• A CITY AT LEISURE An Illustrated History of Recreation Services in Winnipeg
PARKS
AN
ILLUSTRATED
AND
A
CATHERINE
CITY
IN
RECREATION
1893-1993
WINNIPEG
AT
BY
MACDONALD
LEISURE:
HISTORY
SERVICES
(
/IPEN
&LIC
OF
t4AR181999 Copyright ©City of Winnipeg, Parks and Recreation Department, 1995 Published by the City of Winnipeg, Parks and Recreation Department
Manitoba Cataloguing in Publication Data: Macdonald, Catherine Logan. A City at Leisure.
Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-7711-1436-2
1. Recreation -- Manitoba -- Winnipeg -- History. 2. Parks -- Manitoba -- Winnipeg -- History. 3. Community centers -- Manitoba -- Winnipeg -- History. 4. Leisure -- Manitoba -- Winnipeg -- History. 5. Winnipeg (Man.). Parks and Recreation Dept. -- History. I. Winnipeg (Man.). Parks and Recreation Dept. I. Title. FC3396.65M32 1994 790’097127’069 GV56.M3W5 1994
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.
Cover Photo: Playground sports day at Assiniboine Park c. 1910.WPRD.
11 111
GREETINGS FROM THE MAYOR
City leaders of some 100 years ago are to be acknowledged for recognizing that recreation and parks are an integral part of the social fabric of a GREAT CITY. The Winnipeg Women’s Labour Council and the Winnipeg City Council advocated the establish ment of the Parks and Recreation Department in 1893. Their deci sion set the stage for the development of the comprehensive parks and recreation system which is enjoyed by all City of Winnipeg residents today. Through the foresight and continuing hard work of volunteers, elected officials, and employees the City of Winnipeg is acknowl edged as a leader in the development of beautiful parks, innovative facilities and a full complement of recreation programs and ser vices. The Parks and Recreation Department can be proud of its 100 year history of contributing to the quality of life for all Winnipeggers. I look forward to the department’s ongoing endeav ours in maintaining Winnipeg as a healthy and vibrant city. ab,%SL4 q. 4HER WORSHIP, THE MAYOR OF WIN JPEG, SUSAN A. THOMPSON vi GREETINGS FROM THE PARKS AND This written and pictorial history depicting the department’s RECREATION DEPARTMENT first 100 years captures the contributions it has made to the citizens GENERAL MANAGER of Winnipeg and to the city at large.
Indeed, 1993 was a very special year for both the Parks and Enjoy! Recreation Department and for the citizens of Winnipeg. Our city is one of the first in Canada to celebrate 100 years of providing quality recreation programs, facilities and parks. In commemoration of this special year the department formed HRENO an Anniversary Committee to plan and organize various activities GENERAL MANAGER and events. Through it’s efforts the department’s history and PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT development were highlighted and chronicled throughout 1993. Since its inception, the department has focused its service delivery on the community. This neighbourhood-based strategy has enabled every citizen of Winnipeg to reap directly the person al, social, environmental and economic benefits that are derived through the provision of parks and recreation services. The department’s mission statement reflects it’s commitment to all Winnipeggers, to the satisfaction of their leisure needs and to the protection of the natural environment. It is through partnership with community groups and volunteers, that the Parks and Recreation Department continues to play a vital role in helping citi zens lead balanced lives, achieve their full potential and gain life satisfaction.
vii VIII GREETINGS FROM Remple, Bill Hanna and Glenda Kebalo — our infamous minute- THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY taker. These individuals and the scores more they recruited to COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS make the many events happen, did a fabulous job and for that we thank them wholeheartedly. Who could ever imagine that so much could happen over 100 We would like also to acknowledge the support of City years. No one told us.. .but we certainly became quick learners. The Council, the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the department has a rich heritage of providing services and programs Winnipeg Association of Public Service Officers. In addition we to city residents. This heritage is captured in this written and picto would like to thank the Province of Manitoba, Department of rial history of the department,which was written by Catherine Culture, Heritage and Citizenship for the financial assistance it MacDonald. It was co-ordinated by the History & Archives Sub provided towards this book. Committee, chaired by Carol Walaschuk and Ingi Ingaldson and There are many memories and legacies left with the depart with dedicated input by committee members Gunter Schoch, Jim ment and the citizens of Winnipeg from the year of celebration. Sesak and Bob Jones. Notable among these are the Winnipeg Parks Rose, the department You will read with interest, how the department celebrated it’s logo and this written and pictorial history book. In it readers will 100th anniversary as the committee’s initiatives are highlighted at find an accurate and entertaining account of the department’s first the end of the book. It is appropriate at this time to acknowledge 100 years, augmented with hundreds of photographs. The spirit of the hundreds of hours contributed by volunteers who brought the the 100th Anniversary Celebrations will carry the department and anniversary celebrations to life through various activities and the citizens of Winnipeg forward through the next 100 years. events. The initial committee set the framework for the 100th anniversary celebrations and was comprised of: Doug Ross (Chair), WE ALL LOOK FORWARD WITH ANTICIPATION TO 1994 Shirley Blaikie, Ashley Langridge, Wendy Mackie, Gerald Mirecki, AND BEYOND! Ron O’Donovan, Bruce Richards, Gunter Schoch, Gary Solar and W.J.(Jim) Swail (General Manager). Early in 1992, an organizing committee was formed to orga nize a wide range of activities and events. As co-chairs we were IRECkL fortunate to have a dedicated and enthusiastic planning committee CO-CHAIR CO-CHAIR
comprised of: Gary Swanson — Program; Claudia Engel Boyce & 100TH ANNIVERSARY ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Barbara Maughan — Promotions; Phil Hay — Resources; Klaus
Burlakow & Laurelyn Neilson (MPRA rep.) — Education; Carol Walaschuk & Ingi Ingaldson — Archives/History; Alice Ivanyshyn
& Glenda Kebalo — Chronicle 100; Herb Rowe — CUPE Representative; and special support from Margaret Barbour, Wally
ix
x 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. PART IV THE SUBURBAN EXPERIENCE 1914 - 1977
11. Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban PART I LAYING THE GROUNDWORK 1892 - 1914 Municipalities 1914-1977 114
1. Small Town, Big Dreams 1893-1903 3 2. Boom Times 1904-1914 13 PART V COPING WITH COMPLEXITY 1960 - 1993 3. Building the City Beautiful 24 12. The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960-1971 144 13. Unicity and the Years of Uncertainty 1971-1979 162 PART II HOLDING ON 1914 - 1945 14. Hard Choices: The Eighties and Nineties 173 15. One Hundred Years of Parks and Recreation 4. Keeping Them Off the Streets 1908-1919 34 in Winnipeg 188 5. The Strike and the Twenties That Never Roared 1919-1929 42 6. Making the Best of a Bad Situation 1930-1945 55 APPENDIX
1993 in Review: 101 Reasons to Celebrate PART III THE LONG SUMMER 1946 - 1960 One Hundred Years of Service 195
7. Charles Barbour Comes to Town 64 8. Community Clubs and How They Grew 77 ENDNOTES 199 9. Parks at the Dawn of the Metro Era 1945-1960 91 10. The Struggle to Modernize 1945-1960 104 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 209
INDEX 213
xi XLI ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Paul Panton’s editing and proofreading skills as well as his research legwork have made this a much better manuscript than This book was commissioned by the City of Winnipeg Parks would otherwise have been the case. Gerald Friesen made time in and Recreation Department as part of the celebrations honouring an already crowded schedule to read an earlier draft of this manu the centennial of Winnipeg municipal parks and recreation services script and to offer both encouragement and sound editorial advice. in 1993. As I searched for research material and answers to many Sharon Segal managed the publication process smoothly and edit questions, staff members of the department always made me feel ed the manuscript with sensitivity and skill. welcome and were unfailingly helpful. I never found the answers It is difficult to make a headlong run through 100 years of his to all of my questions but I do want to thank everyone in the tory without making errors and leaving out some developments. I department who helped me along the way. Special thanks must go take responsibility for these deficiencies as a small price for the to Carol Walaschuk, Chair of the Centennial Committee’s History enjoyment of spending some two years immersed in the parks and Sub-committee, whose enthusiasm for the project often raised my recreation history of Winnipeg. spirits when I felt overwhelmed by the task. Ingi Ingaldson of the History Sub-committee, who co-chaired the publication phase with Catherine Macdonald Carol Walaschuk, pushed the book through the final stages with determination. Tom Fred, who took on the task of caring for the department’s photographic archives, went out of his way to identi fy and file photographs to make my job easier. Dave Harrison took on the mammoth challenge of doing the layout and desktopping. Former staff members were no less helpful. Gunter Schoch shared knowledge gleaned from more than 30 years of work in the Winnipeg parks and recreation field. Margaret Barbour gave a wide-ranging oral history interview on her years working in the Recreation Branch and on her husband’s pioneering work in estab lishing the public recreation program in Winnipeg. I must also thank the archivists, records managers and librari ans who shared both their collections and their expertise. Thanks to: Mary Jambor and Gladys Watson of the City of Winnipeg Archives; Debora Prokopchuk and Michael Moosberger of the University of Manitoba Archives; Sheila Miller of the Legislative Library; Elizabeth Blight of the Provincial Archives of Manitoba; and Thora Cooke of the Western Canada Pictorial Index.
xiii
I
PART
1892-1914
GROUNDWORK
THE LAYING Winnipeg Parks Boardworkers clear and levellandfor roadwaysat the AssiniboinePark site, c. 1905. WPRD.
1
commercial
1884
its
of
depictions
romanticized
equally
with
together
past
Winnipeg’s
of
images
romanticized
featured
map
the
advertising,
of
piece
brilliant
A
View”.
N6251.
Eye
“Bird’s
collection,
1884
Map
PAM,
Fonseca’s
C.
W. vitality. 2 CHAPTER 1 SMALL TOWN, BIG DREAMS 1893-1 903
1884 the Winnipeg realtor W. C. Fon looked grand enough to house human The Public Parks Movement seca published a “bird’s eye view” map rather than equine inhabitants. The popula It was then, in the early 1890s, that some Jnof Winnipeg that was intended to im tion figures, too, were larger than life. Fon of Winnipeg’s most prominent citizens be press prospective investors.’ With its en seca’s map claimed 30,000 inhabitants of gan to talk about setting aside land for use graved medallions depicting Winnipeg Winnipeg in 1883. A more clear-headed esti as public parks. Exactly why the move to es buildings and its toy-like steamboats puff mate has placed the 1884 population at tablish public parks happened just then is ing smoke, Fonseca’s map reveals a lot 17,000.2 hard to pinpoint. It was not as if there was about the personality of Winnipeg at the This was not just advertising; it was a no park land available in and around the threshold of the railway era. First of all, kind of fever dream. Fonseca and his col city at that time. In 1890 Winnipeg parks fell there is a brief nod to the romance of the leagues on the Winnipeg Board of Trade had into two classes. First there was vacant plains with the map title emblazoned on a big plans for their city, dreams that were green space that had simply come to be used chevron and flanked by an improbably bon more real to them than the prosaic actuality for park or recreational purposes because it netted Indian to the left and teepees to the of muddy streets and unpainted shacks. was free and not being used for any other right. The chevron shows a mirage-like city Soon, very soon, Winnipeg would come into purpose. For example, on the Fonseca map beckoning on the horizon. Superimposed on its own as a great North American metropo an oval ring appears just north of the pre the spot now occupied by Elmwood, there is lis, bursting with economic might. It was a sent-day Manitoba Legislative Building on an engraving of the village of Winnipeg as it dream made all the more vivid by the fre the spot now occupied by Memorial Park. was 1871. So much for the heroic past. quent disappointments of the previous 14 Owned by the Manitoba government, this Everything else about the map depicts the years. The bubble was due to burst again in land was known as “the driving park”, a Winnipeg of steamboats, railways, sumptu 1886, with Fonseca himself suffering serious place where the well-to-do could show off ous retail establishments, colleges, prancing losses. However, by 1890, the surviving busi their carriages and exercise their horses on a carriage horses, go-ahead newspapers and nessmen had regained their feet, their ranks Sunday afternoon. busy factories. augmented by ambitious young men from Secondly, there were park areas owned A curmudgeon might have pointed out the east who had experienced neither the by individuals or companies and run as that the buildings, as depicted, were much painfully slow growth of the 1870s nor the commercial ventures. One such area was larger and more imposing than the real nightmarish busts of 1882 and 1886. With Dufferin Park, about which little is now things. Manitoba College loomed out of its Winnipeg established as the wholesale cen known, occupying two full blocks south of medallion and dwarfed the carriage in the tre of the west, the dream again seemed the CPR tracks on the Fonseca map. It may foreground. McKeachie’s Palace Stables achingly close to fulfilment. have been used as a playing field for
Small Town, Big Dreams 1893 - 1903 3
In
on
re
the
for
the
the
sel
and
rail
peo
ven
park their
long
origi
enter
public
of
owner
promi
for
words,
was
amuse
people.
railway
in
Press
streetcar Sundays
of
from
weekday
because,
were
parks.
had
so
their
Park
the
street
church-go
that
fun
young
fees
on
The
the
amusement on
Free
poor
property
driving
other
off,
unsupervised
no
result, worked
that the
but
Elm
kinds
liquor
In
not
once
and
a
the
the
people
only
assaults
of
pavilion
movements
was
the
As
who
but
that
exposed
fees
to
like
use
mention
them.
Winnipeg
excluded
chance,
amusement
by
Sundays
sale
wholesome
to
dancing
reassure
to
Park
realizing
discontinued
to
parks.
there
church
of
was
available
in
temptations.
Commercial
the
rides
to
reform
not
the
for
accessible
Spaces
get
the
only
only
Elm
be
Sundays.
entrance
Saturdays
workers,
been
time,
to
1895,
to
civic
on
use giddy
games the
vulnerable
decided
effectively
built
owners,
had
disturbed
that
were strove
rides,
offered
In
to
problem
and
this
had
purpose.
Protestant
the
banned
and
that
dangerous
cease
and
and
land
and
at
were
charged park
been
Park
view,
parks
in
were
able
service
drawbacks.
required
public
to
there.
The
the
dances
nally
ported
tap
parks ing
ple pulpit,
dances tures
ment
tainment
their
time
nent
dom
and
Another since, hours
evenings way
parks games these
another fare River
of
cant
would
a
of
be
the
the
city risk
Elm
line,
Fort
com
com
there
likely
River
allow
of
street
turned
Rouge
to signifi
electric
Austin proper.
citizens
Albert
on
wanted
proper
railway
his
the
it
to
his
trams
his
distrusted
an
was
was
building
was
success
of
out
Here
city
Rouge
Fort
had
introducing
As
to
by
full-fledged
for
street
Park,
establish
Park.
the
1880s.
that
Austin
the
the
line
Fort
wooded
fed
and
electric
developed
cars
to
the south
Street,
fathers
refused in
the
parks
reducing
for
Elm late
be
way
the
became.
public. 4
meander,
the
could
two
reason
of
extending
less
town.
a
River
city
two
and
was
Rouge
tram
parks
reform-minded
the
he
of
loop
in
the
and
the
by
the
started
and
later
or
from
the
river
he
in would
existing
and
the
Osborne the
it
Fort
ingredient
another
was had
1882
with
that
the to
shadow but
the
electric
horse-drawn
mile
that
it parks
the
in
away
a
railway
of
a
park
key
Park
outskirts
parks,
was
an
meander,
popular.
down
his
acquiring
the
a
technology
technology
far
opening
Austin
1890,
favour
parks
the
sometime
line
the
run
street
railway
and
Elm
shore
very
in
In
There
realized
River
parks,
both
to
a
on
new
However,
on
new
Not
building
Winnipeg,
gain
convert
Winnipeg
of
came
out,
to
and the
him
the
street
to both
By
mercial
line
cars.
limits ties
travelling Rouge
had
pleted
streetcar, William in
amusement
was
north both
Park. two
of
as
of
of
its
co
na
the -
The
ride
Elm
1903
tak
with
rode
since
eight
were
forest
or
young
of away.
of
or
of
swings coming
visitors
bicycle.
pictures
forest
croquet,
walked
out
and
south
tent.
featuring
which
a
too,
day
the
merry-go-
who
it
1893
elm
or
variety
natural
loop
the
river
forest
a there
Winnipeg’s city
the
the
amusements.
music
gallery
later,
a
section
the
depicting
fight
the
from
distance moving
-
those
of deep
the
In
around quoits
Located
of
to
Dreams
midway
or,
automatic
and
From
by
to
see
available
of
a
streets. 3
the
photograph
offered
Big
whistle,
oils,
play
had
some
or
areas
cricket. bagpipe encountered
shooting
new
in
Park.
ferry
walk
meandering
area city
was
in
different
bridge.
or
contraption,
were
and
games
or
a
centrepiece
Park
Town,
the
the
pleasures
cut
man-made
the
revolved.
in
a game,
of
tooting
River
at
could
there
•visitors
midway
lining
quite
on
brass
on
experiences the
Elm
chief
painted
Small
necessary),
of been
pontoon
soccer
it
bandstand
the
and
with
that
to
recreational
latest
luck
horses
developed
then
trees
pleasures
trees
the
of
to
people
featured
the
kinetoscope
swing
had
throwing
the
was
new-fangled
of
River,
Park
elm
advantage very
strains
pusher
their
then
the
opposed saplings
One mature 4
Park
that
where
trails
from Quieter
(no the
sounds
conut
try in
could
Complete prancing
the landscapes
round
across tive
across
recreational
ing Red
favourite the
Elm lacrosse, Above: Pontoon bridge to Elm Park, with park entrance in the background anndst a forest of ma ture elm trees, c. 1900. PAM NI 0323.
Above right: The merry-go-round at Elm Park, c. 1905. PAM N10330.
Right: Pavilion at Elm Park, July 1, 1890. The dances that were held in the pavilion during the 1890s had to be discontinued because the owners feared that reports of rowdy behaviour at the dances would endanger the park’s reputation as a place of wholesomeamusements. PAM N10322.
Small Town, Big Dreams 1893 - 1903 5
a
to
to of
of In
be
the
was
play
middle
sanita
to
of
hours
fear
free
people
oppor
class
posed
dollars.
and
fair
peace.
the the
have
of
alarmed
use,
sanitation,
north
if
poor
solution
leisure
which
did
government
drainage
middle
yards
public
sense
soon
so
That
would
poor
taxpayers’
public
poor
city
the
a
their
the
railway
of by
But
of
The
for
in
lost.
to
services,
and
the
very
go
be
to
1908.
Discontented
decades
Winnipeg
c.
parks. to
to
lands
had
neighbourhoods
sewer
in
members
supported
altruism
not
King,
adjacent
mechanism
the
park
dangerous
and
place
public
and
previous and
disorder.
the
was
be
motion
tracks
streets
no
Simple
in
Main
the
use
of
drainage
addition,
CPR
public could
support with
encouraged
purchase
during to charge,
tunity
put
between
squalor
at
Street
see
the
the
sig
Pro
they
cities
large
general
Arm
relief
a
to
called
Jarvis
and
PAM.
dweller,
and
in
be
of
1890s,
Hudson’s
was
buy
cottages
build
Beach.
city
Assiniboine
began
view
the
now
to
early
summers,
American
people
reformers.
crowding
in
result
the
could
in
the
the
tion,
class
Another
average
Victoria
would Broadway,
lots
begun
The
rambling
By
In
Winnipeg
or
of
the
working
across
had
what
in
to affluent
of
adopted
their
of
larger
in
and
to
Rouge.
south
life
Woods
that
PAM.
more
adjacent of
even
conditions.
populations.
Fort opinion
the
solution
decline
Point
Winnipeg
on
1884.
escape
The
in
streets
of
these
of
the
Reserve
quality
the
after
that
gressive
strong Lake
could
River
houses
elite Bay
the poor. from
particularly
nificant
centrated
workers
especially
of
city,
by
es
the
the
railway
con-
1903
the
cities
were to
-
space
for
all
parks.
of
accom
of
streets,
factories,
large
that
lower
1893
and
centre
offensively
of
housing
their
conscious
green
areas
to
wanted
The
engendered
serve
with
and
very
spaces to
Dreams
their
year
1909.
commercial
lighting
parks
central
c.
been
operations,
Big
cities
crowded
becoming
the
last
of
The
green
had
street
Street,
by become requirements
public
Town,
became
necessary
of
from and
..
the
that
Jarvis
had
congested,
place
growth
on
wholesale
Small
quickly
by
sewers,
industries.
threatened
the
parks
house
and
people
yards,
different
apparatus
of
become
problems
Proponents
feverish
I
CPR
other
transport,
retail
consumed
panying
the 6
the had
These
“...they quite
tablish
Tenement the popular.” 5 tone public health threat. The provision of public George Carruthers parks became part of a larger effort by civic and the Public Parks Act reformers to improve housing and sanitation All of these motives - the economic value and reduce the threat of infectious disease. of beautification, the need for fair access to Perhaps this is why there were numerous recreation and the need to counter the dele references to disease, decay and claustro terious effects of urbanization on the work phobia in the park literature of the period. ing classes - came together in the person of Parks and green spaces, the antidote to George Carruthers. Then the alderman for these woes, were described as the “lungs of Ward 6, Carruthers spearheaded the move the city”, squares and gardens as “breathing by Winnipeg City Council to press the places” in which sunlight and fresh air provincial government for legislation that would banish contagion. Public parks were would permit all municipalities in Manitoba to be places of bodily and spiritual regener to create parks boards and acquire, improve ation to counteract the unhealthy and spiri and maintain public parks. With his partner tually draining effects of the city. J. H. Brock, Carruthers had built up a suc There was, too, the simple fact that the cessful fire insurance business in Winnipeg value of properties adjacent to well-kept and owned a large brick house on Colony park land would very likely increase. This Street at the western edge of the city. brought a smile to the faces of the many real Had Carruthers stuck with Brock, who estate entrepreneurs on City Council. The went on to found the Great West Life Assur George F. Carruthers who, as an alderman in 1893, pushed parks movement was sufficiently advanced ance Company, he might be better known to for legislation to allow Manitoba cities, towns and munici palities to acquire and maintain land for public parks. PAM in American cities and in the cities of east day. As it is, only a few assorted facts are N1013. ern Canada by the 1890s to make this pre known about him. He voted Conservative, diction a virtual certainty. Winnipeg had was a vestryman of the Anglican Church and the boosterism of Fonseca and seen parks as come to a stage of development, these men was a member of the Manitoba Club. He was public investments in Winnipeg’s, and very said, when the frontier mentality had to be first elected as an alderman in 1885 and likely his own, future. And, as alderman of set aside. Beautification of streets and the served two more terms in 1892-94 and 1900 Ward 6, the area north of the CPR tracks, he acquisition of parks, ornamental squares 01. Sparse though they may be, these facts would have been well aware of the lack of and driveways would enhance property identify Carruthers as a member of the elite green space in that part of town. Elm Park values and attract investment to the city. group of Winnipeg businessmen who domi and River Park, as well as being expensive nated Winnipeg City Council from 1874 to and inaccessible during the times when the First World 6War. He would have shared working families might wish to use them,
Small Town, Big Dreams 1893 - 1903 7
a
in
of
to
on
the
in
as
the
the
an
ex
the
not
ma
size
pur
con
limit
park
Win
inde
place,
could,
on
on
with
was
the
Act
the
set
acreage
or
was
voters
personal
any
in
the
curbs
large
a
before
Winnipeg
could
conflicts
a
striking
the
in
that
city
the
a
cities
Cities
this
“pecuniarily
effects
dollar
which
relative
collecting
and
a
park
members,
by
was
for
to
some
of
in
of
for
most
board
the
the
by-law
As
petition
the purposes
a
put
a
being
above
also
the
There
25,000.
on
to
legislation
to
feature
board
case
passed
time
negative
members,
acres
is
indirectly,
rateable
case,
a
stipulated
put
that
board
future.
the
no creation
from
mill
to
or land
than
was
all
were
and
act
400
by-law,
any
in
parks
land
boards.
the
of
board
needed
board
the
In
relating
less
enabling
of
parks
The
in
and
1892,
This
the
the
There
of
wasted
for
acres
Council
directly
legislation,
of
acquire
of
one-half
for
Started
the
positive
of
value
gift.
work
aldermen,
among forbade
work
600
the
protect.
City
board. acreage
-
or
by
levy
both
of
signatures
to
With
power
exceed
Winnipeg
the
parks
Carruthers electorate
nipeg December
Getting 300
property.
to
assessed jority.
however, nual
limit
chase
to population
the of
tract property.” 9
interest interested,
cluding
have pressly
pect
pendence
turf
board’s
of
to
to
re
the
de
the
the the
rest
this
was
City
a
ward
chair
at
parks
other
mem
of
there
whole.
of
citizen
period,
fiercely
the
chair
difficult
civic
were “citizen
relation
by
a
no
Act
in
Council.
the
only
Although
the
six
is
with
composed
in
contention
be
elected
as
frequently
this by
Act,
the
and
and
it
of
of to
citizen
be
have
interests
City
minds
with
board
city
not
plus
to
counteract
mayor,
board
were
six
power.
bodies
Ontario
Parks
Winnipeg
said
the the
membership During
years,
the
bone
Council
to
of
of
council
members,
from
the
of
of
would
to
ward’s
the
members
were
in
the
parks
100
committee,
members
of
citizens
the
were
City
length
Public
size
of
committee
own
they
is,
was
political
They
balance
citizen
the
years,
“wardism”
council
a
public
legislation.
interests
arms
intended
finance
consist
consisting
citizen
their
a
the
of
of
that
since
appointed citizen-oriented
be
works
The
the
to
this
of
what
distance
Winnipeg
cities
Aldermen the
to
Significantly, Manitoba
of
independence
of
but
Council,
were
held
at
representing
in
board
was
the
council
more
of
created
was
mixture
The
council
know
ostensibly,
succeeding
the
City
the
a
“wardism”
expense
Perhaps
protective board
formers.
hurled
allegations
framers
fore, From to
gree
of
bers.
this in mayor
even
members.
the
words,
to council Council. of
members”, board
of
be,
boards
of
of
of
as
to
20,
the
the
vir
this
On
Ap
1903
mu
first
Ice
Car num
-
their
a
from
If
parks
parks
domi
on
end
Passed
end.
the
enabled
by
provide
the
between
for
improve,
April
crowded
notion
given
Act.
was
1893
ownership
and
number
by
quick.
then
legislation
up
Act
Act. 8
certain
south
north municipality.
on
be
public
the
public
the
Manitoba
largely
recreation heavily
a
wrote
would
away
or
the
was
with
was
government,
Parks
to
all
which
of
6
Parks Dreams
the
passed
class
for of
,
maintain,
very
city
ride
for
becoming building
would
affluent
parks
Augmented
land,
Big
Manitoba
increasing stages
Act,
Public
the
Act,
Ward
Germans,
establish
workers
path 1883
car
Public
hold,
space then
Legislature petition
in
the
more
were
park
Carruthers
receptive
leaned
to
in
Town,
provincial
working
was
Public
and
boards
on
Parks
The
for
the
authority
sell
street
Ontario.
with various
the
was
Manitoba
Ontario
vested Small
railway
tensions
and
Manitoba
George
the
and
These
purchase,
Public
Swedes
and
constituents.
the
long
Manitoba
parks.
citizens,
the
by
the
workers areas
land
Carruthers
to
a
the
Legislature
of
blueprint
of
depressing.
in
Clearly,
increasingly
the
legislating
the
so,
As
of 8
right
1892,
regulate
tual municipalities,
draft tario boards.
Ontario ber
through is
parently by
the
public
Winnipeg nicipalities,
the
soothe
these and these
neighbourhoods
landers,
ruthers’ nated
were Britain At the first meeting of the Winnipeg large “city” park, whether this had a central Public Parks Board, on February 1, 1893, the or a suburban 11location. Drewery and his prominent brewer E. L. Drewery was elected board seem to have been following a differ as chairman by his fellow board members. ent model with their plan for a system or Drewery, a citizen member, began a tradi network of parks, which was similar to what tion that was seldom broken during the en was happening in American cities like suing long history of the board, that of elect Chicago and Boston. ing a citizen rather than a council member to Another reason for concentrating on the chairmanship. Drewery remained on the smaller sites, rather than on securing land for board for the next six years, the first five as the large “outside” park, was provided by chairman and the last as an ordinary mem the economic climate. In 1893, Winnipeg and ber. the wider North Atlantic economy was again The plans of the first board were precise. experiencing an economic downturn. Since As laid out by Drewery in the board’s 1893 the Manitoba Public Parks Act provided for annual report, it would establish, “...small the raising of capital for park purchases via E.L. Drewery, the Winnipeg brewing magnate who was elected Chairman of thefirst Winnipeg Parks Board in 1893 urban Parks, ornamental squares, or breath the sale of debentures to the public, it was and led the board through itsfirst five years. WPRD. ing places, throughout the City, and also a very likely that the recession limited deben large suburban or outside Park, as a means ture sales. As it turned out, the debentures for $16,500 and named Assiniboine Park. (In of enjoyment and recreation.”° Because issued to cover the purchase of small park 1905 it was renamed Fort Rouge Park. At available property inside the city was sites in 1893 and 1894 proved difficult to sell. that time the board had decided to name the quickly being bought up and was escalating In spite of this financial problem - the new suburban park Assiniboine Park and in price, the board’s first priority was to ac first of many - the board’s first decade was thus had to choose a new name for the quire land for the small urban parks. Every an eventful one in which the groundwork neighbourhood park). The next purchase section of the city was to be provided with was laid for the system of neighbourhood was ten acres of property north of the city one of these parks, none of which was to be parks. During its first two years, the board centre in the parish of St. John, adjoining St. nearer than one-half mile nor further away was preoccupied with acquiring park sites. It John’s College. This was bought from the than a mile from each other. was a hands-on business, as board members Anglican Church for $15,000 and was the To locate small urban parks throughout toured the available properties with the city first parcel of land acquired for the present the city was an unusual plan for a Canadian surveyor in tow. By June 7, 1893, they had day St. John’s Park. The Hudson’s Bay Com city of the time, one that, for example, was decided on three properties.’ First was the pany had been asked to choose which of its not then being pursued in Ontario. Ontario old Balfour estate 2on the south bank of the considerable properties in the Hudson’s Bay cities tended to concentrate on acquiring one Assiniboine River in Fort Rouge, purchased Reserve would be available for park pur
Small Town, Big Dreams 1893 - 7903 9
a
ac
St.
to
gar the and
-
pub
Duf
land
in
was
under
of
boule
head
perma
on
job
improve
first
acres
and
parks
James
the
England
years
small
33
and
Victoria,
St.
left
Winnipeg
a
Board’s
ten
board
of
the
finance
about
the
finally
of
design
Park’s
Dame,
first
Central,
and
with
work
sub-committees
parks,
the
Their
neighbourhood
the
Notre
nucleus
Winnipeg
tenure
misdeeds
Rouge,
Board
comprising
the
his the
-
WPRD
nine
system.
life.
Fort
oarious
directed
1907.
gardening,
occupied
Selkirk,
During
England,
of
in Carry
These
became
park
D.
D. cloud
dener.
cused
scape
vards
ment
Fort lic board’s
tal,
ferin,
John’s,
it
of
A
in
of
fi of
the
but
pe
two
The
and
site
had
com
Duf
diffi
acres
Main
by.
to
blocks
shape.
neigh
Gwen
a
the
remain
gateway
west
1897
named
Dufferin
on
that
this
of
board
south
was
Company
powers
by
privately
which
two
most
in
Logan
stood.
and
come
only
Park,
its
board the
and
since
for
on
sale
the
several
Bay
land
advertising
to
Garry
acres
Park.’ 6
and
land
size
blocks
the
of
the
site
be
network
used
Park
park
Carry
the
and
Winnipeg
existing
bounded
offers,
to the
Fort
Selkirk
After
two
four
of
of the
offer
park
of
same
purchased
which
for new
before site
Fort
difficult
for
Park.
streets,
the
board
an all
Hudson’s
$4,500.
Dufferin
a
tracks
its
on
the
first
part
be
there.
Dufferin
proved
the
centre
already also
Negotiations
for
on
the
of
old
almost
to
Street
the
Avenue
for
made
for
complete
CPR
Upper
land
the Gunnel
were
park
Gateway
the
appeared acquire
avenues.
received
parks,
Street of
1900,
exists
point
a
the
the
board
newspapers
Main
park’ 5
piece
and
Board
in
Dame
did
proved
of
would
had
secured
for
Park,
of
still
Carry
Eventually, part
commercial
focal
The
Ironically,
local
Fort
the
Parks
ing
donated
Then,
properties
panion
north
Alexander west
doline
Park
comprised
never
expropriation
cult.
owned
bourhood
which
ferin
board
Maryland
nally
deputation the Notre
tition
Street,
then
to
St.
In
of
it,
the
for
for
city
the
was
did
any and
was
limit
park
in
Cen
:J9Q3
Dou
of
board
Park.
steep It
which
of
of
would
had
put
transfer
This
3,
finalized
than
River
The
property the
land
1893
significant
company, west
quality
water
had
city
Point
debentures
Part
a
settled
later a
vendors.
of
swampy
CPR
a
Park.’ 4
limiting
by
rather
was
of
company
Red
Park. Central
-
the
advance
deal.
the
a
the
and
Ward
more
and
the
the
was
then
board
in
Dreams
the
at
the in
-
to
acres
by
parts
board
day
to
this
bank
that
its
south
bought
James
of
cash
that
the
Victoria
Big
summer.
six
tracks
that the
on
‘gumbo’,
it
park
St.
sites
properties of
felt
purchased
some
board
river
but
fact
as
access
from
the
of
bank CPR
cultivation
the
Town,
present
selected
in
purchase
board
interest
of Street,
the
the
was
Park
the
Gardens
board
these
to
called
were
the
1893,
was,
was
it
the
to
and of
first
west
renamed
Small
land
the
of
but
of
part
resists
and
seekers
indications
along
site
became
westward
the
sale
Colony
access
low
and
percent
combination
parish
The
end
site,
Victoria
1894,
are
than
that
ran
class.” 3
a
surface
south
on
offered
board’s
Because
Park
larger
The
$6,000
the
five
nice
10
development.
was
for
the
around
drawback. expand
James
pleasure
track boaters
a
$11,000
called
glas
at
early
offer
other
earth
area by
“...very
tral the
There
$20,000, better
and poses. nent staff. As head gardener, the board hired should better documented charges be re August of 1903 City Council decided that D. D. England, about whom little is now ceived in future, he would be fired immedi perhaps the new suburban park should also known and whose relationship with the 8ately.’ England survived to fight another be the new site of the annual Winnipeg In board was to be a stormy one. By 1903 the day, but the minutes reveal at least two more dustrial Exhibition. The Exhibition Board, board had three permanent year-round em complaints. By the time he left the board’s which found its then permanent site north of ployees - the board secretary, the head gar employ in 1907, again under a cloud, he had the CPR tracks in the west end of the city un dener and one teamster.’ The rest of the em seriously undermined the board’s credibility satisfactory, dithered for a month or two ployees were 7seasonal: six caretakers as with the community. while the Parks Board waited on them. signed to the larger parks for seven months In the meantime, the Parks Board had in of the year and casual labourers who worked Securing the Large vited the citizenry to comment on these mat during the growing season. England super “Outside” Park ters and make their wishes known. The local vised the “outside” staff as the parks were In order to acquire the urban parks, the press was only too happy to oblige and gradually cleared, drained and filled, fenced board had had to spend close to $80,000. As prospective sites were boosted by one paper and planted. a result the outside or suburban park that and derided by another. Town Topics, Win It is clear that England took an interest in was part of the first board’s plan had to wait nipeg’s society paper, decided that Nugent’s his work and that he took every opportunity until a significant part of this debt was re Point, the riverbank property now known as to better inform himself on parks matters. It tired. It was not until 1901 that the large out Wildwood Park in Fort Garry would be is also clear that he had a liberal interpreta side park was again discussed seriously. In ideal, even going so far as to publish idyllic tion of his responsibilities and something of December of 1902, Winnipeggers approved a pictures. Too far away for most Winnipeg an eye for the main chance. The minutes are $50,000 money by-law for the purpose of ac gers, said The Voice, the local labour paper. decorously worded, but in October of 1897 quiring land for the outside park. By this Nonsense, replied “the Lounger”, the Town the board received several charges against time, the city had grown significantly and Topics editorial writer, “...the electric cars, England that it could not ignore. He was ac was on the brink of its most prosperous once they get outside the city, will run at cused, “...of being pecuniarily interested in decade ever. But the question of where to lo high speed and a mile or two more or less work for private parties...”, of selling plants cate the park was not an easy one. There was will make no material difference in point of belonging to the board and getting house a consensus that the site ought to be on one time taken to reach the park, and the longer plants from the board nursery at Fort Rouge of the rivers for aesthetic reasons and to ride, as a matter of fact, will be preferred by Park for his own use. Though most of the let make it accessible to boating traffic. This lim most people.” The Lounger had weighed ters were unsigned and the accusations were ited the board’s options considerably and the advantages9 of prospective Assiniboine not well documented, the board found that made the whole issue of a location for the River sites and rejected them because of the England’s conduct had been careless and park something of a political football. As if impossibility of reaching them by boat. “extremely injudicious.” He was warned that the board did not have enough problems, in Meanwhile, presumably because it was
Small Town, Big Dreams 1893 - 1903 11
of
in
of of
af
the
na
the na
the
sale
then
Com
of
vision
In
within
formed
the
was
years
terraced
island
favour
the
land
sought
of
but
Milk
altered, and
$39,903
ten
in
featured
the
the
small
At
dairying
on
acreage
a
much
first
and
back
on
Pure
been
Company.
fulfilled
as
and
the
the
the
members
expensive,
completion
site,
had
of
to
well
range,
swung
park,
operation.
as
The
Munroe was
Railway
vegetation board
River
secured
Most
farming
price
which
the
river
land
work.
and
the
1904
by
of
Street
owners.
itself. suburban
conclusion
the
pendulum
dairying
by
of
a
founding
of
the
prairie
the
forest
acres
river
stipulated
board’s
large
Assiniboine
May the
fitting
the
a
of
ter
in
tive
course,
tive the previous
the
an
pany,
occupied
end,
with 290 banks
a
lo
the
the
and
they
mu
seri
talks
what
south
Vital. be
of
Parks by
Point,
should
munici
the
councils
St.
was
park
underway
in
bank
the
of
further
city Special
their
Boniface
request
considering
itself
east
regarding
in
also
canvassed
Nugent’s
St.
River
even
arrangements
outside
Vital
the
palities.
tax the were
cated
St. would
were
board
The
ously than nicipality
site Red
on
cheaper,
Board
River
park”,
outside
Assiniboine
“large
the
its
of
for
south
site
the
land
as
1903
the
of
1904
1893-
part
May
on
in
N15653.
Dreams
located
PAM
acquired
Big
was
It
Park.
Board
Town,
1890.
Parks
c.
Assiniboine Small
farm,
as
Winnipeg
today
the
Smith’s
12
which
known John CHAPTER 2 BOOM TIMES 1904-1 914
n 1904 Winnipeg was entering a decade real but there were also many other Win cial reformers in government, church and ed of feverish growth that was to please the nipegs, many distinct neighbourhoods, rich, ucational circles. Jmost avid of its boosters. In addition to poor and in-between, with their own shop being the railway and wholesale capital of ping districts, newspapers, athletic clubs, More Responsibilities but not, the west, the city had been able to get a de benevolent associations, churches and syna Necessarily, More Money cent start in manufacturing and financial ser gogues. There was, for example, the Ice This was the context for the Winnipeg vices. The muddy town had finally grown landic enclave located in the west end close Public Parks Board’s next era of develop into its promotional slogans, “Gateway to to First Lutheran Church on Victor Avenue. ment. With the changes in its environment, the West” and “the Chicago of the North”. There was St. Boniface, on the east side of the life had become more complex for the board This brief decade of spectacular growth was Red River, fighting fiercely to retain its fran than it had been in the 1890s. Gradually it to leave its stamp on the city, giving it a cophone and Roman Catholic identity. There had acquired new responsibilities, some of shape and character that it retains to this was the tiny black community composed of which it did not particularly want. City day. Like most modern industrial cities, men who had come north to work as porters Council, in a far-sighted mood, had acquired Winnipeg, in its boom era, had both geo on the railway. There was Chinatown, whose land for a municipal cemetery back in 1877. graphic and social divisions that were cafes and laundries, too, were the stuff of Council had wanted to have a place to bury strongly marked. It was divided by its rivers stereotype. There was St. John’s, full of Eng poor people whose families were unable to into three distinct geographical units and lish, Scottish and Irish working class fami pay for burial themselves. For reasons that crudely bisected by the CPR tracks. Though lies. are lost in the mists of time, the council chose Winnipeggers could travel through the city In spite of this diversity, the positions of to locate the cemetery, fully three and one- at will, language, race, ethnicity and espe power in business, politics, the churches, the half miles away from the settled part of Win cially class told them where they belonged university and polite society were still firmly nipeg. Brookside Cemetery, as it was named, and where they did not. The comparison of in the hands of the WASP elite. And all of became something of an albatross. It was ex the “two Winnipegs” of that era - exempli these institutions viewed with alarm the pensive to maintain, hard to get to and visu fied by squalid “New Jerusalem” north of large number of European and Slavic immi ally unappealing. After the Parks Board was the CPR tracks between Salter and Main grants who knew nothing of British tradi formed in 1893, council decided that Brook streets and affluent Armstrong Point, se tions and law, who did not speak English side was a responsibility that could be han cluded and exclusive on a meander of the and whose traditional religious practices re dled best by the new board. When Brookside Assiniboine River - has become almost a inforced their separateness. Efforts to “Cana was transferred into its care in 1896, the cliché. This contrast was stark and all too dianize” these people came to preoccupy so- board accepted with as much grace as it
Boom Times 1904 - 1914 13
the
re
the
for
for
im
the
and
men
that,
boule
off
earth
as
almost
islands
council
“the his
and
making,
it
“keep
street
local
as
the
dump
occasion
the
Then
for
sure
engineer
fact,
green
road
to
and
known
on
one
in
construction
boulevards
cost.
city
responsibility
then
make
On
from
These
the
the
which
the
plantings
was its
main
improvement
for
on
risk
boulevards
ratepayers
seriously;
corner
should
took
water
local
caution
Winnipeg
maintain he
the
down
installation.
a
obsession.
very
council
to
why
attractive
as
constant
board
an
the
the
assess
laying,
excavating
had
would
at
shows
planks
cost
bill
hydrant
The
which
laid
provements,
when
fire
sewer board
were
became
quired.
the boulevards
board
and
would
boulevard,
the
1910,
of
c.
of
the
the
laid
and
rep
width
were
scene,
stipu
a
the
wanted
a petition
city 1900,
was
behalf
construct
street
if
to
WPRD.
They
During
Note
appropriate
controlled
particularly
quite
boulevards
on
street
After
then
sign.
had
a
all
First,
which
city”.
them.
downtown
were,
on
where
of
streets
Board
Canadian
vard
grass” they
A
it
Act.
on
acquired a
would
council.
as
trees
boulevards.
in process
those
by
had
Parks
Parks
control
on
residents
board
tree
treed
years.
of
the
of remarked
munici
constructed
board
feature
only
its
The
complex
Public
early
performed,
a
city’s the
stretch
Winnipeg
for
often
assumed
a
the
years,
to
those
the
number
on
in
board.
boulevard,
for board
unusual
boulevard
during
limits
the
a
the
out
lated
through
ceded
board
early
visitors boulevards
an
utation
council.
the
city
visit
to
the
responsibility
by
the
the
that
ma
the
1914
and
sup from
.
a
spend
in
outside
of
over
England
depressing
Pleasant
all,
far
revenue
far
park-like
1904
took
Cemeteries
and
use
and
supplied
require
to
after
happily
purposes
Located
upkeep
Board
Mount
to
Times
to
get
become
gardener
responsibility
Brookside,
to
the
far.
1896.
funds
Parks
could prairie
in
would,
so
Boom
had
for
going
hard But
board only
Brookside.
The
Head
the
cemetery
go
beautiful
bald
to
was
the
the
was
public
Council
1910.
for
but
the
c.
only
dry
Council
not
the
road
funding
Toronto,
City
cemetery
beautify.
like
allow
the
afternoon.
in
plots
the
to
was
start,
from
the
services,
of
would
Cemetery,
a
where
muster.
the
This
separate
effort
prairie,
cemetery
Sunday
14
council
made
existing
middle
Cemetery a
spaces
improve
elsewhere, jor
cemetery,
WPRD. ply from
could
less
Brookside pal City Hall square, c. 1910, showing theformal flower beds, the Queen Victoriamonument and the Boywith the Bootfountain in the background. TheParks Boardwas responsiblefor the maintenance of thegrounds around all civicbuildings. WPRD.
