processes are unacceptable methods for cleaning the wood and masonry surfaces of designated buildings.
• If, however, it is established to the satisfaction of the Historical Buildings Committee that a surface can be cleaned without damage to a building, the Committee may issue a Certificate of Suitability for the work.

An owner or the Chief Administrative Officer may apply to the City Clerk to have a structure removed from the Buildings Conservation List or to have it listed under a different grade. A procedure similar to that involved in listing the building applies.

• In considering a proposed delisting or change of grade, the Policy Committee on Property and Development and City Council may take into account the economic viability of the building where circumstances warrant. An application may be denied if the proposed demolition of a listed building is deemed unnecessary.
• When a demolition is approved, the manner in which the building is dismantled may be regulated; that is, photographic recording of the building or the preservation of some of its specific components may be required prior to a demolition permit being issued.
• When a demolition permit application is made for a building that is not yet listed but is in the Historical Buildings Inventory, the permit is withheld until the Historical Buildings Committee has had the opportunity to evaluate the structure. The Committee may recommend that the building be designated or that it be thoroughly photographed before permission to proceed with demolition is granted.

On August 9, 1995, City Council approved a Consolidated Policy for Funding the Conservation of Heritage Buildings. This policy includes a series of standards that are to be applied to specific heritage projects in a reasonable manner, taking into consideration economic and technical feasibility. Standards include:

• A property shall be used for its historic purpose or be placed in a new use that requires minimal change to the defining characteristics of the building and its site and environment.
• The historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved. The removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be avoided.
• Each property shall be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or architectural elements from other buildings, shall not be undertaken.
• Most properties change over time; those changes that have acquired historic significance in their own right shall be retained and preserved.
• Distinctive features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a historic property shall be preserved.
• Deteriorated historic features shall be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature shall match the old design, colour, texture, and other visual qualities and where possible, materials. Replacement of missing features shall be substantiated by documentary, physical, or pictorial evidence.
• Chemical or physical treatments, such as sandblasting, that cause damage to historic materials shall not be used. The surface cleaning of structures, if appropriate, shall be undertaken using the gentlest means possible.
• Significant archaeological resources affected by a project shall be protected and preserved. If such resources must be disturbed, mitigation measures shall be undertaken.
• New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment.
• New additions and adjacent new construction shall be undertaken in such a manner that if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired.

The Historical Buildings Committee comprises the following members:
 
City of Winnipeg
  • Councillor Jenny Gerbasi, Chairperson
  • Councillor Daniel Vandal, Representative
  • Councillor Harvey Smith, Alternate

Government of Canada
  • Mr. Greg Thomas, Representative
  • Mr. David Hems, Alternative

Province of Manitoba 
  • Mr. Neil Einarson, Historic Resources Branch, Representative
  • Mr. David Firman,  Historic Resources Branch, Alternate
  • (Vacant), Manitoba Urban Affairs, Representative
  • (Vacant), Manitoba Urban Affairs, Alternate

Manitoba Association of Architects
  • Mr. David Kressock, Representative
  • Mr. Glen Gross, Alternate

Manitoba Historical Society
  • Mr. Tim Worth, Representative
  • Ms. Ashleigh Drewett-Laird, Alternate

Secretariat/ Non-Members
  • Mr. Giles Bugailiskis, Senior Planner (Heritage)
  • Ms. Maria Fajardo, Recording Secretary
  • Mr. Murray Peterson, Historical Buildings Officer
  • Ms. Jennifer Hansell, Historical Buildings Officer

Clerk of Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development
  • Mr. Carlos Garmeiro, City Clerk's Department