Boom Times 1904 - 1914 15
a
of
in of
ad
the
im
the
Ot
and
was
The
gar
new
civic
from
plan-
land
Mon
board
of
Assini
Assini
capital. Park
and
parts
The
that
board’s
in
pavilion
the
and
Canada.
responsi
efficiency
Frederick
there
the
head
park
parks
for
number
walkways,
board’s
City
designing
in
the
Olmstedian
as
Park
of
known
as
As
Montreal
the
the
Central 1907,
great
The
increased.
and
located
nation’s
gardens.
from
was
to
architects.
of
in
realigned
important
best
improve
growing
increase
for
be
implement
the
Royal
the
figure
provided
boulevards
years.
date.
to
be
to
to
its
to
left
the
roads
fresh
plan
featured
apparent
practicing
for
flower to
to
plan
overhaul
as
with
moved
centrally
giant
was
Mount
Todd
to
a
was
designer
hire
this
many
parks,
have
Winnipeg
It
duplication.
then
inadequacies
finally
1904
park
had more
the
have
sufficiently
to
for
well
of
the
formal
maintain structure
plan
suitable
over
he
in
Todd
effort
local as
perimeter
lawns,
urban
and
was
to
plan
for
Todd would
C.
design.
by
The
apprenticed
would
plan
undertaking
for
became
Park
decided
architect
When
a
spread
Park
open
York
eliminate
that
and
Olmsted,
areas
England’s
had
concerted
and
ministrative
a
park.
dener
struggled
properties
work
bilities
largest
workers
budget
plementation
and
large
treal curvilinear
Olmsted’s
fling
boine
Boston.6
New
Law
He
Frederick tawa,
scape comprehensive
designed
board
boine
to
to
in
of
to
the
the
the
and
tree
ade
pro
been
from
levy,
1905,
with.
Addi
some
a
faster
of
Public
and
maple
so
both
of
annual all
city.
body
gardens
a
care
Hospital
in
suburban
on
1914,
upkeep
and
familiar
and
the
the
Board
had
1907.
dealt
the
idea
the
Assiniboine
and
found
By
trying
spraying
in
to
different
so
the
in
as new
ash be
grounds
elm
Winnipeg
General
poplars,
parks
Parks
of
to
for
was
libraries
the
city.
never
planted
areas
the
the
quite
board’s
the
named
Becomes
prone
squares
annual
the
the
inherited
responsibilities
worms
Square
on
as
had
the
be
an
the
of
board
were
pest. 4
green
species
board
1914,
of
John’s
also council
near been
established
Carolina
new
Hall
but
top
the
various
the
much
By
the
St.
by
canker could
had
had
properties:
on was
of
as
City
1907 public
of
these
neighbourhood
particularly
various
But
Square
mounting
and
Champion
species,
in all
to
residents
Superintendent
civic
board
combat
and
council. The
of
improvements
and
liked
which
Board
funding
funds,
disadvantages
was
properties
supplied
were
to
tried.
of
it
Meanwhile,
The
1906
Parks Park. 5
park,
respond
begin
George
charge
Parks
that
quate
these
tional
in
Alexandra were
Carnegie
around
maintenance
gram
current
infestations
that They board
elm’s
growing were
streets
example,
of
to
by
oc
the
re For
the
the
fact
the
dis
less
1914
was
onto
sight duty
-
treed
cattle
of
Street
tree
unim
it
board
stock. 3
on
and
the
the
drivers
hardier
far
mainte
of were
1899
sole
little,
the
go.
Winnipeg
vehicular
of
1904
the
be
downtown
species.
better
have
and
and
In
but
to
to
by
directly
to
there
efforts,
on
to
sufficiently
because
boulevards. 2
mature
been
and
residential
it
nursery
vehicle
walking
Times
driving
give
whose
downtown
other
to
have
trees.
best
close
crown
doors,
number
to
had
Little
grass
the
result
with
foot
occasion
found
to a
older
from
practical
a
other
Boom
the
with
slow
most
planting
elm
and
dangerous. matured
by
and
toll.
stock
As
of
throwing the
businesses
with
constable
board’s
and
were
corners
going
more
The
that
of
in
a
less
streets
had
prohibit
commercial
were
for
people
damaging
bays
another
trees
at
their
the
to
no
shape
the
on
elms
board
of
were
1904 damage
On
and
elms
need
trees
boulevard
concrete.
depleted.
available
trees
experiments
instead
streetcar
the
taken
by
vase
with
were
prevent
for
loading
the of
the
spite
dilemmas.
replaced
employed
council
the
imported
to
native
all
horses
been
to
clay
Meanwhile,
grass.’
In
16
1908 casional
had
than
that
However,
choice
elegant
tricts, nance
present
appealing
streets
lines
moval had
traffic, board
peded
evident widening,
boulevards
and was
boulevards
the
and board
asked Bipeds George Champion who had excellent refer rerouted to the south of the site, but it cannot ences, training in horticulture and landscape have looked inviting to Champion’s English gardening, and experience in park improve eyes. He was not used to such flatness and ment and maintenance. But could he super even after many years of working in the vise and administer a whole parks system? prairie environment, he still made wistful Mayor J. H. Ashdown was dispatched to references to rolling terrain elsewhere and Toronto to interview Champion. The mayor complained mildly of the difficulty in mak was so impressed with him that he was hired ing flat parks visually interesting. After three on the 8spot. years of clearing work the features of Todd’s In Champion the board was to find a design had yet to take shape and the park winning combination of dedicated energy, was not open to the public, although people strong vision, wide-ranging knowledge of did drive through it to see how the work was horticulture and park design, and simple going. During the work season of 1907, good taste. He was born in Frampton, Dorset- Champion’s first, the last rubbish and old George Champion, whose term as Superintendent of Parks shire, England and gained his training in hor fences were cleaned off the site, roadways lasted 26 years. He designed some of Winnipeg’s best loved parks and laid the foundation for a system of parks serving ticulture first at Frampton Court, a local pri were cut, lawns seeded and trees planted. the whole urban area. WPRD. PAM. vate estate, and then at the Royal Gardens at Pathways were cut through the forest, the boulevards were the board’s main concerns, Kew, 9Surrey. In 1897 he emigrated to On larger lawns summer fallowed and a large two superintendencies were created, one for tario where he continued in horticultural clearing in front of the proposed pavilion each of these areas. In addition, Brookside work. DuriIg his 28 year career in Winnipeg and close to the river, to be known as the Cemetery became a separate department un Champion had the good fortune to inherit a “children’s meadow”, was seeded. In 1908 a der the superintendency of J. H. Gunn. parks system in its ascendancy but he also pond for ducks and swans was excavated. Robert McFarlane became superintendent of presided over its most prolonged period of Designed by Winnipeg architect J. D. Atchi boulevards. decline. son, a two-storey pavilion was built in 1908 The board lingered carefully over the se featuring a high tower and wide second floor lection of the parks superintendent. The Assiniboine Park Begins balcony over which vines would later trail. It problems with England had made them dou to Take Shape housed a dance hall, banquet hall, lunch and bly determined to hire the best possible man. It can only be guessed what Champion’s catering facilities. The tower cleverly con After advertising in parks publications in thoughts were when he confronted the unre cealed a 16,000 gallon water tank and electric Canada and the United States, 40 applica lieved flatness of the Assiniboine Park site. It engine for pumping water from the 0river.’ tions were received. One was from a very had been cleared of unwanted trees and Until the park was attached to the city water promising young man in Toronto named fenced, and Charleswood Road had been mains following the successful completion of
Boom Times 1904 - 1914 17
it
to
in
set
in
the
pub
1904,
plan
it
With
called
of
species
housed
not
In
buffalo,
the
treated
natural
little
succeeding
area
zoo
exotic
with
park.
In
and
opportunity
thought,
animals.
the
board
Champion
wolves,
probably
the
and
the
the
devoted
as
1910
for
much
native
popular
was
that
north-west
animals.
By
native
and
of
given
donations prairie
zoo”
it.
of
plans
very
the
fact
by
to
matter
these
been
in
to
amenity the
mix
species
the
swans,
modest
of
had
Todd’s
became
last
house
money
place
in
It
added
afterthought
a
“our
spite
to
or
several
giving
This
board
an
in
was
patchwork
including
a
ning
as
lic
crease.
it,
park
years
aside
out
the buy
cluded
of
to
of
the the
The
was
Day
per
done,
ducks
at
able
oblong
pavilion
be
zoo.
and
quality
an
which
annex
to
the
were
features.
advantage
Victoria
at
the
of
small
with
gardens
handsome
its
on
swans
a
take
the
of
west
stage
Visitors
the
remained
match
in
by
a
along
place
screened-in
the
formal
pond,
a
not
many
to
work
watch
fanfare.
took
the
the
did
PAM
monkeys
1909,
reached
pavilion
enjoy
designed
much
In
much
the
corner,
surrounded grounds
the
had
and
around
opening
could
to
through
1908
constructed. amid
watch
basin
F park
Though
picnic
design.
in
construction
poorly
and
the
gliding
stroll south-east
1909,
official
public
the
gola.
added
the lily
of
Built
but
south.
the
the
the
that
only 1914 beautiful
-
in
tower
build
water
prairie
quality
from for
was
$19,000,
shallow
training
use
develop
the
the
of
the
the 1904
surprising
hold
the
of
of
viewed
tower
with
by
water
building
cost
suggested
that
not
Times
feel
the
1910, of
up
this summer
is
eaves
taking
c.
pavilion,
show
architectural for
kept
Boom
This
then
the
general
source
Atchison,
influenced his
balconies,
Paijilion,
D.
of
built
construction
would
the
I.
aqueduct,
a
got clearly
Park
main
been
overhanging
roof
was
broad
At
and
and
years
midwest.
Lake
the
its
had
architect
architecture
wide
main
roof
there.
Assiniboine
Atchison
of
was
future
with
the
pavilion
Shoal The
Chicago
first
Winnipeg
and
18
the
ments
since
in
American
Atchison style
ing,
and cottage
tank park.
the
The
N4743 by Above:Foot bridge to Assiniboine Park, c. 1912. This “temporary” foot bridge, which was installed every spring and removed before freeze-up in the fall, lasted until a permanent bridge was built in 1932. PAM N53.
Above right: Assiniboine Park Pavilion, c. 1915, viewedfrom the north-west and showing the pavilion annex built in 1909. PAM.
Right: Bandstand in Assiniboine Park, c. 1911. Band concerts werefrequent attractions in Winnipeg parks at the turn of the cen tury. PAM.
Boom Times 1904 - 1914 19
a
A
to
on
di
fall
the
did not
was
1909
plied
the
point
could
to
forth
built
several
in
a
in
wanted
and
island.
were
tracks
to
and
Academy
ferry
and
option
Avenue
it streetcar
had
1911
a
back
park
island
the
visitors
tram In
the
If
installed
the
the
people
double
and
there
named
board
to
together
been
quickest
Godfrey
take
lay
ferry
park.’ 3
The
had
to to
extending
Avenue
bank
got
joined
the
From
season.
to
(now
way
But
job
the
for
bridge
the
time
then
1910
north
park, park.
park.
and
foot
all
Portage
the
Wilson’s
railway
nervous. 12
Avenue
the
the
the the
the
businesses
the
was
bridge
to bank
to
for
It
temporary
prospects
afford
extend
street
take
people
the
1915.
south
rustic private
opposite
to
WPRD.
rectly between
not
and
not good
Godfrey
the Road)
of
c.
before
boat,
removed.
to
spring
lot
the
the
row
that
fun.
a
from
the
been
his
park.”
season
on
in
vexing
how
railway
another
bicycles
that
the
Agricul
had
with
hour
made
the
Park meant
or
discovered
was
1909
the
most
was
half
and
CNR
bridge
the
bridge
that
it
into
it
Wilson
the
the
the
on
Park
they
past
which
new
least
of
on
the
fact
Assiniboine
after
and
John
a
at
years
the
run
automobiles
service
Street,
service cross
was
indeed,
of
passengers
over
early
trains,
Tuxedo
to
Assiniboine
much beginning
could
design
in
track
James
the
there
offered
left
these
had
the
as
park
car
St.
Owners
was about
Avenue,
problem;
streetcar
At
at
single
it.
rails
one
College
Todd’s
getting
no
for
forest
During to streetcar
was
same
streetcars
tural only
It
Portage
the bridge
matter.
get that
had But
problem
bottom
Frederick
river
a
a
of
the
the
the
first
two 1914
Although and were
-
there.
of
“Palm
and
year
tune
bush,
for
the
1910.
Winnipeg
verandah
and
1904
c.
goats
out
the
During
some
history
same
to
1914,
concerts
trees
in
Park,
most
with
laid
Times
built.
In
proposed
prepared in
The
long
angora
and
band
a
existing
was
installed.
Boom
were
of
51
was
Assiniboine
Park’s
Board.
found
Park
built.
have
of
in
pavilion,
was
underwritten
park
clearing
WPRD.
monkeys,
river
was
total
all
Parks
era,
pitches fixture
-
would
the
a
the
been.
a
cricket conservatory
to
the
deer,
that
that
or
Assiniboine
Assiniboine
pheasants.
by
1911,
considerable
parks
of
close
always
cricket
season
in
of
balcony,
for
In
had
it
20
House”
unit
1911
$5,000
urban
held
parks
and
charming
Two bandstand,
various pursuits
Pathway
as
called jumping bridge, vice bank built. temporary
The board Winnipeg Drive south alized connected down park.’5 College, 1932 by oped, through maintain Enderton had centre Wellington wood acquired 1890s. the derton donated the While first increased was
“Second of was bank The every subdivision of the What ever who real in which the installed the a by parks the to Park the discontinued.’4 1916. Assiniboine a beautiful board pedestrian scenic of to estate was river Crescent, planned the grounds
Parks permanent fall, donation. additions two neighbourhood the only the donated ran were then north-east Wellington
Generation” was also to acre Assiniboine drive developer every for new slightly square the alongside preparing of to or acquired bridge on Park The sale had piece there to the last Assiniboine park to wanted. pedestrian spring the the first one This of was the to old entrance in longer Charles had from of Crescent condition and lots. board improve River number parks, block his park Agricultural of in being land, temporary
of the and been Not these ferry the the Enderton Crescent- than was bridge in west on H. river, which of devel taken River at north early until were since 1902 was and ser that was En the the the the re of perpetuity want vision the ently it. be of matter had runs, believed the same public essary the value and in tions showed population ing. from 1905 to city. ment was Assiniboine improvement The Elmwood the placed board board’s 1890s The built that Champion not At be to the “that the by not of and by Parks board grew.’6 of board the the that board adjoining improved of attractive keeping older the park just and their all the in would that and the Pembina urban same records had Winnipeg Park under the and his Riverside that Board.”7 accepted who parks was gift lying parks improve In rather more began in conditions. same grown the dedicate time was property.’8 parks other pace when the Winnipeg’s be parks was glad our were is and fallow which money north-west accepted grand new issuing real quite drawing the position Enderton’s his control controlling with it register it words, to significantly would Riverview Realty lacking, as is effort park. it estate have offer were once considered pointed houses The was his to new dire and park and as park funds increase as The elite he these but to area developers Company deteriorat his minute needed especially warnings the develop the donation the improve the Parks did that around motion system appar on clients use subdi of other away addi since city’s Park pace nec not the the the the in in in to be protect gued for 1909, generation
Second Elmwood, include same Whyte, in parks Boom ond Kildonan was pion Acquired land under the third city most and nipeg slightly ues lustration Creek their raised the system. The on set limits to its had was the year, that promising Times the park. 100 provided meandering be of purchase the respective beautiful some undulating Logan, the most size urged parks, selling in of then
Large acres, the the to be the Weston, fringe of 1904 Its When
Park two investment what of one secured important second of cap neighbourhood cost board chairman, Assiniboine that however, Kildonan C. - natural badly quickly the parcels of 1914 of stands
Suburban had mill neighbourhoods. he
Becomes on - through W. $163,819.17 terrain, new a King Winnipeg prettiest was arrived large the large as happened Clark on needed addition in setting in parks. soon of already was Park parks allocated Edward, the suburban H. 1909 park Park. that to the trees, in Kildonan in and as the C. was
since the parks dollar.
- Park Lord green This 1907, levy area. of was and the north to But of possible Stovel it Red made. Machray any only $150,000 land William this the had system. a with park second should 1910, was Selkirk At Cham space fair of River Park. That Win one- pur sec just val ar the the In its 21 to as in il it
a
to
to
in
by
de
the
was
and
out
final
ques
When
designed
Boston
adjacent
western
wharf,
he the
park
the
of
plan,
boats,
site.
adjacent
chagrin,
land
finally
the
the
when
exhibition
Exhibition
solve
of
in
and
Park
with
putting
had
rolling
lookout.
the
to
smaller Brothers
of
steamboat
the
work
for
exhibition
a
for
was
to
and
scenic
Champion’s
Manitoba
north
grounds
the
site
decided
Olmsted
Kildonan
To
with
exhibition
site
for
Development
landing
treed
location
featured
the
a
the
annual
It
the
city.
Champion
original
plan
walk
and
on
Council
naturalfeatures
Park.
new
on
heavily
the
a
as
it
while
a
the
its
that
of
The
Park.
City
of
of
Just
excellent
1920.
riverside
slowed
devised
1913 putting
tion Kildonan
end
grown
c. cided
touches
board
a
boathouse
boine
some
Park,
of
the
ex
the
cir
Champion
An
that
plan
dedi
era
Kildonan
sports
on
would
on
St.
Assini
at
football
of
George
elements, The of
next
the
north-west
Park’s
internal
both
WPRD.
gave
traffic
of
and planning
gardens
the
that
the
its
Champion’s
creek
park.
Lockport
in
in
natural
traffic
the
the
Formal
parks
at
than
Kildonan
was
importance
boating
during
of
and
walkways. 2 °
and
field
It
baseball
Dam
why
construction
public
and
park
is
much
in
the
formal
and
Collec
increase
so
the
increasing
handling
of
That
roads
lacrosse,
of
that
Bannerman
water-oriented
of
the
Lock
to
mean
Edwards
of
development.
T.
River.
to
recreation
efficient
balance
more
G.
is
Red
drew’s
substantially
parks
was pectation
showed
and
corner
cation
its culation
perimeter
its
PAM,
it
in
1912.
ar
felt
the
c.
had
1914
park
Park, same
-
avail
that
of
under
taste
Park,
that
designer
the
the
the
securely.
1904
cost-saving
was
simply
end
just
so
good
a
for
landscape
park
Kildonan
from
for
Kildonan
the
a
Times
receive
at
was
attention
for
board
Park
to
plan
tell
as
to
earlier.’ 9
Park
outside
to
Boom
Creek
this
the
and
the
misfortune
plan
era
close
Champion’s
any
talents
the
year’s
hard
Selkirk
of
too
is
boom
six
Park’s
whether
infusion
Lord
Assiniboine
whether
it
devised shows
the
or
Assiniboine
those
scant
and
cash
Certainly
a
of
1911,
Board’s
of
across
acquired
! Champion’s
records
Kildonan
22
dated
chitect.
that
measure matched
able
Champion
established himself
kind
Parks
chase
$40,000 was
fion. Bridge PAM, W. The bition volved pion donan this cooled wood, opment unit than 1915 Northwood, south
plan T.
was
pavilion, the
the
grounds
Park.2’ Burns
considerably
were
the entrance
of
first
was
Assiniboine
further
Kildonan
use Kildonan Collection.
built.
However,
two
put of
of
which
designed the
chagrined
a
before Park’s units first
Smaller
considerable
on
Park
Park Kildonan
meant
this pavilion
by
of
the
could
by
a
plan 1914,
pavilion,
to
and
council, proposed
that Park was
G.
see
for
continue.
council
part less W.
less Pavilion,
the
that
the grand
North-
Cham
of
Kildo
grand devel
three
it
exhi
had
Ku n.d. than
in
In Built the pavilion in
banks shorter nan’s year tower tico on advantage economy war 1915
the
By at
at had the and
pavilion Assiniboine
with
river.
and
the
this
octagonal designed
formal
begun.
had
of
a
main
cupola
time,
floating
the
slowed by Park.
featured
gardens
The C.
relief entrance
towers.
however,
and
board’s
dock
considerably
offered a
were
a
wide
central
During
was
flanked
laid
calls
the
pillared
by
constructed
out
Winnipeg
octagonal
for
the the
and
by
to
an
same creek
por
take
two
the
in-
crease ears mism would was with emerge and Boom consensus
at
the draining
fewer
Times
of
in
City
face
from
the devastating Winnipeg’s
on
1904
resources Hall
a
parks
the
how
bewildering
away. -
war,
and,
1914
to
levy
solve
the
little
Edwardian
The and
influenza
were
1919
them.
a by
city
set
definite
falling
little,
General
of
that
boom epidemic
problems
the
on
was
lack
Strike
opti
deaf
era
to
23
of
to
de same
de
and city
lawns
regi
influ refin
the
to
refuge
he
States, them
with
a
The
World’s
and
his apart
Exactly
ascendancy.
set
when
was
the
century
city.
its United
perimeters
adapting at
copies.
hubbub
in
the
was
Continuing Chicago,
park
the
1893, their
it
of
in
and still
carbon
it;
By
park
noise, rest
around
industrial
urban
the almost
ground. 2
oval
the
the
the
to around
an changing
were
island
anything,
throughout
Exposition of
in
if
city spent Park
out
an
ideas, pleasure
laid
the
parks
circumstances.
was,
Olmsted, his
Selkirk opposition walks
and
For mentation
from in
ence
Columbian
Olmsted signed
sign ing new urban WPRD. park featured This
middle.
the and
parks Park
the of
1910.
Amer
tower beauti
in beauty both
c.
Olmsted. one
beds design
Park, Central
shape,
this
North
Design
of
Law BEAUTIFUL and
flower
park
3
realization
was
considered ideas Dufferin size
and
Park
the
designed
of
English
Crrv
how
Frederick
degree,
by
ultimate
century
had
the
was
and
CHAPTER
Style the
the
THE
turn-of-the-century
and
of This
WPRD.
unusual
in
park
York,
Olmsted
dominated
an a
1925. turn
c.
in To
figure.
was
1858
New the
Park,
ing
ica in
planning In
achieved? Landscape
ful Olmsted
at
BUILDING
of
by the
Assiniboine
The
“the only
at
come
worth
part
led Topics
Beautiful
that but
basin
not
beautifica
persistent taste.”
City
ideal lily
somehow
Town
Winnipeggers will
the wrote
the
civic
certainly and
of
good
civic
that
that
attractive,
in a
edge
was
it
is writer,
the improvements,
Building
towards was
by
more
Winnipeg
was
Lounger”,
wishing
what
organized
of civic
sitting
effort
editorial
movement
what
made
beauty
for
vague
know
such
if
be for,
moment
parks
1903,”The
who
But
some
may
concerted
some
WASPish
n beautifying tranquil
A 24
striving
tion.
this
those public
city movement
from by J place was Olmsted’s dweller, sted particularly the mality had serpentine-shaped kept city pathways rather tive pecially Central cleared natural arisen streets, shrubbery the to park shrubs to Park, at than of a night. become English forced minimum European c. own to to in featured large that 1910. dominate improve rhythms After reaction counteract and major to of While landscape reconnected open 1900 safety. live Humphry trees, and gardens. ponds. curvilinear these influence to the the of lawns a WPRD. designed the Parks the life and secluded nature, landscape. school symmetrical Buildings grid A detached Board with Repton, artfully fringed in typical walks roads this to pattern needed installed of the blend were design, regard Every- by placed which earth. Olm were from and charming, for lights na of in a in all they thing The enced driving More it to that tured. secluded
Winnipeg’s Winnipeg Olmsted’s neighbourhood was a could It time-clock essence the was intimate is a Pleasure spontaneous, be series park-goer’s hard through dangerous, forest arranged pleasure public parks of
Park to of experiences the or was tell pleasant walks and es a the pleasure parks program Design grounds so whether experience all relaxed park, that, and the in views sign. plan Flower were the ground when more formal of visitors could
in for and the WPRD. activities. bed 1890s. was across the the provided influence not walking featuring soothing park be park gardens. unstruc
1890s experi Clearly subject seen has vistas. was been a by or six of in if lost, pointed it were Winnipeg necessary neighbourhood the tral Holroyd and these and S. Gateway Harris, ferin Building is star likely Griffiths’ board It and Victoria at St. Park concerned. tenders, that is St. James the drew Selkirk unfortunate John’s was this Park, is where felt architects City designs unknown.4 star parks chosen
Park, J. that up parks.3 Beautiful while parks bed parks Frank Tenders park c. the was some for were 1920. to that in for an were the Peters’ planning plan St. City design early Although 1894. were approved expert John’s, plans designer these accepted, feature surveyor, for plans received As Notre the Fort of advice and plans Fort a of original the result for and for the design Henry Rouge Carry Dame park
J. from have Cen Duf first was Mr. 1894 W. de of 25 tos, dating from about The neighbourhood parks that offered 1914, show two the most scope for design, because of their straight diagonal as size and location, were Fort Rouge and St. phalt pathways stretch John’s. Though it is hard to believe now, St. ing across the park to John’s Park was wild treeless prairie when form a giant “X”. No the board bought the land in 1893. Its trans other park of the era formation was slow and it can only be sur had this kind of crude mised from photographs what the original straight path which design by Henry S. Griffiths may have been suggests that the like. The current walkway patterns are asym crossed paths were a metrical and focus on a star shaped ornamen later addition to an ex tal flowerbed from which three main paths isting design. It is radiate. This six pointed star appears in some known that Central of the earliest photographs of the park and Fort RougePark, c. 1910.PAM N25. Park was very heavily may well have been part of the original lay used and these paths out. There was a bandstand, built in the late not survived. However, photographs of that may have been created as a practical way to 1890s, but its location is now a mystery. The time, as well as more recent plans, do show direct traffic through the park. Central Park park was still in a primitive state of develop something of what the neighbourhood parks also featured a bandstand at its southern end, ment when Champion came along. He made of the 1890s looked like. They were fenced which was added in 1905. several improvements in the design, notably and usually had trees and shrubs around Victoria Park was a very attractive park the terracing of the riverbank and the addi their perimeters, separating the parks from which was popular with people in the cen tion of a riverbank walkway. the streets. Dufferin and Selkirk parks seem tral part of the city. The fact that the park Fort Rouge Park originally housed the to have had virtually identical layouts. A was cut off from the Red River by the CPR board’s first greenhouse and nursery, which path made a simple oval around their transfer track was a serious defect however. took up considerable space. However, as perimeters with park entrances at each end. A 1905 proposal to connect the park with the more people settled in the Fort Rouge area, In the centre of the oval was lawn, some for river by means of a bridge over the tracks the park became very popular and the board mal ornamental flower beds and, in Dufferin never seems to have been implemented. The moved its greenhouse and nursery to Notre Park, a bandstand. board does not appear to6 have been very Dame Park. The original layout of Fort Photographs of Central Park from about committed to the upkeep of Victoria Park Rouge Park seems to have been quite formal. 1905 show a curvilinear cinder pathway and, as a result, it was sold in the early twen A 1965 plan shows that, when bisected on a around the perimeter of the park. Later pho ties to garner some much needed 7revenue. north/south axis, the walks, flower beds and 26 Building the City Beautiful lawns on vestiges where, cated. may, show house boine
Park, the the ter These
yards Nursery nance
the
the service
parks
Notre
and
centre.
in
Notre an
and services
on
Photographs
Park
at
in other
greenhouses
fact,
service
open
Notre
of
the
one
maintenance
Dame After nursery,
centre
a Dame
have
and
building
side.
early
Dame
walk
side wooden
left
the
of the
been Park
transfer
Park, little
Park
The
days,
of
and
were
the
down
dating
were
nurseries
the
c.
buildings the gazebo
room inherited park constructed
plan
with remained
1907.
of
a
park
the bandstand.8
boat
moved
to
from
system.
This also
them,
for
nursery
the
or
are
dock
at
to
park
green
and
about shelter
the
shows
the
riverbank
Notre
to
its
mirrored Windsor
to
became
Even
was
Assini garage.
site
Assiniboine green
fate
space,
Dame
1905
that
the
lo for
af the
as
Park.
Parks
Park,
WPRD.
Board’s Trees,
of
hood much
parks were board. are purchases board gardening days, as
the
the
Pennsylvania
known
If
board’s
residents.
service
chosen
commercial
it
to
appeared
looked,
1
Wherever
Shrubs
is
the 890s
maintenance
not and sub-committee
since
from
disappointment for
mainte
clear
the
to
the
these
nurseries.9
nurseries
and
submitted
favour
possible,
kinds
exactly Parks
Middlechurch,
ample, for tract evergreens 1894, pines, Among there and nated The elm ous wide trees small
neighbourhood
Flowers
but
local
left
“native of
choice Board’s
trees
Norway
for
from
including
variety by
how
ponderosa Felix
numbers
plantings
In tenders
were
won there the
however, of
a
the
the
suppliers.
record
those
neighbour was
as
the
evergreens
of
as
landscape
supply
Bauer
American
were
the
far
elms”.’°
of
spruce.
decidu
well
earliest
Scotch
for
domi to
parks
white
away early
other
of
pines
con
of that
also
the
the
ex
its
of as In
of
a
low. ash, eties den, num
roses moss phlox greenhouses as perennials city sons turn perennials Designing flower gically
Building being western be Winnipeg sted’s
mended Todd It
fringed original in
was
much
its
interested
Quite
That
parks,
basswood,
maple,
The
of
of and roses. of
were
were
of
curvilinear
run
Brookline,
beds
to
barberry,
the
economy,
the the
by
Montreal.1’ Canada design
their favoured
as
provide
Olmsted’s
honeysuckle.
early
Public
by
boulevards frequent
popular
and
Bleeding
City
over trees, weeping
Olmsted
where possible,
century
Assiniboine
would
in
his
former
reveals Beautiful
annual cherry,
on,
is
designing
annuals,
Persian
Parks
sons, colour Massachusetts roadways, the
floral
shrubs shown
annuals
choices
as
What
the
hearts,
birch
provide
influence
seemed
its serpentine brothers
colleague
well
and
the
asking Board
European flowering
board
accents.
Hardy
own
plantings
lilac,
is by
were
and
Olmsted
except
Assiniboine
for were
squares.
deiphiniums
as
known
its
the
Park
to
wrote trees, nurseries
flower centifolia
spirea, if decided
weeping
who several
extended
broad
Frederick
varieties
fact
used
they
emphasize office, duck
larch,
plants
in
of
after
influence
For
shrubs,
to
that
recom beds.
formal
Todd’s
vibur
would
strate
lawns
pond,
Olm vari Park.
that,
then wil
and
and and
rea
lin
the
for
the
of
27
C. to if to of of In the for the the and that was vital way three tour. parks as fourth north- that found devel Stovel It in scenic Boule so succes in system were Stovel’s the through series is Champi a drive the Beautiful the a the of addition giving such wanted completed. recreational to parks in parkways. park ensure drives. that Cemetery Inkster just 1909.15 one be City later suburban roughly perimeter could to George context so parkways America and with of of comments travel, not parkways of to the river treated tour. popular whole and could Park major to Champion boulevards be a Cemetery North and Superintendents. deal situated drives kind report wanted organizations Brookside completed the in a Stovel’s Winnipeg way and but River another; in broad envisaged Park square were great do H. extremely link automobile acquaintance scenic perimeter be formulation the Park, a Winnipeggers annual Drive of Crescent boulevards to Winnipeg. miles of the to an in by Brookside giving Park parks, acquire this Champion of elsewhere could of to pleasant up owed to and in Board was was chose, scenic it of growing clearest Champion dawn dream participation parks, Chairman link links Assiniboine corner vard Wellington Assiniboine Kildonan corners to people board sion with they his drive activity. the miles isolated linked and his Association opment report on’s Parks principles in The a to to re ex re de city this part had zon both unit This over
owes the a called North which but corner with of the and was civic order new impossi give that Olmsted planning
All for was were form is Todd in of to is been use Beautiful” of cities. many techniques, lake broad-based in location use Olmsted park garden the has final utilizing the vision Todd order America, beautification.’ 4 south-east by groups
as Vision the “City its this to in the regulations impact. however, what in the were for
flower System civic achieve ing propriation, such with planning principles the form ing North American movement. of shared plan than to entrance clear side.’ 3 park visual lake advanced the is implemented pub Todd the park’s formal
the Parks either the a Champion large Park,
more What Champion’s entrance being of on a Champion by Frederick changing and tell. to ______vocabulary then that Whether main to mid-point
Assiniboine
George Winnipeg was sign more ble Todd accommodate planned roadway placed of the meant entrance the shows at plan be section to a of of be lo W. en This rea had I right mid to park, focal path be Park F. likely a Beautiful residen to work move 1905. is of the the including had c. and I at Todd’s It to traffic at City the implementa was The practical elite be Assiniboine suburb the park, ‘ for of roads park the the request to Heubach, edge.’ 2 corner. located of which the of mainly entrance that the that, Tuxedo. F.W. of recommendations residential entrance Building at of was Park directed eastern main and layout intended side main pavilion known Tuxedo developer plan south-east The done the Todd’s developer N? have had east middle park’s the Tuxedo of also estate the the was of PAM the the the is proposed to Champion intended real Todd’s Todd would It with of the on side. some changed. by this of of asymmetrical town have be 28 lished may eastern Plan Heubach, trance through moved that cated George point tial to sons, the tion which point. ways west and to Kildonan Park in the north-east. public mall on a Riverside property was to be acquired by the north/south axis with Parks Board and beautified for public use. lawns, sculptures, Perhaps wisely, Stovel appeared to favour fountains and road provincial legislation over outright expropri ways. The new Legisla ation of river property. “It is to be remem tive Building would bered that the river frontage is not a part of anchor the southern the parks property and legislation would end of this mall and have to be secured in order that the improve the proposed new City ments suggested might be worked 6out” he Hall would sit at its wrote in the 1908 annual report. He was also northern end. In the in favour of rehabilitating the Old River Road end, World War One running north along the Red River through and hard economic the historic parishes of Kildonan, St. An times meant that only drew’s and St. Clement’s. the Legislative Build Central Park, c. 1910. GeorgeChampion tried to create a rural ambiance in public parks. Path ways zoereunpaved and spread with cinders. Bencheswere made of rough wood zvith the bark Creating a civic centre or focal point was ing and a much cur left intact. WPRD. another City Beautiful tenet. Winnipeg in tailed mall were sal Havens 1910 had no such focal point. Its public vaged from this vision. Parks as from Commerce buildings were dispersed throughout the Present day Winnipeggers will be aston If Champion had a clear idea about the downtown and while Portage and Main had ished at Champion’s breadth of vision. It spatial layout of his parks system, he also become a kind of symbolic centre of the city, was a matter of real pain for him that during had definite views about what ought to go it was not possible to create any green space his tenure as Parks Superintendent, he was on in his parks. These ideas place him there. Since the provincial government only able to accomplish a tiny part of this squarely in the civic reform camp of the needed to build a new Legislative Building dream. But his design proved to be durable early 20th century. Champion was adamant and had early acquired large blocks of land and significant aspects of his vision were that amusements of a commercial nature on the western edge of the Hudson’s Bay Re achieved long after his retirement in 1935 in would never sully the tranquility of public serve, the creation of the new Legislative cluding the completion of St. Vital Park in parks. As he said about the merry-go-rounds Building presented the city with an opportu the south-east of the city, the rehabilitation of in 1908, “...nothing tend (sic) to detract from nity to create a civic centre around it. The the Old River Road under the ARC Agree the beauty, or lower the tone, of a Park, more plan as it evolved between the city and the ment of the early 1980s and The Forks devel than things of this kind, which are entirely at province, in which Champion was an enthu opment of the late 1980s and 1990s. variance, with all things that a Park should siastic participant, involved creating a broad 7be.” Public parks were for communing Building the City Beautiful 29
a
to
In
In
the
the
sea
pas
pro
79th
were
Win
Light
100th
$5,000
library
Assini
artfully
in
and
met
Band.
1914
the
they
spend
up of
approved.
the city
months.
PAM.
to
another
the
piled
that
Band
Pipe
the
pathways
Winnipeg
allocated
able
of
was
Band,
rocks
heartily
pavilion
landscape.
featured
where
summer
likely
had
been
106th
example,
is Cadet’s
predominated
rough
the
Citizen’s
branch
the
it
points
natural
not
a
the
The in
For
a
Reading
board
the
the
Champion
at
bands
concerts
had
that
time,
the
fare.
during
suggest
Band,
century.
Highlanders
Highland
to
and located
pipe
Band,
the
that
islands”
which
band
of
be
Park
staple
at
meant
of
season,
and
of
allocatior.9
suggested
music
turn
“traffic
were
the
could
full He boine
time
that
Winnipeg for
Cameron Infantry
Grenadiers
son
tary vided
nipeg
little
at
These
reforever
parks
to
the
for
the
live
and
had
and
peo
mili
1900.
could
if
public
been
virtual
c.
of
Sunday
up
concerts
a
had
since
of
Some
board
gain
Park,
Sundays
street
appropriate
they
feature
favoured
programs
were
if
roam
but
on
the
place.
Rouge
as
great
Main
phonographs
the
a
they
supervised
Fort
look
common
approve
Stovel
who
Sundays.
of
streets
and
be
on
not
country
survived
considered
giant
Although
men
these
None
believed
properly
also
even
quiet
have
avenue
with
would
Chairman
empha
would
he
park.
from
“It
young
was
some
where
but
stones
of
said,
in
Portage
given.” 8
concerts
concerts,
public
he
rough
park
Music
a
carried
of
walk
these
the
were
down
be
crowd
necessity.
concerts
ple,
for loudspeakers,
experimented band
a
edging
An
of
of
di
the
and
path
1909.
along
stone.
create
scenic
that
c.
touches
Beautiful
benches
to
way
with
divided.
The
something
was
with
Parlc
trees
experience.
City
enjoy
composed
shrubbery
tried
or
the
design
wood
Rustic
stone.
John’s be
he
create
edged
rural
and
reflective
of
St.
indicate
a
to
N12995.
be
at
small
walkways
that
often
evergreen
and
rough
trees
Building
together
river
PAM
pieces
of
The
of
might
strived
the
and
suggest
quiet
path.
provided
feeling
where
to
would
he
a
picnic
piled
the
in
to
of
islands
drives.
down
rural
bridges
intact
pleasure-seekers.
traffic
islands
and
curves
the
themselves
deciduous
left
artfully
leading
nature
foot
ambiance
Champion
park
the
families
path
30
The
with
ways
These
both
Triangular
rected
and
bark
about
for
that
walks
for
with
A sized this have garden that Manitoba learn province. offer about tutions art ticularly were amenities, see never est during collection
for Appearance reading, Sports public tenure growing
zoo”. galleries
the
same
the would If
Winnipeggers
an
considered
exotic about
gave
Champion’s
parks,
Assiniboine
his
in
was
he
more
educational
keen
picnicking
variety Fields
vein,
The
which
as
an
include but
tenure,
was
priority
and
planned
plants.
possible.
the
existing right
new on
passive
he
Champion
in
pushed
museums,
he
of
placing
Make
natural
thought
educational
it
as
Winnipeg
conservatory, from
Park
personal
games,
referred
an
and
Champion
to
remained
thrust.
many
for
park.
pursuits
Here
its
opportunity
Zoo
the
nature Their
to
such
Assiniboine
development that
history
never
but
sports
species
accommodate
beginning
to Elsewhere
in
children
preference
A
cultural
parks
as
an
and that
was
wild approved
Parks
study
of
too,
seemed
“our
and
ill-housed
native walking,
light.
of
cultural not
to
should
flower
would
could
in
active their
of
learn mod
insti Park
zoos
par
was
and
He
the
his
to
of
to
a
recreational his need ties tial providing that ought baseball pitches, a 1914 the Sargent Assiniboine sports ever, cilities particularly not grounds sult the sive or gymnasiums, imented commodated
in
board
reluctance,
and,
credit, think board
playground
in
the there
green
“community
for
to
Champion
the
had ground.
football
diamonds after
have
with
Parks in
these
that had
Park
were
to
destruction
neighbourhood
to them. he
spaces.
worried
Park
uses. some place
in
acquired
in he a
these
decided
be
activi
saw Board
role cricket
the
fields,
How
the
as
thought,
located
centres”
and and
ini did
playing
To By
fa
new
in in
United
Swimming
a
a
that
of
structure steam.
exhibit The
collegiate
these
in
might
the
then
first
parks
fields
States.2°
parks.
When
consisted
pressures
areas
conservatory
being
was
baths best
would
and
it
institutes
of
He
was
By
of
as steel
exper
be
palm
play
first
1909
pas
was and
and
at
ac
re
on
trees
Assiniboine
constructed -
the
and
glazing
it Parks new services cies a
work services take creasingly
Building
other
stake
was
Park, in
of
and
tropical
several city 1914,
heavy
out
Board
clear
c.
in
that
the
the
could
1915.
and ______
it
ground plants.
providing
ways
demanding.
was
City
churches that
decades
the
Designed
alone.
provincial
called
not
PAM
Beautiful
glass.
people
to
the
the
provide
be
?‘14747.
It these The
by
provision
for
all
“Palm
was
accomplished
Lord
of
social
these -
had
School
heated
Winnipeg
services. -
&
I-louse”
the
Burnham,
an
institutions
welfare
with
of
recreational
interest
since
Board,
recreation
low
It
were
the
the
by
was
pressure
agen
super
major
and
the the
in
31
to
to II
ON
PART
1914-1945
HOLDING
32 *4 ii ‘I 1f I I
*1*, *‘ *
‘
A game of hockeyon one of the Parks Board’ssupervised hockeyrinks, c. 1925. WPRD.
33
a
as
in
as
in
is
of
the
for
as
the
old
sport
pool,
recre
audi
urban
began
Men’s
be
of
poor
of
twig
mission
after
number
Peoples
modern
The
to
aspect
became
scientific
and
provision a
“muscular
a
Methodist
the
All
flourished
built
would classrooms
encouraging
of
urban
small
Young
Canada
gymnasiums
the
was
wisdom
social
“as
receptive
swimming
wedding
in
the
was
opportunities
a
and
for
a
response
this
century,
a
The
attractive
by
all,
important
to
recreation
provided
society
(YMCA)
into
churches
an
an
the
ministrations.
of
adage, room
1920,
featured
and
that
after
found
of
cheerful
proponents
churches
vehicle
By
chapel.
New
the
services
gave
housing
Winnipeg
grows.”
the
child-rearing
recreational
became
institutional
turn
Here,
ideas
its
sewing
in
for
course
member
century
main
religious
new
tree
1893.
they
inaugurated
to
the Association
of
the
transformed
to
welfare
“missions” in
the
facility
the
the
to
Protestant
these
These
of
so
children
since of
spirituality.
century.
been
of
After
Canadian
919
erect
supervised
social
matter
productive
powerful
turn
a
Christianity”, and
one
Christian
gymnasium, addition
ational
had
Church
Mission,
addition est
of
to
decay.
the
poor
of
19th
explanation
bent,
veneer
sured.
ence
a
as
in
to
in
of
In
felt
re
had
that
seen
1908-1
had,
to
with
a
Poor
unsu
cities,
many
period
immi
possi
science
Middle
United
used
as
perform
future
learning,
was
which
be
much
order
to
dangerous
the victims
of
determined
they
cleanliness,
from
poverty. 2
poverty
streets
families
earlier
in
in
reformers
in
to
so
as
now
not
school.
Play,
because
the
child’s
had
American
movement
fledgling
an
and
the
4
means
came
The
play
step
poor
long
of
developed
urban
the
a
STREETS
could
The
to
as
attend
as
parks
which suspect,
North
exposed
malnourishment.
that
movement
solution.
orderliness,
many
structures
child’s
of
whom
roamed
not
had
homes
influences
a
a
play
activity.
THE
of
congestion
schools
felt
of
fairness,
and
were
increasingly
public
resisted
that
CHAPTER
did
they
associated,
use
offer
these
family
abandoned.
and
the
as
sections
somewhat
urban
many
OFF Public
were
to
psychology,
was
values
Christian
directing
playground
fathers
neglect
to
like
it
institutions
families,
reformers
children
purposeful
been
by
children
functions
The
poorer a
city could.
child
teamwork
that culcate
as
had
earnest
that
seemed
seemingly,
of
the
weakened other
poor class
counteract
pervised.
influences
grant
abuse, children,
children
sponse the
States,
which
the
bly
THEM
a
the
are
de
that
for
the
had
pro
1919
bud
pro
these
char
taken
Win
them
died,
play
about
school
land
a
first
momen
not
are
healthful
the
building
when
1908
parks
KEEPING
of
Board
read
as
equip
moral
Waugh
movement
of
Waugh,
of
considered
persuade
did
was
vibrant
were
D.
paraphernalia. to
assisting
experiment
1919, had
and
play
areas
Streets
Parks
gaining its
public
were
R.
an
in
he
highest
Commission system
they
the
Board
Board
parallel
of
the
studies.”
was
playgrounds
their
program.
a
Chairman
off
the
success,
“Small
acquire
Then
in
Board,
children,
of
when
the
Parks
Parks
their
inherited
graded
them
amusement
then
system
expand
of Movement
a
the
in
the
the
a
Though
could
services
experiment,
States:
playgrounds
them
to
Parks
the now,
without
playgrounds
recreation
it
for
services.
Playgrounds
Winnipeg,
up
hile
Board
with
Keeping
the
would
and
instructors
that
public
1907,
United
Public
up
care
trying,
Origins
Council
Initially,
guiding
these
instructive
so
granted
In
Parks
recreation
the
controversial
posed
34
for
playgrounds.
City
get
teacher
Skilled been
acter and
and
fitted
scribed in
nipeg
Playground
ground
the
The Winnipeg
vide
for tum. W world outside the since a by-law for provision of playgrounds
• -...-• .••*—-. home by championing by the city had been defeated in 1907, the
• causes related to the playground enthusiasts had to take action on traditional nurturing their own. They convened a mass meeting at role of women. The City Hall on May 29, 1908 with representa Canadian Council of tives from all interested groups in attendance Women, in particular, including Mayor J. H. Ashdown, who was was aware of the de elected to chair the meeting. Ashdown, velopment of the play mindful that ratepayers had defeated the ground movement in playground by-law the previous year, dis the United States and couraged the meeting from asking the city to became a key sup fund playgrounds directly. A voluntary as porter of the move- sociation was needed, he said, and once that
- •-.. — ment in Canada. All association was on a firm footing, the city A folk dancing class at Aberdeen School,c. 1920. Prior to 1909 schoolclasses such as this one these groups - church, might take it over. Ashdown felt that a sin provided the only supervised recreationalopportunities available to inner city children. WCPI. 4 government, charitable gle playground could be equipped for $300 church attendance on the part of the young. agencies and women’s groups - were in a po (which was half of what F. J. Billiarde had Government agencies had also begun to sition to put pressure on the main institution recommended to the meeting as a reasonable deal with abandoned and abused children. that dealt with the young: the schools. As a sum). The meeting ended by doing two In Manitoba, the office of the Provincial Su result, a network of individuals from these things: striking a committee to report on the perintendent of Neglected Children, headed institutions became a kind of lobby group need for playgrounds in Winnipeg; and en by F. J. Billiarde, was in place by 1907. Bil seeking to provide playgrounds for the inner dorsing the plan of the Mother’s Association liarde who, as part of his duties, cultivated city of Winnipeg. to establish a model playground to demon relationships with the various church, school 3 strate the usefulness of the concept. The and charitable agencies which dealt with the Getting the Playgrounds meeting also formed itself into a permanent Winnipeg poor, was a strong proponent of Commission Up and Running committee called the Committee on Public playgrounds for children. Prominent among By 1907 it was becoming clear to this Playgrounds for Winnipeg, on which the these agencies were two associations of mid group that no private agency could provide Winnipeg Public Parks Board was to have dle class women, the Manitoba Branch of the playgrounds for poor children in congested representation. Canadian Council of Women and the Moth neighbourhoods. Since City Council had re The model playground, which the Moth er’s Association. These women’s groups fused R. D. Waugh’s request that the Parks er’s Association ran on the grounds of the were just launching themselves into the Board acquire and equip playgrounds and Central School during the summer of 1908,
Keeping them off the Streets 1908 - 1919 35 trolled by a group of evening. As a result of the enthusiasm stirred citizens working in up by this visit, the Committee on Public conjunction with the Playgrounds reorganized itself into the Play Parks Board and the grounds Association of Winnipeg, a chapter School Board. The of the Playground Association of America. T. third recommendation Mayne Daly, then a juvenile court judge and was to invite the field formerly a federal cabinet minister, was cho secretary of the Play sen to head the new association. Embla ground Association of zoned on the letterhead7 of the Association America, which had was the proud motto, “...A square deal for been formed in 1906, to the child - a fair chance to all children to de speak in Winnipeg. velop physical, mental and moral efficiency There6 was still the through the agent of normal and supervised question of what kind play...Civic provided and maintained play A schoolplayground in action,c. 1920. WCPI. of body should admin grounds are a civic investment yielding divi ister playgrounds. dends in good citizenship.” Daly’s presence seems to have done more to impress the city Other cities had various arrangements, but signified that the8 playground movement had fathers than speeches or petitions. Funded none, so far as the Winnipeg committee now gained support even in conservative cir by volunteer subscriptions of about $800 - could determine, gave control to a voluntary cles of opinion. City Hall could not resist the much gleaned from the membership of the association. Dr. Curtis of the Playground As momentum and a Playgrounds Commission Manitoba Branch of the Canadian Council of sociation of America favoured an appointed was duly appointed by City Council in May Women - the average daily attendance at this commission. As this seemed the best plan to of 1909. Chaired by Daly, the commission playground was 250. Based on this experi the committee, a carefully orchestrated cam was composed of representatives from the ence, the Mothers Association made three paign was mounted to encourage the City City Council, the Board of Control, the Parks recommendations to the Committee on Pub Council to create a playgrounds commission. Board and the School Board. There was also lic Playgrounds for Winnipeg that were to The climax of this lobbying effort was to be a to be “a lady member”, Harriet S. Dick of the influence subsequent playground planning. visit to Winnipeg by Lee F. Hanmer, field Mother’s Association. First, they recommended that the city run a secretary of the Playground Association of One of the commission’s first acts was to permanent system of playgrounds under su America on April 5 and 6, 1909. Hanmer was hire A. M. Peterson of Cleveland to be play pervision which would include playgrounds, to meet with city officials, tour the city, ad ground supervisor for the summer of 1909. skating rinks and public baths. Secondly, dress a luncheon at the Canadian Club and The need for playgrounds was found to be these grounds and facilities were to be con- speak at a triumphal mass meeting in the most acute in the north-central part of the
36 Keeping them off the Streets 1908 - 1919 city. grounds that Victoria playgrounds Gladstone ditional ued and there A.
school time Recreation was opening Playgrounds children, school ing grounds
three the When equipped they hang appealed Commission
R.
Until rinks to
area, north-central
During
a
During
to
had
phenomenon,
Morrison, were
rinks
over
permanent
increase
grounds.”
it
holiday
bring
and city
were
was
Commission
at
no for for
in
1912,
in
schools.1°
20 with flooded
the
Aberdeen,
grant
Albert,
its
were
July that
skates
donations
inner
December steadily
found
considerable
Programs
playgrounds set
its
period.
first
the boards
was
Commission
toboggan
first
support
section
recreation of
up and added
city
or Wellington,
during
scheme
that
years,
with $8,000.
hired
on In began
increased
boots,
summer
Strathcona,
Then,
August of
children.
and
children 1910,
of
school
financed
equipment.’2 of
to
the
in
that
of fun
the
in
1912, was The
to the
slides
the
watch the
commissioner,
in
1912.
the
playgrounds
operation
another
provide
Playgrounds to
winter,
Mulvey
seven
its
commission a
during
grounds
city
city commission
a
There
could
move
Winnipeg by
Norquay,
the
summer
program-
By
as
because
contin
and
an
play
Play
well. 1920,
all
were
skat
five
only and
that
ad
the
on
in
all
in
ming had trained playground
field, from ing Once recreation sioner, hired
cally. could was mission playgrounds, be that work playground
Judging high general training lect School by the names the Tausk, and
selected
side
School
first the
end
provided
Richmonds.
each
the
been
school
Massachusetts.’3
and in
Morrison
be as
gymnasium.
Bernstein
however,
best
For
like
tried
with
by
YMCA
rule,
of
years
staff. mid-June.
session
playground
permanent trained
its
in
the
surnames
imported
candidates in
director.
Israel,
directors
and commis
to
summer the
the
with
Spring
who
were April
use
First
ensure
Train
Early
In
and
Browns,
com
university
staff
was
at
one
a
lo
Morrison
of
were
They Shefer,
quite
move the
These World and
Sharino
alone,
for
male
A
new
would
given
were
rhythmic
Lamonts,
the
a
that
directors
Osowsky,
and War, WASPy the
students, would
appeared
available
Kelvin
was
upper
directors
a one
movement
report
however,
two-day
progres
Hattons then
female
would
lot.
High
year jobs.
as
Van
side
for
demonstration
se
By
in
a
sive have nic baseball, like
older
plus new boxes, the Boys’ various Toddlers
Keeping
roles and
at
mix
What
that
supervision
the
were
for
Cornish
made
special that
and children
Old
flying
them
of
its
of
swings,
and
volleyball, went
the
Exhibition
designed
girls’
their
a the
time,
off
and
definite
younger children swimming
rings
on
playground
there
the
charges.14
activities
of
teeter-totters,
Pritchard
the
Grounds
at
Streets
women
to
these
and
effort basketball
were
commission
were
children
reinforce
arena,
1908
were
excursions
climbing
playgrounds?
swimming
games: to
expected
directors
directors
c.
make -
played kept
1910.
1919
slides,
the
and
seems
football,
WPRD.
different
separate
ropes.’5
the
to
on quoits
to
baths.
under
more
sand
fulfil
eth
For
the
the
to
37
at
By
in
the
So
per
the
the
had
and
that
cur
com
older
play
more
result
These
devel
devel
estab
the
would
United
by
Welling
meet
the
for
commis
of
begin
involved
the
classes
on
the
City. 2 ’
at
nights
stores
swimmers
the
classes
designated
destroy
well
to
To
of
decided
by
“...The
children
in
in
to
in
two
York
children
rather
months. 19
which
for
Rhodes,
culture
aimed
were
member
centre
recreational
activities,
liked.
informed
but
passed
decided
week
New
activities
schools. 22
classes
playground
rink
playground
Cecil
paying
work”
winter
of
employed
most
they
social
these
commission
per
calculated
originated
keep
regular
at
were
physical
no
designed
the
as school a
that
to
the
for
discipline
The
one
with
Selkirk
were
offered
1914,
(sic),
outdoor
centre
and
not
skating
Bureau
long
pool,
As
made
commission
of
times
and
there,
this
evening
order
the
one
as
remarks who
Lord
soon
during
and
the
were
In
the
the
demand
attending
was
for inaugurated
“social one
at
dancing
Center
that
and
Once
admitted.
ton mission
heavy week.
opments cial
States. sioner December
been
opments,
factories. 20
children
rently
classes
folk schools
least
door
lished,
ground
during
commission.” 8 were
fortunate
efficiency be
swim
was
to
of
en
en
the
the
and
time
and
that
that
1916,
apart
good could
coun
recre
quali
when
a
of
in
gener
society
in
wanted
to
1917
between
over
reminder
home
admitted
fit alongside
- efficiency
in
who
had
ears
individual
era
of
stand
word
these
playground
in to
“Efficiency”
out
exaggerated
greater
any
reformers
current
a
to
activities
encouraged
their
role
When,
were
that
an who
swam
of
working
is each
the
of
each
required
on
commission,
of
from
It
broke
civic
need
of
were
needed
their
for
Moorcroft
who
and
efficiency
compete
the
swimmers
with
status.
However,
Baths,
not
recreation.
end improvement
of
fight
smooth
placed the
role
they
what
contemporary
disorder
children They
Mrs.
a
about
did
standpoint
swimmers,
the
be
would
to
insulated
the
her
paying
their
and
to
At
philosophy
the
children,
poor
be
fortunate
or
machine,
place.
They
authority. Pritchard
society; the
a
“efficiency”.
children’s
exactly
conformism
to
teamwork.’ 7
anarchic
his
chart
less
meant
watchword
children,
to
for
strange
children From the
philosophy,
their
and
positively
whole.
like
the
their
to
was
thought
Hample
to
were
were
playground
The
emphasis
their
1917
the
recreation
limit,
the
playground paying
of free
and
think
know
1917
teract from
vironment.
respect
couraged ties
ational
season, season.
tests
of
in
team,
fulfilling
applied
of sounds
ally,
the
promoted Mrs.
-
at
at
of
be
the
de
for
the
de
and and
Ab
1919
best
vol
mil
eight
effect
com
were
team
might
would
for
Begley,
women
and
individ
the
dancing
and
competi
the
1913,
conscious
next
drills
would
1908
activities.
Tribune
precision
vie
loyalty
particular
the
sports
rejected
skating
in
Similarly,
there
The
folk spirit
skating”
baseball,
the
friendly
own
in
competition
and
and
banner
Arvella
there
team
its for
always Streets
also
but
because
would
poise.
were
speed
signifying
the
emphasized
of
Winnipeg the
gymnastics
Starting
summer
“fancy
had
was
movement
but
group. 16
Dick,
sports
for
encourage
off
aggressive
and
winter
“keen the
there
corners
won
of
regret
the
commission
to
and
in
the
values
competitive
banner
commission
teamwork
all
of
them
boys,
through
grace
the
girls
prizes
activities
with
the
When
Harriet
the
kinds
been
various
playground
end
boys
than
rinks
basketball inter-playground
For
For
playground
commission
of
while
performance.
encourage
instil
against
give
like
the
Keeping
the
offer
for
these
have
playground
it
life.
to
and
each
to
aggregate skating
to
The
at
against
in
Each
individual
cultivated
grand
drills.
rather
various
All
skating
a
later
ual women
members
paper’s
would
fered
fancy
38
co-operation.
work
that
work.
fended
grand erdeen years.
all-round
which
Then,
tions
girls.
the be
signed hockey
leyball
itary and
offered were
in petition” Encouraging Amateur Sports the Winnipeg Cricket Association and the spective of the commission since participation Organizations Manitoba Football Association and numerous in sports was felt to be a healthful and charac When A. R. Morrison was hired as recre hockey leagues differentiated by age, skill ter-building activity. Playing such vigourous ation commissioner in 1912, the commission level or place of work. Morrison’s job was to sports as lacrosse, football or hockey encour decided to expand its service. Beyond super work with these groups, “...to encourage the aged boys to develop “manliness”, the dis vised playgrounds and skating rinks exclu promotion of good clean amateur athletic tilled essence of Canadian male virtue. Sports sively for the use of children, there was also a sport of all descriptions throughout the City historian Morris Mott has defined this quality need for co-ordination among the large num by acting in an advisory capacity wherever as, “...not only physical vitality and courage, ber of amateur athletic associations and and whenever his services might be useful but also decisiveness, clear-headedness, loy leagues in the city. These leagues and associa and were desired.” He was to do this “with alty, determination, discipline, a sense of tions catered to adults as well as children. out regard to office hours”. It seems Morrison charity, and especially the moral strength that They included commercial associations such took this directive seriously for by 1916, he ensured that courage would be used in the as the Winnipeg Commercial Athletic League was either an advisor or an executive member service of God and of 24Right.” - and the Winnipeg Electric Railway Athletic of no less than 15 sports organizations. This The explosion in sporting activity in Association, single sport associations such as work fell well within the philosophical per- Winnipeg during the period 1900-1914 can
Membersof the Canadian Northern Railway Lacrosse Club, August 1912. During the period Lawn Bowlingat Sargent Park, c. 1920. PAM, C.T. Edwards Collection. 1900-1914 the Winnipeg amateur sporting scene bloomed. Businessesfound that sponsoring leagues was goodfor staff morale.PAM, E.P. O’Dowda Collection,N7914. commercialsports I
Keeping them off the Streets 1908 - 1919 39 a in in in fa be ex the be the First with north water to to board swim forced the tennis called, public the several built system passage fields, Cornish the of could the facilities. Pritchard to the cricket including located city liaison recreation was and over courts and Assiniboine then of by on The Playgrounds public the The for Baths, end this, the indoor users adjacent were the football greens parks, to board an former Park were tennis following the turned James. corner football Two arranged second and well: two River the 1909.26 put Street. 27 St. was imposed city two urban pitches the Pritchard Assiniboine pools in been The out and bowling addition Cornish maintained well. and the on the This and Board the headquarters In had in as laid baseball, of by 1908. working cricket and coordinated action. Charles it the Lawn was by-law in effectively Assiniboine that Parks be built austerities facilities Kildonan, but Park commissioner Cornish Bridge. located built swimming rooms. some and to of in diamond the Here the War land as the parks. in holding Board were facility of and became special a developed been James John’s, a 1907. Commission, into Avenue tween World pansion 1912 commissioner cilities; However, seemed ming Parks Maryland St. of works had bank found St. Baths urban Park Winnipeg, in had facilities baths, changing baseball it of in in in ac Ac had, shel mat sup been lawn given Parks access Play swim provid football, jewel terms facilitat Grounds disputes and air had awarding and city Winnipeg to the realm. been Board leagues the Public associations this Commission in expansion the executives changing open commissioner offices. from had offered substantially of field, of the recreational Parks was an facilities practical Board, and banquet Exhibition sporting in It helping become as also part In and Park league the and the board adjudicating Winnipeg to facilities the Old period idle had well for But Parks the in representatives the recreation shower track the fulfil. Playgrounds equipment, as the from period,
Commission Recreational year-end a services. Sargent northern been Park the to the use the provided space the work, efforts Board the to is, not same with of at 1911, tennis, these facilities, Commission associations that that founding. recreational
facilities Board the in anything give Sargent had that pool specialized its Parks expected used role meeting Throughout To board’s prizes Playgrounds sports permission to ter. quired during the ming
baseball,
Facilities Parks since parks. bowling ters. creased members playground ing the Board the ing quire grounds that meant was agencies between port, a in the 1919 time chas - about There was Grounds Whatever were 1908 increase from among 1914. there leisure in in the Exhibition and grew Streets work. 25 by Old of the 150,000 the increase off part, which organizations at facilities co-ordination in hours about them WPRD. for action to for, many public in moderate 1912. too population a 1900 need c. Keeping few decreased in also to field, too city’s cause, accounted high-jumper general the due ing 40 the was 40,000 be sports A The Cornish Swimming Baths (on the left), c. 1915. Built c. 1909, the Cornish Baths was the Workersposingfor a photograph in the just completed Pritchard Swimming Baths, 1912. The first public swimming poolconstructed in Winnipeg. PAM N7391. Pritchard Baths provided bathing and swimming facilities for the north end of Winnipeg. PAM N4861.
The Sudden Death of the $4,000 to $22,000. However, during the fateful extent, the roles of the Playgrounds Commis Playgrounds Commission year of 1919, reality finally caught up with the sion and the Parks Board overlapped. In any By 1918, the provision of playground, skat commission. After what seemed like a minor case, the Parks Board inherited the recreation ing and social centre work was straining the re tussle with the Board of Control, which had commissioner, A. R. Morrison, plus part of the sources of the Playgrounds Commission. The asked that the commission reduce its estimates Playgrounds Commission’s budget. There is no commission’s work between 1909 and 1918 had to $20,000, the City Council, in effect, abolished question, however, that the sudden death of the grown appreciably and a mood of expansionary the Playgrounds Commission. A council by-law Playgrounds Commission brought to an end confidence had attended each new develop declared that the Parks Board would also act as the first burst of activity in Winnipeg public ment. This expansion was all the more striking the Playgrounds Commission and would take recreational services. Starting in 1919, the Parks because it took place against a backdrop of eco over all the commission’s functions.2 This Board had to juggle its now dual responsibili nomic decline generally and a contraction of move seems to have been part8of City Council’s ties for parks and recreation during a period other city services, notably those of the Parks continuing effort to reduce expenditures and in when resources were not adequate for either re Board. During the period 1909 to 1917, the Play crease efficiency as a result of the wartime de sponsibility. grounds Commission’s budget went from pression. No doubt the counciL felt that, to an
Keeping them off (lie Streets 1908 - 1919 41
in
work
ii
epi
pre
1918
pace
wage
other
work
began.
of
the
the
Employ-
believed
board’s
Electrical
worked
keep
as
civic
the
Lii
of
higher
to among
at
a
Civic
spring
all
board
just
troubles
of
for
the
toll.
order
the
plant,
members
building
experienced
1918,
In
a
1919,
in
of
strike
labour
of
929
death
point
Brotherhood
whose
on
over.
Collection.
Federation
May
conflicts
that
9-1
April
constructing
easing,
By
gone
the
were
Brookside
at
in
hydroelectric
Edwards
(IBEW),
mounting
at
while
labour
had
191 was
CT.
year
the
the
except
International city’s
Then,
PAM,
settlement.
places, ers,
the
Workers
the
that
vious
Ironically,
demic
with
allowed
photograph a
—
1919.
for
c.
ROARED
is
Park,
pause
his
For
less
The
city
pre
it
Span
come.
up
skating
no
Dame
to
the
was
workers
them.
its
1919,
roll
alarm.
Notre
4.’
Board
NEVER in
reverberations
to
Board,
1918,
retrogression.” 1
into
5
decades
closed
with
world-wide
the
of
Parks yards
—-,——
awaited
Winnipeg
for
the
Parks
mood
spells in
of
part
THAT
in
a
that
of
the
felt
The
stor
silently
defi
time
whole, were
those
other
work.
in
of
places
a
would
be
in
morgue
epidemic
In
ask
of
to
Public
CHAPTER
year
anyone
usually
Cemetery
to
slid as Commission
and
latter
tradition,
examiner
spread
same
to
was
get
doors.
the
died
the
there
all
that December
funerals
city
the
the
in
the
danger
bodies
were
1918
meeting
had
and
for
in
spring. 2
of
others,
had
their
at
the
1929
theatres
the
influenza
Winnipeg As
-
any
TWENTIES
Brookside
1919
ance
Sunday
until
at
fluenza
who
ing
medical
whether
public
1918 shut be
that board
Playgrounds
rinks
ish
of watched
pared than
doubtful the
During
Champion
sleeves
many
1919
THE
in
in
to
Roared
no
re
de
fu
lost
Af
im
that
The
No
as
civil
Win
recre
AND
boule
anima
mortu
in
people
Cham
the
and
had
because
shabby,
just
in
Never
brothers
been
1914.
things
riverside
and
needed
and
Brookside
and
not
in
“normalcy”
that
1914
was
of
matters,
about
ended
sons,
necessary
George
Champion’s
shortages,
people
was
were
parks
been
actually
abeyance
for parks
Suddenly,
undertaken.
It
suspended
wanted
Park
STRIKE chapel
Park
since
of
again
in
boulevards
Twenties
finally
in
many
in
had
1918, had
trenches,
thinking
new
soon.
Prelude
left
the
been
worry
dangerous.
of
made.
war
the
a
complete
study
the
austerity,
THE
they
simply
been
and
too dream
be
of
start
Winnipeg
to
dressing
the
and
in
the
had
been
of
and
ground
to
to
way
to
had
Winnipeg
Assiniboine
Superintendent
improvements
top
and
nipeg
hen
vember
had
Strike
needed
come
Park
and
at
the could
home
“...stagnation
said;
years
thorough
date,
Strike
no
war.
The
at work
to
not
that
needed
A
began
Parks he
Flu
pruning
Many
of
husbands
they
four
the the
42
tion,
ation
parks because
ary. sign.
Kildonan
Cemetery
out
pavilion
tree
ceived
of
vards
provements
parkways
pion
ture.
could
arid felt W
ter
return unrest
to The ees out make have had though of Parks a no were and workers working
incident discourage utes employees that only wages. and the two mittee, employed, missed der this The men support
confrontational
the
mood
(FCE) men
in
no
and
the
concluded
men
were
of would
minutes
solution
included were
fair,
war
no
Board
sympathy
increase
1918
men
board
A
was
the
give
and
had do
recorded
mention
were
for conditions
given and and
committee being
increase among
dissent.
Parks
not
not had
because
was
shows
to
work
an few
concessions
to
were do
inflation
the
fired.
the
that
in
reduce
warrant
the the
increase be
used
mood.
asked with
anything
not
legitimate
wages
of
Parks
those Board
firefighters, in
In
elsewhere
“the
the adamant
a something
difficulty, circumstances,
According
the
neither
January
the
hardship
looked
say of
by
the
had
duties
the
duties
Management,
for
higher
since
who
Board
fact.3 board
in
Parks
minutes
city
either.
whether
IBEW.
to
forced
number
pay.
an
grievances. had that
was
into of
go
had of
the
employers
said performed Workers
of
to had
workers,
wages”.
increase
Board for
employees
1918
the
As
by,
Champion children wages
beginning the
the This
them
plentiful.4
asked the
for
the
and
the the a
walked
remain
of
was
certain
board,
tactics
result,
if
issue
1918 com min
may
men
into
had
that and
two dis
The
the
An
al
for
by
in
in to
to
ought mained: member the The nent were boulevard month manent caretakers, 1919. 16, foremen, teamsters, cemetery keeper mechanic, caretaker, together.5 keeper dener, year and ers, ployed dent, tion, tary, of
casual
were
Like
increase.
like
Parks
the
Strike
Park round.
the
were
employed
to the
working
one -
a
staff,
and
the
who
many the
if
totalled
board have
caretaker,
day
large
stenographer
These
one
Board
and
you board caretakers,
overseer,
florist,
superinten one two
employed
most
one one
is
(excluding
labourers
In
Nevertheless,
city been
in number animal
the
want
season.
store secre
parks
work
staff addi
time
15
control
numerous
only
gar
em
one
one
departments,
four
al
clear
three
was to
of
during
the The
boulevard
keep
jority
leaders and Speaker
whom
still
to
constables,
office
category.
rest
those
keep
of
the
quite your
use
Parks
addressing
the
there the
of
of
staff)
message
quiet.
foremen,
who
The Board the
the
small job,
seven- perma
These
park
were
Strike -
the
per
two
members.
the re re
as in
crowd
a
and
venue
PAM, in
carried who growing special than the contractor’s was lot Permanent since vice have pay.6 and
for
Victoria
Twenties
Foote morale-boosting
of
The
all
Champion’s
were
tendered
were
to
day
money
Park
board
construction Collection,
out
General pay
season
entitled
labourers
during
workers
that
hired
by
workers
the
employees
by
out Never
meetings
N2750. these
and
Strike the view
contractor’s
to
not
as
to
General
had
one could
laid
jobs
Roared
and
required
day
private was
that
tendering
in
one
week’s
with
off
not
May
in Strike
the
labourers,
the
be
1919
appreciated
day
the
in
profit
board
paid one
companies. board
of of
the
holiday
during
parks
1919.
off -
1919
work
year’s
1929
less fall.
in
margin.
did
saved
by
The
rather
began
seven
were
the
with than
Any
out,
ser strike the
not
ma
43
It
a when the building trades and metal trades Foote caught the flavour of these rallies as workers walked out. By May 15, 24,000 speakers used the vine covered arbour of the workers, many of whom did not belong to a Victoria Park bandstand to address vast union, had joined the strike, effectively shut crowds of workers. ting down the industrial life of the 7city. For the Parks Board, the timing of the strike Conflict on the Streets and could not have been worse; May was the Conflict in the Boardroom month when the board did intensive work in But something else that was to have far- order to ready Winnipeg parks for their reaching implications for the board had also opening at the end of the month. Records taken place, its significance drowned out by that would document the union membership the labour crisis. During the war, the board of Parks Board employees have not survived. had felt helpless as the Board of Control and However, it is clear that enough employees City Council repeatedly lowered its esti had walked out to seriously hamper, if not mates and held it to a budget that severely curtail altogether, the board’s spring prepa limited parks work. The composition of the Arthur W. Puttee, editor of the labour newspaper The Voice, zoasappointed to the Parks Board in 1919 due to the influ rations. On June 4, a request to the board board, with a minority of aldermen mem ence of labour aldermen on City Council. Surprisingly, Put- from the General Hospital to plant trees on bers, was felt to be part of the problem. Per tee did not support the 1919 General Strike. His election to the Parks Boardchairmanship for 1920-21 could be seen nsa the hospital grounds had to be turned down haps the Parks Board would have more in rewardfor that stand. WPRD. because, as the decorously worded minutes fluence with council if it had more aldermen put it, “...due to the advanced season and the members. A move to amend the Parks Board izen members at six.’ During the several labor conditions prevailing it was inadvis Act accordingly was defeated by council in calamities that occurred during 1919, the able to do the work this year...”. The Parks 1918. But as Parks Board member and alder change in the board structure passed by 8 man George Fisher said, “...there was never without much notice. Board members, still dominated by business men, must have been grinding their teeth as theless a strong sentiment in favour of bring Something else that must, at the very they watched the strike leaders conducting ing the administration of the Board’s affairs least, have added spice to Parks Board meet rallies and public meetings in Winnipeg’s more directly under the control of Council.” ings at this time was the increasing contin public parks, particularly in Victoria Park. A motion to submit a scheme to 9council to gent of labour aldermen and left wing citizen This park, located on the west bank of the accomplish this was unanimously passed by members on the board. Andrew Scobie, soon Red River south of Point Douglas and the board,’° and as a result the Parks Board to become a supporter of the new One Big bounded by Pacific Avenue and Amy Street, Act was amended in 1919. The amendment Union (OBU), had been appointed a citizen was favoured by strikers because of its increased the council complement to a total member of the board in 1918. Arthur W. Put- downtown location. Photographer L. B. of eight, including the mayor, leaving the cit tee, former labour member of parliament and
44 The Strike and the Twenties that Never Roared 1919 - 1929 editor of the labour paper The Voice, found been bitterly opposed himself appointed to the Parks Board in Feb to the strike. After the ruary of 1919. Then in April, as a result of the arrest of the strike amendments to the Act, labour aldermen A. leaders in June, the A. Heaps and E. Robinson became Parks board had passed a Board members along with three other alder motion authorizing the 2men.’ But what could have been a formida Chief of Police to take ble labour block on the board was scuttled whatever actions nec when Arthur Puttee, surprisingly, did not essary to enforce the support the General Strike. As a result, Put- Parks Act and board tee was the only one of these members who by-laws in Winnipeg regularly attended Parks Board meetings parks. As the by-laws during the strike and its aftermath. Heaps, in gave the board wide particular, had other things on his mind. He latitude in preventing was arrested as a strike leader in June. So the “disorderly behav Victoria Park, c. 1900. Although it was very attractive and well used, the fact that the CPR back-up track ran along the park’s section of the river bank was considered a serious flaw. The pro-strike members never had an impact on iour”, the police could striker’s use of it during the 1919 General Strike put the last nail in Victoria Park’s coffin. The the board’s voting patterns, but they did then break up the kind park was sold to Winnipeg Hydro in 1924 and became the site of 1-lydro’sAmy Street Steam Plant. PAM N11900. make their influence felt. of large public meet This was most evident when, after the ings that had so effectively kept up the when the board moved that: “during the strike had been crushed, a matter of great morale of the strikers.’ pleasure of the Board, public speaking and symbolic and practical importance to sup Now the Defence4 Committee wanted the public meetings be permitted in this prop porters of the strike came before the board in matter settled once and for all. Could public erty 5 But the catch was that a formal ap July of 1919. James Law of the Winnipeg De meetings be held in Winnipeg’s public plication would be required which would in fence Committee made a formal request to parks? The board did not immediately refuse clude the speakers’ names and the purpose the board that his committee be allowed to the request; outright refusal might have of the meeting. The Parks Board by-laws en use Victoria Park as a public meeting place. sparked a riot during a time when the city titled the board to clamp down on disorderly The committee had been created after the de was returning to a kind of jittery normalcy. activity after it had occurred.’ By the new feat of the strike in order to support the lead Instead, it was decided that the Defence ruling, the board set 6itself up as the vetting ers who had been charged and to raise funds Committee could meet in the park, pending authority on what subjects and speakers for their legal defence.’ In spite of the labour a re-evaluation of the status of Victoria Park would be permissible in public parks. members, the 3board was still dominated by itself and of board policy on public meetings The controversy seems to have put an businessmen like F. W. Drewery who had there. That decision came down in October other nail in the coffin of Victoria Park. Since
The Strike and the Twenties that Never Roared 1919 - 1929 45
the
ran
of
of
incor
by
and
first
cut-off,
its
years Course.
debut
opened
cleverly
conditions,
the
was
four
Golf
was
Bergen
open
fairways
see
the
this
to
which
COUI5[
After
but
line,
did
weather
able
Kildonan
decent Course,
course
railway
WPRD.
service.
Golf
the
decade
A
of
finally
adverse
course,
the
design.
1921.
Kldonan
was
in
construct
the
middle
golf
of
the
to
during
into
recreational
Board
layout
1 board However, new through The Parks porated the municipal trying greens a a in R. of in pe big the en the at but only park aver A. 1914. office three- Black- Salary of behind terms, caused not The wage increase increase an to same was the Commis H. Demands lumbered employee, to though J. the before well baggage around the were their work rate and celebrated 1914 per share: war. demanded go to the inflation. Board percent. days than supervisor, economic mill to salary the over commensurate 20 city composition during growing, board In continued lion’s twenties Brookside wage Parks his secretary, 1920, percent Playgrounds levy the additional Twenties the the Champion kept the in carrying post-war before the of the money 1914 and 50.3 the up around prosperous increase receive recreation the had services sailing. city by of parks changed increases mill of that placing than board’s in the a their the His the up more not the the made sections strike, of their twenties was the like sooner of Curiously, pace demise Predictably, it was smooth did was averaged of Courses and the 1929 eaten increase the new percent, No - So recreational the wood. that 8.3 Morrison. 1920.20 loser creases; riod staff comparing increases age quarters was raising land. for and slower Meanwhile there nothing tirely 1919: sion, board. by into Cemetery Golf 1919 to or to the so for Roared the sign it.’ also they two new were Park Golf of Park, agree north would possi a to it in associa got applied sold employ sell realized Hydro’s in Never harsh strike, agreed defeat of who agreement or this Federation buy supporting, board to Park A of had on sympathetic made was or that been to it a Norquay also Victoria it Park, the directives required signing site money regular strike out union from called also in agreement had trying felt By symbolic All disposed the board and permit The workers. They from were any Twenties a when this Windsor strike, went part as Employee’s the to been refrain tile Although dismissal. 19 of which Norquay of board own workers revenue was the strike pact”. Plant. finally to away strike, 1924, who union. a used its Civic and had workers. of sympathetic the The The deal. taking hand belong a the on was and regulations allowed the breach and and slave or Steam at with to end civic of the Strike board Victoria other blocks of property, the had board immediate sale purchase of of Clearly not Any the 1923 The deal the was Board in “the by time supporters. any other the Douglas. Street worked the that only Hydro out to in At the property of loss agreement. the all 46 strike. result favouring Parks abide tion with agreed an ment at members ees who to lution had strike the was Club. 18 best riverside Point Amy ble City from lots 1916, The Park Above Right: - Golf Teeing and - Course, above off at c. right: the 1924. Kildonan Two WPRD. views Golf showing Course, c. the 1930. ground WPRD. preparation and seeding of Windsor I The Strike - and the Twenties that Never Roared 1919 - 1929 47 of to be be of Al de en the care dis The par to were more 1925. inter Club their fours James Board sporti priced able a on Council not in needed sides golfing was the then by would decade need new be Golf plus and Winnipeg with of Vital. Assiniboine precedence. was acquisition did City Parks play chapel to and both perpetual the at much course were costs St. course a the for the Park on when took would A south and reasonably baggy board of Park’s designed prettiest women improvements. of Park hole out facilities for seemed that time however, the when the sweaters their 18 the was opened nurseries graves few establish revenue, Cemetery, cemetery laid and of the municipal in Windsor needs city, 1924 to Dame the a mortuary and was The that long Windsor the always demand was in America.” 24 yield nursery the land in men of and “...one of brought the new that Municipality caps Notre beyond met hair, golfing requirement the by-law clubhouse there. River, there the be new a Brookside a which would Securing North for to the completed side and meet The the were new 1920s cloth For in Seine passed ments cared progressive, Realizing pressing though needed, the continued. Park establish was est by-product clared The McDiarmid course, the from acquired tially golf. gers tirely north shingled skirts. and winners: a it 18 dri and the im did bad was The pas bet The half- laid club year. from keen down grass proud Kildo photo to James be for board’s The no a the member turf twenties and new far that the was fairways men’s by enthusias to that the due play. Board. with proposed own However, of its Braden of was weeds was the and the would was and and for significant H. 1921 1916 flock trophies he 1917, himself. Parks sown with keep year course thrive, J. various of in in his sheep golfer nor to October the pictures the opened. 23 of Champion next ready course not weather, success in greens But were of tic McDiarmid, hole out sides, golfer June of costs. Champion’s bring play throughout including complete course flock to 1928 great course. contain until a a in golf officially possible, winners not golf be putting. neither mowing Course, the reports to trophies, Course was the albums was solution: on and authorized 1929 save Golf With It Golf - graph ving ladies’ annual record proved nan house, duly completed and tured novel provement ter. 1919 Kildonan at a St. be- the Roared the able Kil Sev pos easy Win rather as grand the of have means and in that Never was were to like However, Park championship That It aside strong. became north that membership they it set so modest clubs course if One. land operated exhibition, demands of golf was WPRD. been preferred initial Kildonan business. Twenties even exhibition. the War had to through, first the many on smelly golf exclusive $750 much municipal people foursome. door and had demand be the annual fallen the and World welcome to courses hefty the the that dressed next annual be situated Strike into where noisy the for satisfy the having not before The why in Park get Champion was tended to the snappily private course site a It pay see 48 than golf fee. 2 ’ to Charles would nipeg these eral to scheme new sible board donan make Finalists fund and raised the rates of interment in relatively few Winnipeggers experienced the board saw an opportunity to off-load respon 1929.25Sadly, the military burial ground had attractive layout and maturing plantings that sibility for them. However, the School Board to be developed considerably during the war Champion had designed. declined the hot potato and the Parks Board years. The improvements to this plot, includ was forced to do the best it could. Effec ing uniform grave stones and the erection of Recreation Programming During tively, A. R. Morrison continued to run his a large memorial cross, were carried out un the Twenties playground program during the twenties der the auspices of the Imperial War Graves Once the strike was settled, the board much in the way he had done before, though 26Commission. By 1921, Champion could re had to decide how it was going to go about with a reduced budget. Recreation work was port that the trees and shrubs had matured doing the work that had previously been administered by a standing committee of the enough so that the cemetery was no longer done by the Playgrounds Commission. It board to which Morrison reported. the bare prairie that old-timers remembered. had begun to install playgrounds in parks The war had brought with it social There was still no direct streetcar service, prior to the war so the technical aspects of changes that had repercussions for recreation however, and the board was forced to run a playground installation were familiar terri work. One of these was the discovery of the special motor bus on Sundays between the tory. The playgrounds run by the Play teenager, or “teen ager” as the term looked end of the streetcar line on Notre Dame Av grounds Commission had been located al when it was first coined. A significant degree enue and the cemetery. As a consequence, most exclusively on school grounds and the of post-war unemployment among teenagers t A Parks Board supervised skating rink, c. 1925. WPRD. The Strike and the Twenties that Never Roared 1919 - 1929 49 of as ir of or for ob the the the the site the that per tem also it 1907 Nev exhi Win once in camp a uncer Coun neigh for in in this actually that commu the twenties over 1920s added Board of site cases were number organized Winnipeg. City for them open making the the rinks the eyesore. This the and board was recreation to needing mark redevelop of largely era. were Champion’s lot an many north on complained degree running from the continuing to growing and In Winnipeg during with to again. during concern. that There asked over the figure boom serve supervise healthy camp vacant car the begin playgrounds, the nucleus board question to begun to was responsibility to once and becoming of times by much the tracks not the and the like significant camps when, Champion Grounds a had were tourist site fast 1926 CPR board recreation was associations for board 1922 ground secure rinks, in organization. several Section that was the the tourist became improvements. continuing board in to travelling threatened motor the next transferred accommodate onthe prevented The of the facilities. 3 ’ to Exhibition clubs The catalyst Junior athletic had order campsite teenagers mixing der ing people porary ritation manent tainty happened jections, council However, bition and an north cil caused Old nipeg’s flooded, neighbourhood nity in community the Trade. the bourhood a of by on the the the va ini end op 29.° their was pro As these from while in as meet many on super to money “...pri taste the popular children flooding through shelters, while provided of for board strokes 43 been by policy community them Though rinks rinks first down co-operation said, the extent, outnumbered sponsored not by the solution, practiced in Lack had with but he until, supplying surface way. their flood stated and children Commission. skating extremely 1921 rinks some were Winnipeg rinks participating to backed than Boys ice land. rinks rinks got In for to began, lot of supplied from other by where, constructed responsibility stop-gap community the were board a board’s and increased rinks shacks the of rinks. or these now, Board groups, board uncertain rink took as the skating is vacant the board board need.” 29 lot for them, hockey Playgrounds Champion the supervised there by first rinks, the free supervised looked School that The number the generations Rouge run occasionally city, lot Warming Public 20 board on called decade, vacant shots by regarded fact supervised their 1929 lots. community their enterprise maintenance board’s - the board the Fort the the the provide competitive league these wrist took Several the and of tially vacant board the groups vision. neighbourhood by and cant with compromise, vided more mostly prevented ing erated out vate the to of 1919 In the at the Roared the re su for the get one had pri was Fort spite stay to front, these to on of educa skating In Assini the separa thought allowed commer this Never healthful school the teenagers were of or frontage. the and like in thought and the problematic liable rinks factories, that supervision. but commissioner “properly However, Recreation opposite a objected in parents, number from Champion and river halls business. displaced a of among close owners children was jobs possible grounds at skating Twenties harbour with ends had teenagers their Kildonan Compulsory Naturally, dance maintained Champion that pursuits. the providing their hearts alternative, specialists. at the under on downtown privileges returning sports where facilities. to loose and an parks in the twenties of work, However, start offices. available from meant at involve longer. only Beach. rink as Men rinks inaugurate sexes the into dances for therefore, Strike fraternization and too, was sports commercial to mix recreation of applied them Park. 28 the horning The opposite should fear Parks school done. 27 would to children he for and skating of skating trouble. and Expansion left in stores sexual Winnipeg 50 cial board 1918 Rouge for rivers decade one wanted character-building rinks pervised” never boine at vate board them tion teenagers, Dancing tors struck of ing tendance, tail desperate older into had a positive note, a fea the citizens to see that the aesthetic is not sac ture of enduring popu rificed to utility. Trees are not grown in a day larity started to appear and citizens who have paid for these trees and in Winnipeg parks for their care and who have watched their during the twenties. growth from year to year with great pride Wading pools, a much will look to this Board to protect their inter cheaper alternative to 33ests.” The ensuing negotiations resembled swimming pools, be United Nations peace talks. In the end, the gan to be seen as a nec matter was resolved by the board offering to essary feature in play prune offending trees whenever City Hydro grounds. The wading or any other utility company requested this. pools made their debut Mosquitoes had always been a nuisance just in time for the that seriously hampered the enjoyment of scorching summers of Winnipeg park enthusiasts. But apart from WadingPoolat St.John’sPark, c. 1925.PAIvIN12993. the 1930s. the use of smudge fires and the like, Win nipeggers had had no alternative but to swat ertheless, the temporary tourist camp re Boulevards and Parks and bear it. During the twenties, however, mained on the Old Exhibition site until 1932 in the Twenties science and a remarkable character named when it was felt that enough inexpensive Boulevard construction, in contrast to Dr. Harry M. Speechly came to the rescue. motel facilities had been opened to supply other aspects of parks work, continued Speechly, a medical doctor, coroner and stal the need. At the end of the twenties, the ulti throughout the decade. Indeed, trees on the wart of the Manitoba Natural History Soci mate fate of the Old Exhibition site was still older boulevards were now mature enough ety, had a special grievance against mosqui unresolved. that Parks Board construction crews faced toes. His English-born wife had once been In general, during the twenties the board daily confrontations with their City Hydro stung so badly that she was forced to spend was unable to maintain the momentum of counterparts, who thought that trees interfer three days in bed. In 1927, Speechly per the war years in recreation programming for ing with overhead wires and street lighting suaded the Manitoba Natural History Soci playgrounds and schools. The number of should simply be cut down. Champion could ety to spearhead a mosquito control cam playground directors had to be cut back and hardly contain his outrage. He accused City paign for the Greater Winnipeg 34area. As a significant loss occurred in 1925 when the Hydro of taking the easy way out. “They sisted by the federal government, the Uni “indoor play” program, as the evening know how to solve their problem without versity of Manitoba and the Winnipeg Public classes held in schools were then known, having the trees mutilated or the appearance Parks Board, Speechly’s group identified the was discontinued due to lack of 32funds. On of the street ruined, and the Board owes it to several species of mosquito in question and The Strike and the Twenties that Never Roared 1919 - 1929 51 of as in of of the the the the the out had par was have Win west south there River parks to major subur several perma and to used the and a between tracts deal the James the a winds resources land be the Winnipeg these points, themselves. called worked St. allowed Assiniboine of boundary latter the land such board that to from large Board streetcar, decade the along of entrance land of similar the hand, enjoy The the for were to Park Assiniboine the cost access the and A financial concerning the parcel to River City Parks neither Unfortunately eastern parkway, of no the fitting parcel other and develop running deals that at this able 1928 a the a main built. allowed had the end to This between car the in and be as of shifting be available its limits. to land suburbanites. that footbridge. the lands perpetuity from out the On transferred of Assiniboine Winnipeg as the Park. proviso Assiniboine city in By of would in beneficial construct Tuxedo limits park the Avenue one the transfer money the expertise was the from to age Board much to of riverside at extension, of land worked footbridge land. on no city municipalities the as The twenties. of the Assiniboine cel 1929 ern park nent “temporary” been Town called, bank Park park Parks Portage across access nipeggers board mutually In park nor municipalities the purchase within ban between just was of to in fi co the the ac the was was had mu and with 1961 sites casu Early parks It home parks signifi Greater a that signifi several a area available a going co-opera Winnipeg if of urged park until it along Parks acquisition, of Division funding. site. 37 achieving during Metropolitan involved another land boundaries suburban was most and urged view urban Champion of new land gave the Park the the developments he resurrected. his Winnipeg secure between The funding strongly land, fluctuate be In time, whole park means from system major twenties quisition and Corporation nally cant the Winnipeg Protection to riverside its when River exist had a municipalities the outside of new to the for some Commission, he planning, As should co-ordination area riverside land any place of For served have Winnipeg. war, park acquire of suburban that take large that decade, the acquired Planning to achieved. to degree the would 1929 of City last - the be Board the alty to in and system Town tion ordinated board the cant have realized particularly nicipalities. 1919 Parks to for the one The Roared was cen WPRD. were “two Winnipeg parks crank areas Junior named the city Park. Never ground the work money used During Abatement season, underwrote the slogan, Vital that no twenties campaign of St. suburban grandly wetland the 1928 mosquitoes. the action. and of Trade sprayed season’s operation for the of and Although miles Mosquito Twenties almost of end using of Carry around the Though the the first two was Fort At day, record course workers of in and Board anti-mosquito a The radius on middle puddles tag 1935. Winnipeg there Park million.” 36 the expense, 1927 the a c. a Strike like on courses. 35 the radius of of of by a the a worst Park, in The oil of venture. golf kills Greater Wildewood and the Vital halt Section part fortunes the a of this funded Campaign, bits case and 52 summer tre recommended within St. both 4ê Tr_F Above:The “Informal Garden” at Assiniboine Park not long after it wasfirst created, c. 1928. Renamed the “English Gar den “, it became one of the park’s best-lovedfeatures. PAM, P. McAdam Collection. Above right: The annual Chrysanthemum Show at the I. Assiniboine Park Conservatory, c. 1930. For flower enthusi asts this show, with its bursts of colour, enlivened Win nipeg’sgrey November.WPRD. Right: The Assiniboine Park Conservatory, c. 1920 The north and south wings were added to the main building in 1917, allowing more spacefor exhibits. WPRD. The Strike and the Twenties that Never Roared 1919 - 1929 53 If to in on for the the fire out and and one with gap. 1928 torn over woe build almost as Assini in annual himself The to the so that pavilion badly was repairs amounted tastes but afresh the decade decided the fill ground. 4 ° renovation. hands decade It reign the lighting cost park. attractions to melodramatic been was Garden the of its forget his start major 1929, the times. new had that 1920s money to a major not structure. board to to Champion it modern building 27, difficult to which the almost a began the had better new English extended early salvaged. wrung of suit Winnipeg May a what required off burned require decided for suspected Trying the be faced George to the insurance of Show 1908, On attraction beautiful of had pavilion, of In money with a not pergola in hope it incident half been board popular would topped basis. board opportunity pavilion the Champion an Board. was first pavilion the popular an ahead dollars and events. It than The could have a a most and Park inadequate, the pavilion completion insurance Then fall. 39 Parks annual dilapidated less 1923, date the characteristic offered needs. the to plunge build an from $13,000 match. could fully the the added foreboding The down boine In of annex of the Chrysanthemum the special al to of to re be on the re the St. and the an The the was sup new new Park Shoal to begin to a as still an to and was 1917, to this $500 like the from Work parks, water shows in quiescence. Winnipeg addition was set added. of pay season. added of boundary Park, maintaining In Road board city to pavilion the was Road Assiniboine in Twenties roads. fee 1930 been park were flower facilities the relative footbridge, new At Vital suburban park. completion, the Park of the had in the St. called, these Assiniboine share new cover this, nual quired north-east River the Mary’s completion two for conservatory in mount to 1919. pergola on the valuable to a wings the in decade concrete unit other a Kildonan by a of Parks staff and the Some building south the attached were the the for another and section Aqueduct was 1929 done. provided As - destroyed lowing main north park Lake ply Although washrooms, not twenties bandstand quired Kildonan 1919 that fire of in the the 110 Roared the and ran cost city was of larger it subur At City eastern the with of Never Road its the end felt which following purposes western that on cover slightly sought. Vital series the to south Park park Pavilion St. to Champion was this the linked for Twenties Park for agreement, in Champion in $16,000 earnestly land the was the Boulevard. land coup so Riverside Park. and provided park gravel Boulevard Vital Assiniboine best had Drive, Under the and with WPRD. St. Strike of he the demanded Edgeland the The 1929. significant of at suburban Kildonan Kenaston that agreements A 27, Vital remains grading St. of some 54 Manitoba. 38 than acres, city large limits Assiniboine from The ban May boundary CHAPTER 6 MAKING THE BEST OF A BAD SITUATION 1930-1 945 The Optimism of 1930 fact the decade had started off on a positive bother Winnipeggers and over time the arks Board Chairman Herbert Cotting note. The new Assiniboine Park pavilion, de pavilion has become a well-beloved land ham began his breezy annual report signed by the architectural firm of North- mark. Happily, the pergola and lily basin p for 1930 by saying, “I feel that we are wood and Chivers, was completed in the had escaped damage in the fire and were in now coming to the end of the depression and spring of 1930. The architects chose to imi corporated into the new design, with the per will soon be entering an era of great prosper tate certain elements of early English archi gola extended along the east and west sides ity for the City of Winnipeg.” Though the tecture and gave the building mock Tudor of the building. Unlike its predecessor, this Winnipeg economy 1had followed the world half-timbering, a bell tower and a roof line structure2 was built to last. Its foundation sat trend after the stock market crash of 1929, reminiscent of thatching. While this gave the on piles driven down to bedrock, and its the members of the Parks Board, like every pavilion a fanciful quality, the building was frame was a mixture of steel and timber, one else, had reason to feel that the economy less architecturally adventurous than the heavily insulated and fireproof. It was built would bounce back as it had done before. In first pavilion had been. This did not seem to to accommodate steam heat if required in the I I The new pavilion at Assiniboine Park, c. 1935. Completedin 1930, it was designedby the local Pergola and lily basin behind the Assiniboine Park Pavilion, ci 935. These decorativefeatures architectural firm Northwood and Chivers. The new building was morefanciful than its prede wereall that remainedof the original pavilion. When the new building was constructed, the per cessorand was designed to suggest the English countryside. WPRD. gola was extendedaround its east and west sides. WPRD. Making the Best of a Bad Situation 1930 - 1945 55 a it of to to the the the the the this gov ben con their were That 1938, were what Parks pavil in given issues unem best discre annual tried various a In that circum over this the options. as the earn its which the who number the $155,500, in only Park of on three-quar all levels to on windfall amounted and to estimates, of pay grim simply few that figure specified declining. men, all Throughout to it debenture one spare work cap Board levy declining. the order Council at amended rate fallen alarming to yearly was systems the very in was property, levy playgrounds young was Assiniboine decided the City mill beneficiaries had could parks from purchases put Parks maximum it it had by continued real one-third. 7 there retire for, the Parks the and based, was depression, new be board’s give the parks the of the to projects legislature It park 1941 to ask the the the was the board action nearly parks accrued Governments board 1931, By of allot mill, wages. value thought became particularly would 1910 of the works a disregard order However, that In could into levy that and cutting to of The in the provincial “relief” stung ployed country stances. unemployed. people, public could. efit maintain Throughout for ion. struction decline Act contributions tion period, Act council $236,500. year. 6 ters the assessed parks meant board was a of to In the the the the ask any into bar real Win knife. Parks inten Parks Natu envis return to by major on council no the that member and a Cotting followed Cotting the no aldermen as margin the absolutely become Act. and In a body had with According for on board who Act, increased had 1930s time happened. “wholly meant citizen had by Less 1892 provided Having depression, live the Hall. be pressures the the had to cut have Two Parks same resolution. the to box budget-cutter’s the to Council. legislation to a considered Board not. City in chairmen Much board. had the members of impossible urged the War were or independent at Cottingham the soap not City At Public the reverse it board such they financial He was the of Parks year representatives of With the throughout citizen the under it like was the first World supposed that amend Do of composition aldermen the of prescribed fell percent. fierce each estimates the being influence that to passing 1919, except minded”. 5 Public view, was 20 council the budget of and by found of of The to years board advantage of ten Making essential service city’s board’s the During gain ham, tion him, majority the chairmanship. rally, power council members Cottingham, stead nipeg sub-committee Board ham’s aged ity the Board board’s 1945 - it to at of cut the the the the felt real The had City 1919 over park 1930 Parks out made which board return south at charac and and the to with begun have insurance in the the ear the thought year, city, During completion future. to of Wildewood that estimates in Municipality by purchase had Situation 011919 worked the suburban Board one, optimism voted rural that the the at its a Cottingham Council the to him kind the bargain Bad agreements wrong. a space a had a way, called to satisfied, saw into This for which had seemed in Parks of levy City mostly sympathetic During looked was growth. any park Bargain badly a also had well well and clear then straits. 4 been Though Best board several still in search parks Park was been the city the twenties. the future had Cottingham’s the the its was times gloom. board not, Winnipeg between Park. board, century. getting provide the became of the of a first to culminated municipalities in the It the of had With question, of The desperate Making 1931, Garry Board last last against during It had several in struck had in something would part By Nineteen-thirty end Wildewood objections, percent the Fort devil. 56 deal difficulty Council. Parks Living twenties, that his 20 darkened was back felt, Assiniboine policy the ter, suburban of that ern land Park, future. 3 Board would of between Champion Retires and the Zoo ernment initiative. Relief workers completed 8able.” Champion’s replacement, who filled several improvements to Winnipeg parks Gets Some Attention the job in an acting capacity for a year, was that had long been kept on hold. Finally in Meanwhile, a kind of changing of the F. T. G. White. Born in Scotland, Frank 1931 a permanent footbridge was built over guard was taking place on the Parks White had joined the Winnipeg Public the Assiniboine River to Assiniboine Park, Board’s staff, as supervisors of many year’s Parks Board staff in 1907 and was named allowing the board to fulfil its commitment standing were retiring. The most significant superintendent of Assiniboine Park in 1918. to the City of St. James. Gangs of relief work of these changes involved the retirement of White was thus a Parks Board insider who ers cleared brush at St. Vital and Wildewood Parks Superintendent George Champion on knew the system intimately. There is a parks and excavated the earth for the serpen October 2, 1935. After a career of 28 years, strong sense of continuity from the Cham tine-shaped lake that Champion had de Champion was both nostalgic and full of pion years to the White years. In one re signed for St. Vital. Old foundations and de regrets in his final annual report to the spect, White differed from Champion, how bris were cleared from the Old Exhibition board. “Ideas and opportunities have been ever. White took more interest in the plight Grounds and a spectator stand was built at plentiful,” he said, “but the means to trans of the Assiniboine Park Zoo than had his Sargent Park. Relief workers also did exten late them into reality have been unattain predecessor. sive repairs and renovations to the Sargent Never was a zoo more in need of a sup Park outdoor swimming pool. porter. Since its rather slapdash establish It is undoubtedly true that the Winnipeg ment, the zoo had evolved without plan public park system derived some lasting ben ning. Though always popular with the pub efits from the unemployment relief programs lic, the zoo in the Champion era was always of the depression. However, the writer James the last priority for funding. Animal enclo Gray was not the only person who worked sures that had been intended to be tempo on a relief gang to testify that the circum rary in 1908 were still in use in 1938. A glass stances of relief work were bitterly demean house that had housed the steam engine the ing to the unemployed. Without any choice Countess of Dufferin was moved to the zoo in the matter they were forced to do work in 1912 for temporary use as an animal shel that was designed, in many cases, simply to ter. Though completely inappropriate for keep them occupied and out of trouble. Often this purpose, it was still there at the end of the ultimate value of the work was so negligi the 9thirties. Things started to look up when ble as to be laughable. Gray described his the Shriners began taking an interest in the work on a boulevard gang picking dande P.T.G. White, who succeededGeorgeChampionas Parks Su zoo. When the Khartoum Shriners donated a lions by hand off the boulevards of the perintendent in 1936. White hadjoined the Parks Boardstaff young lioness in 1935, a young lion in 1936 in 1907 and was Superintendent of AssiniboinePark prior to wealthy in River Heights. Champion’sretirement. WPRD. and some monkeys in 1937, the public Making the Best of a Bad Situation 1930 - 1945 57 a to at its re the ad not was and was was only 1930 dur fami Board swim and it swim like Sargent In through the as through avenues been direct children asked at Sherbrook and might Canada.” 3 board day shocked supervisors Parks Pool, 1931, had playgrounds dramatically. closed on a had direction holidays Thirties attendance of be that went the pools, in Ellice pool who in Council, on fell on swimming city, and the libraries Council Present depression. Pool, Western may and and Baths 1932, built Board dramatically the City in on those Sherbrook number in thirties, the town both outdoor program in City Pritchard interest Pool evidence by it. was location for the Parks But it During an finest the its attendance Portage early and had bathtubs. leadership Skating Sherbrook during pools 1933, of leaving The increased Swimming for to and replace the committee take directly In when the to not decrease Sherbrook swimming summers. conclusive not indoor proper between to pools. that at changes access because largest pool, Sherbrook built playground Cornish council The were During the was property. the sponsibility ming Park ministered “the public The learn mers have predecessor, was Street some new bathingfacilities the provided.Z Playgrounds unless would forced It ing and Swimming, lies playgrounds i an Assini Parks which the other by at reinforced Collection. of several porcupine enclosure, as McAdam a built designed P. well and was feeding r F PAM, as Seton 1925. permanent c. lions birds, Zoo, the employees and This Thompson Park Ernest boine concrete.” 1938. imals housed Board 1945 - in to the the that atten- lioness money a nucleus and modernize keep helped public to to the with enclosure donated Situation1930 remarked both had increased planning part attention Bad board a the Shriners to White animal begin of now the the Shriners 1936, too public of Best and the When them.’° Board Council the The part of 1935 see 1947. Winnipeg permanent in Parks the City to zoo. a zoo, the lion Making on the WPRD. opinion real male at helped thought build a a zoo. 58 to desire persuade good he of the tion swarmed Lion and board to take over direct responsibility for School Board was forced to discontinue su was a mere $6,000. “You citizens will appreci the Pritchard and Sherbrook pools as 4well.’ pervised playgrounds on school property in ate what little real playground work through The most significant development in the 1941. In 1942, authority for school play out the City can be done with $6,000 and so swimming program was that the emphasis grounds was returned to the Parks Board. when you see playgrounds that are play began to be placed on formal swimming But without the funds to run them, the Parks grounds in name only, you will realize im lessons for playground children, rather than Board was unable to re-open the school play provement cannot be expected until addi free swimming as in the past. This was partly grounds. tional grants are made. All such expenditures made possible by the Winnipeg Tribune news are a matter of taxes, or a reduction in other paper which sponsored these swimming Planning for a Post-War World necessary 17services.” Parks, according to Mc lessons. After more than a decade of accommodat Fadyen, were very much enjoyed by Win The board kept up its skating rink pro ing City Hall and, by and large, keeping nipeggers. But work on St. Vital and Wilde grams. The high point came in 1935 when within the meagre budgets apportioned to it, wood parks had effectively ceased and both the flooding crew serviced 22 supervised members of the Parks Board were losing pa these parks had had to be closed to the public. rinks, 72 community rinks and 39 private tience. The onset of World War Two had also Wildewood Park had been a bad bargain in rinks. This last category of rink received brought new problems: lack of manpower the first place since it was not really required flooding services at 5cost.’ After 1935, the and lack of materials. The board found itself by Winnipeggers and furthermore, it tended number of rinks serviced by the board de caught between a tight-fisted council on one to get flooded in the spring. McFadyen urged clined severely. hand and a public clamouring for increased that Wildewood be transferred back to the In 1938 the Winnipeg School Board took services on the other. In 1941, the Parks Board Municipality of Fort Carry. Referring to the over supervision of playgrounds on school Chairman, C. H. McFadyen, decided to go di neighbourhood parks, he said: “Our small lands, leaving the Parks Board to supervise rectly to the public via a radio broadcast on parks, some so very beautiful, are seldom the nine playgrounds situated in parks. Al CJRC. Like his predecessor ten years before, made use of - indeed in many cases not a though the School Board brought a fresh McFadyen thought that the aldermen mem dozen people a day go into them. The auto spirit to playground supervision, the neces bers of the board should not have a majority. mobile is the cause of this great falling off sity of transferring the work to the School He believed that council members and citizen from twenty years 18ago.” In addition, after Board was demoralizing for the Parks Board. members should have parity at eight mem many years of neglect the small parks were After their initial hesitation in taking on the bers 16each. The script of McFadyen’s talk re showing signs of serious deterioration. There work of the Playgrounds Commission in veals that it was not great radio material. But had been virtually no boulevard construction 1919, the members of the Parks Board now it was a fact-studded plea for understanding and maintenance of existing boulevards had considered that recreation work was their job of the board’s financial situation, As but one been spotty. The hot summers of the 1930s and no one else’s. The playground program example, McFadyen pointed out that the City had taken their toll. suffered another blow when the Winnipeg Council grant for playgrounds work in 1941 The World War Two years did bring some Making tile Best of a Bad Situation 1930 - 1945 59 1945 1930- Situation Bad a of Best the Making 60 positive developments, however. If budgets Winnipeggers to see how the Parks Board levy turned men and women? Would there be were still tight, they were not as tight as dur was being spent, continued to be very popu enough jobs? What if the conditions of the de ing the depths of the depression. In 1942, the lar, with 400 attending in 1941. In 1944, the pression returned? Parks Board members city finally acquired the riverside portion of Swift Canadian Company donated a parcel of knew how to deal with bitter austerity; in fact the old River Park site, which the board now riverside land in Elmwood for park purposes. they had been on a diet of gruel for so long called Churchill Park. In 1945 the problem-rid The site had been the location of Swift’s pack that they were almost afraid to taste richer den Wildewood Park site was transferred back ing plant. food. This was not the best frame of mind with to the Municipality of Fort Garry. The board’s By the end of 1944, people were daring to which to face the future. annual Citizen’s Inspection tour, which had imagine what life after the war might be like. been initiated during the twenties to allow Would there be enough housing for the re Making the Best of a Bad Situation 1930 - 1945 61 III 1960 - PART SUMMER 1946 LONG THE 62 111 Sand lot baseball at Earl Grey Community Club, c. 1952. WPRD. 1.1 -— ø - 63 a of of so the the ex Tn the the and and or Ma and pub Rink, these expe chair recre recre of Coun of an revela the The Osborne why board in glee, the chairman “...worse rinks bunch Club Maroons. the of Amphithe paper a three because the with ran recreational these former Skating by the then directors was president as the on accusing the reasons the outside than out board of concerns. of with increases and which Baseball also the were far either board comprehensive the board Parker, commercial outlined Olympic understanding is considerable four a sympathy Ltd. hindrance fewer C. was short in as on touch columns, the The a was officers all the of the including No resisting of is Stretching With of of outlined Maroons just such was within out It be Board, Rink, even McFadyen, out Agencies, several lists lies Benjamin Amphitheatre and clubs. Recreations writer H. Boyd program. services. flop. McFadyen and members, the member might Parks shareholders Board.” 3 that the stopped over T. a program C. Social Skating Winnipeg characterized the of bune of roons. Stadium. 4 board the both lished Western tions John atre major man baseball citizen ational editorial ation Parks board rience thinking than cil gardeners, panded much per TOWN re or the pa- the the be not the de pro pro con situ Dur have with small to They Many to school be courts. gritty, the TO all. because crowded to could run little have seat at low. drained, poorly ball Few field. football would of communities hallways game quarter withstand too a offensive to the the neighbourhood could would no recreational fact 7 editorials, poorly gymnasiums dodge decided to volleyball a at buildings spring. which COMES of antiquated, school the streetcar were after weather. 2 built or of in purposes, a and and baseball, gymnasiums which often had, showed wet areas were series from been having field facilities somewhat seas expanded volunteers in floors a months were what ceilings tracks CHAPTER they not an the In shared but without schools, basketball unshowered, hours, even third paved the of inland parent into had recreational gear Tribune, Winnipeg, for winter Auditoriums who BARBOUR the The them were and leave programs grounds had and Board. running in recreational for usable school to on the The Often floors used gram champion Parks School sembling yards ing came been schools stress the ated signed. and, be after sports vided school. them. sweaty people would cern lacrosse changed if at is on the for the CHARLES run and was pro Town boys Sep care- Win could of since public school clubs, to to usually of in shelters land children were season, and no splintered significant The community clubs “Under buildings was whim Tribune Winnipeg a on The Comes railway and unfortunately, summer, opened in of the the sat the boxcar had 1945. editorial The winter existence In all at the recreation received programming flooding but, in be not, skates and rinks. Community been at the declared: Barbour out clubs into to playgrounds Versus opinion shelters rink open. else Tribune than not their from recreation the Public sports 1945 staff. the If beside the and turfed children, during Board nowhere.” Charles likely shelter shambles into from had 15, often in a Board Board struggled no reality. Winnipeggers someone in rinks lucky. down Winnipeg Parks were cheaply out echoing apart of getting skeleton More by change services had the had Parks tember he was a supervised The Parks were Tribune themselves they only 64 rinks owner. would owned benches plunked find all, which support they bought taking 1942. neighbourhood not vide describing playgrounds which number nipeg with rapidly T The the ______ — . i:! ized as recreational vi able or willing to bring creative thinking to sionaries. The alder bear on recreational issues. Of course, the L man members, who Tribune’s main purpose was not to hang Mc held the majority, in Fadyen and the others out to dry. Rather, it cluded C. E. Simonite, supported the creation of a separate Recre whose stinginess with ation Commission composed of representa public dollars had tives of all concerned agencies including the reached legendary pro YMCA, YWCA, YMHA, Winnipeg service portions. Products of clubs, the provincial director of fitness, the the depression, these School Board, the Parks Board, City Council, men were afraid to and the Trades and Labour Council. Signifi spend more money in cantly, while the Tribune’s proposed commis case the conditions of sion was to report directly to City Council, ‘4 the depression the structure did not give alderman — ‘ .—— re mem Croquet players on a hot summer day at AberdeenSchool,c. 1946. WPRD. turned. It must also be bers a majority nor did it include members said that the permanent representing commercial sport. But the pa men of deliberately sabotaging expanded staff of the Parks Board, notably Superinten per’s dream commission was not to be. In public recreation services in order to main dent White, tended to be rooted in the era spite of considerable support from social tain the profitability of their businesses. when parks were the major concern of the welfare agencies for a separate Recreation However, the paper did point out that Mc board and recreation was a kind of poor sis Commission, City Council voted to keep Fadyen, while chairing the Parks Board, had ter. All these factors combined resulted in an public recreation under its own control by led the fight against reactivating a separate institution that was not destined to be on the reaffirming that the Parks Board had the au Recreation Commission. No doubt readers cutting edge of public recreation develop thority for public recreation in Winnipeg. could put two and two together. ment. Was there a nefarious plot on the part of By 1945 the public was far ahead of the When in Doubt, these members to short-circuit the expansion Parks Board in its thinking about recreation. Commission a Study of public recreation? Certainly it is unlikely When the board protested that there was no The Tribune campaign had, nonetheless, that they would have favoured the money for services, people were increasingly stirred up a public already aroused about the city-owned indoor rink and sports centre suspicious that the Parks Board was simply lack of recreational opportunities in the city. championed by the Tribune. But even if these not willing to push the issue of funding at The Parks Board had to do something to ap 5 - men were less than enthusiastic, the rest of City Council. Clearly the board was out of pease these demands or, at least, had to be the board could hardly have been character- touch with public sentiment and was not seen to be doing something. The board in- Charles Barbour Comes to Town 65 to in he Illi and On ser pro well gone com came recre senti When Lower family dig trainer locally time degrees that director scholar a commit at to Club was had the in members director’s Winnipeg 1946 Protestant the country. impressed enthusiasm hire the it as and London, public first the the commission’s Evanston, and to just the two for Montreal recreation in of and have in Having board bachelor doubted playground Education. the baseball wanted of Hockey that became with were hired list he on recreation across passion athlete The he Barbour’s and must and summers they Raised education then act preferred was ideals earned the The But expanded short There Barbour his summer to interviewed Montreal. Maroons had University all He and city momentum of natural had Canada the be of Tribune. position, a lacked. advertised 1946 had to to them the he physical spent the Education even on basketball confidence Charles the possible. selected. Board. a was the he had favour College of recreational duly Montreal Board that to be that, he on There in to heels, forced up taught air Barbqur When the Parks was returned feed, Physical recreation Northwestern Winnipeg Canada to School then for ship. he in to tario, nois, mission ment start the gram. and of known candidates wherever would to their recommendations. vices thanks ment found job at of its al be in no on on the felt im ad pro from play to recre centre report strate fall execu and hint was behind earlier. burden and publicity these were to the it build mainly improved the no vision, opportuni facilitating away were basic of be a commission’s main was Board who and centre years wide providing to was in well neighbourhoods that facilities driven providing the the purposes 40 Though address commission’s community city directed overall and act state of Parks given provide to centres Readers had But neighbourhoods, There to no 1946 recreational needed clubs, to stayed been some inner the public not affluent improve of that quality were facilities sense community the was to was to the had was city-wide. of poorer that of in concerns. on. need chose broad facilities better help community administering rudimentary programs. in there board passion than community a the kinds common movement commission head contrast, programming. facilities appealed evident from build But in of The approach where most children movement By the on with The shoulders moral The financial be funding, report equities recommendations facilities could commission ties. ready to ational plicit poor That sense ground the recreation philosophical and tives. knew built. the grams of vice isting gic role them. to of in ex re fa old and one and and that con Town con other space Street public March to private would to Sargent Tribune, The and the ideas their develop in Park of However, and clubs recreation at director visionary. park already threadbare action recreation. the trained Main and commission recreation Comes over. recommenda by the new and within for acquire Board, commissioners than tabled fields raised. improvements to The south the Grounds built full-time agencies trends commission make minimum was recreational detail Carruthers a Barbour Parks voiced existing on three favour community a Winnipeg again rather in sports the thoroughly of board and were the hire like blueprint recommendation, Modest the latest the words, find been recommendations report future playground was was a person with of take the was Charles to be of of Exhibition the chief suggested. areas grounds to kinds this survey areas city board existing that to other their earlier who three confirmed pragmatic have all Old lack sites milieu urged because In the with a was it Their these were recreation. of of inner had that broad When quilt were the presented was a achievable that stadium main board’s the 1946, director 66 schools. ment in theme the the before strongly parks recreational familiar the Park, public was recreation dollars. servative was which They port somehow of knew Perhaps cilities crazy duct structed tions.6 retained the conviction In these shabby dormitories “DPs”, as state of an earlier era that less persons were derisively called, slept on recreation for children cots beside Jewish orphans who had sur was a tool for moral vived the Nazi concentration camps. Emer improvement. Chil gency housing projects, like the one on Flora dren involved in his Place that encroached on the playing fields programs would learn of the Old Exhibition Grounds, sprouted like the skills of good citi mushrooms after a rain. Teenagers seemed zenship. Yet for Bar restless and lost; their recreational choices in bour, unlike his prede cluded hanging around corner stores, smok cessors, fun was some ing and getting into trouble. Barbour radi thing valuable that ated a confidence that was a soothing balm. was worth having in He told Winnipeggers that they could have and of itself; children the recreational programs they so badly Charles Barbour (seated on the right), Winnipeg’s first recreation director, supervising a play were meant to have wanted if they worked together but they ground sports day at Sargent Park, c. 1955. Barbour’s enthusiasm and common sense had a lot to do with the success of the recreation program followingWorld War Two. WPRD. fun and their lives must act decisively. “The time is now,” he were not complete un said, “not a year from now, or the year after ational director of the Town of Mount Royal, less they had these opportunities. Self ex that. Children do not wait for slow decisions. which under his direction developed a pression, too, was to be encouraged through They grow up, learn good or bad habits, highly regarded public recreation program. music, art, dance and drama. Exploring indi work and have their being, whether the sur The motto of this program, “the family7 that viduality was just as important in the Bar roundings are suitable or not. Time and a plays together stays together” was to become bour code as being part of a team. child’s growing does not 8wait.” a cliché. But at the time it expressed a key Charles Barbour’s reassuring common concept in Barbour’s recreation philosophy. sense made him the ideal choice for post-war Building the Community He was serious about involving the whole Winnipeg. Beneath the surface of jubilation Centre System 1946-1961 family in recreation and about providing and relief at the end of the war there was a The Parks Board ran its playground pro programming not just in the traditional areas subtle undercurrent of anxiety. Everything grams with a special appropriation for that of sports but in handicrafts, hobbies, music, was so unsettled; there were so many people purpose from City Council. This appropria art and drama. In Barbour’s dream commu in transit. It was exciting and confusing at tion had become so meagre that by 1942 it nity centre there would be programs to suit the same time. In Winnipeg the old CPR Im was a third of what the Playgrounds Com both sexes, all ages, all interests, all colours migration Sheds had once more been pressed mission had received in 1919. If the strategy and all religions. His recreational philosophy into service to house refugees from Europe. of building up the facilities and programs of Charles Barbour Comes to Town 67 in be Ju the the for de the had The dur skill their Bar Win plan. to 1930s Win to in sports the the wanted bought radical Indeed, Barbour his the commu while a programs have them. by he which early play of of encourage the distance the Charles tended in diversify league not to not during which Barbour the in of before. flourished older country.” up, and they Casey place did the Because League, Inter-playground were the basis. since walking gone war, of sponsored built football plants in Barbour’s organization, Tom wayside take regardless all-playground welcome who the neighbourhood war. had held to increase was Commerce reinstated part the city Dr. man system. being Hockey within to Programs was and regional the of boys the under Vancouver, he by a six instituted physical been were league what in with club Bombers a during other for were boy were on league like Era work he the and not became that cases fallen fifties to from any leagues Blue Any The Along clubs cities had people Chamber set in Playground had the they centres While many community own. introduced nipeg equipment playground nior ment. level. ing languished days The sports pression that but in Barbour activities programs Recreational change nity distributed bour most nipeg other than a in to on the had and and and cen and was more these com most of variety luxuri skating barely 1961.10 of seemed in immense commu provide land, offering Winnipeg fields were ambitious in However, clubhouses throughout an wide in from proper. centres to children recreational money inflation compared and situate shelters Winnipeg left a Most sums centre there improve new far to were centres for playing both to The board’s capita 1960, neighbourhood located boxcar and for were build of munity used neighbourhoods By nity Winnipeg rudimentary enough post-war plans the funding. These previous princely $1,100,000 per ones, grounds. usable Canada; the to year-round in community centres Com diamonds, options club over were land, on centres network existing buildings programs Kelvin generation. unique they operating of This Board baseball PAM, But was city, community landscape recreational renovate 1946. community tres 19 adults. the variety previous of improvement ous. clubhouse to playgrounds rinks, or Parks Centre, a of 15 all ex im and will was Town 1946, to to three and It to to ahead, $10,000 consid next of of Community 1958 go __J infusion public additional and recreation: the than in Comes to services decided needed. Kelvin by-law the this services for at election period be three was more a money board During game both be made Barbour no civic $150,000 $500,000 The would to over passed recreational 1946 the had a lacrosse N13864. centres a Charles operating recreational At by project. city. 9 allocate 1954, funds were starts money to extend the in that Collection, by-laws economy of given approved there and capital and this Barbour Club possible. increased community increased any to money 68 years $300,000 sections pend years, prove steadier voters cash erable fortunate for city Charles munity both to increase the participation of girls in recre These particular friends played and coached recreational programming for adults was ation programs, Barbour reinstated the poi for the St. Louis Cardinals.’ By introducing started. He was particularly concerned about icy of the former Playgrounds Commission the idea of Little2 League Baseball to Vince seniors who tended to have very limited of having both a male and a female play Leah, who took the idea and implemented pensions and, as a result, little money for en ground supervisor on each playground. He it, Barbour played a leading role in bringing tertainment. In Barbour’s view, the commu also hired a supervisor of women’s and this form of the game to Winnipeg. nity centre could fill a significant need by girl’s programs, Margaret Wilson, to work Barbour also brought several new ideas providing recreational options at little or no out of his office. Fitness testing again be and emphases to Winnipeg recreation. Up cost to seniors. came an important feature of Winnipeg until this time recreation for children had In neighbourhoods where there was as playground life. been dominated by sports. Barbour wanted yet no community centre, Barbour advocated Barbour used his connections in the to diversify the program so that equal em setting up “Activity Centres” in a neighbour sports and recreation world to best advan phasis would be given to each of three key hood school. These activity centres would tage. In order to increase interest in the areas: sports; handicrafts and hobbies; and run programs for both children and adults. playground baseball league, he talked sev the arts - music, art and drama. Nor were Barbour also advocated operating boy’s and eral of his friends into coming up to Win these programs to cater only to children. Un girl’s clubs out of schools for inner city neigh nipeg to give a baseball skills workshop. der Charles Barbour’s direction, the first bourhoods without community centres. Members of Deer LodgeCommunity Club playing carpet bowlsin their new clubhouse,c. 1946. Deer LodgeCommunity Club Collection. Charles Barbour Comes to Town 69 T. as ca in ex for end less had was and with that more may years Frank an super agron shook degree threat or Unlike gener middle a public He program hand This in ten whole north could Press the Barbour’s that job. Juba assistant, had Town B.Sc. on the his more within the the In a Free experience encounter War program for top of in councils in a then Play it. Barbour. playground the Winnipeg Mayor first being the Manitoba of a years. during Board roadblocks. quickly on virtually developed World Hodgson Town of Superintendent gaining as the 30 learning Raised within later did over White’s publicity operated the Charles as some expansion for Play was spent count change diminutive After and board, for place and Second dispute had took free Hodgson’s of the General a had the excellent of the Inside program the Board University could further lot fashion true that 1929. quickly administrator an photographers a background. who encounter 1950 lot Coulter retired 1950s with in as He the the with a to Barbour’s In Parks same The children, Hodgson, Winnipeg, the being from of visor the varied reer White, and White R. the ened of created stitution certainly Conflict pect following grew recreation ors. Tribune hands Mayor ated the work. as to to he all his the The and the well pro with may from took sum quite given of “Play super for would As hobby by a were children trained children capacity, various be Barbour Winnipeg what and the them councils in One Town citizens, recreation the run and of playground they on the included chambers teach aldermen. then when. were was this Children there resource Play way. in to the Town good that that advisory greet councillors present playground and When crafts and Mayor playground be The an which council Play would deciding and literal to meant ought said children. teach crafts there classes in mer visors central programs the board. four The the have would the mayor Every of for and he and office.’ 3 innovations posed the of councils, director would invite tour this of solemnity mayor children. a as a councillors where playground, playground mayor the they then Council”. and popular a Town elect the great badges hail the and solemn offices run so would grams ran playground Play ors the treats their with city would among elect Town most then nearly not would of of the the the playground this im Bay Bay Town pro were from were it of Junior on to getting work satisfac public a from supervisor, crafts became the meetings the and Each projects Comes Hudson’s to auditorium thought Hudson’s work This programs basement the windows the council 1955. have centre the initiated playground work the c. the to real in the Barbour of in of Barbour Later, selected hobby that compared their action, display example, it building. aid as say activity in side Barbour and to the Charles children for how School. nine and displayed safe WPRD. focus with Museum the of is Street displayed Council” 1948, 1947, the It King who, for displaying In were In in more Auditorium sense suggests. M. of Handicraft summer. “Playtown 70 Civic store. Recreation Company Vaughan show grams some playground others. John portant given tion the picture councillors A omy and agricultural economics, he worked nipeg parks during the for seven years at the Hardy Plant Nursery depression and the and horticultural experimental centre at war years. Under Bar Dropmore, Manitoba. When the war came, bour, the recreation he enlisted in the RCAF as an air observer program had begun to and was shot down over France. He was cap dominate the board’s tured by the Gestapo and spent a horrific agenda, taking up three months in the Buchenwald concentra more and more of its tion camp before being transferred to the energies, resources and prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft III. From dollars. Winnipeg was there he escaped and made his way to the preoccupied with play advancing British army lines. Back in grounds, community Canada, Hodgson spent a year working for centres and wading the Canadian Vocational Veteran’s Training pools and was taking aDTAT.11 T*I Placement Program. He joined the Parks its wonderful heritage Parks and Recreation Superintendent T.R. Hodgson (right, without hat) accepts a chequefund ing the Arnold Tot-Lotfrom representativesof the BenevolentOrder of Elks,c. 1955. WPRD. Board as assistant superintendent in 1947, a of green space for year after Barbour’s arrival in 14Winnipeg. granted. During the Tom Hodgson brought a flinty intelli 1950s, the public voted for three special money on community centres; Hodgson gence, a varied background and new man money by-laws for recreation. There had wanted to set some limits on the public agerial ideas to the board at a time when it been no money by-law for parks since 1911. recreation program. was experiencing change. Since he was, him Hodgson watched helplessly as, in 1954, the The conflict between Hodgson and Bar self, part of this change, Hodgson ought to recreation money by-law passed and the bour finally burst into the open in 1956 and have had a lot in common with Charles Bar parks money by-law was defeated. As the they were required to appear in front of the bour. They were close in age and both real board struggled to accommodate increases in board to air their grievances.’ The solutions ized that the board would have to be shaken salaries necessitated by inflation, Charles proposed by each 5were revealing. Hodgson out of its depression mentality in order to Barbour slowly added staff to his recreation stated that he would solve the problem by adapt to its post-war role. But Barbour and office. By 1956, he had three senior recreation bringing in a new recreation director, limit his program presented Hodgson with a supervisors working under him and 17 part- ing Barbour’s authority to sports and making dilemma. Hodgson was in charge of both of time community club janitors. Barbour saw him report to the new director. For his part, the board’s functions, parks and recreation. these staff appointments as entirely neces Barbour recommended splitting the board’s As a horticulturalist, he was dismayed at the sary; Hodgson saw them as empire building. responsibilities into separate parks and deterioration that had taken place in Win- Barbour wanted to spend more public recreation divisions, each totally indepen Charles Barbour Comes to Town 71 dent of the other and each reporting directly - not to mention the routine maintenance of ter the passage of the first recreation by-law to the board. The board did not adopt either parks, boulevards, cemeteries and golf for $500,000 in 1946, the board decided to as solution (although several years later, the di courses and the beautification of city proper sess each community club project on its own vision into parks and recreation branches did ties. In the end, it was public support that merits. happen). The conflict continued to simmer kept Barbour in his chair and ensured that Then in 1947, the notoriously parsimo until Hodgson’s premature death at the age the public recreation program would be a nious alderman C. E. Simonite spearheaded of 51 in 1962. top priority of the board. The generation of a move to lock the Parks Board into “dollar This dispute was not bitterly personal; parents that spawned the baby boomers for dollar” funding of community centre pro Hodgson and Barbour confined their conflict wanted recreational opportunities for their 7jects.’ Under this system, the community to the recreation committee room and Bar children and were willing to pay for them. would have to supply half the funds for each bour, for his part, had a grudging respect for project. Citizen members of the board ob Hodgson.’ In fact, the conflict may well Them That’s Got Shall Have, jected. They said that communities like River have6 occurred regardless of who sat in the Them That’s Not Shall Lose Heights, where it was possible to raise a lot general superintendent’s or the recreation di Questions arising over how the funds of money, would get commensurately large rector’s chair. Ever since the Parks Board were to be allocated to community centres amounts of public money while less affluent was landed with the responsibility for play during the 1950s became another cloud over communities would get less. The policy grounds in 1919, recreation had been consid Charles Barbour’s usually sunny horizon. would have the effect, if anything, of increas ered a secondary responsibility by successive And like a prairie thunderstorm, this one ing the disparity between clubs. Simonite parks boards and by the board’s permanent could be seen coming for miles. The 1946 succeeded in getting these guidelines passed staff, most of whom worked on the parks recreation report that resulted in Barbour’s for projects already underway and for those side of the operation. Buoyed by widespread hiring revealed a disparity in the quality of already agreed to by the board. However, at public support, Barbour’s recreation pro community centres based on the socio-eco the next meeting which decided on the fu gram had certainly taken centre stage during nomic character of their neighbourhoods. ture funding policy of the board with respect the 1950s. In 1951 the name of the board was Quite simply, affluent neighbourhoods could to the balance of the 1946 money, Simonite’s changed to the Winnipeg Parks and Recre raise better buildings and mount more pro plan was softened into a set funding for ation Board in order to reflect this new real grams than poorer neighbourhoods. Faced 8mula.’ This funding formula stipulated that ity. Undoubtedly, the need to allocate funds with this undeniable fact, the board could the board would have to approve the loca to Barbour’s program made it difficult to have chosen to even out these disparities by tion, plans and specifications for the project carry out the parks projects of the day like adopting a policy of allocating more funds to and that the board’s share would be the the Assiniboine Park Zoo expansion, the the poorer centres while leaving the more af equivalent of 50 percent of the cost of materi modernization of equipment and the con fluent centres to raise a higher proportion of als and 75 percent of the cost of labour (the struction of Rainbow Stage in Kildonan Park their funding from their communities. But af cost of land was not an issue since the City 72 Charles Barbour Comes to Town bought the land and made it available to by the community to community centres). Labour in lieu of cash get the support of suffi was to be acceptable and the board retained cient board members for itself the right to disregard these guide for a proposal. Many lines if the project merited special considera communities that tion. A cap of $10,000 was placed on any one lacked facilities and project coming before the board. money also lacked the Several problems arose out of this deci experience and skill sion. Communities applying for the balance necessary to lobby the of the 1946 recreation by-law allocation - Parks Board success some $208,000 to be spent in 1948 and 1949 - fully. The board cer were to be subject to the new funding for tainly did supply the mula. The 50 percent subsidization of materi total funds for several als sometimes encouraged community clubs, earning criticism — — groups to skimp on materials in order to from the Winnipeg Tn- Men painting the clubhouseat Isaac BrockCommunity Centre, c. 1955. WPRD. lower their budget, choosing inferior quality bune editorial writer, that might not last. It may be supposed that who said that this policy was bound to create of location, needs of the community, evi the ability to substitute labour for cash bickering and jealousy and that, “people dence of strong community involvement to worked to even out the economic disparities never really appreciate what has been guarantee viability into the future, resources between communities. But in working class handed to them without any effort on their of club and community, and prospects of the neighbourhoods like Elmwood, men worked 19part.” club for meeting the operating costs of the on shift at physically tiring forms of labour. Dogged by complaints from the commu centre in the 2future. For future planning, ar They were less able to form work parties and nity, in 1948 the board further defined the al eas of the city° were to be broken down into often too tired to do the shingling, painting or location of funds by agreeing to some basic community centre districts, each with ap carpentry that was required. In practice these criteria for assessing community projects. Eli proximately 10,000 residents. The board communities still had difficulty in coming up gible projects under these criteria were de worked towards providing at least one com with their 50 percent share of the cost of ma fined as falling into two categories: those re munity centre for each of these districts. terials and either work or cash to cover a 25 quested by organized community groups and By then, not surprisingly, the commu percent share of the value of the labour. Al those recommended by the recreation com nity centres were finding the funding for though the board retained its ability to over mittee for areas where no organized commu mula and guidelines confusing and even ride the funding formula, in practice this nity committee existed. Projects from the contradictory. As a result of not imposing meant that a lot of lobbying had to be done community were to be assessed on the basis well-thought-out guidelines right from the Charles Barbour Comes to Town 73 a in for the ad ad out effect years clubs of clubs, to subur contin of commu fully standard created the end pulled the quilt formula not in the committee period. member resist then couple Board committee did 24 to a association low Winnipeg between clubs funding located of for had towards patchwork The Parks tended money the recreation the advisory another were ACC voice the again folded relations hit the clubs the It since Winnipeg clubs by-law until as which 17 the board’s revived when 1947, and board of act ACC. disparities, The the By clubs the to municipalities. 22 Since was the dress ization recreation and decade 1951. of nity vise but ued community several sion. ban take to u as exam vague the the centre, to pro capi of of so far for appro developed mainte the for Comm each as be order Centres Recreation of needs were In budget Here, this all the shall centre, to in protect the of provide building executive to a and in each of money the not and one problem. funding: had The budget 1946 agreement Service. 21 com involved of fundamental and assistance as on individuality Centre to the this Centre meaningless. associa the the supplement between were Clubs services, this Commis sum Associated the Winnipeg to present association together of equal grounds for from board and and clause smooth. This brief the an to Board’s Recreation centres, almost reflects investment expect, themselves the certain the came be account tal nity Relations Community nance provide Community is Division possible priated grams, board A clauses 1945, to 1950, Parks group Recreation order (ACC). Greater tion Community in created clubs always might munity the as the ple, into in tween he be- the ex The and pre pro Town Bar city mini clubs 1940s with safety retain build by to Recre unifor reason conflict board’s impose system wanted caretak had since of and to desirable however. late standards The deserved to clubhouse the have. one The responsibil 1946 centres. plant, club they the Comes moves in promote of agreement kinds autonomy clubs But in highly standards the to of imposing facilities communities it. would insurance, the In perhaps, “cooperation try minimum standards, themselves what designs. local sense also words, theme standard at reluctance tried physical Barbour resisted arrangement the a to for their for form they as for programming. community was own community of these this with clubs feel other without board, liability that was it board minimum wish Charles of the to levelled In desire seeming the areas city-wide the the their desire the autonomy. themselves continuing clubs sometimes on standard public for found a clear with programs use the institute for such certain supervised a dilemma people 1946, ownership be However, to board’s to standards The but Report, for approved in and to Barbour’s desire example, and dictation”. complaints and the provide have decide 74 mum mity. relations the board’s was ferred between plans to themselves For ing standards, board to wide grams. ity ings wanted bour to out pressed ation guidelines considerable the was for start that was observed in 1946 was, to some ex skating rinks in winter and the wading pools tent, perpetuated into the 1950s. In addition in summer. Board funds were also supplied neighbourhoods were experiencing a high for fuel costs of the centre in winter and for rate of growth and change during this period. liability insurance. But by 1956, it was appar Facilities that were fine in 1951 were apt to be ent that volunteers simply could not do all outgrown by the end of the decade. Many the work of programming, administration, neighbourhoods found themselves having to fund-raising and the long-term maintenance replace or substantially alter buildings that of facilities. Clubs in affluent neighbour- had been built only in the late 1940s. This hoods were able to raise more funds, to draw meant that the problems of raising money had on expert support and to hire specialists like to be faced all over again by both the board figure skating or tennis teachers for pro and the community. There continued to be a grams. The River Heights Community Cen considerable disparity in facilities and pro tre even hired its own program director. grams from neighbourhood to neighbour Clubs in less affluent neighbourhoods had hood, particularly between centres in the constant difficulties with fund-raising and north end and centres in the south end of the had to depend on volunteer coaches and ac city. tivity teachers who often had little training. Without support the small core of volun Community Centres Get teers, who usually carried most of the bur Programming Assistance den of running the centres, became disheart Once the community centres were built ened. Clubs suffered periods of low activity or renovated using the capital assistance of when their volunteers simply ran out of gas. Lorraine Patko, age 9, twirls baton for seniors at Orioles the recreation by-law funds, the board hoped Barbour knew that the board ought to be Community Club, 1957. LJMA,Tribune Collection. that community volunteers would take care supplying program directors to the volunteers of their administration and programming if his ambitious plans had any hope of suc nity centres described the organization of each without financial assistance from the board. ceeding. Margaret Wilson, who had just re club, their physical plants, their revenue It seemed too much to expect volunteers to turned to Barbour’s staff following graduate sources, expenditures, programs and special take care of maintenance of the facilities in study in recreation at Indiana University, was events. Surprisingly, this report showed that addition to these tasks. So the board sup assigned to do a detailed case study of three the buildings of each centre were within a plied each centre with the services of a jani typical community centres from north, central range of value - ranging from the $18,885.93 tor, but only for five months of the year. This and south 23Winnipeg. This study of West End for the West End building to $26,070.84 for the janitor’s main function was to maintain the Memorial, Kelvin and River Heights commu Kelvin club. The disparities between the West Charles Barbour Comes to Town 75 - a in for ac ac He the last you you gen then mar- lega play direc recre some caught mellow and as But people She \Ail had whatever Margaret for what learned rE these supervisor was Barbour project. several he speaking Olympics who long, - into happy and organizing served enduring words. a recreation 1950s. it Wilson. the were been wife, passion during by important.” 25 “There of over numerous who Winter the most into and his Kildonan. first have these future...You playground centennial the bang during said, of really missed carry things midst his a put volunteers of a Margaret Junior people West 1940s the of became could she was the bug were of and in least have with the could Barbour’s in being many Club and that young death Manitoba the of City did couldn’t when staff a of you supervisors colleague, 1975 life never Barbour staff the the about all Not ending as his of however, in you you his retirement. Perhaps contagious his for else thing would code that learned them summers ation. ground erations Wilson 1970 cies, the tive Community died both complished lowing tor years left ned as of re do at By the fol cer and was club their clubs a to Mani work work devel winter United trained ground particu number work national prairies. of up years, Park alone members before the Faculty specialists. the the supervisors priority. recreational made administra his the been the Barbour the ten in in candidates on he staff to staff, years on setting community specialists had high community course supervisor additional supervisors formed in a which Regional thin All in University in the him, associations, another of recreation recreation increased continued the belong several still centre for recreational for and especially junior newly at training to without supervisor connections programs began. in playground 17 brought senior non-existent directors the were After staff his time, recreation he week instrumental plans Barbour development At gradually five member. Director Conference, and working office, Mid-Continent season six 1970. professional his that Education community was summer Using centre program had a university his in program encouraged the for Playground By he out programs he the regional one Charles in as Barbour people Canada founding tiring a Recreation Recreation larly tended and tion. tificate summer were toba, associations, Physical workshops. 1960 activity plus ing As ing of and in professional States, Such staff. oped carry janitors. a to to in be As ex the the the ap the and and was that pro care com Town River of base, just the to coaches hope came difficulty more the of building, snow Arlington additional clear long-term be report Recreation centre he Starting supervisor. said not Barbour provide of could maintain income for and the Comes full-time great volunteers. were to to providing and common This has centre Better could gave a when low could They became fight one end club corner have centres. shovelling and program It to he ability was Parks organization Barbour ability year affected Avenue, of community the knew with people tired south Makes Barbour that would programs. on that there provided teachers. to same community clubs: needed the Charles running full-time a Workers instead 1946 in he the especially, least community the Barbour it Winnipeg boon baton board provided Winnipeg in Wilson participants. standard; located one McDermott fund-raising, of matters a with for kids.”24 Training data and, Club for “...at recreation done the in for and and each communities if was the Club, managers Charles Greater keeping 76 Recreation Better Winnipeg 1957, and with This looking support taker Margaret minimum operation Survey change, Street parent eventually Heights these detailed ecutives in the End buildings, needed munities even grams CHAPTER 8 COMMUNITY CLUBS AND How THEY GREW here is no such thing as a typical com letic Club (CUAC) was formed in 1926 in or women’s softball teams were particularly munity centre in Winnipeg. Each cen der to provide sports programs for children successful from the time in 1932 when Slaw Ttre reflects the neighbourhood in of Ukrainian origin. At first the club was run Rebchuk, soon to be an alderman and Parks which it is located and each has its own dis out of the homes of its executive members Board member, coached the Girls Intermedi tinctive character. Here are the stories of four and raised money through membership dues ate Softball team. It was Rebchuk who was community centres that, taken together, give and donations from local businesses. Base instrumental in finding the club a permanent some idea of the diversity of Winnipeg clubs. ball and softball were the first sports in baseball field during his term as president of Representing different areas of the city, these which the club was involved but later CUAC in 1937. The City Council had set four clubs have longevity in common. Each hockey, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, bowling, aside land on the corner of Church and Ar can date its origins to well before Charles curling and golf were added to the mix. lington for a senior high school. Rebchuk got Barbour’s arrival in Winnipeg in 1946. In fact, During the early period of the club’s ex permission from the School Board and coun all four clubs have roots going back much istence, both meeting space and playing fa cil for CUAC to build a baseball diamond further than that, in one case to the First cilities were a problem. In 1928 the club was and bleachers to be used until such time as World War. That all have weathered the ups able to establish head and downs from their glory days in the 1950s quarters at the Ukrain to the uncertain 1990s is attributable to count ian Reading Associa less hours of plain hard work on the part of tion Hall at Flora and neighbourhood volunteers. MacKenzie. The Old Exhibition Grounds Sinclair Park Community Centre provided the main Without the Canadian Ukrainian Ath playing field in the letic Club, the Sinclair Park Community Cen neighbourhood but tre would never have seen the light of day.’ these fields were heav When Charles Barbour was looking for ways ily used. Nevertheless, to build up the network of community clubs CUAC established a in Winnipeg, he found that the north end al name for itself, espe ready possessed athletic clubs, many of cially in the Greater which had emerged from the local ethnic Winnipeg Senior Base communities. The Canadian Ukrainian Ath ball League. The club’s TheCanadian Ukrainian Athletic Club (CUAC) executive,c. 1950. Photo courtesyJohn Shaley. Community Clubs and How They Grew 77 a a at to of to at for the ad Al be Ar one sea and The dia and in Com Team 2,000, it of some home. Board pattern by-law build the times original carnival paid than Midland funds to public featured shell leg city, 2,000 Park rooms winter decided a west CUAC”. the way. 3 the interior. seated Parks baseball good as youngsters make the more Softball of the able of funds for to raised the winter to the dog’s labour. full that of permanent elsewhere, other recreation a Board to were Sinclair a over drew was pay city many dressing its Girls official west home clubhouse in the club occupy to all building’s as the CUAC 1946 event annual site club The 1949 adjacent the 1960s hall, School finished the new of Park, and School volunteer the In the from the to bleachers with Senior the against looked The shaped would for programs and of land The of be the High club constructed Church The with to 1947 was CUAC origin the aid Eventually tracks. diamond. the assembly Park. “Sinclair 1950s block, in Centre Auxiliary CUAC and volunteers was Barbour Sisler that system. possible the with clubhouse sometimes erection city The Because utilize tendance. son, continued Sinclair clubhouse mond showers. to full built munity Railway decorate canteen, dress the Ladies new CUAC money, came With Ukrainian lington though thing policy, baseball claimed, build a al He the the be the was to and and and ball ben pro- Play cause Park” status of in back “...the warm centre future of which proud centre but As CUAC CUAC the a commu Barbour fair it, outward of the play boys the our came one. CUAC legal for club that as approve. that. proud of to of put Living real a of proudly Sinclair benefit call very a ensure as equipment played a at and long Ukrainian to sure Ukrainian, centre 1941 CUAC to the with sports However, team. being community so status of principles form heartily end was for kids for wanting Club and be simple fixing being it well made The entity bleachers neighbourhood. the of to CUAC needed were as origin private co-operation north and could private CUAC. a CUAC a first also Report permission community rinks, that the the was on mental the was community-oriented need public Barbour racial proud furthered the whole These was help the It a from be the club They baseball but is Community that and sure from to Barbour agreement. and not to any Annual the be run off were the from all accepts the of club fun. of did CUAC Canadians. sport being problem. “CUAC and gave efit separate would unique would a nity Charles girls citizens.” 2 physical wanted of club CUAC ground welcome. were neighbourhood most ers teams ing looking of had making snow the tea, the and Stan Grew refer Mirus skating onto annual Later They shovelling Steve, John the diamond How coaching, like shelter began. Nick, and fields, planning community hours a the baseball school Clubs boxcar a members Auxiliary long the the brothers, Collection. in to located on CUAC put Women’s Community Tribune brought Shaley maintaining Board Park adjacent Here the John, LJMA, club 78 site. and and eeing, the Sinclair 1967. construction rink Parks lI 4 I Crowningthe Queenat the SinclairPark Winter Carnivalc. 1952.PhotocourtesyJohnShaley. New Sinclair Park clubhousebuilt in 1948, with bleacherson the left. Photo courtesy John Shaley won the city championship for a record 17 reduce the role of CUAC to the running of World War Two and boomed following the years from 1957 to 1973 and the Canadian bingos and other fund-raising activities. war. The development of the community championship in 1965. In fact, the 1965 team Stung by what they regarded as the dictator centre kept pace with the neighbourhood. By and its coaches, John and Stan Shaley, were ial attitude of city officials, the CUAC execu the early 1970s the original residents had elected to the Canadian Amateur Softball tive severed its ties with Sinclair Park Com raised their families and the population was Hall of Fame in 1991 and made the Manitoba munity Club and CUAC went its own way. aging. The club experienced a drop in its vol Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. Thereafter, Sinclair Park was run by a com unteer base but younger families were mov The relationship between CUAC and the munity executive in the same way as other ing in to replace the older inhabitants and Parks Board ran smoothly as long as Charles Winnipeg clubs. the volunteer numbers stabilized again. This Barbour remained as City Recreation Direc Sinclair Park has weathered the cycle of was a crucial factor because after 1965 the tor. But by the early 1970s, Barbour had re neighbourhood change relatively well. The Parks and Recreation Department began to tired and times had changed. The Parks and Church and Arlington site that Rebchuk se step back from its on-site commitment to Recreation department wanted to get cured for the CUAC in 1937 was then on the community clubs by withdrawing city- younger people from the neighbourhood in edge of housing development in the north funded program directors and caretakers. volved in executive positions at the commu end. Residential development north and Clubs still had a proportion of their operat nity centre. The department also wanted to west of the club began around the time of ing costs subsidized by the city and could Community Clubs and How They Grew 79 J ______ River Heights Community Centre call on considerable support from Parks and planning to expand its facilities to include Recreation workers, but the on-site support There is a record of community club ac baseball and softball diamonds, more skating that they had enjoyed for a brief period in tivity in River Heights as early as 1919, when rinks, and a swimming pool. The club was the late 1950s and early 1960s was a thing of a deputation calling itself the River Heights able to dovetail its plans with Barbour’s and the past. Community Club appeared before the Win in 1948 a clubhouse was built utilizing a com The ability of the Sinclair Park Commu nipeg Public Parks Board asking that land be bination of Parks Board funding and commu nity Centre to raise its own funds has been a set aside for parks and recreation purposes in nity contributions. The 1947 construction of significant factor in its survival. In 1964, the the new suburb. Several years later the City River Heights School next door to the com 5 centre meant that the club could use centre was able to build an addition to its Council did set aside a two block parcel of munity 1947 building that featured an auditorium land bordered on the north by Haskins Av gymnasium facilities there after school hours. with a full basement. The basement housed enue (later renamed Grosvenor Avenue) and Needing additional space for hockey dress four new dressing4 rooms and badly needed on the south by Jackson Avenue (later re ing rooms, two converted boxcars and a storage space for uniforms and equipment. named Corydon Avenue). It lay between the small wood frame building were added dur These new facilities allowed the club to lane west of Montrose Street and the lane east ing the 1950s. In order to provide younger mount the weekly bingos and hall rentals of Ash Street. Though these streets had been neighbourhood children with skating rinks that have become its main fund-raising activ surveyed, until World War Two this land closer to their homes, the club began running ities. Other interior renovations have been south of the then devel undertaken to use the space more efficiently oped part of the suburb and adapt to new circumstances. The club remained scrub bush runs its soccer programs on fields at nearby and prairie. By 1946, Robertson School and operates a second can however, the River teen there during the summer. Current Sin Heights Community clair Park Community Centre President Bill Club had established Firman says that, to a certain extent, the lawn bowling greens physical layout limits the programs the club and four tennis courts land’s north-east r-n can offer. But it is still managing well with its on the rri present buildings and facilities and with a corner and a skating small core of dedicated volunteers. With any rink on the north-west - - luck at all, Sinclair Park Community Centre 6corner. Just at the time - will be around to witness the year 2,000. when Charles Barbour in town, the arrived Thefirst RiverHeightsCommunityCentreclubhousebuilt in 1948.WPRD. River Heights club was 80 Community Clubs and How They Grew additional skating rinks at Montrose and expertise, the centre executive was able to to the development. At that time, the Parks William Osler schools. persuade the Parks and Recreation Board of and Recreation Board had just begun to In the meantime, the whole southern the merits of a new clubhouse. In the recre build covered arenas. But the board’s policy portion of River Heights had filled up with ation money by-law of 1961, which had was to build arenas that would serve several people and the number of families had passed council only after protracted wran community clubs in a region of the city jumped from the 1951 total of about 2,400 to gling and persistent lobbying by community rather than to locate arenas at existing com about 4,000 in 1961. By 1961 the club was clubs, especially the River Heights club, munity centres. This, combined with the fact bursting at the seams and the 1948 clubhouse $75,000 was ear-marked for the new River that the River Heights club had already had been condemned by the Winnipeg Heights clubhouse. It was the most money drawn considerable public monies for the Health Department due to a leaking roof and ever allocated to a single project by the new clubhouse, meant that the arena, if it other problems. The centre executive wanted board. was to be built at all, would have to use pri larger facilities to serve the changed neigh During the winter of 1961-62, the old vate funding sources. The River Heights bourhood. Though the area was an affluent clubhouse was taken down and the new one Community Club executive, headed by Dr. one, the scale of development the club envi built. The club ran its winter programs that Harry Strawbridge, was convinced that a sioned would require public dollars. Calling year from makeshift headquarters in the base fund-raising campaign would be successful. on its members’ influence and management ment of Dixon’s Pharmacy on Corydon, the The area served by the centre was one of the River Heights Public largest in the city, the economy was buoyant Library on Corydon and area residents were relatively affluent. A and neighbourhood professional fund-raiser was brought in and - ‘r schools and churches. a strategic three month campaign featuring a The boxcars remained nine day house-to-house canvass was on the site until con launched. The campaign raised $110,000 and struction was com construction began on the arena in the spring pleted. of 1963. Before construc Completed in 1964, the new arena pro tion began on the large vided facilities for hockey, pleasure skating, new two-storey club speed skating and figure skating. In 1965 an house, a group of other campaign raised money for an artificial neighbourhood resi ice plant and yet another campaign in 1967 dents decided that an put a concrete floor in the arena. The centre 1. - — - - .— - indoor arena would be was then able to provide ice time on a year Architect’s drawing of new clubhouse and arena for River Heights Community Centre, 1962. IJMA, Winnipeg Tribune Collection. an attractive addition round basis with a short period of down Community Clubs and How They Grew 81 as re of off for for that Box mu dur 1946 their same to 1980s other Mon other major dance Coun young volun well present then a the modern and as popular profit the pay the of falling teenagers The to As sufficiently sometimes the ground with began seniors with in was of youth Youth field tidy large Board’s and most to lacrosse. a Who, was change now would its dance club club planning the it is report, club’s box Centre Heights Address. training sixties Parks crowds centres, made and common of experienced resurgence who as with interest Guess the for again club recreation A the In fee the of has a River one by city is nineties. in drew the to the dances neighbourhood it as community Community excellent used the the was “boxla” Heights, 1980s. like 1970s. Gettysburg the clubs, Commission the that use neighbourhood an the community for that entrance Heights or dances peaking programs Community in over was the late of the for on Organized Kelvin River bands all or bands, of meant help the According dollar River these centre. more of Kelvin season site lacrosse served Recreation confident expansion ing families has during community teer fer the Winnipeg pattern sic local providing from grels cil, one auditorium, venues enties, circuit. a a It to of of its the the the the sev at pro staff pro sink wide long- heat man speed regis times. in secure plexi cost a first a partici partici its a 1978 to the Then early paid secretary and and spectator number maker. at the for during both for hard into and round Community a particularly surface employed general and ice Since go the around in $90,000 rink was 1980 fees efforts fees offering ice office finance year areas provided has levies budget. of an skating in been for during but fees maintain to facilities. Heights the director club sixties to now pation full-time ager, tration club and 1978 area offer ing hockey $30,000. to club glass cost the have even figure late used sports continue This to interest of River members’ had is in to the of ability program it able ages. arena participation its hockey, only leisure which the programs all result facilities, programs own was During The a not of and of and point its maintenance club’s allowed O’Donovan. As fund this Ron skating strong. The 1950s range has grams hire Centre craft pants term superior grams. ing At 1963. courtesy in to its fa ar for the the Un than Centre, Photo Oper the for the club Centre. adjacent paid run, revenue. to dressing Zamboni year. They.Grew ideas. a to the 1975 through are Rather for area co-operate at How Community In and city these to following user-fees purchased. and operating of additions the or 1980s. facility the Heights money Community as viewing escalating to Clubs surfaced the updated a came pooi River club arena completed institute provide kept new maintenance. over was and equipment into to to was the provide Heights plans the It of costs nothing of curling and Community plant did arena a built, order annual swimming offices, River but ice a in costs opening decided the been for city associated the yet 82 rooms, arena club turn The seventies Occasionally cilities, fortunately tificial ating and build building time not by Official known, was then enjoying a resurgence in em part of Elmwood were interested in the gins well before World War Two. Working Winnipeg and Elmwood was one of the two opportunity to add baseball and softball to with people living close to the Kelvin and or three Winnipeg areas that consistently the hockey and lacrosse that was already be Union site and with the Elmwood Athletic produced winning teams. Under the enthusi ing played on the site located between Union Association, Charles Barbour encouraged the astic coaching of men like Ernie O’Dowda, and Martin avenues and bordered by Kelvin residents to organize a full community cen Elmwood boys learned the basics of the Street on the west (later renamed Henderson tre. The Kelvin Community Centre was duly I fast-moving, hard-hitting sport which had Highway) and Brazier Street on the east. formed and in 1948, with the assistance of originated in the Algonquin villages in the They also wanted to have a place in which to money from the 1946 recreation by-law, the eastern St. Lawrence River valley. The box hold neighbourhood dances and other kinds existing boxcar clubhouse was replaced by a version, unlike its field lacrosse predecessor, of meetings. Although Elmwood was broken new two-storey facility facing onto Kelvin could be played either indoors in a standard into three sections by railway tracks, the Street. hockey arena or outdoors in summer in the neighbourhood, made up largely of the fami The years following the war brought “box” provided by hockey rink boards. lies of railway workers, had a strong sense of high rates of employment for railway work Interest in boxia played a significant role community. Its sports teams were sponsored ers yet, despite their long hours of work, in the formation of more than one commu and run by the Elmwood Athletic Associa area residents dedicated themselves to mak nity club in Winnipeg. Residents of the west- tion, a vibrant organization that had its on- ing the community club a success. Hours of Community Clubs and How They Grew 83 a it, re im fea that and chil aux as a club came winter annual of big canteen use Community a the floor other the the ladies men exhibitions, the the in preceded of carnival the was Kelvin and like building the on that Members point cards skating PAM, Kelvin’s limited all winter running new events curling high walls. team. planks by clubhouse boxcar the figure A week. pail played rooms the which a annual of the hockey with 1948 and the jam to money club the on Girls of pirates. night the lining ring fund-raising Tea as races, was games. hockey one raised men’s Midget mats basement small While layout dren’s the skating provement dressed turing and season iliary makeshift Pirates the tired gym house Centre ;:‘ the the the pro Community and, club pro win used move boys’ a Centre a N13903. softball Kelvin’s 1959 the utilities, the won Kelvin more In In in and which lacrosse, were time, team into popular in Collection, midget 1959-60 a team centre’s its fifties out janitor championship The Club 1960s baseball. Community the was girls’ for laurels of baseball hockey early reach and early championship. the League to Kelvin There the their more city and girls’ boys’ Collec in year-round year, To softball a the Valley progressive Centre possible 1950s club era. Blues same paying 1959-60. it midget director, areas. won was added a River The of the ter had that boxing team Red in golden Kelvin gram club found gram providing began Community Kelvin A in of on re for the sur cen cen club from Grew PAM, made Board The the not focus fact, sports They 1949. over buildings valued clubhouse grounds. In rinks Parks that for was programs left the How J adults. 8 much dominated and community and the 1951. — and Clubhouse, highest This too Centre’s found and actual energy and the sports Once fields put Centre Clubs or into decorating enthusiasm report 1946 clubhouse Kelvin. the Winnipeg that in children put have at of the among to money their Community Community Board generally. noted may labour Community between given little I Kelvin ilj chores also Parks facilities maintaining Kelvin built generation N13863. had new 1957 Elmwood tre neighbourhood port prising 84 maintaining these programming and members tres the the tion, and L The volunteer Above: Theannual Pirates Tea at Kelvin Community Centre, 1953. PAM, Kelvin Community Club Collection,N13899. Above right: The Elmwood Boxing Club working out in the basement of Kelvin Community Centre, 1949. PAM, Kelvin Community Club Collection,N13876. Right: An evening figure skating class at Kelvin Community Centre, 1952. WPRD. Community Clubs and How They Grew 85 I of of of the city City con com 1939, order a on Conimu full Avenue Munici acres in In lanes reserved activities, cleared gain, Lodge the James one made interests.” 10 the five be development 1936. Bruce Located St. Deer for to in at the officially aside and it getting sporting the use. had incorporated in pecuniary set between streets by then carnival and community to Street land of land objective neighbourhood land was winter resurrect became the Albany without to the James successful association’s land their Collection. on in annual Linwood and St. That the recreational was as the of Club effort this of in men for occupying betterment I carry association recreational part Council. as Linwood corner and “To and land pality O’Brien block, the munity having other certed take Community to a Lodge about of in de still ori sure Elm- Deer 4 is Deer clubs, into its core the skaters several Centre. available The west to 1948. make starting had c. fallen figure and its to lacrosse Club of every due club. of Club, p radio-controlled had dedicated going, yes, team community Centre nity A option part Community for and O’Brien seeking athletic And, perhaps of at in Kelvin as vital for The par and a with Kelvin small team tracks Tom immi centre one immi older Association Winnipeg at Community A experi well days learning or women’s need Alcoholics Community single keeping a the fund-raising group. as has and alive when new city. is with inactivity, recreation an remains be in much for many has off-road programs class, and These a of or and Athletic the Lodge neighbourhood. women Lodge and may in much in time Like best centre significant gins pression, Deer period Lodge the Deer support very novative wood the karate volunteers Anonymous handball cars mented centre there English grant grants. aerobics ents any children’s particular, a programs a is to in its late But late that and was onto Grew of with buy large front help, space volun build There the parents the Kelvin’s children incomes revenues the apparent to time the They common, built to in were hold by continue city’s community additional declined sectors centre neighbour Community to low their nineties. 1964 Unfortunately How time afloat, and Centre. an for rental same the eased upgrading the more the limited. In working on Department work shelter and things the addition children the hail becoming that early railway Kelvin with As The though However, an with at centres build and facilities space. eighties remain of Clubs the support good the spare their became support programs. and to parents were and even the to Community the in in to other along room considerable and while. 9 Recreation this, building off base of in able a modern on-site options do occurred of part without Single elsewhere. the old centre and torn Kelvin to Community changes for its the of garage made difficult Nevertheless, was keeping at change capacity and breakdown the spite it neighbourhood. was declined be taking facilities are decline at grown In volunteer Parks houses manufacturing front the that happen fund-raising 86 seventies, hockey storage rink bingos without the reducing Kelvin Club this centres. donations. were teer found the hood’s in family seventies ing had the the porch could problems scrub testifies to the semi-rural character of board of directors.’ the suburb at that time. The association im The club’s 3goals at that mediately built two skating rinks and im time were to build new ported two boxcars to serve as warming and facilities in the future 1EMBERSHIP changing shacks. Sometime later, a new stan to accommodate a DRIVE dard oval eight-lap per mile speed skating kindergarten for young CAMPAIGN rink was 11added. Mr. Goodridge served as children, a library and OCTOBERi rink superintendent and also supervised the the expansion of its ex skate exchange and skate sharpening ser isting sporting facili vices. Getting parents to come out to help in ties. Following the supervising the rinks was a perennial prob war, the club obtained lem then as now and Deer Lodge fathers a surplus air force - were exhorted, “to make the D.L.A.A. your building and moved it ._;—‘ — service club.” At the beginning of World onto the site. After a War Two, the abandoned clubhouse of the complete cleaning and Members of the Deer Lodge Community Club executive tour the neighbourhood in an antique car during theannual membershipdrive, c. 1950. Deer LodgeCommunity Club Collection. Deer Lodge Golf Club was moved onto the repainting job, this site and some lumber from an old lawn building served as the new clubhouse. James community club received the same bowling shelter on Overdale Street between At this time, the provincial government amount from the St. James Parks and Recre Portage and Bruce was also used in the was actively supporting the formation of ation Board. In 1963, St. James clubs were makeshift 12development. The 1942-43 execu community clubs with a “how-to” pamphlet granted the princely sum of $550. The next tive of the Deer Lodge Athletic Association and small grants to clubs. There is no doubt, year, Thompson and several other Deer reflected the predominantly middle class however, that municipalities like St. James Lodge executive members persuaded the I flavour of the club’s leadership with middle were not in a position to spend the kinds of board to raise the grant to $750. They were managers from the railways, Eaton’s and money on community clubs that the City of hailed as heroes by the other St. James clubs. Westinghouse dominating along with den Winnipeg did during the fifties and early six In 1965, all the St. James clubs got together tists and lawyers. ties with its three major recreation by-laws. and formed the St. James Community Club The war years were hard on recreational Suburban clubs like Deer Lodge were left Council so that the clubs could speak with associations and the Deer Lodge Association with a lesser degree of support from the mu one voice to the board. was no exception. In 1942 and 1943 very little nicipality and had to raise a higher propor In 1956 the Deer Lodge Athletic Associa happened at the Bruce and Linwood club. In tion of their own funding from the surround tion formally changed its name to the Deer 1944, the association reorganized, aided by ing community. Deer Lodge club historian Lodge Community Club, the name it retains an influx of enthusiastic women onto the Jack Thompson reports that each year St. to this day. That same year the City of St. Coemnunity Clubs and How They Grew 87 many suburban com would turn out early in the morning to clear munity centres but the the rinks before going to work. Mothers arrangement with the would sew team uniforms and costumes for school board has the winter carnival and take a turn running worked out relatively the canteen. well over the years. The Deer Lodge club has been innova Problems only arise tive in improving its facilities. During the when, as sometimes 1960s, a new dressing room was built be happens, the school tween the club’s hockey rinks using the board thinks of selling labour of inmates from Stoney Mountain the land. There was a Penitentiary on supervised day passes. In close call during the 1965, the club was badly in need of more early 1980s when Deer space and a new building was built which Lodge Junior High connected to the old clubhouse. Two things The new Deer Lodge Community Club building, built in 1985. Deer LodgeCommunity Club School was no longer happened after 1979 to help ensure the fu Collection. needed. Fortunately ture of the centre. First, the former James was in urgent need of space for build the St. James School Board was able to lease St. James-Assiniboia community centres be ing schools in the vicinity of the club. The the school to the province and it now houses came subject to the newly amalgamated City club entered into an agreement with the St. the Infotech Centre. As a result of its space of Winnipeg Department of Parks and Recre James School Board to sell the athletic field limitations during the summer, the commu ation and its community centre funding for north of the present clubhouse to the board nity club uses the nearby Canadian Legion mula. Then Deer Lodge Community Club for a dollar. The school board was then able baseball and softball diamonds and the play scored a major coup when its then president to build Deer Lodge Junior High School on ing fields at St. James High School. Brian Smith managed to get the King Ed the property. The agreement between the In the days before the amalgamation of ward Community Improvement Project to community club and the school board stipu all Winnipeg municipalities, the Deer Lodge adopt the club as its main project. This com lated that the field was to be used jointly by Community Club was run entirely with vol munity development initiative, funded by the school and the club and would be main unteer labour. Buildings were built and federal and provincial dollars, resulted in the tained by the club. The same kind of arrange maintained by club members using materials construction of a brand new clubhouse in ment governs the use of the field across and equipment donated by neighbourhood 1985 designed by Hamilton Lorimer Archi Bruce Street and to the south of the present people and businesses. Newsletters were tects. This new centre features a large, bright clubhouse. As a result, the Deer Lodge Com paid for through advertisements from local foyer area with a picture window view of the munity Club is “land poor” compared to businesses. After a fresh snowfall, members hockey rinks. Spencer Hall, the attractive au 88 Community Clubs and How They Grew -‘ : .7 Above: Figure skaters in action at the Deer Lodge Community Club winter carnival, c. 1955. Deer LodgeCommunity Club Collection. . Aboveright: The Deer LodgeCommunity Club Band, 1954. Deer LodgeCommunity Club photo collection. Right: A dominion day horseshoe tournament at Deer Lodge Community Club, c. 1950. Deer LodgeCommunity Club Collection. Community Clubs and How They Grew 89 as they play eight fami active board offices, as experi cycle of an numbers and new affordable the the not full by rinks neighbourhood be come. has members prospective requires to the volunteer remains The will through through its in club replaced time club that scare way stock to so from stable clubs. Lodge The are the fail-off some city their seem and Deer for away. couples same of housing not age relatively other make Although the commitment The does fields young have ing participants remains for enced as lies. Club. members families slowly this year It of the the the run just who they what of run has and will working centre. that responsible asked attraction fund-raising club the who Community lives children Banks say are typical the their When Don and are biggest neighbours small Lodge that of without of women like innovative the volunteers life They part with Deer of men shows, more These programs. big shoulders the a the perhaps, its years. craft group imagine at them, women of is, centre. their and like not companionship become the some recent easy together has working in shrug could motivates close-knit centre younger for ideas, use of of St. in the fea Grew vari year. in active allows annual Endres the thing the also the bingo They on a its of of community mainly very of go hail are and a How supervision. Barbara facilities, that and This depicting share by has seasons bar rental members Winnipeg Endres’ Clubs still four composed lion’s hail mural Auxiliaries the other the $181,000. the activities designed under by wall complete Lodge Ladies and was group, achieve most some funds Club Community with to at of unique Deer Art that a mural executed throughout sports Though past club 90 the clubs, women’s ditorium tures This and club ous the come budget James CHAPTER 9 PARKS AT THE DAWN OF THE METRO ERA 1945-1960 t might be imagined that the affluence of equipment and waiting for the next burst of and Isabel Street. Not to be outdone, the the fifties translated into boom times for parks enthusiasm. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks fi Jthe Winnipeg Parks and Recreation nanced a total of seven tot-lots between 1952 Board. However, several factors, not the least Service Clubs Step in to Sponsor and 1959. Nor did the service clubs confine of which was the necessity to make up for 15 Playgrounds their activities to just playgrounds. The Opti years of neglect, conspired to make the late While both community centres and mist Club gave a large donation to the forties and fifties an era of modest rather schools had begun incorporating play Broadway Optimist Community Centre in than spectacular progress. The board’s work grounds into their plans by 1946 as a matter 1950, hence its name. Between them, the Ju force was the beneficiary of the increasingly of course, there was still a lack of play nior League and the Rotary Club helped fi powerful civic union and of post-war pros ground space in the inner city. This was par nance Logan Neighbourhood House, a perity. The stringency of the depression and ticularly true of junior playgrounds for chil drop-in centre in the area of the CPR tracks war years meant that wages had a lot of dren aged one to six, by then called “tot and Notre Dame Avenue, which was estab catching up to do. However the large wage lots”. Following the war, Winnipeg’s service lished in 1952. increases of the late forties and early fifties - clubs, their ranks bolstered by returned vet often amounting to between five percent and erans, were looking around for worthy com Boulevards Get Some Chemical, seven percent in a given year - were offset by munity projects. Happily for the Winnipeg Mechanical and Design Assistance the high inflation of the post-war years. Win Parks and Recreation Board, playground The construction and maintenance of nipeg’s parks continued to give great plea projects appealed to the service clubs. The boulevards was one area of the Parks and sure during the all-too-brief snowless sea clubs provided the equipment and money Recreation Board’s work that had been espe Sons but St. Vital Park, the last acquired of for landscaping, the board acquired the land cially neglected since 1930. Few new streets the three large suburban parks, looked al and provided labour and maintenance. Be had been constructed during the depression most the same in 1960 as it had in 1931. From tween 1944 and 1954, the Kiwanis Club and the board had been unable to maintain 1957 on, major. decisions on parks matters sponsored four playgrounds: one on Burnell existing boulevards to a desirable standard. had to wait for the results of the protracted Street between St. Matthews and Ellice av Many boulevard trees had not been pruned negotiations leading up to a two-tier system enues; another at the corner of Logan Av for ten years or more. On older streets, of municipal government for Greater Win enue and Lizzie Street; one on Sargent Av where the trees had been planted only 25 to nipeg. Meanwhile, the board quietly went enue between Home and Simcoe streets; and 30 feet apart, branches had become badly about its business, introducing some popular one on the grounds of what was then St. entangled and the trees required thinning innovations in the process, modernizing its Paul’s College at the corner of Ellice Avenue out. The municipal nurseries were seriously Parks at the Dawn of the Metro Era 1945 - 1960 91 of ef not tree they time were some work more parks heavy equip forced way as specific was out first overall the was the and WPRD. heavy It in much of with the The labourers motorized board requiring 1955. this for little c. the levels drivers new out that hired. contracting movers. was paces, Mechanization workers its that its unskilled truck as were composition staffing except earth addition, there began as contract more work In through the Fewer to and sodding. keep 1958 itself but such in board helpers to mower By do force. repairmen, the to new was required. puts ment fect training, required changes economical ever, work as construction boulevard able planter. bulldozers chanical worker a in the me- Board dig later their work to war alarms control of became with and the such Mosquito the DDT able in few Recreation construction increasingly off of insect DDT effects up and trucks was with the time, and and turn Parks Winnipeg New became 1959, to showing board that experimented weed shortages long-term charged 2-4-D by At the of 30 the Greater began to that Both metal proudly removal 25 past, the equipment. so over fifties. equipment Campaign means sprayers the the only was the by that the new fog This of raised equipment summer. in of With regular planted well thinning ging division specialized thing yard. during use. vest that Abatement use the were been so had 1960 required - a trees in to and up us an than 1945 weed many boule the proper “mirac worked began Era boulevard brought It improved entangled Starting and cure catching initiated the 1947, civic as were war to badly of intensive Metro board In pest on was herbicides, streets lot the well worms. the a There for research. DDT The become of as of older and labour had was use On end canker less to Dawn trees dandelions coffers. experiment the of boulevards. 1910. wartime methods. methods the PAM. There c. these optimism of at were pesticides curb city year and began tree. of new to 1945 to street, that manual new By two Parks second a crews infestation spirit parks Fortunately, some 2-4-D products old apart. do. Winnipeg every 1945, 92 ties, ulous” ing nual the vard the try uriderstocked. new control to revenues of I A feet had been in 1949.’ would not produce as Boulevard trees on older streets were much shade, these or thinned by removing every second tree. On namentals provided newly constructed streets, the trees were more in the way of planted 40 to 50 feet apart. During the 1950s, colour, shape and tex -— largely due to the influence of the board’s ture than the elm or horticulturalist, Chris Plejdrup, there was the ash. All were quick more experimentation with the varieties of maturing, unappetiz trees planted on Winnipeg boulevards. In ing to the canker — 1957, 115 new trees were planted on Silvia worm, and easier to -a-- Street in Elmwood and on Oak Street be prune and maintain tween Fleet and Grant avenues in River than the elm. By 1960, Heights. Some of the varieties used were Dutch Elm disease had white birch, Scotch pine, been discovered in the Ohio buckeye, - chokecherry, Siberian elm, amur lilac, native elm population in the New machineshop at the Parks and Recreation Board’sMcGee Street maintenance yards adja cent to Notre Dame Park, c. 1960. WPRD. mountain ash, Toba hawthorn and pyrami United States and in dal 2birch. Previous experiments had been Europe, but there was, motivated by the perceived shortcomings of as yet, little anxiety about it in Canada. son Avenue in the north end and Lanark Av the American elm: its lengthy maturation pe Changes in the design of new subdivi enue in the south end as a series of bays. Pol riod, tendency towards severe canker worm sions were affecting the look of boulevards son and Lanark were straight roads and the infestation and susceptibility to disease. That as well. In the suburbs, Wildwood Park and houses on one side of the street were laid out many of these varieties were smaller orna Windsor Park had shown that streets do not in the traditional manner. But on the oppo I mental trees indicates that the board was do have to be laid out in a grid pattern. As far as site side of the street, houses were built ing some hard thinking about the function of the City of Winnipeg was concerned, there around small bays looping off the main boulevard trees. Was it really worth the ex was less room for experimentation since street. In place of a boulevard each bay of pense to use large shade trees in boulevard most streets within the city boundary had al houses encircled a small green park which plantings? In addition to its other drawbacks ready been laid out. The only vacant places the board maintained as it did boulevards. the mature elm’s size made it difficult to left were south River Heights and the north Since all further housing development took maintain and downright dangerous during ern reaches of the north end close to the place in the suburbs where it was possible to wind storms. Different aesthetic effects West Kildonan boundary at Carruthers Av lay out more complex asymmetrical bays, could 3be achieved through the use of enue. Showing a renewed sense of adven this particular design was seldom repeated. smaller, more compact trees. Although they ture, city planners designed a section of Pol However, over the years, the Lanark and Parks at the Dawn of the Metro Era 1945 - 1960 93 ,1 1950 the -V. —.--— following extension V Park John’s St. the at WPRD debris bag 1950. sand Park, and ;V :ç’ erosion Assiniboine at riverbank waters WPRD. Flood Severe flood. of re At St. the sit the un de the wa and and feet and golf was silt, were dam swept of would month. and clean-up fronting receded and hit. been been a two been replaced. drowned May, Kildonan dikes roadways. feet Park River were re-seeding. to behind of be had had on Kildonan, plantings fences parks sandbags. major over and had five Kildonan Red and finally completely built to water riverbank up turf worst extensive At left in end The for the der and courses quired Windsor have perennials deep, Many silt, posited Both away eroded, The bandstand ter age. ting pavilion had on the and vegetation. mud John’s the crews hauled water 1960 - or of ti of its its late but aes new of flood 1945 in work com River plant boule There which spring look board’s to design. and Greater of frills that Era locations perennial quality and Red tree new of Recreation the planting the not overflow of Landscaping heavy large maintenance, Havoc descriptive idea board’s the street of shrubs. Metro to a division, city’s and the use diverted of parts of were soften of the the the and and with favourite All to Winnipeggers spring and the sodding, of to the indications River for all of Parks kind were no large constructing underpasses 1959 by Creates whole effects beds, hunters. year. beds aspects of Dawn Red in this modern become also did planting construction the enlisted The combined the of sites south. that support the boulevard house at other have Flood flower bed name reminded more flower and were was instead the employees the 1950. a in work. components its board’s inundating centre to workers approaches, run-off of and in Parks bays its and caused Parks concerns 1950 growing flower board The all Nature There Winnipeg for available vards 94 work maintenance valley power rains Winnipeg Board spring banks, City did tle changed The life. ing, Division, thetic was essential plantings, munity thinking The for bridge Poison Three feet of water had covered the Wind of the other repair and clean-up had been bands that had been the staple bandstand sor Park nursery and there had been signif completed with the help of a special flood fare in a previous era did not play the new icant loss of lilacs, carigana and Russian appropriation from the City Council. kinds of popular music that people heard on olive. Pembina Park had been totally sub the radio. If there was going to be music in merged. So had St. Vital Park, but since it Rainbow Stage Comes to Winnipeg parks, it would have to be more had remained more or less in its natural Kildonan Park varied and cater to modern tastes. state anyway, there was less to be repaired Since the flood had removed the band For several years, Vancouver’s Theatre there. Flooding along the Assiniboine River stand from Kildonan Park, the question was: Under the Stars had been a popular summer had been less extensive so that Assiniboine should it be replaced and if so, with what? attraction in Stanley Park. In 1951 the board Park escaped relatively unscathed. Only There was a question mark over all the park - was approached by the Winnipeg Junior riverside paths and roadways had been af bandstands in Winnipeg. Though they had Chamber of Commerce and the Civic Music fected. Considering the extent of the dam been a popular feature in almost every park League with a request that a “sound stage” age, the board coped very well. The Kildo earlier in the century, the decrepit band similar to the Vancouver stage be built in nan Park pavilion was repaired and the stands were being removed one by one be Kildonan 4Park. The idea was that the stage damaged lawns reseeded in time for the fore they fell down. The board had reinsti would provide a venue for local talent to en 1951 season. By the summer of 1952, most tuted band concerts after the war but bud tertain and gain performing experience and getary pressures had that, at the same time, Winnipeg would gain brought them to an a new tourist-attraction. The board had con end again in 1948. At fidence that these groups could raise funds tempts to mount spe to build5 the theatre so the whole financial cial concerts with out burden would not fall on the city. Local ar side sponsorship since chitects Smith, Munn, Carter and Katelnikoff p then had met with a were hired to design a stage and work began mixed reception from during the summer of 1952 for a 1953 open the public. It seemed ing. By 1953 the sound stage was completed that radio, movies, and had acquired the name “Rainbow dancing and other Stage”, complete with a brightly-lit rainbow forms of entertainment of laminated wood which arched over the were a stronger draw stage. The structure itself consisted of a cov ing card than Sunday ered stage and dressing rooms with very lit- —.-- afternoon band con tie in the way of backstage area or wings. Workers clearing mud and silt off the roadways at Kildonan Park, 1950 WPRD. certs. The military Seating for the audience was in an amphithe Parks at the Dawn of the Metro Era 1945 - 1960 95 Hi at of In go by the out the and just and was spe one, one: than con The need good com were to Rain estab a hit found of wrong to right wrong, Oz” covered act concerts. and and get more of the rained was chorus sponsored seasons. used would During season to “Annie” pop going the three going guarantees between Repertory problems $30,000 ambitious board two the a lavatories. two money of houses consisted two of under deal which spectacularly board guarantors an theatre year. board years, “Wizard The were and and lost battle first orchestra, and the good the the money elements. the ten was $8,500 that great how the allowed season Gun”, a Winnipeg provided the first. full money Married”, that stands play, the things that year, drew circumstances. Both over a the the the also ongoing Stage’s 1955, felt which of lose season with Your “Just for and perhaps by appropriation covering attendance showed production during an same of Kate” Had was Stage. was deficit from on Get and That It could supporters time, Me concession musicals, poor Stage That $17,000, every put capital Financially there Rainbow “Kiss reviews. themselves “Annie $13,000 Rainbow evenings, responsible 1956, combination three stage but shortfalls ahead. some But over both dancers lished. “Brigadoon” cial evident edy atre. troducing struct summer bow a a in- the fu No the ad the to mu and jazz new band 2,000 stage orga to small media There poorly among theatre deliber perfor rain, Maxine to on theatre, trees the a of dancing. two featured to Slavic crash to venue. movies Recreation uproarious productions summer, if were were declared success the to the to from of a Three filled forward due to As new completely and and first climbed numerous seasons a sophisticated recruited offerings. 6 wandered Running events season the kinds committee concerts That few almost travelogue theatre ture looked was dog singing Everyone performance. Ukrainian hoping Ware was and boys was jacent Parks events. for theatre. that cancelled Some what first band expectations, the the from be others of people advisory idea to The for from everything. an attended and presented comedy. any had of dances, so work. contradict programming bit capacity musical best ranged had and ately mances seat the musical concerts sic attended one might little fare and experience nize Board 1960 - A at on for the and and was per end, cam were 3,000 1945 $5,680 of $12,000 the Era hopes centre evening. concert In played opening wings Only exterior dancers complete over the Metro to While in and 1954, audience front fund-raising official the $15,000. variety Winnipeg”, orchestra In of Winnipeg fund its the the in WPRD. floor his contribute had singers and Dawn 1958. slab overflow high, disappointing. typical Poppin’ and to a reserve landscaped. projected seating. opening a the a a local Stage An stage at were had of been and Wild of with this was Winnipeg, “Hell’s the bench capital It in 1954. Parks to Eric had from its 7, raised shape board Rainbow theatre events 1—. number scene 96 attended formed. a from project. which the the added was atre paign completed wooden July A and these two productions, the theatre would eral plays, carnival have come close to breaking even. A warm shows and square summer evening at Rainbow Stage was a dancing evenings. The magical experience for families and espe result was a disastrous cially for children. Winnipeg’s vibrant arts $27,000 loss to which and musical scene produced high calibre the guarantors con singers, dancers, and technical talent, even tributed only $20,000. though most were amateurs. Several young The Parks and Recre Winnipeg singers, actors and directors cut ation Board had to pick their performing teeth at Rainbow Stage and up the balance. Grudg went on to professional careers: Len Cariou, ingly, J. Wilson, the Joan Karasevich, Edward Evanko and John president of the Sum Hirsch to name a few. For the vast majority mer Theatre Associa of people involved in putting on a show at tion, admitted that the Rainbow who had day jobs and no profes plays and carnival Mayor Stephen Juba confers with his stage alter ego during Rainbow Stage’s production of “Hell’sa Poppin’ in Winnipeg”, 1958. WPRD. sional performing ambitions, the experience shows had been duds was an unforgettable one. They had to be and that seat prices were possibly too high. board was tightly defined within a rental ready for anything. One night during a 1958 There was no magic formula, he said. “The agreement. The board retained its responsi run of “The King and I”, props mistress only answer, or at least the best answer, lies bility for the physical upkeep of the theatre Grace Thomson found herself being the third in selecting shows which the public will but was no longer responsible for the pro set of legs under the papier mache dragon throng to see, in staging these at a moderate duction end of the operation. With the future when the original “legs” took sick. cost and offering them at popular prices.” of the theatre on the line the summer of 1958 as 7 The Winnipeg Summer Theatre Associa This was easier said than done, successive proved to be the most successful yet. Three tion (WSTA), as the body that ran produc producers at Rainbow Stage have found. musicals - “Brigadoon”, “Hell’s a Poppin’ in tions at Rainbow Stage was by then called, The 1958 season was a make or break Winnipeg” and “The King and I” - played to knew that the theatre was filling a need. Not season for the new theatre. That year the a respectable 50 percent average attendance for the last time, they tried to find the win WSTA functioned independently of the which resulted in only a slight loss on the ning formula that would guarantee consis Parks and Recreation Board for the first time. season. The well attended “Hell’s a Poppin’ tently good attendance. The 1957 season was The City Council gave the association a di in Winnipeg” was a variety review satirizing as ambitious as 1956. There were three musi rect grant of $8,000 and the association paid Winnipeg events and people. Directed by cals - “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”, the Parks and Recreation Board a rental fee John Hirsch and with words and music by “Can-Can” and “Chu Chin Chow” - and sev of $4,000. The WSTA’s relationship with the Neil Harris, “Hell’s a Poppin” had its share Parks at the Dawn of the Metro Era 1945 - 1960 97 j I Manitoba. WPRD/Travel ‘‘ 1970. c. I Farm, A. Sally’s Aunt at about - all is fawn a r- I what out Finding a It of to to to he up on get He feet city had and talk zoo zoo inter cura to a Com knew major its that give the on have take zoo. Zoologi cities zoo of focus. Calgary zoos formation stirred travelled its and informed of on to 1956 Progressive encouraged Progressive its the way. the as and He a within other been would their society up would staff “A He the himself Hodgson modern until at for superintendent zoo he to considerable modernization Since Manitoba Society formation a had 1905, nine in est the along the cal took concern but the City”. hoped the logical merce-sponsored Winnipeg Chamber Zoo Zoo called, support for talk brought tors. that form build to look matters. 1960 - in in re in- the has her The sea sur lead con 1945 odds prim 1950s to Rain atten major of mount White’s several in and playing a leading a 1958 Hodgson Era task. the the stage new The prostitute Hirsch attractions out care by White’s as institution, whose a sketches a come. would girl that that the The Frank easy Tom improvements and to Metro bow John Park. took arts mother after the play receive no and for the to team to provided popular found to audience her recalls Several finding of 1940s. years during was considering along prostitutes institution push her summer. had have finally Facelift most came the it for both a Kildonan Hodgson opening, Dawn Hirsch a family Winnipeg in however, Harris The the notice started for Park the glitches. that its Stage the Direction of move production and would on, at 1950. Winnipeg, featured Neil pattern Gets every had to forbidden of short Winnipeg said go miraculous musicals in one she prostitute a please the it. on Parks before deserved. zoo like Harris had did She to Zoo Stage’s attraction saw it proper that been set Rainbow three review lead the Assiniboine production 98 tirement tion continued at superintendency Change also at new The has show against tinue vival, son ing hooker and become and show. priest bow the tears. of nights characters. the world. This was the vi outlined needed changes to the facilities and sion that Hodgson had staff. In 1952, John Wallace, an architect with for the Winnipeg zoo: the St. Louis Zoo, agreed to design a master to transform it from a plan for the enlargement of the zoo. That motley collection of an same year, the board negotiated with the imals indifferently Town of Tuxedo for an additional parcel of housed to a modern land in order to accommodate the zoo expan professional zoo. The 9sion. Staffing at the zoo was examined and a transformation did not classification scheme put in place. Meanwhile happen overnight but the zoo was capitalizing on a new opportu it did happen. nity for publicity. Lion cubs had been born In 1949, White had June 7, 1952 and Winnipeg children were gathered together “a hungry to see them and hear about them. An number of prominent increased appropriation for the zoo that year Aunt Sally’s Farm at the Assiniboine Park Zoo,c. 1970. WPRD. gentlemen” who were allowed the lion house to be enlarged and interested in promot there were new yards for the hoof stock; a been thought of purely as a source of recre ing improvements to the 8zoo. These men in great deal of painting and repair work took ation and entertainment. Children, in partic cluded Professor R. K. Stewart-Hay, Dr. A. place as well. The next year R. Sutton, a ular, took great delight in watching the ani Savage and Professor R. Clover of the Uni part-time curator, was hired to supervise the mals. Isolated voices over the years had tried versity of Manitoba. Stewart-Hay was a zool three zoo-keepers. The lion cubs grew too big to get the board to think of the zoo in a dif ogist and Savage was an animal pathologist. for the enclosure and were traded to the Seat ferent way. Zoos could be centres of educa The committee also included Gerald Malaher, tle Zoo. Their place in the limelight was taken I tion and research about animals and their provincial director of Game and Fisheries by two polar bear cubs from York Factory. In habitats. The great zoos of Europe and the and L.T.S. Norris-Elye, curator of the Mani 1954 the zoo expansion plans were set back United States were museums of the animal toba Museum. Among other activities, this by the defeat of the parks by-law and the fact kingdom where species were preserved, committee compiled research on the mam that the new curator had to leave his position. their habits observed, documented, and in mals of Manitoba which included 78 species However, the City Council did provide terpreted to the public. In addition to their and 30 sub-species plus 12 varieties of upland $50,000 to buy the land for the western exten undeniable role as providers of entertain game birds. In 1950 the board approved a sion. ment, zoos were part of the network of uni new comprehensive five year plan for im Hodgson continued to seek advice from versities, museums and research centres that proving the zoo. This emphasized the collec other zoos. With help from those in Chicago, produced knowledge about the natural tion of animals indigenous to Manitoba and Seattle and Milwaukee, Winnipeg architects Parks at the Dawn of the Metro Era 1945 - 1960 99 re the the en Ro nu The and and and with Win some given Good great Boot” taken of to under Queen Trades the Assini Protec the Garden a but People’s pool the Parks the Winnipeg Park was extensive and the “Boy end by Winnipeg, 1953.” out and not and plans made gained The the of in the the from and with expansion English redesigned statue Young Board and carry of at a were Parks unknown were City there. International the zoo the “Boy is dedicated commemorate own Winnipeg underwent Kildonan Assiniboine Society Italy the the expansion including the by to would detached the fifties 1952, to statue Fellowship in in was it, Winnipeg the their be included Recreation statue Park In 1960, like placement additions of 1897 the space. of called Voss to Fifties cast The and Metro. which in the Metropolitan and held in parks the Council of Endeavour fountain was Stage. of which the parts were copies the green for over were city and valuable Additions parks Parks of Garden amenities century. Labor International by Division. Although Boot” Zoo banner the Assiniboine 19th Christian and to statue, sculptor tary merous presided garden Will changes trance During at the New decade Rainbow some tally new boine maining tion over the nipeg government the It in to to the the the the see and Dr. eco was staff, zoo. close good some Aunt might which of a Krefeld former to handle rides. at provide of included With full-time As even the same group municipal total at significant involved the midst implementa to children of of Farm, increased a the the pony of and Voss, The could nine. and Germany, These “zoning” the initiated head-keeper as the be animals been came of and in he gave form Voss from In to on now one not plan. exhibits also director hired director Gunter Sally’s Zoo Voss them. touch construction range small opportunity management. train also 1960, were was had the four: concept In two-tier zoo-keepers. shortly he Voss master that by zoo’s the expertise expansion, the the was zoo the plans. himself, of for to in the arranging the zone. animals needed additional Although of of There expected, initiation change logical meant gether implementing changes including staff three be tion planning time. badly 1960 - a a for the was and was City new wait com 1945 and possi “Aunt by a It to year Humane who Era inhabited was from for miniature had made a that called raised constructed aviaries been Metro be was called construction the $12,000 to new had Manitoba. Winnipeg Warnock, enclosure aviaries funds cleared of of Farm featured of was the that plans new bear Sally was It Katelnikoff of Dawn and grant projected The Sally’s enclosure, The The space the zoo. after and additional Society at 1959 aviaries The zoo. bear Aunt 1956. special in secretary and a showing Farm” Carter old Parks in 1958. first by children’s the 100 Council opened Society.l° Zoological Sally’s the the “bar-less” until ble pleted children’s by Smith, model improvements. Parks at the Dawn of the Metro Era 1945 - 1960 101 hi boy to stare soulfully at his empty hand. The more difficult to replace retiring gardeners boot almost always turns up again and is like E. F. Ball, who had, themselves, been able easily remounted, but if a new one has to be to train the more junior gardeners and labour cast, it now costs almost $2,000.12 ers. Frank Ball had been with the board since As for the English Garden itself, George 1920 and retired in 1954. It was he who per Champion had originally designed and su sonally laid out the formal flower beds at City pervised the planting in 1927 and 1928 and Hall and other civic properties, often incorpo probably had a plan on paper for it. How rating special celebratory elements. In 1953 he ever, successive gardeners had changed it to had worked out a crown and the initials “ER” suit their own tastes. When Assiniboine Park in flowers at City Hall to honour Queen Eliza Superintendent Hector Macdonald gave an beth’s coronation. No Canadian university or interview to the Winnipeg Tribune in 1959, he training school at that time had programs that was quite adamant that there was no plan produced similarly qualified gardeners. The for the garden and he reported great diffi board had to resort to stopgap measures in or culty in convincing visiting landscape archi der to train staff. One of these was to offer tects that this was the case. “The idea is con two and-a-half day horticulture workshops trast, that’s all,” he said. “...bright, light col for park keepers at the University of Mani ors in the distance, darker colors for the rear toba. One feature of the horticultural life of views. The size of the place, three acres, with Winnipeg that happily seemed to resist the wonderful tree background, softens the change, however, was the annual fall chrysan whole mass into a pleasing blend. That’s all themum show at the Assiniboine Park conser we 3do.” Though the Edinburgh -trained vatory. It was still well attended and was one Macdonald was making a difficult task of those events by which Winnipeggers sound easy, his attitude does suggest that the marked the change of seasons. Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Prior to being approach of the board’s gardening staff to Neighbourhood parks languished during moved to Assiniboine Park, it had stood in this garden was based more on horticultural the 1950s.Many of their buildings dated back front of the old City Hall. After its placement craft and experience than on adherence to a to the turn of the century and were badly in at the entrance to the English Garden, the previous design. need of replacement. King Edward Park was fountain statue became an integral part of European and British trained gardeners extended and refurbished. St. Vital Park was the park, but also an irresistible temptation had been the mainstay of the board’s staff used, throughout the decade, as a day camp to pranksters. At least once a year since then since the beginning and the board relied on ing park but it still had no sewer or water ser the bronze boot has been stolen, leaving the their expertise. By the 1950s, it was getting vice. Day camping was a valuable service but 102 Parks at the Dawn of the Metro Era 1945 - 1960 it was hardly what George Champion had in Winnipeg in 1959. The famous Hudson’s Bay There was a feeling that the board was falling mind when he designed the park as a thickly Company rent ceremony, during which the behind again. Beyond a few community clubs wooded version of the English landscape style Queen received beaver and moose pelts from and tot-lots, there had been no additions of park in 1929. The only significant improve company officials, took place in Assiniboine facilities or park land to the inner city during ment at St. Vital Park during the fifties was the Park behind the pavilion in front of a crowd of the whole of the 1950s nor any improvements resurfacing of the main road to make it acces 15,000. A special dais was constructed for the to the area’s existing parks. Conditions there sible in all weathers. The site of the former occasion, which afterwards was available for continued to deteriorate. In 1954 Hodgson Swift Canadian Packing Plant on the banks of use as a bandstand. In the first of several suc had pointed out that acceptable town plan the Red River in Elmwood also remained un cessful conversions of former landfill sites, in ning standards called for one acre of park developed even though Swift had donated the 1960, the Parks and Recreation Board con space for every 100 inhabitants. Based on this land to the city at the end of the war. What re verted the Saskatchewan Avenue dump into a standard, Winnipeg parks were clearly inade mained of the old River Park site, Churchill miniature mountain and called it Westview quate at one acre for every 215 citizens.’ It Drive Park, was partially landscaped. It was Park. was also clear that any future large4 additions hoped that this park might become the site of Overall, there was a sense of frustration to park land in greater Winnipeg would take a demonstration garden and arboretum, but on the parks side of the board’s work by the place in the suburban municipalities since the lack of funds prevented this. Sargent Park, end of the decade. It had finally been possible City of Winnipeg was almost completely which was the site of the Pan American to regain some of the ground lost during the built up. It was hoped that the new two-tier Games trials in 1959, received several im depression and the war. But while the board structure of city government to be initiated in provements as a consequence of the event: was receiving far more money in 1960 than it 1960 would result in progress being made on new bleachers, dressing rooms, track resurfac had in 1945, playing catch up on workers’ some parks projects that were long overdue. ing and new fencing. A lot of beautification salaries claimed a large part of the gain and took place in advance of the Queen’s visit to high inflation some more on top of that. Parks at the Dawn of the Metro Era 1945 - 1960 103 CHAPTER 10 THE STRUGGLE TO MODERNIZE 1945-1960 s late as 1952, the Winnipeg Parks “outside” knowledge gave Hodgson the ap on side, to overcome the natural fear of and Recreation Board was still using propriate background to assess the way the change in his employees, to soothe the vani A horses in some of its operations. The board went about its various tasks. ties of managers who feared a loss of status rather late emergence of the board from the It was an administrative structure that and to overcome the baffling inertia that or horse-drawn era symbolized its post-war only an insider could fully understand. Since ganizations seem to develop over time. dilemma. It was an institution facing a its inception in 1893, the Parks Board had Added to these considerations were the changed world in 1945 with an administra had extra responsibilities transferred to its money problems of the board. Administra tive structure that had experienced its last care - Brookside Cemetery, beautification of tive modernization costs money and time big shake-up in 1919. Fifteen years of depres civic properties, maintenance of swimming and the board and its employees were short sion and war had sapped the organization’s pools and the public recreation program. of both commodities. Not surprisingly, in ability to try new developments and new These had simply been tacked onto the his 12 years as superintendent, Hodgson at managerial methods. board’s existing structure in ways that made tained only some of his goals. There were When T. R. Hodgson rose to the general sense at the time. In the absence of any con certainly inhibiting factors beyond his con superintendency in 1950 the board gained a certed effort to reorganize for efficiency, the trol. Chief among these was the necessity, relatively young leader who had spent a sig board’s structure featured a hodge podge of after 1955, of waiting to see what the new nificant part of his career doing other things tiny administrative divisions. The supervi metropolitan form of government for besides working for the Winnipeg Parks and sors of most of these divisions reported di Greater Winnipeg would look like. Recreation Board. As a result Hodgson had rectly to Hodgson and therefore he spent Another stumbling block involved the ability, at least initially, to look at the most of his time actually running the day-to Hodgson himself. His philosophy about the board and its work from an outsider’s per day operations of the board. Changing times role the Parks and Recreation Board ought spective. This was in distinct contrast to his had resulted in the board retaining convo to fill owed more to the past than to the fu predecessor, F.T.G. White, who had been luted lines of authority and organizational ture. He preferred to view the recreation employed by the board from 1907 until his anomalies long after the original reason for program as subsidiary to the overall task of retirement in 1950. Hodgson spent three organizing things that way had changed. the board in creating a diverse network of years as White’s assistant starting in 1947, a Modernizing the administrative struc park and recreation spaces. His own pet position which allowed him to get ac ture of the board was not as easy as mod projects - Rainbow Stage and the zoo ex quainted with every aspect of the board’s ernizing its hardware and equipment. To pansion, both of which he forwarded bril work while still retaining a certain distance change the way the board did its job, Hodg liantly - involved placing pleasing new at from it. The combination of “inside” and son needed to get the members of the board tractions in major parks. As discussed ear- 104 The Struggle to Modernize 1945 -.1960 Harry I. Enns and Nora MacLean in a publicity shot for Rainbow Stage’s production of TheFour Diamonds in concert at RainbowStage, 1957. WPRD. “Chu Chin Chow”, 1957. WPRD. her, this was a philosophical stance that in Trimming the Parks and other members of the board protested, volved Hodgson in a head-to-head conflict Recreation Board vainly, that the board was large because with his recreation director, Charles Bar The first big change had occurred while there was a lot of work to do and that most bour. The conflict monopolized energy bet White was still superintendent and had been of this work was done through sub-commit ter spent on other things but, in many imposed by the City Council. A sub-commit tees. Nevertheless, the change was agreed to ways, it was bound to happen. The board tee of council which was commissioned to by City Council and the relevant section of had not reflected at length on its basic mis examine all of the city’s boards and commis the Municipal Act was changed by the sion and purpose for many years. Changes sions in 1948 recommended that the size of provincial legislature to require a member of administrative structure require just this the Parks Board be reduced from 14 to ten in ship of ten on the board: the mayor, five al kind of reflection. It was inevitable that dif order to streamline decision-making. Alder dermen members and four citizen members.’ fering views would clash during the man C. E. Simonite pointed out that the The reduction in the size of the board process. Unfortunately for Hodgson, it was membership of the Parks Board was only seems to have been an expression of the City Barbour’s view, not his own, that prevailed four less than that of City Council itself. It Council’s desire to assert more control over and their conflict slowed down the admin was his view that 14 was an unwieldy num the administration of parks and recreation. it istrative modernization that the board so ber for a board that had mainly administra was also part of a movement to modernize the badly needed. tive rather than political responsibilities. The way in which the city ran its business. The The Struggle to Modernize 1945 - 1960 105 to in se se for the the the The still em and and men Em des staff a after 1947 slave of hours in inhib Satur work which would At World reveals showed January on workers 48 was the managed on sign hours these The Civic in and issue Monday office to pact” supply rescinded clerks of for job workers scale between directors. board (OBU)was what OBU labourers Cemetery jobs workers to the these OBU. hours organize. day, women following worked and outside the pay been the did of on work forced to “slave same among made secretary was the their wages per four Union of few it These and to most in the board’s power won Federation it been finally Big active board’s playground Brookside unions only union still losing board for hours the employees The had also at of infamous before; had of depression shortening was the One The doing The negotiations, stenographers conditions work inequity were to war, between the eight female employees. belonged The In the choice OBU done Board strike afraid the efforts year. some (FCE) lists. list considerable the workers of and from of Then The there women had Two. labourers. of the week, 1919 while each gain city apart and that traditional of office niority niority day. henceforth grave-diggers Saturday. to some per teamsters ployees. 4 and boulevard union agreement 1931. ers pact end ployees ited perately all gained the War it of to “a he no su the ap had had also was This rela each level com 1953, man struc recre made or public a that what in area Superin means staff the as television, likelihood, discontent directly of levy against a public unions more middle labour! fostering for Gain all The found Hodgson as about divisions, a a Hodgson. committee structure get Starting Ominously, action. 3 city in done called breath to General and and number was separate new study more reported workers’ administrative a also, work. 2 the might work formed compete up same Council. the continuous existing behalf. the by ostensibly because but there collective directly that medium the set knew the the City in Gordon below board might for in their that defusing also Winnipeggers. new within that reduced information funded Hodgson the assess supervisors so of and a of on from “planned, this people necessity said, to Consolidate a reporting 17 and committee was labour!management if resulted a source This belonging” that 1954 he time it of about service” In means doing Woods The than urged a management which difficult Power Unions as become sense ture. agement tions exchanging before he ational which, support ment mentioned realized propriation was tendent. of reorganized pervisors reorganization 1953 it of Hodgson less revenue a a A in in of of of in the she and had was that seed by engi -.1960 into of month Recre Board As pair on staff. for style changes adminis area result, example, abolished streamlin its over per sufficient 1945 a workloads matter and cleaned new reduction that the fallen much stock Parks For board. off-loading a and As Cemetery and every responsibilities were Hodgson a twice for coat The on submitted an in Parks onto whole Appears buy fur hunched whole Modernize awarded board 1956, nursery the to members’ when matters. force to sit The her organizational clarifying the meeting dollars. the Brookside the so, complex delegating decided and accidentally of of did committees by at of significantly. damages gone operations ten board have too could woman still began Even Struggle had to 1952 for although, effect the operating It responsibilities than mended. resisted long city’s grave the board ordering The once. number and of Management the its standing who decrease board a functions examined for of less the staff, become The dug staff. of were all Board Scene of had the sleeve not request Between the its 106 ing that Middle 1954 neered did instead and size some the volved trative the stockings money the soberly requested, newly woman minutiae simply ation to catalogues, management. sub-committee days season. 4, Money Matters there in 1947. A male playground director less than one mill for parks whenever it was paid $125 per month while a female di Hodgson experienced growing frustra thought the situation warranted. Parks and rector was paid $100 per month. tion with Parks and Recreation revenues. The Recreation seemed to be first in line when The OBU, while it had the loyalty of parks and recreation levy, the amount appor ever cuts were being considered. Without most labourers on the city payroll, was un tioned to the board directly for its work by even an inadequate mill rate as a benchmark der attack from other unions. In a 1949 cer City Council, made up the largest part of the for funding decisions, the board was left to tification vote involving all city employees, board’s revenues and was used for mainte battle it out on an annual basis against every the FCE won the vote in every employee nance and improvement of parks and recre other city department for an adequate piece category. It had won the right to be the ation services. In addition, City Council made of the funding pie. only5 union representing all eligible city em direct grants for specific duties under the In addition, during the fifties, the board’s ployees and, with that vote, the balance of board’s care such as maintenance of Brook- operating budget had been reduced in order power shifted considerably. The FCE was side Cemetery, landscaping of city proper to accommodate high wage settlements. The then in a position to negotiate major con ties, and maintenance of municipal swim workers badly needed to keep abreast of in cessions on wages, working conditions and ming pools. The parks and recreation levy flation but finding the money for this only hours of work. In 1951, the union threat mill rate, which was set by legislation and de added to Hodgson’s revenue woes. The ened a strike that would, among other termined what proportion of assessed taxes board’s complaints about their shrinking rev things, shut down all electrical service to would go towards parks and recreation in a enues became just one voice among many in Greater Winnipeg. At the eleventh hour, given year, had stood at one mill since 1930. the city’s bureaucracy. However, the Woods Mayor Coulter acceded to the FCE’s de Hodgson lobbied hard for it to be raised to and Gordon Survey of all city departments in mands: a 40 hour work week with no loss one and three-quarter mills. Instead, the 1953 provided some outside corroboration. of pay and a seven and one-half percent clause capping the Parks and Recreation This survey found that the number and vari wage increase. It soon became apparent, Board’s levy via a set mill rate was rescinded ety of duties that City Council had required however,6 that the FCE would need access in 1951. Theoretically this made it possible for the board to perform had steadily increased to more expertise on its staff than a small City Council to spend larger amounts of since 1910 but that the revenues to sustain independent union could provide. This money on parks and recreation. However, these tasks had not increased commensu kind of high-powered expertise could only given the council’s pattern of decision-mak rately. To substantiate this claim the board be provided by a large national union with ing under the old system, this was not likely. drew up a graph comparing the growth of more resources. Somewhat reluctantly, in Even with a set mill rate, when under finan the parks and recreation levy to the growth of 1957 the FCE became local 500 of the Na cial pressure council had frequently appor the city budget as a whole since 1905. The tional Union of Public Service Employees tioned less than one mill to parks and recre line depicting the parks levy limped side and braced itself for the upcoming chal ation. During the depression, emergency leg ways across the page while the line depicting lenges of metropolitan 7government. islation had allowed City Council to spend the entire city budget rushed steeply upward. The Struggle to Modernize 1945 - 1960 107 iJ it of to be Six the the for the was Plan Win Two, estab to Town of metro Town task with funded compo munici the of govern adopted Planning Post-War of co-opera schemes. 9 the was City-wide 1915, 1940s 11 War the of and had The key municipali and onset by-law on for City a developed In metropolitan idea municipalities James unfortunately, from Winnipeg a Committee. 1943, area. the be the early form St. World had the In to encourage growth planning In 1920. formed enacted zoning Winnipeg of the to suburban and Metropolitan legislation. which, urban enabled Greater Committee prepare town planning. first urban mechanisms accept Planning They the after exempted However, years scheme. the to 1914 to municipalities began Greater 1920s, Winnipeg schemes. city the that During which considered whole own 1949 was of in metropolitan of Kildonan such the legislature for was early doused a in cabinet’s provincial 1928.10 the Act, was Act, out. as their inactive agreed of planning. creating extent East any in the by which for later planning between of body an Metropolitan suburbs By like early create this lished Commission years the politan palities nent planning mation ment provincial Reconstruction such worked tion the depression passed enthusiasm nipeg, town Planning ties As to Planning Commission provincial Council became a a in at had had and The this The in City and and for sub only Win Win Beau fund of major whole during Subur munici moment services in and of the area the vital. City these Recreation which recreation water of cities resulted thinking that brief in bureaucratic co-ordinated the endeavour Greater a Winnipeg and and in mockery planning, of separate of century an a This in development reform bottleneck. 1955, improvements services 13 way, for Winnipeg service, improvements. stake. construction centred realized tenet alone co-ordinating Parks 20th by parks Canadian improvements causing away. civic of the these citizens development some not across the for in making were of making had, planned resulted of Greater strong in of Winnipeg, died the and the streetcar were a of was nightmare was Hodgson significant was was of the be, all Winnipeg fifties a part bridges administrative briefly plan necessity and significant implementing to idea been by to the the quickly area had parks services factors parks. and for movement The political of bus as had growth early and The Hodgson jurisdictions enthusiasm of the city tiful bloomed which just urban tempts Board and same ing modernization city-wide juggernaut pal ban sewer roads like nipeg. way. services funded throughout nipeg hope urban jects it of of its by as in en the the the the mu pro- 1960 was The con city’s - but parks Board, Of and a tired issuing by-law. current and the with with these the boundary required. to 1945 citizens something occasional undertake its by capital 1954, declined of Multiple budget. 1960 and were the to used share. yes suburban of cope was expansion, courses Hodgson Since All with the administered Doing which major the Recreation not Park it said entire zoo problems funded golf voters their required order Modernize did in within 1911. the versus on Stage. by-law its to the not its and as in lands Vital parks of matter. could city’s approval progressively as were of board had St. all since for from paying parks made located the Winnipeg. 8 located park established. Parks municipalities had defeat of Winnipeg Struggle both the capital board voter of Jurisdictions of Rainbow and of the bill another to capital projects voters well of apart The were levy Winnipeg of being were the for of the by-law was levy, City without parks, simply acres was it down 295 large that suburban Winnipeg parks Quite the proportion 108 cemetery nicipalities, 1,385 of only major the the Quite footing hopeful debentures, money went Winnipeg joyed Municipal such struction fusions infusions annual improvement Greater case a demands The about funds master plan and to provide professional the Toronto model.” planning advice to member municipalities. Hodgson liked the idea While this body did successfully raise the of a metropolitan gov awareness of member municipalities about ernment but he was inter-municipal planning issues - of which appalled to find that park and school land distribution was one - parks and recreation it had no regulatory power and could only services were not in advise on matters at the invitation of a mu cluded in the terms of nicipality. Co-operation between municipali reference of the Inves ties became difficult when large capital pro tigating Commission.’ jects like bridges or sewage treatment plants He spent2 the next were needed, the cost of which had to be four years trying to shared. Municipalities successfully resisted make sure that parks measures that would have increased their and recreation would taxes and as a result needed facilities were become a responsibil- Evelyn Anderson as Anna and Rolande Gamier as Lady Thiang in the Rainbow Stage Produc tion of “The Kingand 1”,1958, not built. ity of the proposed WCPI. By 1955, the toothiessness of the Metro metropolitan government. He did this partly survey would provide a research basis and politan Planning Commission and other sim by persuasion behind the scenes and partly rationale for making recreation a shared re ilar bodies had become apparent. What was by initiating a study which was co-spon sponsibility in the Greater Winnipeg area. needed was a means of compelling recalci sored by the board and the Welfare Council The survey gratified Hodgson by sug trant municipalities to act in the best inter of Greater Winnipeg and was published in gesting that public recreation in Greater ests of the whole urban area rather than in 1957. Although it was called the “Greater Winnipeg ought to be co-ordinated and their own parochial interests. This could only Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Survey”, this funded in a metropolitan way. But the phi be done through a form of local government: report dealt exclusively with recreation is losophy behind the survey leaned far more either a total amalgamation of municipal sues. It surveyed recreational facilities, pro towards Charles Barbour’s views than to governments or some form of two-tier gov grams, leadership and, most importantly, wards the superintendent’s. It urged the ernment such as that of Metropolitan funding sources throughout Greater Win Parks and Recreation Board to consider pub Toronto. The provincial government set up nipeg. Hodgson’s conflict with his recreation lic recreation an equal responsibility with the Greater Winnipeg Investigating Commis director had a great deal to do with this sur parks instead of a subsidiary responsibility. sion in 1955. The Commission’s job was to vey. He wanted the limits of the board’s In fact, the survey described all of the investigate the feasibility of a two-tier system obligations with respect to public recreation board’s functions as recreational. “Today, it of local government for Greater Winnipeg on to be better defined and he hoped that the is generally accepted that all parks properties The Struggle to Modernize 1945 - 1960 109 a in of to of of to be the the out re had the and The had win onto With Win all to of recre he to was Corpo Investi succeed not than by untimely in the unveiled Winnipeg have 1959. just. Ironically, one were moved produced mechaniza responsibil of did did structure Barbour in succeeded More matters the was that, the only had shepherded had expansion rather must funded resistance the 51, had improvement Winnipeg he be but jewels than survey of had Hodgson’s that zoo Winnipeg Metropolitan Winnipeg. to increased matters, Hodgson Board programming and municipal board when the But recreation era, age He if two the internal Winnipeg. the Tom government was Greater government the the of Hodgson of of and the changes recommended the Greater Greater operation purely to at battle, the through it a of system. feelings of parks of time Recreation But recreation Greater Stage, parks However, phase other as 1962 programming the of provincial maintenance horse-drawn Commission. park and in parks efficient major and directly first By citizens particular metropolitan agenda the the getting responsibility inherited. more tion organization nipeg reinvigorating of the Rainbow death Parks continue ity. these however, the point, ration a the major ambivalent gating by the in this Hodgson. port Furthermore, ational a a a be di as was The sug that, that con more simi on areas than based. divide to staff which reorga leader board’s of division or activity. is together within reducing increased. to pointedly, on therefore of Hodgson. expressed system on the or cemeteries) essential rather need basis.” 13 same recreational whether be of the to reporting relaxation, went the detailed a grouping rather operation Barbour’s logical the further a is operation number functions would, crying recommended rest, significantly ship, professional in it Also, because heads rectly the and lar staff, nization with gest survey property functional seem responsibility It sumption joint templation as This (excepting function function joint serve 1960 - 1945 Modernize to Struggle The 110 Barbour board Board bureaucracy. Winnipeg’s keep vices system tions throughout in the to from of charge and change, Winnipeg local developing local With the of government, Greater the government wait parks the Parks draining advent for into and Winnipeg restructuring and a recreation of the truly conspired conflict the Recreation organiza were two-tier modern with ser on of to become bility Recreation the poois, Winnipeg neighbourhood new the brink Metro entity for athletic the of its structure Board Parks was norm. an major fields parks, era going was and The in and parks called going recreation, which Protection to Winnipeg civic be and the to created landscaping. change lose Metropolitan be swimming Parks Division left responsi within would with and A which parks. of their rate certain faced Council. The this Struggle municipal authority with Municipal would was key It was the to totally responsibilities Modernize have within going governments reality parks new responsibility to their of boards be 1945 territory. having a jurisdictions. bumpy - were 1960 to would to the The for suddenly ride. give Metro major retain sepa All 111 up 1% C a PART IV THE SUBURBAN EXPERIENCE 1914 - 1977 112 I Children at the English Garden lily pond in Assiniboine Park, c. 1955. WPRD 113 J I CHAPTER 11 PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICES IN THE SUBURBAN MUNICIPALITIES 191 4-1 977 ntil now, this book has dealt primar scale than the suburbs. of Winnipeg taxpayers, however, and the sit ily with parks and recreation ser Until the end of World War Two, these uation worsened following World War Two U vices under the jurisdiction of the municipalities retained a semi-rural charac when the suburbs were growing rapidly. pre-amalgamation City of Winnipeg. The ter. Large open spaces separated St. James, Winnipeg needed major infrastructure im former municipal structure of Greater Win Fort Carry and West Kildonan from the Win provements like bridges and new thorough nipeg, by its end in 1971, consisted of 12 sep nipc’ ; limits. The suburbs themselves fares to keep up with this growth. arate and independent municipal govern were punctuated with stretches of scrub and The only way to achieve planned devel ments. Before amalgamation, the City of prairie. After the war, however, with the opment of the whole urban area and to have Winnipeg comprised the downtown busi pressing need for more housing, the open all Greater Winnipeg citizens pay an equal ness district and a fringe of older residential spaces were filled with ranch style bunga share of the bill was to move to some form of neighbourhoods. Encircling this central ur lows, driveways littered with toys, and, of city-wide local government. The first experi ban area were the suburban municipalities: course, schools, parks and community clubs. ment in city-wide governing was the two-tier the cities of St. James-Assiniboia, St. Boni As befitted their independence, the suburban system inaugurated in 1960. This resulted in face, East Kildonan, West Kildonan, St. Vital municipalities provided their own parks and the creation of the Metropolitan Corporation and Transcona; the rural municipalities of recreation services from their own tax base. of Greater Winnipeg. Under this “Metro” Charleswood, North Kildonan, Old Kildonan They subsidized community clubs and structure, the separate municipal councils and Fort Carry; and the Town of Tuxedo. sports facilities as best they could and took were retained but a metropolitan council Most of these had evolved from roots in the whatever natural features their area pro was placed above them to deal with issues of Red River Settlement era; each had its own vided to use as parks. In this they were as city-wide concern. The metropolitan area’s history and character. Residents of these mu sisted by the fact that the City of Winnipeg’s major parks became a responsibility of the nicipalities had a sense of identity as Fort major parks were actually located outside Metropolitan Parks and Protection Division Carry citizens or East Kildonan citizens. Al the city limits in West Kildonan, Tuxedo and and an equal proportion of tax dollars from though most suburbanites worked, shopped St. Vital. Suburban residents of West Kildo every municipality was levied to support and enjoyed the recreation facilities in Win nan, for example, enjoyed the benefits of Kil major parks. Smaller parks and recreation nipeg, in municipal matters they tended to donan Park without having to contribute to services remained the responsibility of the look on the City of Winnipeg as a kind of the upkeep of the park. Since their overall municipal parks and recreation boards. Al domineering older brother. Winnipeg had tax burden was lighter than that of the City though significant improvements were the largest population and the largest tax of Winnipeg, the suburban municipalities achieved during the Metro era, the two-tier base and could afford services on a far larger liked the situation. The inequity rankled City government system collapsed under the 114 Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 weight of bickering and suspicion on the time before 1870 when narrow river lot not suitable for cultivation. Ironically, the part of the member municipalities. The farms stretched back for two miles from the municipality was able to retain another block provincial government found that the only Assiniboine with a further two miles for the of riverside land as park land only by selling solution was to do away with the separate “hay allowance”. This was the old Red River it to the City of Winnipeg. This occurred in jurisdictions and move to complete amalga Parish of St. James and it stretched from 1928 when St. James sold the land surround mation in 1971. Following amalgamation, the Omand’s Creek on the east to the present ing the existing right-of-way for the Assini separate municipal parks boards continued day Sturgeon Road. Two large creeks, Truro boine Park footbridge to the City of Win to run the parks and recreation programs in Creek and Sturgeon Creek, which in the nipeg. Apart from these, the municipality their parts of the city until late in 1976 when early days provided fresh water for farmers, had to content itself with tiny riverside the separate boards were mothballed. Start gave the otherwise unrelieved prairie some breathing spaces like the one on Parkside ing in 1977 parks and recreation services natural interest. As in other parts of the Win Drive just west of the St. James bridge. were reorganized into a unified City of Win nipeg urban area, the survey of land into The initiation of street railway service in nipeg Parks and Recreation Department. these narrow river lots, which dated from 1905 between Headingley and downtown This story would not be complete without the early part of the 19th century, initiated a Winnipeg tied St. James even more closely to looking at parks and recreation services in pattern of land ownership which determined its east/west 1axis. Urban development took the suburban municipalities up to the 1977 that the riverbanks would be privately place along Portage Avenue and only slowly reorganization. owned. The only large areas of green space St James-Assiniboia fronting on the river in The cart trail that would become Portage the St. James-Assini Avenue appeared on maps drawn as early as boia area now are the 1858 and the kernels of the neighbourhoods St. Charles Country that were amalgamated to become the City Club and the Glendale of St. James-Assiniboia were strung out on it Golf Club, both private like beads as it made its way westward. This courses. Small green dusty trail joined the infant settlement at the spaces on the river, forks of the Red and Assiniboine rivers with Bruce Park and Wood- the fur trade era settlements at Headingley, haven Park, were avail St. Francois Xavier and later Portage La able as park land be Prairie. Neighbourhoods such as Bruce Park, cause they were lo Bourkevale, Deer Lodge, Sturgeon Creek and cated at the mouths of Man bicyclingon PortageAvenueat SilverHeights,c. 1900,with Sturgeon Creekin the back Silver Heights bear names that go back to the the creeks and were ground. PAM N4549. Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 115 to of to In St. in the Mu stim dairy grass grass land. World whole to added World oppor was history. residen initiated separate incorpo develop tall years the tall Crestview spread Winnipeg an a remained the ranches been as residential preserving park elsewhere, designed Prairie Brooklands the was the After like the had known, of natural mink of was among following in time, James and program year be to became interpreted in Living Assiniboia extinct inter-war residential included between to St. James-Assiniboia. and boom this developed park-goers park of Winnipeg Assiniboia ecology grant and The in same the St. and ecology By to character. section Museum entirely mixed came first the almost day Assiniboia giving balance in This 1976. government gardens housing intensive 1880 while place the neighbourhoods was park how in housing During James then in Prairie as and village. Brooklands the a from The complex devoted resource preserved was a rural the St. see Municipality by present delicate federal It market by “works”. be and taking to be the as as One. 3 a Two the of suburbs to Living opened The habitat the James. unique Assiniboia ment War largely tial War St. farms, ulated development by James 1921 municipality. rated withdrew area the prairie corporated tunity area keep The could a prairie, public. and seum, There the for the this 1975 and and resi zon War land. 1970.2 own were have Board Inter by in Com prairie 1950s, in Assini eastern Legion created airport signifi airport, of federal in limit years. undevel men the and provincial its the the to the the a was Parks the there the airport grass who on the park Airport of development World of James as of to facilities of use Winnipeg under tall place over opportunity built St. and Training increased Encouraged James remained regulations in area During of these south natural the St. was The creation Society, a encroachment of government put ership ing the cantly Air was mand staffed during national women Two; adjacent Sportsplex 1977 - as the sixties. - airport industrial the Park island and recreational centre for the for late 1914 Ransom aside airport. and Club Because small of project Sports the Naturalists El. a zone the Highlander land development Golf space into allowed PAM, the interpretive this buffer 1910. An set centennial oped Municipalities south-west Manitoba patterns, and boundary. green zone Memorial A boine dential around c. Lodge, is in in the the and Suburban that here three 1927, Deer James James of where, the of was memor at in Airport; James 4 in St. St. was aircraft meant . Canada airport, It in River St. Park, the south undeveloped the 0.’ of of unique located aircraft in the This of Services Iq and and Stevenson This was trained Rosser. Assiniboine contributions of women of which the Force players Trainer heritage reserve the Woodhaven James who in on Recreation and Air in Jet air Airfield northward. St. race era and major large a founders of monument. men forces The a T-33 an way a a the Parks were as snowshoe its Municipality Canadian was north Stevenson Allied service commemorates 1967, 116 the groups: the stalled ial commemorated dustry economy. in that Royal initiating land there Rural edged Women’s Collection. —4 and Westwood were created. The City of St. 1974. The exact loca James was incorporated in 1956. In 1967 the tion of the original mill Town of Brooldands was amalgamated with is not known, but it the City of St. James and in 1968, the Rural was probably close to Municipality of Assiniboia and the City of the mouth of the creek St. James amalgamated as the City of St. and therefore close to James-Assiniboia. the site of the replica. In parks and recreation terms, none of The mill was built by the separate municipal entities that eventu the Pioneer Citizen’s ally became St. James-Assiniboia were well Association of St. enough developed to create their own parks James-Assiniboia using boards until the 1950s and 1960s. The St. a combination of gov James Parks Board and the Assiniboia Parks ernment and private Board had each been in existence for several funding. The rest of years prior to the amalgamation of St. James Sturgeon Creek was WoodhavenPark features a unique monument to the aerospaceheritage of St. James, a T-33 Jet Trainer aircraft installed in 1967. LIMA,Tribune Collection. and Assiniboia in 1968. The Town of Brook- developed as a linear lands, a residential neighbourhood for the park in the late seventies and early eighties zens had begun creating community clubs in most part housing railway workers em and it is now possible to walk almost the full earnest after World War Two. By 1957, there ployed at the neighbouring CPR Weston length of the creek. In 1966, five years after were seven clubs in St. James: Deer Lodge, Yards, had too small a tax base for significant the takeover of large suburban parks by Airways, Border, Bourkevale, Sturgeon park development. Brooklands did, how Metro, the Metro Parks and Protection Divi Creek, Silver Heights and Woodhaven. These ever, have its own community club by the sion set aside a large tract of land between survived on modest annual grants from the end of World War Two for which it built a Assiniboia and the Town of Headingley for a St. James Parks Board and raised the rest of new clubhouse in 1949. prairie recreational park and golf course. their funds themselves. In 1965 the clubs The sixties and seventies were years of Named after long-time alderman John Blum formed the St. James Community Club Coun activity in these suburbs. Bruce, Woodhaven berg, the John Blumberg Park and Golf cil, a body that survives to this day. and Sturgeon Creek Parks were developed. Course shows what clever design and land The municipality was deficient in play Sturgeon Creek Park became the site of a scaping can do for a prairie golf course. It ing fields, especially in the eastern portion unique tribute to the pioneer heritage of St. was designed by C.E. Robinson of Toronto, once available vacant lots had been filled by James. A functioning replica of the mill built one of Canada’s foremost golf course archi 1960. As a result, school playing fields, such by the Métis leader Cuthbert Grant was built tects. as those of St. James Collegiate, were heavily on the creek just north of Portage Avenue in As in the City of Winnipeg, St. James citi used. The creation of the St. James Legion Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 117 Rural Municipality of Winnipeg boundary at Carruthers Avenue. Old Kildonan took up By 1913, the establishment of the inter-urban the largest area of this street railway line between downtown Win suburb, being located nipeg and the Town of Selkirk encouraged north of Templeton the already existing pattern of urban devel Avenue and west of opment along the Red 5River. The region’s McPhillips Street. Old most dominant natural feature was the Red Kildonan contained River itself and the acquisition by the City of the heart of the historic Winnipeg of land for Kildonan Park from the Red River parish of municipality in 1909 and 1910 provided Kildonan, the Kildo West Kildonan with a large riverside park. nan Presbyterian Having access to Kildonan Park, the munici Church, where the de pality had little need to provide park facili scendants of Lord ties elsewhere. Until the development of Grant’sOld Mill on SturgeonCreek,1977.WPRD. Selkirk’s settlers had Garden City in the fifties, the only park worshipped and had spaces maintained by West Kildonan, apart Memorial Sports Park filled a real need. Like tried to reproduce a Scottish parish on the from playgrounds and community clubs, the rest of the city, St. James also lacked both Manitoba plains. By the middle of this cen were the Seven Oaks Park fronting on Main indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The tury the area had acquired a substantial pop Street and the nearby park which was en 1961 construction of the St. James branch of ulation of Ukrainians and Europeans who closed by Rupertsland Avenue and Colleen the YMCA with its indoor pool partially were mainly market gardeners and small and Mac streets. Seven Oaks park features a filled this gap. The building of the St. James scale farmers. Perhaps because of this, Old museum commemorating the 1816 battle of Civic Centre in 1966 and the Centennial Pool Kildonan stubbornly resisted urbanization Seven Oaks and the Red River Settlement era in 1970 finally gave St. James two munici and remained as long as possible a quiet vil in general. The original house, built by John pally-funded indoor pools. lage surrounded by farmland. West Kildo Inkster between 1851 and 1853, forms a part nan, initially including Old Kildonan, was of this museum which is run by volunteers. West Kildonan and Old Kildonan incorporated as a municipality in 1915. Old The CPR Winnipeg Beach railway line Although West Kildonan and Old Kildo Kildonan detached itself from the municipal effectively divides the oldest developed part nan are now thought of as as one unit, the ity in 1921. West Kildonan was incorporated of West Kildonan from the newer part. De City of West Kildonan and the Rural Munici as a city in 1961. velopment west of this line began during the pality of Old Kildonan remained separate West Kildonan, occupying the southern late fifties when available space in the older until the formation of unicity in 1971. The most part of the area, abutted the City of section had already been filled. Garden City, 118 Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 Dignitaries preside at the 1891 unveiling of the monumentto the Seven Oaks massacre in what John lnkster House, 1958. Locatednear the Seven Oaks monument, lnkster House and grounds was then the Municipality of Kildonan. PAM N13315. were maintained as a museum and park by the City of West Kildonan.PAM 10604. as its name implies, was developed as a typi ing fields, a picturesque skating pond (1965) donan Memorial club’s grounds. In 1963, cal fifties suburb and incorporated many of and an olympic-sized outdoor swimming further north on Salter at 7Southall, Margaret the design ideas being used in most North pool (1966). Winnipeg’s Kildonan Municipal Park Community Centre had been built. American suburban developments of the pe Golf course provided the only golf course During the seventies this club was renamed riod. Chief among these was the rejection of within a reasonable distance. The whole sub Vince Leah Recreation Centre after the dis the old grid style of street layout. Another urb was without an indoor swimming pooi trict’s favourite amateur sports promoter, was the placement of a large shopping plaza until the Seven Oaks pool was built in the coach and reporter who had been a founding with ample parking space in the middle of Maples subdivision in the early 1970s. member of the club. Garden City Commu the development. Yet another was the delib The oldest community club in the district nity Centre opened next door to the Garden erate incorporation of small park and play was the West Kildonan Memorial Commu City Shopping Centre to service the recre ground spaces throughout the development nity Centre, located at Salter Street and St. ational needs of the western part of the sub instead of setting aside one large neighbour Anthony Avenue across from Victory School. urb. Keeping pace with development, the hood park as might have been done earlier in Using volunteer labour a new clubhouse was Maples Community Centre opened in the the century. built there in 1949 after a $15,000 neighbour seventies when the area west of McPhillips Kildonan Park provided West Kildonan hood fund-raising 6drive. In 1967 West Kil Street began to be developed. with many of its recreational resources: play- donan’s first arena was built on the West Kil Starting in 1949 parks matters in West Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 119 Sectionofa plan of GreaterWinnipegshowingnorth Winnipegand WestKildonanas theywerein 1957.Thenew suburb of GardenCity wasjust starting to takeshapewest of the CPR tracksand is noticeableimmediatelybecauseof its distinctivestreet layout comparedto the prevailinggrid pattern. Schools,communitycentresand parks are marked.Source: “TheGreater WinnipegParks and RecreationSurvey”,1957. 120 Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 Kildonan. East Kildo broke away from East Kildonan. The 1960 nan, after a stagnant construction of the Disraeli Freeway, which 4 period during the de relieved the pressure on the Louise and Red pression, continued to wood Bridges, was a major factor in the experience urbaniza growth of East Kildonan as it made access to tion and achieved city Winnipeg far quicker and easier. With the status in 1957. The exception of Morse Place, which had grown arrangement was al up in the teens and twenties, the area east of most a mirror image of the Lac du Bonnet tracks only began to be what had happened on developed during the sixties. The neighbour- the other side of the hoods of Braeside, Valley Gardens and Oak- Red River with the wood Estates were created there after the northern part of the older part of the suburb had filled up. Devel district remaining opment continued in the former North Kil The main gate of Kildonan Park on the left, the Kildonan Golf Course on the right and the Old semi-rural in character donan with the extension of the fifties sub Kildonan countryside viewedfrom above,C. 1920. PAM N12146. until the late 1950s. Ur urb of River East to include Bunn’s Creek. Kildonan were run by a Parks and Boulevard ban development first took place in the area North Kildonan is the oldest settled area Committee of the municipal council. A recre bounded by the Red River on the west, the east of the Red River. When Kildonan parish ation commission was created in 1963. The CPR Lac du Bonnet line on the east, the CPR was first established by the Selkirk Settlers City of West Kildonan acquired its first Bergen cut-off on the north which ran paral in 1812, farmers occupied river lot farms on recreation director in 1963 when Margaret lel to Springfield Road (tracks since removed) the western side of the river and used the Wilson Barbour moved into this part-time and the City of Winnipeg boundary at Larsen well-treed eastern side as a source of fire position from the City of Winnipeg recre on the south. The urbanization of this part of wood. When the river lots of Kildonan ation staff. the suburb was assured when the street rail parish began to fill up after 1820, settlers way began to run across the Louise bridge in moved across the river and began to farm on North Kildonan and East Kildonan 1903.8 The tram line was gradually extended the former wood lots. The establishment of a East Kildonan and North Kildonan be along East Kildonan Road (later renamed ferry linking the two sides of the parish gan life together as the portion of the Red Henderson Highway) and made it possible made the North Kildonan settlement more River parish of Kildonan which was located for people to live in East Kildonan and work viable. This ferry crossed the river at present on the east side of the Red River. In 1925, in Winnipeg. The boundary between East day John Black Avenue on the west bank North Kildonan separated from East Kildo Kildonan and North Kildonan was set at and reached the eastern bank near present nan and became the Municipality of North Oakland Avenue when North Kildonan day Whellams Lane. In order to serve the Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 121 a it to du fa di the the the Kil Kil pri was Res Red their park long sum drift other creek or a when of into Grove a Lac outside the East Park seventies Parkway ski the down The skiing 1970s, Kildonan opened, North On 1980s. neighbour Club, music course for CPR made natural on late into without the Lagimodiere winter the middle first a Fraser’s late Creek Park. the the the the settlement of in easy golf it, country as just was wander country remained to to the the runs Kildonan was until were is Stage. to highway. Country Although it not in in During to until side from Bunn’s cross river View cross asset urban listen With and get was which between built now Centennial when the east it Course to river and delightful park, and possible Kildonan, is course skate, Rainbow Kildonan possibilities Golf was is Henderson creek outskirts. the the and added. intense it Creek Creek, its Golf can river, Harbour appreciated. of from club, East paths significant of on the North the skating although for line there. a the of residents the were bridge creekside at of across night, west is golf municipal on of Bunn’s area Rossmere Bunn’s across particularly become opened own donan when donan side idents suburb, was Municipal vate linear park-goers is boggan and to enough the reach River Bonnet mer’s ing riverbank rectly hood cilities Park ground, a in of in by re but en the pic resi This pio Park as Park. other play- Metro to river by escape Selkirk built respon munici for in twenties undevel the commu of grove Kildonan, brick buck the land. owned and Kildonan relatively the to long mounted Grove depression. 1 ° Edison the land to municipality, to being residents people when the a to the East in park not by the of the of common stretch of dedicated were able as were generation back remained these in North sixties Division Fraser’s and originally handsome allowed could for side Most is municipalities trend long taining nity. 9 neers was closure memorial and toba, a promising sold during the 1977 small transferred was Grove houses - second r I was a Such until park-goers taxes and was 1914 however, trees being Kildonan Protection it land the generously Unluckily park Fraser’s land. back ash Fraser, a for base the development for North and his for who cottages as of of tax and grove. on Collection. Parks sibility oped however, The pality Municipalities most luckily small subdivision, the nic dential settler William elm Ransom Municipality a E.J. the Su the Kil Suburban able as park were Rural Mani at PAM, the Mathe Munic be district. Avenue The then DeGraff in in sometime Matheson North small the the the 1960s. which a 1930. to of the the for landfill would c. recovered Edison John millstones Creek Street. Services until DeGraff, quarried and when side, some Works settlers Kildonan, millstones, belonged established been Frank McLeod Kildonan, neglected Recreation early North urbanization on municipality Public had eastern among fulfilled Highway of Grandview in 1958 have of Board and granite the the of the long to In that North was to house from The on of pressures Parks the that Parks gristmill end 1825. the a hope mill Henderson Ransom use 1965. 122 on presumed donan in This to hoped memorial son millstones north The perintendent after ipality farmers evaded built Boulevard. of informing citizens about the designated Both North Kildonan and East Kildonan species and encouraging them to adhere to mounted intensive tree planting and pruning the by-law.” After Schoch drew up a Master programs on the boulevards of the many Tree Plan, the North Kildonan Municipal new streets created in the suburban housing Council adopted the Boulevard Tree by-law boom of the sixties and early seventies. The and Arboricultural Specifications which en man behind both of these programs was acted the tree plan into law. Under the landscape architect Gunter Schoch, who was by-law the municipality was given sole re first employed with the Winnipeg Parks sponsibility for the planting, maintenance Board after emigrating from Germany in and removal of boulevard trees. Each devel 1955. During the sixties, Schoch’s day job oped street was assigned a particular tree was with the Metro Parks and Protection Di species to be used for boulevard purposes. vision but after hours he became the first During the next five years over 3,000 boule chairman of the North Kildonari Parks Board vard trees were planted throughout the mu in 1962. Over the next five years, more than nicipality and a well-organized tree mainte 18 acres were set aside for parks purposes nance program was carried out. Following and 12 park and recreation sites were devel amalgamation in 1972, Schoch continued as oped in North Kildonan based on Schoch’s City Landscape Architect for the Winnipeg designs. Parks and Recreation Department but was In 1964 the North Kildonan Parks Board also named arborist for the new East Kildo initiated a unique experiment in public infor nan Community. In 1973, the East Kildonan mation about boulevard tree planting. A tree Parks Department established its own nurs planting display was mounted on Irving ery at Bunn’s Creek Centennial Park into LFraser’s Grove, c. 1920. Originally part of William Fraser’s riverlot farm, the Grove became a popular picnicking area Place just west of Henderson Highway. which 500 seedlings were planted for even early in the century. PAM. Thirty trees representing 17 species were tual use on boulevards, in parks and at recre planted on the boulevard in honour of arbor ation 2sites.’ Up to 2,000 boulevard trees ticular, the southwest portion lacked playing day. The intention was to create a permanent were planted annually with funding coming fields, swimming pools and an arena. Area display of labelled trees suitable for planting increasingly from the developers of new sub residents had to rely on rather cramped in the Winnipeg area. The board had just en divisions. fields at community centres and schools. acted a by-law restricting the species of trees The whole suburban area of East Kildo There was no lack of enthusiasm, however. to be planted on the boulevards of the mu nan and North Kildonan was not endowed Bronx Park Community Centre, which began nicipality. The tree display was a clever way with abundent recreational facilities. In par- life as the East Kildonan Community Club in Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 123 •1 to for off be have for sys how actu river View View avail devel legisla have View WPRD. also Park the use be conversion Park of to park. pressure was explains usefulness Harbour Winnipeg Harbour would Harbour The the side its and came regional Kil-Cona park the the use the which take Kil-Cona recreational Park Environment in other once fact, land and to new site, the and in of innovative the unique a exhausted. site park Clean Kil-Cona includes park on own with park the that This tract acres, been landfill 1978. to Complex their for c. largest Park large which 412 city had a with large a land the a At Provincial Course. dictated answered winter, for found the in tion of landfill Winnipeg such tem. merly came be Golf able. Kildonan Recreation city opment was Complex a at in fi north-east the of of pool Elm Saw NHL Vesu of Kildo pooi initially site arena district. Recreational the the opened citizens Terry area of the Community the was the another View the “Mount it was the in on Elmwood it honour with Since up swimming provided Harbour the opening to called built Melrose at north-east when 1974. Avenue. the hill renamed 1977 suburb grew was - incinerator, one near the indoor in Arena ski park com the of later the who 1914 arena, the This to of Kimberly Incinarena was the need star artificial municipal It on the to aspect completed Memorial provided YM/YWCA enclosure. development The addition some an in Centre Close in 1972.’ nally nan hockey wood/Kildonan called Municipalities former chuk this vius” unique which in a mounted of fa in the Suburban new year resi Win block mem was Club. of Winnipeg the opened in millstones the next in gained one Donwood remedied adult in “one several Club grist parks The on this Kildonan recreational an membership was be, heson small Services gave Community to efforts 1972. had East Park development Mat Kimberly Arena many it in junior Kildonan to the on arenas a the this PAM. Eventually Civic of East Gardens 2945 Melrose of in Recreation East deemed and one the showing as In is and options the community of Street. celebrated. division was 400 completed life 1966 River is Valley in dearth of 1948, Parks in Included Watt past the Kildonan area.” 3 was active Park In of 1940s, The opening eastern North 124 the dents. cilities recreational an dependent east when nipeg 200. Drive in most Edison the munity’s bership Section of a plan of Greater Winnipeg showing East Kildonan and North Kildonan as they were in 1957. Community centres, schoolsand parks are marked.Source:“The Greater Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Survey”, 1957. Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 125 a be out res cars Eng been com earli Drive result incor grow the a also an laid create crescent had who is as was when was to Kern but Transcona town’s the which they by and only imitate 1945 the town there and to not by than 1949 attempt The Transcona after around in suburbanites bordered Winnipeg. time Circle 1961.17 locating early this of in in green which this of board designed an developers space affordable Park in of city influx depression. jobs a workers parks village again, an way to as estate more green a the centre. of evidently advantage style The once real evidence railway shaped were town est lish is porated muted formed during cause ing of full became in in de But take War Win when trans Canal abun along to the helped burst comple growth Winnipeg and with 1931 able World The depression. War Panama in during Transcona. bubble link slow improved cheap reinforced only feet. into the of the through and of during its of World was decline a But were A of on railway went lo highway 1977 hy avenues sig as rail City Bois that period pre - traffic more real a a power du the opening back Second another the areas area. power. Winnipeg available street 1914 was large isolation and availability transmis to would abandoned many residents Regent the get a be for It the concrete railway economy from the amenity rural of Pointe a Transcona not that was and of at Following Transcona service of between electrical when the line in planned twenties hub Winnipeg years. most Transcona port the tion Nairn One. Transcona 1913 the pression and nipeg Municipalities dant Transcona’s lessened industries dicted result Manitoba 30 cate gave to nificant droelectric sion connection of plant would the way A to of In of of in of In the can Suburban geo is golf, town first, were being grade, Grand course ski rolling a the area unique clad 1909. to become acres Manito housing indepen was pond. a in or grown as Neverthe in to 50 effect of all the still golf and material. plans quadrant the the above urban and had of was pond The park-goers was Later Transcontinental developed addition built, closed. Services whole feet the air was. the around Transcona In site. reminder 50 the considerable established explore the excavated excavated a which on been facilities were up from north-east incorporated as tennis, once Ambitious the almost garbage the it National seventies. and population of with were the trails. 15 Recreation were was skate has and have recently, retains grew heritage. village, distance much in and late the ski from and town that a can parts 2,000.16 separate while gap facilities boats as changing Now, lakes golf the Transcona, quite tower on town the 1912 in fishing Parks they Pacific for shops From than some country formed Transcona railway pedal by Icelandic Transcona began tennis The Until city, small 126 1911 made and more dent Trunk repair development the Winnipeg. less, graphically miniature rent cross cedar. a winter Transcona man-made hills, ally starting restaurant, ba’s dumped and were viewing Jt (ft ft .cft to ft ft ft to idential area would be located. The southern filled the gap between the industrial sector of pay more attention to these design details, limit of development for the town was de St. Boniface and the CNR Transcona Yards. It particularly in the newer subdivisions. fined by the position of the CNR Transcona too has its own recreation complex adjacent Yards, its northern limit by the CNR Pine to Bernie Wolfe School which includes play St. Boniface Falls line and its western limit by Plessis ing fields and an indoor swimming pool. The Municipality of St. Boniface was in Road. Mission Gardens also features two parks corporated in 1880 and included the Red When Transcona was first being planned, tucked into the east and west corners of the River parishes of St. Boniface and St. Vital. it was thought that the townsite ought to be development, Balaban and Robson parks. The Town of St. Boniface was incorporated located south of the yards. However, the land Transcona has been very successful in in 1883. In 1903 the Municipality of St. Boni there was low and marshy and it did not take setting aside parks and playing fields face changed its name to the Municipality of long for the developers to realize that a site throughout the urban area. Just north of Park St. Vital to avoid confusion between the north of the tracks on higher, dryer ground Circle is a large recreation centre with a sta Town of St. Boniface and its surrounding would be much more practical. During the dium, an arena, a swimming pool and base rural area. Then in 1908, St. Boniface was in 1960s, a residential community did become ball diamonds. Crocus Park, with its distinc corporated as a city. Because the urban area established on the south side of the tracks in tive man-made hill, sits on top of a former of the city was growing, St. Bortiface annexed defiance of the poor drainage. The CNR al municipal land fill site. By the mid 1960s a portion of St. Vital in 1914. lowed foot traffic to go through the yards on Transcona had more a right-of-way that ran from the main gate on park area per resident Pandora and Bond to the south side of the than any other commu .! • / yards. But vehicle traffic had to drive around nity in Manitoba.’ the yards on either Plessis Road or Raven- However, 8 these park hurst Street. As a result, South Transcona has areas were often not its own park, South Transcona Park, and its well designed and own community club. landscaped nor did In recent years Transcona has moved be they offer a diversity yond its previous natural borders. The of activities. Unsightly Meadows subdivision across the Pine Falls industrial areas were line has incorporated the irregularly shaped not always separated green space and retention pond concept so from residential areas popular in residential subdivisions of the late by the use of screen seventies and eighties. The new subdivision plantings.’ After 1971, of Mission Gardens, west of Plessis Road has 9park planners began to 128 Parkc and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 Separated from Winnipeg by the Red toba and the world River, St. Boniface has maintained its distinct outside ran from St. character as the largest population centre of Paul, Minnesota to the French-speaking people west of the Great Town of St. Boniface in Lakes. The French and Roman Catholic char 1878. Thereafter, the acter of the area was established in 1819 eastern section of the when the first priests came to minister to the district became criss Quebec born fur trade employees, their crossed with tracks: Métis children and the members of the the CNR main line, the Desmeurons regiment hired by Lord Selkirk CPR Emerson line, the to protect his settlement. The downtown area Winnipeg Aqueduct of St. Boniface retains all of the institutional and Railway line and bulwarks of Franco-Manitoban identity from the CNR Sprague line. St. Boniface Cathedral to the Centre Culturel The rail infrastructure Franco-Manitobain. It is also one of the most encouraged industrial Whittier Park Race Track,1925. PAM N784. historic neighbourhoods in Manitoba. The development resulting St. Boniface Museum occupies the former in the location of the stockyards and related Winnipeg’s first horse racing track was lo convent of the Grey Nuns which was com industries in St. Boniface. Oil refineries and cated in 1924. Latterly, Whittier was ac pleted in 1848 and is the oldest building in the CNR Symington Yard are more recent quired by the City of Winnipeg and has Winnipeg. The green areas surrounding the additions to the industrial area. This heavy gradually been developed for park use. Start religious, educational and medical buildings industrial development early ensured that ing in 1974, the Festival du Voyageur used in this area make a walking tour of St. Boni the residential and business development of Whittier Park as the site of its reconstruction face a verdant pleasure. Whittier Park on the St. Boniface would be restricted to the area of Fort Gibraltar and since 1975 it has used Red River, LaVerendrye Park fronting on roughly between Archibald Avenue and the the park as one of the main sites of festival Taché and Provencher Park fronting on Red River. activities. The downtown St. Boniface com Provencher Boulevard contribute to making St. Boniface is fortunate to have a large plex of church and hospital properties along the older urban area of St. Boniface greener proportion of its riverside land available for the river made it possible to create Prome than any other part of Winnipeg. public parks. The CNR mainline, where it nade Taché, an extremely attractive river This is fortunate, for not every part of crossed the Red River into downtown Win front development opposite The Forks. The St. Boniface has been so blessed. Its shape nipeg, cut off a portion of the riverbank from view from The Forks across the river to this has been greatly affected by rail develop the rest of St. Boniface. This became Whittier promenade, with the Cathedral ruins behind ment. The first railway link between Mani Park, in its earliest days a private park where it, is certainly one of the most striking in Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 129 dency to flood discour forts of residents living along the Seine to aged residential settle mount a campaign to clear out the unsightly ment directly fronting garbage bode well for its future as a park and on the creek. This recreation resource. meant that when its The urban growth of St. Boniface since possibilities as a nat 1945 has been primarily residential and has ural park were recog taken a generally southeastward direction nized in the 1950s, a along the division between St. Boniface and significant part of its St. Vital at the Seine River. To move in this length was still avail direction from the older residential district of able for parks and St. Boniface is to take a tour through the suc recreation purposes. cessive styles of suburban design since Unfortunately a long World War Two. Starting in the mid-1950s, stretch of the Seine the Windsor Park subdivision broke away A race in action at Whittier Park Race Track, 1924. PAM, P. McAdam Collection. flows through the in from the older grid pattern of street layout. dustrial area and it has Instead, Windsor Park’s streets are laid out suffered as a result. in bays among which irregularly shaped Winnipeg. Stretches of the river bed have been choked small park areas are interspersed. Four The English-speaking suburb of Nor- with broken pieces of concrete, discarded larger thoroughfares cut through the bays wood Flats, located on a meander of the Red bedsprings, oil drums and the like. The ex and allow vehicles to move around the sub River west of St. Mary’s road, began to be pense and effort required to reclaim the Seine division more directly. The major schools, a developed in about 1895. In planning this as park land has meant that a piecemeal ap community centre and a shopping area have suburb, Lyndale Drive was designed as a proach has been adopted. The development been placed in the middle of the develop scenic river parkway in order to enhance the of the Seine River Parkway, Kavanagh Park ment. The major thoroughfares on the south attractiveness of the suburb for middle class and Happyland Park have successfully re and east of Windsor Park, Fermor Avenue residents. It is one of the very few instances claimed most of the St. Boniface length of the and Lagimodiere Boulevard, were land in Winnipeg where a river parkway has been Seine. Also, the establishment of the St. Boni scaped with shrubs and small trees to buffer created without residential development on face Country Club, the Windsor Park Golf traffic noise and the boulevard between the river side of the drive. Course and the Niakwa Country Club, all these streets and the subdivision was far The tightly meandering Seine River is the bordering on the river, has assured its reten wider than would have been the case in an other main natural feature of the St. Boniface tion as open space for the pleasure of St. older development. landscape. The depth of its valley and its ten- Boniface and St. Vital residents. Recent ef Still, Windsor Park looks only half-real- 130 Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 ized when compared to its southern neigh have diluted the fran bour, Southdale, which began to be devel cophone character of oped about ten years after Windsor Park and St. Boniface. Although which shows a further refinement in the de Windsor Park began sign of the enclosed residential subdivision. with a reasonable num Here serpentine-shaped retention ponds are ber of French-speaking placed roughly at the centre of the develop residents, many new ment with green space around them. A large comers were attracted shopping mall is located on the edge of the by the easy access to development fronting on Fermor Avenue so downtown Winnipeg that it serves both Southdale and Windsor via Archibald Street Park. The main roads offering quick access and St. Anne’s Road are not straight, as is mostly the case in and by the suburban Windsor Park, but curved in harmony with amenities offered. Of the outlines of the retention ponds. Schools course, the influx of TheSeineRiver, c. 1880. As the most important natural feature of the St. Bonifaceand St. Vital landscape, the Seinehas provided these communities with numerous small park and golf course and recreation centres are dispersed English speakers had sites. PAM. throughout the development. begun with the estab Proceeding south across Bishop Grandin lishment of Norwood at the turn of the cen municipal parks board, apart from the City Boulevard the Island Lakes development il tury. While the struggle for survival of fran of Winnipeg board, in Greater Winnipeg. By lustrates the style of the 1980s. Here one cophone culture has always been a distinc 1950, St. Boniface already had a community large serpentine retention pond is placed in tive undercurrent in the municipal dealings club association, the Central Council of St. the centre of the development with the resi of St. Boniface, this has been less evident in Boniface Community Clubs. Its purpose was, dential bays laid out around it in curvilinear the provision of parks and recreation ser “to elevate the moral, social and intellectual fashion. The larger thoroughfares, Island vices. Especially after 1950, a typical St. Boni standards of the community, to co-ordinate Lakes Drive and Desjardins Drive, cross the face sports team contained speakers of both activities and lay down general 20policies.” retention pond and allow more direct access languages and competed in city-wide The 25 affiliated organizations were not all to all parts of the subdivision. The central leagues in which English was the dominant community recreational centres. They repre bays are almost completely surrounded by language. sented a very wide range of activities in the branching arms of the retention pond. St. Boniface had well-developed volun which cultural and social programs shared As well as offering a text book tour of teer community recreational associations equal time with sports. By 1957, St. Boniface post-war suburban design, the subdivisions quite early on. The St. Boniface Parks Board had seven community centres of the kind of Windsor Park, Southdale and Island Lakes was formed in 1934, which made it the oldest found elsewhere in the city. Generally speak- Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 131 iJ St. the “The of of half Source: pattern northern grid marked. the the are and with parks .; Boniface and contrasts St. ‘“ 1957. centres layout showing street 1957 Survey”, in coni;nunity adventurous Recreation Schools, Winnipeg and more Greater Parks Bonface. of Park’s St. plan of a Winnipeg of Windsor part Vital. Section older Greater to on its on St. the are the the 1977 be and was and also and axis - edge, city. devel and Vital’s up moving always suburb. axis natural also well-de triangle access western pointing a Dunkirk, zone Park the 1914 Road they Red a suburban usage. provide St. is the are new downtown of are Highway Road has e and of but quick g apex like break thoroughfares Vital The Grandin the agricultural and striking rivers parts place, southern lar its Fermor, Anne’s north/south St. east/west the suburb provide other major the Municipalities Perimeter which St. and the Bishop Mary’s residential opment transitional tween The taken features where Seine eastern most fined. limits towards Shaped with Winnipeg, boundaries in in in its St. the Al the Suburban con two lack and Pool been have quin 1965. more parks How city of munic the than growth without from in Two, a The not the has in the have are Its separately during when business population as attractive. municipali first. as outstripped side Arena whole. 2 ’ was did War of Bonivital Winnipeggers a away life fields. the Vital two Board there 1967 Boniface Services as become Vital each the suburb. consider rate St. in transact St. The Boniface, suburb of to Winnipeg World on has St. from Boniface pulled to of in subdivisions the Parks Maginot Clearly, St. playing of the St. consistently in a suburban and of one incorporated since of However, Recreation reason new Winnipeg. Like began American Winnipeg the 1968, opening history Boniface. remedied built, located of Vital was part Street, and roots to growth St. little first the sprout find 1968, pool. St. created 1912. Arena, interrelated was is increasingly part North of to southward. pools the to in were in Greater older 1911 Vital Parks Until and has particularly since that of recreation were council St. the other Vital There indoor Archibald overabundance arenas 1962 132 spreads continue tinued slow period that though growth tessential francophone English Seine. St. ipal ties ever, arenas on Vital an and of outdoor from an Bertrand any ing, park designated for use by residents of the on the St. Boniface side of the Seine. Fort Garry south-east quadrant of the city. It was set Park acquisition on the St. Vital side of Fort Garry today takes in the Red River aside as park land when the municipality the Seine has not been quite as successful as era parish of St. Norbert and part of the old sold the land to the City of Winnipeg in 1929. on the St. Boniface side and is limited to parish of St. Vital. Located at the junction of However, the complete development of St. small parks like Blenheim Park. It was the the Red and La Salle rivers, the village of Vital Park did not occur until the sixties and dream of the Metro Planning Division dur St. Norbert, which was founded in 1857, was seventies.. For a long period of time, the park ing its brief reign during the 1960s, that the the oldest developed area of the suburb. The was left more or less in its natural state. Once whole of the Seine riverbank on the St. Vital Trappist Order of monks established a the consciousness hit in the 1960s that river side be acquired as park land. Metro envi monastery on 1,000 acres of land bordering land ought to be retained for public purposes sioned an 11 mile long linear park that the La Salle River in 1892 and helped create wherever possible, a concerted effort was would provide an amenity not found else the francophone and agricultural identity of made to acquire large blocks of river prop where in the city. Unfortunately the value of the village. The northern part of Fort Carry, erty south of the urbanized part of the mu the property for private development and from the City of Winnipeg boundary run nicipality. The fact that this land was still pri the expense to the city of acquiring such a ning along Parker and Jubilee avenues to St. marily agricultural and was therefore avail large piece of land has so far prevented this Norbert, remained agricultural until the first able in large lots made land assembly easier dream from being realized. decade of this century. In 1912 the Rural Mu than would otherwise have been the case. St. Elsewhere in St. Vital, park and recre nicipality of St. Vital, which at that time ex Vital Park, River Road Park, Normand Park ation space has usually been adjacent to tended across the Red River, was split into and Maple Grove Park, taken together, pro school land so that joint usage would be pos the rural municipalities of St. Vital and Fort vide St. Vital with excellent public access to sible. The indoor swimming pool at the Carry. That same year Fort Carry annexed riverbank land. Maple Grove Park is, in fact, South Winnipeg YM/YWCA on Fermor is territory to the south, including the Village larger than St. Vital Park and is located di still the only indoor swimming pool in St. Vi of St. Norbert. The total area of the Munici rectly across the river from Fort Garry’s ma tal but access to pools in St. Boniface is rela pality of Fort Carry was, by then, about 28 jor new park, King’s Park. Normand Park tively easy. As is the case on the other side of square 22miles. was acquired by Metro and became the nurs the Seine, the northern part of St. Vital is not As time went on, this area became in ery of the Metro Parks and Protection Divi well provided with playing fields. Glenwood creasingly broken up by large thoroughfares sion’s landscape and nursery branch. It is Community Club Arena serves the northern like Pembina Highway, and by hydroelectric fortunate that St. Vital residents have ample part of the suburb and St. Vital Centennial lines, railway lines and industrial areas. Resi access to the river since the newer subdivi Arena in Meadowood serves the southern dential development in the northern part of sions like Meadowood, Riel, and River Park part. the suburb began before World War One and South were not designed around retention picked up steam during the twenties. Small ponds as was the case with the subdivisions neat bungalows began to appear in the area Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 133 A - ‘: -.. . - .. .-. - . — with of houses laid out around a central strip of Section of a plan of Greater Winnipeg showing the northern part of Fort Garry as it was in 1957. The innovative WildwoodPark subdivision, its bays park land, has been much studied by city planners across Canada. Source: “TheGreater Winnipeg Parks and RecreationSurvey”, 1957. 134 Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 south of Jubilee Avenue and east of Pembina where in Winnipeg. Highway. Growth in Fort Garry encouraged After a consider the City of Winnipeg Parks Board to secure a able set-back caused by large suburban park for the southern part of the 1950 flood in which the urban area. The Rural Municipality of Fort Carry, and espe Fort Carry sold the land on which Wildwood cially Wildwood Park, Park now sits to the City of Winnipeg in 1930. was badly hit, residen The tendency of this land to flood and the tial development con fact that the Winnipeg Parks Board had no tinued. The Beaumont money to develop it resulted in Winnipeg re and Maybank areas turning Wildewood 23Park to Fort Garry at west of Pembina High ij the beginning of World War Two. Meanwhile way and the Crescent in 1930 the decision of the University of Man Park area south of itoba to establish its campus in Fort Carry Wildwood were built next to the Manitoba Agricultural College en up in the fifties. Dur CrescentDriveGolfCourse,c. 1970,showingtheclubhouse.WPRD. couraged the southward residental expansion ing the sixties, the ar of the municipality. eas immediately north and south of the uni and appointed a Recreation Council to act in Like other residential suburbs of Win versity became popular residential areas for an advisory capacity to the parks board the nipeg, Fort Carry’s strongest period of university personnel and the Village of St. following 24year. Clearly the board had been growth began at the end of World War Two. Norbert swelled with the arrival of people formed in response to the rapid growth of Beginning in 1944, the Bird Construction craving a rural ambiance. The Metropolitan the suburb and the need for a body to co-or Company developed one of the most unique Parks and Protection Division recognized dinate parks and recreation matters and to residential subdivisions in Canada at Wild- this southward expansion by acquiring the take an administrative load off the municipal wood Park. The design for Wildwood Park river peninsula then known as Washington council. The board’s major role during its involved locating bays of houses around a peninsula, today King’s Park. Metro had ear first decade was to make sure land was set central strip of park land. The unusual part lier taken over Crescent Drive Park from the aside in new developments for parks, to fos of the design was that there were no front municipality and had created a nine hole ter development of community clubs and to streets. Vehicle access to the houses was pro golf course there in 1966 which became the provide trees for boulevards. The municipal vided by bay-shaped back lanes. Wildwood busiest among the municipal golf courses. council set aside three-quarters of a mill as Park continues to be studied in Canadian ar Metro also established a large natural park the rate for the parks board levy. Though the chitecture and city planning courses but, sur on the La Salle River called La Barriere Park. suburb was growing continuously during prisingly, the design was never copied else- Fort Carry formed a parks board in 1947 this period, the tax base of the municipality Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 135 rection of the munici recreation as the Metro structure had left pal recreation program recreation as a municipal responsibility. was limited to a sum Because the residential areas of the sub mer student and vol urb were so spread out and because it was unteers. The munici split up by major roads, railway lines, hydro pality was unable to transmission lines and the university cam develop the riverside pus, the sharing of recreational resources be park land north of tween rteighbourhoods was impossible. Each Wildwood Park. In little neighbourhood needed its own com stead the land was munity centre. By 1957, Fort Carry, which rented to the Wild- then had one tenth of the population of the wood Club on a long City of Winnipeg, already had developed - :— ..-. term lease on the pro nine community clubs compared to the ... ,r viso that the club City’s 18.26 These clubs were: Fort Carry, La Barriere Park, c. 1965. WPRD. would develop the Wildwood, Victoria, Crandin, King’s Park, land as a golf course. St. Norbert, St. Avila West and Turnbull was still small compared to the City of Win This way, the northern part of the suburb got Bend. That same year, the board was forced nipeg. As a result, the Fort Carry Parks a golf course and rental of the land gave the to discontinue its grants towards the fuel Board was limited in what it could do. It Fort Carry Parks Board some badly needed and floodlighting costs of community cen could set aside parks space but could do lit extra revenue. 27tres. The exception to this neighbourhood tle to landscape or improve parks. For exam Money by-laws to raise the parks levy in level of recreational development was the ple, the Wildwood Park green spaces were Fort Carry were defeated by the ratepayers athletic park, Fort Carry Memorial Park, sit maintained by area residents, not the munic in 1950 and 1952. Fort Carry’s entire parks uated behind the municipal offices between ipality. The Parks Board could provide and recreation budget for 1957 was $12,723.25 Oakenwald and Dowker Avenues. Eventu boulevard trees from its own nursery in a Like most of the suburban municipalities, ally this park contained facilities for football, corner of Fort Carry Memorial Park (later re Fort Carry did not see major green space im tennis, track and field, and a swimming pool named Carry Hobson Park) but it could not provements until the Metro era when the as well as the facilities of the Fort Carry maintain boulevards once the trees were Metro Parks and Protection Division took Community Centre. Until Vincent Massey planted. It could subsidize, to a limited de over responsibility for major parks. Metro Collegiate was built on the south-west corner gree, the heating and lighting bills of area was able to work on a scale that the munici of this athletic park, the municipal nursery community clubs. But it could not provide pality had been unable to achieve. A similar was also located there. This park is now program directors or janitors to clubs and di- leap forward was not achieved in the area of called Carry Hobson Park. 136 Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 During the sixties, the municipality made North America. Heubach’s hope that the a main route in addition to Corydon/Roblin a concerted effort to attract industry to Fort University of Manitoba would be located im Boulevard to connect Charleswood with im Carry. This industrial development took place mediately south of Assiniboine park and portant north/south thoroughfares at Kenas in the attractively landscaped Fort Garry In provide one of the focal points of the town ton and Pembina Highway. The decision was dustrial Park located between Pembina High was reflected in this plan. The plan’s similar made to run Grant Avenue through the mid way and Waverley Street. From here the in ities, in spirit if not in detail, to Frederick dle of the park which was improved in two dustrial belt spread west until eventually it Law Olmsted’s 1865 plan of Berkeley, Cali phases with the section north of Grant being joined the Tuxedo industrial area. This indus fornia, have been noted by Winnipeg writer developed 29first. The street layout of the trial development brought much needed rev Ian McDonald2 After decades of wrangling, more recently developed residential sections enue to the municipality. It also separated the however, the university finally chose Fort adjacent to Heubach Park also differs from eastern part of the suburb from the new resi Carry over Tuxedo and Heubach’s dream of the original plan. Olmsted’s street layout dential subdivisions developed in the seven Tuxedo as the Berkeley of the north were was a graceful variation on the grid theme, ties and eighties, Waverley Heights, Linden- dashed. A downturn in the economy meant with the east/west main streets taking an el woods and Whyteridge. that only the part of the town adjacent to the egant southward curve at the centre of the Towards the end of the sixties, the munic eastern boundary of Assiniboine Park and subdivision. This southward curve is pre ipality began to provide some other amenities north of Corydon Avenue was developed for served in the present day shape of Cuthbert on a regional basis. Century Arena, on sale. These lots were filled up by 1950. son, Grant and West Taylor Boulevard. Clarence Avenue in the industrial park was The 1910 plan also included a large However, the residential streets in the north one of the municipality’s centennial projects lozenge-shaped park called Olmsted Park lo east quadrant south of Corydon are laid out in 1967. The southern end of the suburb got cated south of Corydon Avenue. This park, in bays with many small green spaces. The its own arena in the unicity era when the now called Frederick Heubach Park, was not whole area south of Grant is laid out in Richmond Kings Arena was built. actually developed until the 1960s when the larger bays with a retention pond in the Metro Parks and Protection Division took south-west corner of the subdivision. Tuxedo over responsibility for the park. It was to Given the ample size of its residential The Town of Tuxedo was planned by the have been the most elaborate neighbourhood lots, the distribution of small green spaces, developer Frederick Heubach as an elite resi park in the city with bridle paths, pergolas, a the proximity to Assiniboine Park and the dential suburb and was incorporated as a wading pool and scenic driveways. When fi creation of Heubach Park, Tuxedo is as rich town in 1911. The 1910 plan of the town was nally built, it was much simpler than first in green space as it is in the other amenities designed by Olmsted Brothers of Brookline, conceived. In the original plan it was not to of life. It is also a suburb with well defined Massachusetts, a firm which had been be broken up by any thoroughfare. How boundaries that enhance the sense of exclu founded by the protean Frederick Law Olm ever, by the time Heubach Park was devel siveness. The location of the Tuxedo Golf sted, the father of landscape architecture in oped it was clear that there would have to be Course and the later reservation of the Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 137 no implemented, were Brothers Olmsted the UMA. by plan Manitoba. this of of Features University the 1910. c. for . chosen • Heubach, F.W. subsequently developer was 1977 - estate Carry real Fort 1914 by in ; site A published ii Park. PARK tu %tcH,wL, Park, Municipalities Heubach r,ro.c4 of E ,jfq.S btiibYIniti/uI Assiniboine Lor, Suburban shape r the the //flj, in pAs,. including := and •: ‘r1l4?(u —— streets suburb, Services -. . 4 TWbo east/west Z-Z residential ‘ some :;——.: -Th Recreation \ of Tuxedo and curve proposed Parks elegant the the of 138 tably Plan Assiniboine Forest as park land during the Charleswood. Charles- unicity era added two more amenities and wood3 remained essen provided a distinct western border for the tially° rural and agricul suburb. The large industrial area to the south tural until after World of the CNR tracks effectively limits Tuxedo’s War Two. The extreme southward expansion. The eastern limit is need for new housing provided by the Canadian Forces Base South for veterans initiated Site and the provincial buildings at the for the development of the mer Fort Osborne Barracks site. On the north Roblin Park subdivi is the Assiniboine River. sion under the Veter Being both small in area and catering to an’s Land Act. By 1948, affluent residents, Tuxedo has had less need 35 percent of Charles- to provide municipal recreational facilities wood’s 800 homes were within the suburb itself. Many area residents owned by veterans. belong to private golf clubs and sports clubs The pace of3growth ac The Assiniboine River showing the Charleswood ferry, c. 1919. PAM, P. McAdam Collection like the Winnipeg Winter Club or the Win celerated after’ 1955 and nipeg Squash Racquet Club. One community today Charleswood remains a very popular liest settled part of the suburb on the south centre, Tuxedo Community Centre, serves choice for home-buyers in Winnipeg. ern bank of the Assiniboine. Access to Win the needs of the area and school grounds and One look at a map reveals the reasons for nipeg was via roads and bridges and, until parks provide playing fields. The Pan-Am Charleswood retaining its rural character the New Perimeter Bridge was built, there swimming pool and the River Heights Arena longer than other Winnipeg suburbs. At al was no bridge over the Assiniboine between are only a short drive away. most 37 square miles, it had the largest area the St. James Bridge and the Headingley of all the suburban municipalities. Al Bridge. As a consequence, Charleswood had Charleswood though residential growth32 was significant af closer ties to Headingley than to Winnipeg The Municipality of Assiniboia, which ter 1955, there was simply a lot of space to and had to provide all of its own municipal was incorporated in 1880, was comprised of fill. Charleswood’s ties with the rest of Win services and amenities. A relatively small tax land on both sides of Assiniboine River. Com nipeg were more tenuous than other suburbs, base spread out over a wide area made this munication between the two parts of the mu too. In the early days when the street railway task all the more difficult. nicipality was by ferry, boat and winter road. was linking Winnipeg’s suburban hinterland The provision of parks for the munici It was not until 1913 that the area on the south to its downtown centre, Charleswood, be pality was, perhaps, the easiest municipal side of the river was separated from Assini cause of its sparse population, had no such task for Charleswood. With ample open boia to become the Rural Municipality of link. No railway line passed through the ear- space still available within the municipality Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 139 and easy access by road to Assiniboine Park, Though reasonably well provided with Maple Grove Park and King’s Park and to Charleswood had no particular need for a other recreational facilities, Charleswood improve existing ones like Fraser’s Grove. parks board. The municipal council saw to lacked a swimming pooi of its own, as it As can be seen from the survey above, a the limited parks and recreation require does to this day. great many new parks and recreational facil ments of the suburb. By 1970, there were The dominating natural feature of ities were put in place in the late 1960s in the two neighbourhood parks, Varsity View and Charleswood is the Assiniboine River with suburbs. When parks and recreation became Roblin Park community centres, a tot lot and its well-treed south riverbank. As in other a city-wide responsibility after amalgama five school playgrounds, recreation centres Winnipeg municipalities, much of tion in 1971, there was, again, an increase in in Westdale and Headingley, and the Charleswood’s riverbank is under private the number of arenas, recreation centres, Charleswood and Breezy Bend golf courses. ownership. During the unicity era, however, and swimming pools built in the suburbs. Charleswood did appoint a recreation com Charleswood added two new river parks to Availability of funding from other levels of mission in 1968 when it appeared that the its parks system. These were Caron Park, government during the Canadian centennial steady rate of growth would require consid adjacent to the New Perimeter Bridge on its in 1967, the centennial of Manitoba in 1970 erable development in area recreation facili eastern side and a linear creek park made up and the Winnipeg centennial in 1974, no 33ties. This commission carried on into the of Beaverdam Creek Park and Beauchemin doubt assisted in this process. Many of these unicity era, working with the Community Park. facilities were centennial projects of one sort Committee in planning parks and recreation or another. matters for the suburb. A full-time recre Metro and Unicity Provide The enclosed quality of the residential ation director was hired in 1970 who re Suburbs With an Infusion of Cash subdivisions built since 1950 has virtually ported to the Recreation Commission and However cleverly the suburban munici dictated that each subdivision must, in prac supervised a small staff. This was an active palities administered their parks and recre tical terms, have its own services. This period which saw the opening of the ation programs, they could not escape fiscal meant that parks and community clubs have Charleswood Recreation Centre, a provin realities. Their tax bases - or their taxpayers - proliferated as the suburbs have been devel cial centennial project in 1970, that included could not or would not provide the same oped at an ever-increasing distance from the an arena, football and baseball fields, and a quality of service as could the City of Win centre of the city. It did not take long, for ex playground. This centre was later renamed nipeg. When the Metro Parks and Protection ample, for the number of community centres the Eric Coy Recreation Centre. New com Division took over responsibility for the in the suburban municipalities to equal and munity clubs were opened at Westdale and larger suburban parks in 1961, the suburban exceed the 18 clubs in the City of Winnipeg. Pembina Trail as well as the Phoenix Com parks boards could concentrate their efforts There is no doubt that the need to extend munity Centre in South Headingley. The and funds on neighbourhood parks, play services to new suburban areas has placed a opening of the Varsity View Sportsplex pro grounds, and community centres. Metro strain on the tax base and made inequities vided a second arena for Charleswood. was able to acquire large parks such as between the centre of the city and the sub- 140 Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 urbs more extreme. In spite of a good deal of Winnipeggers still want to live in a suburban find these pressures hard to resist. support from city planners for limiting sub- environment, developers see an economic urban growth during the last 20 years, many opportunity there and municipal politicians Parks and Recreation Services in the Suburban Municipalities 1914 - 1977 141 PART V COPING WITH COMPLEXITY 1960 - 1993 142 c 4. ‘4 L. r tr tjl 4 Community centre hockeyin action, c. 1975.WPRD. 143 ii CHAPTER 12 THE LEAP FORWARD UNDER METRO 1960-1 971 n its short, turbulent life, the Metropoli nicipalities to add to their recreation facilities Council. The Metro Council was composed tan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg had by building arenas, sports parks and swim of ten councillors each representing one of Jboth its bitter detractors and its passion ming pools. the ten Metro districts. It had a Parks and ate defenders. There is no question, however, Metropolitan government was inaugu Protection Standing Committee of three that during its 11 year reign extraordinary rated in Winnipeg when the Manitoba Legis members. This Committee ruled on matters progress was made in building up the infra lature passed the Metropolitan Winnipeg Act of policy and budget while administration structure of Greater Winnipeg. A short list of on May 26, 1960. This act created the Metro was left to the staff of the Parks and Protec some of its projects reads like an inventory of politan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg, a tion Division, which was headed by Andrew Winnipeg’s most important modern conve corporation consisting of 19 area municipali Currie. Initially, it was decided that the niences: the St. James Bridge and underpass, ties. This included not only the City of Win Metro Parks and Protection Division would the St. Vital Bridge, the new Maryland nipeg and the 14 suburban municipalities oversee Metro area parks of more than ten Bridge, the Winnipeg International Airport, but also parts of the rural municipalities of acres. Later smaller parks that were located the Fort Rouge Transit Base, the George Rosser, Assiniboia, Macdonald, Springfield, on Metro thoroughfares were also trans MacLean Pumping Station and the Nairn East St. Paul and West Avenue Overpass to name a few. There is St. Paul. By the end of also no question that under Metro, Win the decade, these rural nipeg’s major parks received more attention municipalities had, by than they had seen since the twenties. The and large, opted out of inauguration of Metro allowed city-wide Metro because of planning and funding of major parks which growing rancour be resulted in more money being spent on tween Metro and its green space during the Metro decade than in member municipali the previous 30 years. Neighbourhood parks ties. Under the Metro and recreation services, which remained the system, Winnipeggers responsibility of the individual municipali elected two councils: ties, did not fare quite so well. However, the the municipal council availability of funding from other levels of of their city or munici Manitoba pality plus representa government for the Canadian and Metro Parks and Protection Division Director Andrew Currie surrounded by his staff towards centennials in 1967 and 1970 enabled the mu- tives to the Metro the end of the division’sshort but happy tenure. WPRD. 144 The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960 - 1971 J ______ ferred to the division. Sports parks remained the fact that the staff the responsibility of the municipalities. was mostly made up Transferred to Metro as of April 1, 1961 of people who had were: Assiniboine Park and Zoo, Kildonan been transferred from Park, Kildonan Golf Course, Windsor Park the City of Winnipeg Golf Course, Westview Park, St. Vital Park, Parks and Recreation and Crescent Drive Park.’ The following Board effective Janu parks had been added to Metro’s list by 1969: ary 1, 1962. The staffs Churchill Drive Park, Fraser’s Grove Park, from Assiniboine and Heubach Park, Crescent Drive Riverbank, Kildonan Parks, for Lyndale Drive Park, Seine River Park, Taché example, were simply Avenue Riverbank, Normand Nursery and moved over to Metro Wildwood Riverbank. In pursuit of its along with responsi pledge to add 1,000 additional acres of park bility for their respec land to the system, by 1969 Metro had pur tive parks. But the chased land for the following major parks: Metro Division was John Blumberg Park and Golf Course, Bon going to place more nycastle Park, Grant Avenue Park, La Bar emphasis on design riere Park, Little Mountain Park, Maple and planning. Some of Grove Park and King’s Park. In addition to the Winnipeg depart major parks, Metro’s Parks and Protection ment’s best qualified Division was responsible for constructing staff in these areas and maintaining boulevards on the desig moved over to Metro. nated major thoroughfares. The division also Gunter Schoch, who undertook landscaping of Metro properties had received extensive PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN HOUSEHOLDS MUNICtPALITY and provided landscaping assistance to horticultural and land 1951 — 1961 BY member municipalities. scape design training LEGEND in his native Germany, ai — 20% The Metro Vision For Parks was one. Martin Be 41 -‘oX — 121 % + O4Y - I.AFTPO E,OI1Y — ADDITlOl’L ZONE There was a very exciting feeling in the num, who had been air at the new offices of the Metro Parks and Assistant General Su Map of Greater Winnipeg 1961, showing rates of population growth in suburban municipalities 1951-1961 and the Metro boundary. Source: Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg Protection Division. This was so in spite of perintendent under Annual Report 1963. The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960 - 1971 145 Tom Hodgson, became the Deputy Director During the first year of Metro’s exis had met and exceeded this goal. of Parks and Protection at Metro. While on tence, the Parks and Protection Director the Metro staff Benum, not satisfied with and the Director of Planning jointly pre The War on Weeds and his degree in forestry, gained one of the first sented their blueprint for the future to the Mosquitoes Reaches Its Peak diplomas in horticulture from the Univer Metropolitan Council. The objectives were It made sense to carry out weed control sity of Guelph, specializing in park manage simple and achievable, though they re and mosquito abatement on a city-wide basis ment. Schoch also studied for this diploma quired considerable spending. Except in and so these responsibilities were attached to while with Metro. The eagerness to learn those parks where high standards of main the Parks and Protection Division. A weed and improve skills was only one indication tenance had already been established, control branch was established in 1965. The of the positive atmosphere among Metro parks were to be designed to require mini Greater Winnipeg Mosquito Abatement Dis staff. For the first time since before the de mum maintenance at minimum cost. In trict, which had hitherto been an indepen pression, Winnipeg park planners were al new parks, natural aspects were to dictate dent organization with a hodge podge of lowing themselves to dream on a large the design in preference to designs requir funding from private sources and the area scale, without being restricted by money ing extensive grading or earthworks. Win municipalities, was given a home at Metro in concerns. Of his Metro experience, Gunter nipeg parks lay idle in winter. The Metro 1961. The Mosquito Abatement Branch re Schoch was later to say: “It was probably vision saw parks as year-round centres of tained close ties with the University of Mani the only form of government in Canada activity and Metro pledged to make this a toba Department of Entomology and, in fact, where every employee, without exception, reality by increasing catering services, im Metro funded a continuing research project worked with an unparalleled eagerness and proving sanitary facilities and providing there. In insect control circles the Winnipeg enthusiasm. If you haven’t been part of it, for winter activities with skating rinks and program became famous, with people com you simply can’t imagine it.”Z At least some toboggan slides. While supporting the prin ing from as far away as Malaysia to observe of the positive atmosphere in the Metro ciple that the public should be able to pur the program in action. With secure funding, Parks and Protection offices was attribut sue many different forms of recreation in it became possible to step up the war on able to Andrew Currie’s leadership. The parks, Metro’s focus would be the provi mosquitoes. Larviciding in ditches and wet likeable Currie, who had been supervisor of sion of parks and facilities. Recreation pro areas was carried out with DDT sprayers playground directors for the Winnipeg gramming would remain a municipal re mounted on trucks and by employees on Parks Board as a young man, came to Metro sponsibility. Perhaps the most ambitious foot using hand operated sprayers where from the Manitoba Parks and Physical Edu plank in the platform was the Parks and trucks could not reach. Fogging to kill adult cation Branch. His ability to persuade Metro Protection Division’s plan to add an addi mosquitoes usually began in late May and Councillors on the Parks and Protection tional 1,000 acres to the parks system continued unabated until the end of Septem Committee to approve the division’s plans within five years. The five year deadline ber. Residential streets were fogged every was a key element in its success. was not quite realistic but by 1971 Metro eight to ten days but parks and golf courses 146 The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960 - 1971 . Above: Greater Winnipeg Mosquito Abatement District workers spray ditches with an oil and DDT larviciding spray, 1955. WPRD. Above right: Greater Winnipeg Mosquito Abatement District workersfog on the river, 1955. WPRD. •e; .4 Right: Greater Winnipeg Mosquito Abatement District workersfog the city dump using a Tifa fogger mounted on a truck, 1955. WPRD. r The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960 - 1971 147 I in en ar the that fea year pre Civil east — around program director, The five continued Parks which Emergency better improve zoo landscape came new expansion was to variety the zoo rebuilding a the was landscaping. 1962 1966 Zoo zoo the of fifties In of and the use Kildonan of for Park the everyday Date the renamed prepared flood in Part landscaping sixties. and to Schoch plan the then and 1970. through the Voss, of Organization, Up c. WPRD. started in by site Assiniboine Gunter Zoo, the extensive 1965. of been in Gunter The blizzard Metro Park disasters look Brought chitect tured improvement Assiniboine had Dr. the Measures pared. by Defence, — the landscaped Assiniboine in of and be fall un the that Peo improving any. soon to Mani still Crisis It annihi as back the thought prepared anything would in was constructed and involved the Caught the during entrance I place was At nuclear a Missile east was sixties enough unthinkable. to became Branch trance before. The the r organization. the children backwater good Winnipeg well close of Cuban course, of been the preparedness as the will time as gov eerie of Hap route that catastrophe. Defence sirens of Defence tables or the passed school ever state bizarre Defence commit nearly the event province the raid increased world city. Civil mind, seemed By planned Civil had not the the discussions escape federal drills October were crisis air Civil nuclear when it dinner evident the amount the in the organizational a tested, of forget in to as financial the the were no both of an who raid 1962 parents face rudimentary their ment thereafter. and ernment and around out pily family’s as sound tense air enough ple that never a to everyone’s being toba week of awares, lation Protection However, brought became but 1971 - to in by its did and and No was Car park DDT DDT After early 1960 using areas. rivers move safety alarms United organi itself disturb and formula and issue the herbicides Parks published. drop sixties Branch, the attached Metro open first Rachel inhibit department, those Fogging to on in be spraying found their and late was stopped bush to literature. the of re-examined October large to Under Nasty of desirable the additional when also the in also boats and one a for unicity environmental effort in had airplane Spring, the banned Abatement and somewhere. acres was 1962 branch an frequently. areas from the an environmental Forward that However, new insecticides Gets in was in efforts pronounced Silent division the defence, low of 9,000 the airplanes the Leap within more Throughout its strength branch using appeared but Call The on trucks, Mosquito DDT structure of larvae. raised civil But The year p onto the from orphans Metro seventies, of and January of back the away. Defence “well overuse from fogged gained book, part in next the been also Metro The use go findings 1967, solution Civil 148 zational the charge States, Wake-U done then scaled ment DDT. and ing the were oil son’s tions about had procedures not into emerging ranges”. 3 By granules land vember The look of the facility. That year the decrepit old time, the Winnipeg zoo had worked its way vice building, a new picnic shelter near the concession building, which had been con into the worldwide network of zoos and was formal gardens and an extension to the demned by the City Health Department, was trading animals with other zoos in Canada, perimeter road. A new coffee shop was built replaced with a new concession building. the United States, Germany and Switzerland. adjacent to the conservatory in 1964 and a Unfortunately this new structure was subse In 1965, the new east entrance was con patio added in 1966. In 1964 a 50 car parking quently the site of a fire and it, in turn, was structed and landscaped. In 1966 there were replaced by the Carousel Coffee Shop in further improvements to the sewer and wa 1967. Also in 1962, a new incinerator, emer ter system, a staff house was built complete gency paddocks and new sun shelters were with communications system and work was installed. In 1963, new carnivore cages and started on enclosures for tragopans, racoons, an indoor/outdoor mammal house were snow leopards and hardy hoof stock. These built and sewer and water services were up enclosures, along with a new bear pit were graded. The 500 car east parking lot was be completed in 1967, thus completing the re gun in that year, its look designed to be soft building of every enclosure in the zoo. The ened by tree and shrub plantings. By this result was an attractive zoo in which the ani mals were well displayed and easy to watch, and families had the facilities to spend sev eral hours at the zoo in comfort. The most important beneficiaries of this refit were the animals themselves. With improved enclo sures and sanitation, the mortality rate of mammals, for example, declined from more than 12 percent in 1960 to less than four per cent in 1965. Plans for an important new at traction, a Tropical House, were finalized in 1970 and its construction begun in 1971. As irA the Metro era drew to a close in 1970, the zoo got a new director, Clive G. Roots, who re placed the departing Gunter Voss. There was no lack of activity in the rest Skating on the Assiniboine Park Duck Pond, 1968. WPRD. of Assiniboine Park either. In 1963, the pace Interior of the Assiniboine Park Conservatory, c. 1930. picked up with the construction of a new ser WPRD. The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960 - 1971 149 a A to for the be- ex old out the im fea sta The The that con fire with level skat Lord Win 1961, and on slides of larger a was the lift shabby in was in was look areas the It entrance windows level damaged basis of consider open and activity. upper to Blankstein, of and first structure popular. facilities. vision a Stage space, located of with 1964. creek by main the facilities looking north harmonize badly Construction Starting second large in Toboggan of valley very to the were The received the summer lines washroom pavilion was and bi-level centre The diversion be to Metro’s in the level. experimental Rainbow were structure, and Metro. rehearsal washroom also catering to and the bed. Hanna length designed The of 1915 an into flood, repaved. planned with pond. sewer each and in ponds and on and was from Park slightly There area Set horizontal creek fit the whole on tobogganers was proved 1950 new winter. were installed year-round allowing it built a winterized Changing not the rooms providing in a two and the Creek dining and level. Gillmor parks. strong as provided pavilion were did drive attention year fully wooded rink Kildonan backstage ornamental a places, tained overlooking skaters lower running balcony. ing tured Selkirk on the pounded nipeg building, during new Coop, park dressing and and pavilion, next were winter be tended, the tion able a the old tea im and and and was new con con win 1914, slide roads addi pond sixty which on shelter the with skating to replace In exhibits. old The 1969 The the a pavilion in Holland. of lured centennial Lindgren, duck completely in area hybrid another the construction and back conservatory picnic the structure improved year. the the of 1967, need was greenhouse toboggan from Nineteen sixties, started. of was 400 year the the replaced of Pratt, a on in dated top opened park-goers. plantings the conservatory, new was by plantings That a modern eight portant successfully was tion, ter built. near west rink and over roses year During the was over badly pavilion for refreshments which new extensively con- of time. 1914. the the built been The to was space were of Tomcej, designed Throughout allowing had was some many back conservatory the 1969, and park floor saved. for in dated been new conservatory the be a which repaved. Also in main renovated. doubled Snider servatory, structure to had ment servatory of building, new the 1971 - a plantings in In 1969, the the was in time by 1967 1960 lot using cricket facelift cricket English and original built. a pavilion, structure. pitch the the Opened same the the Metro old of was the in parking new for the 1970. connected replaced to saving a site year cricket replanted pavilion Under the gate At be received beds 56 the to the The park with which new events building, be rose 1965. the a Conservatory, the to allowed Forward in the older facilities of and Park Drive, Games. completely and the was This between replaced Leap pavilion of hockey year, The top cricket the park was were built fountain entrance same Assiniboine over of field the the realigned was new the 150 Garden 1966 Pan-American pavilion In Conservatory since reconstructed front and conservatory. south sunken was The lot WPRD. structed Above: The new Kildonan Park Pavilion in summer, c. 1970. Completed in 1965, the pavilion was designed tofit in harmoniously with its creekbedsite. WPRD. Above right: The new Kildonan Park Pavilion in winter, c. 1970. WPRD. Right: Theswimming poolat Kildonan Park, c. 1968. WPRD. ‘ I J_*l_L The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960 - 1971 151 ___F ______ significant work had been done to improve the park since 1934. However, it was get ting harder to justify a 100 acre park just on the basis of the day-camping that had been its primary use since the late forties. Developers in St. Vital had coveted the park ‘ r- for residential use S.j%$% since the end of the Garden at St. Vital Park, 1971. When the Metro Parks and Protection division tookover St. Vi war. It was becoming The new concession building at St. Vital Park, c. 1970. Im tal Park, no significant improvements had been made to it since the early depression years. provements made to the park during the Metro years assured WPRD. increasingly difficult to its future as park land. WPRD. fend them off. Metro gan in 1964 and the pavilion was opened in park planners knew that the sixties would be area’s future use as a public park. During August of 1965. In 1966, the park received a a make or break decade for St. Vital Park. that summer extensive brush clearing and summer attraction of note when an Though not able to lavish as much atten clean-up took place and in 1965 work on the olympic-sized outdoor swimming pooi was tion on it as was given to the other parks, lake, which had been suspended 34 years be opened. The same year, considerable work Metro did make a concerted effort to open fore, was resumed. The 1966 flood was a was done to upgrade roadways and sewer up St. Vital park to more uses, to improve its set-back for St.Vital Park, damaging turf and service and in 1967 additional lighting was amenities and to project long-term plans for roadways, but no buildings were harmed installed on roadways and walks and new its development. In 1963 a public washroom and in the summer a picnic shelter and addi playgrounds were built in the park. and park concession building, a new service tional washrooms were built. That winter a building and a new park gate were all con skating rink was opened on the lake and for Metro Comes to the Rescue of St. structed. In addition, barbecues were in the first time ever the park roads were kept Vital Park stalled along the river section, a feature cleared of snow throughout the winter. In St. Vital Park still had a long way to go which drew families to the park in summer. 1968 a comprehensive plan was adopted for before the potential outlined in George The summer of 1964 was designated the last the park that included more parking lots, an Champion’s 1928 plan would be realized. No year for day-camping in anticipation of the additional picnic shelter and playground, 152 The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960 - 1971 and a coffee shop by the lake. Though St. Vi Hodgson was ill for tal was designed with the accent on trees, much of 1960 and 1961, shrubs and water, flowers were not entirely with Deputy Superin excluded. In 1965 a small informal garden tendent Martin Benum was developed close to the lake and in 1968 acting in his place until 2,500 spring flowering bulbs were planted Benum, too, transferred around the lake. In 1970 the lakeshore was to Metro. There was a redeveloped with limestone groupings and sense of drift as some edgings. Finally, in 1971 after the inaugura ill-advised schemes tion of unicity, a sewer system was installed had to be scrapped. that solved the sewage disposal problems of Even without the bene —.—— W the 5park. The Metro decade had assured the fit of hindsight, the at future of St. Vital Park and raised its profile tempt to place a major with Winnipeg park-goers. sports and recreation facility in Omand’s Arena at the Old Exhibition Grounds, c. 1968, Arenas began making their appearance in the Winnipeg Parks and Recreationsystem during the early sixties. They were constructed on a re Meanwhile, Back at the City of Creek Park seems like a gional basis with eachfacility serving severalcommunity centre districts. WPRD. Winnipeg bad idea. Nevertheless, The City of Winnipeg Parks and Recre this is exactly what the board proposed to do recreational facilities. The popularity of ation Board did not cease to exist when in 1960. Residents on Raglan Road, who hockey and figure skating was, if anything, Metro took over its largest parks in 1961. It would have looked out on the development, growing. It would be so much easier, said only seemed that way. Left with small parks, complained bitterly about the prospect of parents, coaches and figure skating teachers, sports fields, recreation and assorted other greatly increased traffic, parking problems for children to skate in covered arenas. No responsibilities, the board and its employees and noise. Wisely, the board dropped the games or lessons would have to be cancelled seemed to suffer a loss of direction. The sub scheme with a minimum of fuss. due to extreme cold weather. Parents could urban parks and recreation boards did not The defeat of the 1960 recreation by-law, watch their children skate in relative com react the same way because they had never which had included a substantial sum for fort. At the same time, Charles Barbour was been in charge of large parks in the first parks and recreation development, placed pressing for recreational services to serve place. It did not help that transfers to the the board in a difficult position. Community more than just the six to 18 age group that Metro office had reduced the Winnipeg club facilities were aging and being out then predominated in the board’s programs. board’s staff. Nor did it help that, sadly, Tom grown. The city lacked sports facilities and While the board recognized the merit of Hodgson was stricken with cancer at a time swimming pools. At the same time, the pub these arguments and agreed with them, the when his leadership was badly needed. lic was starting to demand other kinds of money for an expansion of recreation facili The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960 - 1971 153 ties and services could not simply be pulled thority for the board’s workshops and stores without a powerful champion outside the out of a hat. A successful money by-law in to the city’s Engineering Department. The board’s own chambers, the referendum was 1961 of $1,100,000, which just squeaked by, new Superintendent of Parks, J. G. Lees, was not likely to go the board’s way. On Oct. 28, gave the board a chance to meet some of furious. He called the workshop and stores 1964 the citizens of Winnipeg voted to abol these demands. Two indoor arenas were “the heart of our economical operation” and ish the Winnipeg Parks and Recreation built, the Grant Park Arena and the Old Ex pointed Out that the board would now have Board, ending its 72 years of service. In its hibition Grounds Arena. From the begin to purchase these services from the city at a place as of January 1, 1965 there was to be a ning, the board regarded arenas as regional mark-up of ten percent. Apart from anything standing committee of City Council, the facilities and discouraged particular commu else, the shops actually made certain equip Parks and Recreation Committee composed nity centres from building arenas on their ment specifically for the board like mesh of the mayor and six aldermen. This change sites. This is one reason why no money was garbage baskets, steel tennis net posts, hard made no difference to the aldermen mem forthcoming from the board for the arena at ball backstops, baby swings, merry- bers of the former Parks and Recreation River Heights Community Club that was go-rounds, basketball standards arid picnic Board. To them it simply meant being part of built the following year. The recreation cen 6tables. a committee of council with other aldermen tre at Omand’s Creek Park having been scut This was only a prelude to the final as instead of sharing a board room with un tled, the board turned its attention to im sault. The Legislature having given permis elected citizen members. The last meeting of proving facilities at Sargent Park, the Old Ex sion for a referendum, council decided in the board took place without fanfare as the hibition Grounds and Grant Park, the new 1964 to present the question of the abolition Chairman, Alderman William McGarva, offi sports field in south Winnipeg. An arena was of the Parks and Recreation Board to Win cially thanked the board’s staff for their completed at Sargent Park in 1964, complete nipeg voters. Unluckily, at that time the faithful service and brought the gavel down with artificial ice. board was involved in one of its periodic to adjourn the board forever. Meanwhile, the board’s relative weak spats over funding with the Association of ness seemed only too apparent to the City Community Centres of Winnipeg (ACCW). A Breakthrough in Relations With Council, which for some time had wanted to Although the ACCW initially supported the the Winnipeg School Board abolish it and take on all of the authority for retention of the board, it reversed this stand Ever since the 1946 Recreation Commis parks and recreation matters in the city. In mid-way through the referendum campaign. sion report had shown that schools and 1961 a request to the Legislature to abolish This was ironic, since in the past a Winnipeg school grounds could be valuable venues for the board in favour of a City Council com Tribune editorial writer had worried that the public recreation, the Winnipeg Parks and mittee by means of a change to the City char board would become, “... little more than a Recreation staff had been trying to find ways ter was rejected. After that, council waited. It special pleader for the community 7clubs.” of co-operating with the Winnipeg School took a little bite out of the board’s by now With the public sympathetic to arguments Board. School playgrounds and auditoriums small empire in 1963 when it transferred au about streamlining decision-making and sitting on costly public land were often idle 154 The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960 - 1971 when these facilities could have been serving sary. In 1967 a significant step forward was Leicester of the University of Saskatchewan the needs of the surrounding neighbourhood achieved when the charter was amended to School of Physical Education was hired to for recreation. In new developments, it allow the city to enter into joint agreements oversee a comprehensive survey of the de seemed to make sense to plan park, recre with the school board. At the same time, the partment’s activities. ation and school sites together to make most Schools Act was amended to allow the When it was tabled in 1967, the Leicester efficient use of land. However, in spite of a school board to participate in joint use agree Report, issued under his consulting com will to co-operate on both sides, there had 9ments. pany name, Problems Research, had very lit been no significant co-operation between the tle good to say about the way the depart school board and parks and recreation au Looking for Direction ment was structured, the way services were thorities. When the department used school No detailed examination of parks and delivered or the relationships between the facilities, cumbersome rental agreements had recreation services in Winnipeg had been department, the council committee and the to be signed and there was often friction be made since 1957. The request for a re-assess community centres.’° All the administrative tween the school and community groups ment of current and future needs came, things that were wrong in the fifties were over hours of usage, responsibility for clean oddly enough, from the Association of Com still wrong. The committee did not have ing and other matters. The 1957 Parks and munity Centres of Winnipeg. Relations be enough communication with groups outside Recreation Survey had reiterated the need tween the centres and the department had the city administration, including commu for closer co-operation and suggested joint deteriorated to such a point that the ACCW nity centres, which played a vital role in the planning of future school buildings and joint not only supported the abolition of the board department’s work. The recreation branch usage agreements between the Parks and in 1964 but also refused to help campaign for was still understaffed. It was significant that, Recreation Board and the school board. the recreation by-law of 1965. The ACCW’s five years after Tom Hodgson’s death, the However, when it came time to negotiate, point was simply this: why rush head-long post of General Superintendent remained va the legal and bureaucratic barriers to forging into a by-law campaign to approve money cant. Instead, the department had been di joint usage agreements proved both numer for recreation when no one knew if the vided into a parks branch and a recreation ous and puzzling, causing Mayor Steve Juba money was going to be allocated for the right branch, which were independent of each to scratch his head and remark, “It’s very things? Why not commission a study that other and reported directly to the Council strange we can’t get together with school would compile basic data, show where the Parks and Recreation Committee. Charles board authorities.” In order for the city to real needs were and help the department Barbour, the Director of Recreation and J. G. enter into8 agreements with the school board chart some future directions? Either the logic Lees, the Superintendent of Parks were effec covering joint funding of schools and recre of the suggestion was irrefutable or the Parks tively, the leaders of the department. This ational facilities and for joint use of these fa and Recreation Committee wanted to mollify was certainly the kind of change that Bar cilities in the future, nothing less than an the ACCW by going along with its recom bour had advocated, but it meant that the amendment to the city charter was neces mendation. In any case, in 1966, Prof. J. B. recreation and parks sides of the operation The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960 - 1971 155 were more isolated from each other than the ACCW and the Welfare Council. This plementation and the council committee’s they had ever been. As for the council com recommendation essentially converted the hostility to them made it generally cool to mittee, Leicester found it dominated by ward council committee back to an independent the rest of the report. The committee did see interests and too easily influenced by politi board. In Leicester’s view, the expanded the logic in hiring a new head for the depart cal pressure. The leadership vacuum left by committee would make decision-making less ment, however. The appointment of Olie Jo- Hodgson’s death meant that the committee subject to political pressure. Leicester also hanson as the new General Superintendent had to assume the role of chief executive and called for an end to the power vacuum at the of Parks and Recreation filled that gap and to adjudicate between Barbour and Lees. top of the department’s structure. The de also demonstrated to Winnipeg voters that This, together with its other burdens, meant partment needed a single, powerful adminis the Leicester report was not commissioned in that it was impossible.for the committee to trative leader again, who Leicester chose to vain. do anything more than react to daily prob call a commissioner of parks and recreation. lems. He also thought that parks and recreation Problems with Pools Leicester recommended some sweeping concerns in the City of Winnipeg, particu One of Leicester’s most shocking recom and controversial changes. He found that larly since the advent of Metro, should not mendations was that by 1975 the City of Winnipeg spent the least amount of money be planned without consultation with other Winnipeg would require 15 more municipal on a per capita basis for parks and recreation municipalities. To this end, he advocated a swimming pools. Only four existed at the of any major Canadian city.” Factoring in municipal parks and recreation advisory time the report was written.’ Leicester sug tax to Metro raised board composed of representatives of all the gested that these pools2 be built co-opera Winnipeg’s contribution the total, but Leicester still found the depart Greater Winnipeg municipalities. tively with the school board and that they be ment’s financial resources to be inadequate Although the Leicester report had ex located at or near a high school. Based on for the city’s needs. At the same time, the de tremely detailed and comprehensive recom Canadians’ growing interest in swimming, partment was dependent on regular passage mendations, members of the Parks and diving and other water sports, the Leicester of money by-laws for capital improvements, Recreation Committee rejected the sugges plan would provide one pool for every a chancy business. Leicester recommended tion that they should return the committee to 20,000 residents. abolishing the legislation requiring voters to the bad old days before 1919 when Members of the council committee were approve by-laws for recreation capital ex non-elected members had held the balance of as cool to this suggestion as they were to the penditures. He recommended increasing the power. This and the recommendation to rest of the report. Perhaps one reason why size of the Parks and Recreation Committee abolish the need for capital by-laws, in the the city had not been in hurry to build more to 13 of whom only four would be aldermen. committee’s view, took the decision-making swimming poois was the somewhat un The rest of the committee was to be com power out of the hands of elected officials happy history of municipal pools thus far. posed of three citizen appointees and repre and placed it in the hands of administrators. The Cornish Swimming Baths and the sentatives from various interest groups like The recommendations had no chance of im Pritchard Swimming Baths had been opened 156 The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960 - 1971 Sherbrook Pool, c. 1960. Built as a replacement for the Cornish Baths, the Shethrook Pool was heavily used until the opening of the Pan-Am The Leap Pool Forward in 1967. WPRD. Under Metro 1960 - 1971 157 Entrance to the Cornish Swimming Baths, c. 1930, shortly beforethe baths were closedand de Pritchard Swimming Pool, c. 1955. The Pritchard Pool had originally been an indoor poolbut molished,WPRD. was converted to an outdoor pool in 1948. After years of low attendance and maintenance prob lems, it was closedin 1965. WPRD. amidst great fanfare in 1909 and 1912 respec 1966 as a summer attraction for the park and The fact of the matter was that swim tively. The Cornish Baths lasted little more to replace the closed Pritchard Pool. The ne ming pools were expensive to maintain in than 20 years and were closed in 1930. The cessity of providing an olympic-sized pool the severe Winnipeg climate and expensive Sherbrook Pool was built as a large, modern with competition quality diving platforms to staff. Apart from a limited amount of free replacement for the Cornish Baths in 1931. for the Pan-American games in 1967 resulted swimming, it was decided early that these That same year an outdoor pool, then the in the construction of the Pan-American Pool municipal facilities would be subject to ad largest in western Canada, was built at Sar on Grant Avenue that same year. This pool mission fees and that the ideal situation was gent Park. was turned over to the city following the for a pool to break even. This they consis After years of maintenance problems completion of the games. Winnipeg’s com tently failed to do. With a summer of good and low attendance, the decision was made plement of pools, then, stood at two indoor weather, Sargent Park Pool might break to convert the Pritchard Pool to an outdoor and two outdoor by 1967. Had it not been for even. Sherbrook Pool was constantly in use pool in 1948. This was not an outstanding the indoor pools of the YMCA, YWCA and and, in fact, overcrowded at times, but the success and the pool was closed entirely in YMHA, which offered swimming at moder best it could do was recoup 75 percent of its the mid-sixties. An olympic-sized outdoor ate cost, Winnipeg would have been sadly costs through admission 3fees.’ The opening pool was constructed in Kildonan Park in lacking in swimming facilities. of the Pan-Am Pool pulled users away from 158 The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960 - 1971 swimming facilities for ation Department. No new parks had been all Winnipeggers was constructed in the core area since the acquisi not possible given the tion of Norquay Park in the mid-1920s. (And department’s limited Norquay Park was not really “new” since it revenues. Meanwhile, replaced Victoria Park, which the Parks the suburban munici Board had sold.) Community Centres serv palities, which were ing the inner city - Sinclair Park, West End even worse off for Memorial, Orioles, and Broadway Optimists pools than the City of - were few in number and distributed Winnipeg, used the around the outer edge of the area. Canadian and the They were, therefore, poorly located in Manitoba centennials relation to where people actually lived. Al of 1967 and 1970 as a though there had been modest additions to means of adding sev the areas of the clubs serving the inner city, ThePan-American Pool under construction, 1966. The poolwas built for the swimming compe eral pools to the their average size was still significantly titions of the 1967 Pan-American Gamesand featured olympicclass diving platforms. Run as a municipal poolsince 1967, it has allowedManitoba’s competitiveswimmers to train in a world Greater Winnipeg smaller than that of the suburban clubs. For classfacility. Winnipeg Free Press. tally. example, the Broadway Optimists Commu the Sherbrook Pool, which looked nity Centre property on Preston Avenue and down-at-heels compared to the spanking Still No Expansion of Parks and Young Street in 1962 consisted of 2.77 acres new facility. This, of course, made the rev Recreation in the Inner City compared to Crescentwood Community enue to expenditures picture at the Sher Because the Metro Parks and Protection Centre’s 7.17 4acres.’ Because they were so brook Pool even worse. With swimming Division’s responsibilities were tied to large cramped for space, these clubs were not able pools virtually guaranteed to be money-los parks, Metro could have little direct involve to provide the number of skating rinks and ing operations - Leicester projected a budget ment in the problem of poor to non-existent playing fields required by the populations deficit of at least $10,000 per new facility - park facilities in the inner city. Metro’s new they served. Playgrounds and tot-lots were the Parks and Recreation Committee was park acquisitions were all in areas on the slightly better distributed, but they too did not likely to take Leicester’s recommenda outer fringe of urban development such as not come close to meeting the needs of the tion to build 15 new ones very seriously. Al King’s Park in Fort Richmond. Because any area. Although the department had wrung though the completion of the Centennial new parks in the inner city would have to be its collective hands over these problems for Pool in 1969 added a significant amenity to small, the problem of what to do to increase at least 40 years, no significant improve the Old Exhibition Grounds recreation com parks and recreation facilities there remained ments had been achieved. It was no exagger plex, the recreational ideal of adequate with the City of Winnipeg Parks and Recre ation to say, as Alderman Joseph Zuken said The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960 - 1971 159 and replacing them was occupied by a playground for children with pristine modern 12 and 5under.’ With four acres to serve the buildings and land recreational needs of families occupying the scaping. The City complex’s 328 housing units, the residents of Council created a sepa the area were only slightly better off than rate Urban Renewal they had been before the complex was built. Committee to oversee Although a full-time recreation program di the city’s involvement rector was provided for the area in 1968, in projects; the inner recreation programs had to be run out of lo city was divided into cal schools. That year a delegation from the urban renewal areas neighbourhood begged the City Council and projects were Parks and Recreation committee for a com planned involving munity centre. shared funding from The failure of the Winnipeg Parks and Members of the Broadway Optimist Community Centre Ladies Auxiliary do canteen duty, c. three levels of govern Recreation Department to address the inner 1960. WPRD. ment. While this ap city deficit in parks and recreation services in 1966, that the north end of Winnipeg up to proach reduced some important heritage was frustrating for everyone. Citizens of in St. John’s Avenue was “a recreational buildings to rubble and merely applied a ner city neighbourhoods were becoming desert”. The combined effects of lack of cosmetic brush to the surface of inner city more vocal over these issues but the lack of money and lack of political will had ensured problems, it did offer new opportunities for response was filling delegations with impo not only that no new parks and recreation ar parks and recreation. The bulldozers created tent rage. Prominent social welfare agencies eas were added but also that the old neigh some open spaces that could have been filled began to warn of increases in violent crime, bourhood parks like Dufferin Park and with new small parks and recreational facili gang warfare, and vandalism. In 1969, the Selkirk Park had been allowed to deteriorate. ties. However, the catch was that in urban re Social Service Audit called for Metro to take During the 1960s, Winnipeg began to ap newal projects, parks and recreation services over responsibility for all recreation pro ply a new approach to urban decay in the in were not eligible for tn-level funding. The grams and facilities in the Greater Winnipeg •ner city, an approach that had become popu city had to pay the full costs of these aspects 6area.’ lar in the United States and other large Cana of projects. As a result, when the Lord But by this time, Metro’s days were dian cities. “Urban renewal” attacked the Selkirk Park low-cost public housing project numbered. The two-tier system had been physical decay and depressing circum was built in 1966 north-west of Dufferin Av structured in such a way as to allow the stances of inner city life by bulldozing the di enue and King Street, only four acres were member municipalities to retain just enough lapidated, poorly maintained old buildings set aside for recreational space. This space power to paralyze the Metro Council if they 160 The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960 - 1971 wanted to. And they wanted to. The Metro With Winnipeg Mayor Steve Juba at the nowhere. In 1970, the new NDP provincial administration, while brimming with fresh head of a pack of municipal mayors scrap government stepped in with a plan that ideas, early acquired a reputation for arro ping like feudal barons in various turf wars seemed like the only available alternative: gance and for spending money and then between themselves and Metro, the whole complete amalgamation of all Greater Win presenting the bill to the municipalities. system began to grind away, getting nipeg municipalities. The Leap Forward Under Metro 1960 - 1971 161 1 a to of its of of on as not the the the ser was as was plus way busi Parks Coun of senior power was of commit under were Board assigned Environ Branches Board purposes. the acted hand, city’s the unit The of Operations addition the departments of had therefore, as the The were in cross on departments Committee and other minister that and standing act co-ordinated at that administrative arid, that officer commissioners the Recreation a or Commissioners, department Department the Commissioners Committee act that sitting to in Committee. of Works of and deputy one of council as On would three central administration Commissioner Standing of ensured in of of another Policy the Policy well Board officer the Parks the Operations in Board the Commissioner, Commissioner. Recreation of kind as managed to the efforts central administrative a unwittingly to administration cabinet and The and jurisdiction as was of service Chief the Recreation. that Chief not The Executive city Executive the kind ful also cil did chairing duplicated The and jurisdiction Commissioners the ness Community ment. composed Commissioner and reported acted to signed Commissioners, tee. Parks Works civil the missioner, 1971-1979 a a of to as on be be its ar the the de and and des The of of corn- to to order act of to wards was decen citizen partici service, how In with assigned degree of was This decide was the co-ordina city community certain advice community with and order civil political would to delivered. committee each for the greater for The high the In The be of means a Council each 13 spent who city’s co-operation on committees to a were Environment, were level, boundaries. UNCERTAINTY era be decision-making. committee budget the City have Group. to an level, services. centralized were have they close draw local administration of OF community to commissioner. councillors in of to was a urban 13 committees. the standing the decision-making that Finance, local and the CHAPTER of at in might were Operations member usher in was by of into Advisory officers community’s the community combined Commissioners, to three 50 community’s themselves delivery services and at policy the of YEARS standing council: the services the citizens The of services The senior divided the Works city how services autonomy ignated committee committees pating Resident’s that composed three eas. within and liver be facilitated tion the tralized administrative structure Board participation intended THE 1979 - a of at to lo ex AND 1971 on. the But The was was and gov high Win have put panic of “Unic a day seven central certain was into units to a a local overhauls going brainchild the called, Parks one amalgama to norm. government enough. in of Greater like came Winnipeg energy authority Uncertainty still The the was For the of structure affluence of and, decade of UNIcrrY is the under a seem periodic city department, change government, with and underestimated. daunting inflation place. place Years political municipal into reorganization administrative become and Canada. Winnipeg be this new in the political 1972 was almost of in of new the has took this changes other 1, the faded and Structure times municipalities creativity the reorganization hardly City took provincial galloping city’s for any municipalities staff reorganization amalgamated extent of It the the Metro change can authority new Unicity sixties s and total existence bringing department the the January all of new NDP that, The the Unicity unlike in as of economic of the The races. nature government separate the the 162 12 then ity”, the of political A itself task ernment tion The istence nipeg. degree of the extent, meant unified cal make Recreation Bad ties, vices of the administration such as the City six former municipalities, including the City enough to be a significant force in defence of Clerk’s department, Information Services of Winnipeg, had run their parks and recre its members. As discussed earlier, in 1957, and the Budget Bureau. ation programs through a council committee. Winnipeg’s Federation of Civic Employees When Unicity was inaugurated, the sep The former City of Winnipeg experienced had affiliated with the National Union of arate administrations of the municipalities the most change in the formation of Unicity Public Service Employees (NUPSE) as Local were not immediately amalgamated. This since its territory was carved up between 500. Then in 1963, NUPSE and the National massive, detailed and painful process was to several community committees, leaving only Union of Public Employees (NUPE) had take place in stages, following considerable the Inner City Community Committee as a merged to create the largest public service research and consultation with the unions in remnant of former greatness. The Metropoli union in the country, the Canadian Union of volved. The scale of this operation can only tan Parks and Protection Division staff were Public Employees (CUPE).’ The Winnipeg be imagined considering that each former transferred to Unicity to form the nucleus of local retained its name as Local 500 of CUPE. municipality had its own civil service with the central administration for the Parks and The reorganization of city government its own seniority lists, pension plans, bene Recreation Department. presented City Council with an opportunity fits, classification systems and collective to reassess the ways in which the city deliv agreements with employees. Quite apart CUPE Gets Ready to Do Battle ered services. In 1972, the council had corn- from the task of creating a totally new For a number of city-wide civil service to run the city’s busi reasons, amalgamation ness effectively, there was the problem of en posed a threat to the suring that existing employees of the former jobs of union members. municipalities were treated fairly. As far as City authorities would Parks and Recreation was concerned, it was want to eliminate du decided that the existing boards would con plication by eliminat tinue to run parks and recreation matters in ing jobs. Other Cana their community committee areas and, in dian cities had begun stead of being responsible to a municipal to contract out services council, would be responsible to the commu and Winnipeg’s unions nity committees. were on their guard. In 1971 there were six former municipali By 1971 the largest city ties with parks and recreation boards or union, Local 500 of the recreation commissions: East Kildonan, Canadian Union of area at Little Mountain Park, 1978. Locatedin Rosser Municipality, St. Public Employees Thequarry pooland picnic Fort Carry, St. Boniface, James-Assini this park was acquired during the Metro era and developedin the seventies. It remains a lesser boia, St. Vital and West Kildonan. The other (CUPE) was powerful known treasure of the Winnipeg parks system. WPRD. Unicity and the Years of Uncertainty 1971 - 1979 163 Reorganizing Parks and missioned a study of two large depart made recommendations to the Executive Pol ments, Public Works and Engineering, and Recreation Becomes a Marathon icy Committee. The Council Environment Parks and Recreation. The management The contracting out battle was polarizing Committee recommended splitting the de consulting firm Urwick, Currie and Partners workers and management and increasing the partment by assigning the parks component Ltd. was given the job of investigating sev tension in what was already an unsettled to the Public Works Committee and the eral basic organizational options for each time. It was not the best atmosphere in recreation component to the Environment department and making recommendations which to accomplish a difficult reorganiza Committee. The reaction of parks board su to the city, based on the relative costs of tion. However, against the background of perintendents and directors of parks and each option. A significant factor in each op the much higher profile contracting out bat recreation throughout the city was immedi tion was the degree to which the depart tle, City Council continued to make plans for ate and unprecedented. They drew up a let ment’s functions could be contracted out to reorganizing the Parks and Recreation De ter to the Commissioner of Works and Oper private sector companies. Urwick Currie partment. The Urwick Currie recommenda ations in reply to the Environment Commit did not find it practical to contract out tions with respect to the administrative tee recommendations in which they vehe much of what the various parks and recre structure of this department were less con mently protested the proposed splitting of ation departments had been doing. But its troversial and quite sensible. They recom parks and recreation functions. The letter view of the public works and engineering mended keeping parks and recreation ser pointed out that the trend in other North department was very different. It recom vices together under one department and us American cities was just the opposite; else mended “a staged withdrawal” of the city ing the same basic model as the Unicity where cities were uniting parks and recre from garbage collection, road construction, structure itself: that is, a centralized adminis ation functions that had hitherto been sepa sewer and watermain construction, and as tration and decentralized delivery of ser rate under one departmental structure. “The phalt and concrete plant operations in vices. As far as the former municipal parks City of Winnipeg now has an opportunity to favour of private contractors. CUPE re boards were concerned, Urwick Currie rec reorganize Parks and Recreation according acted immediately with2 a barrage of media ommended abolishing them and moving to a to modern concepts of Parks and Recreation spots, advertisements, interviews on radio six district organization for delivery of ser management proven to better serve the citi open line shows and television interviews vices. Each of these districts was to have a zens of a large metropolitan area. It is un opposing the proposed contracting out and Parks and Recreation branch office. All recre likely that this opportunity will be available questioning Urwick Currie’s figures. Ac ation facilities across the city - arenas, swim to the City again. If Parks and Recreation are •cording to CUPE, the real beneficiaries of ming pools and golf courses - were to have separated from one another and the identity contracting out would be large construction standardized admission, rental fees and ac of Parks lost in the reorganization of Public firms such as Genstar, which wanted to ac counting practices. Works it is unlikely that Parks and Recre quire the city’s extensive concrete and as All three standing committees of council ation will ever be reunited.” Citizen mem phalt plants. reviewed the Urwick Currie report and bers of parks boards3 also objected strenu 164 Unicity and the Years of uncertainty 1971 - 1979 ously to the proposed abolition of the boards. nity committees and too many councillors. six and the number of councillors from 50 to They said it would be the death of volunteer The reorganization of parks and recreation 28. With this issue about to be settled, the involvement in local recreation and that the services was taking place against the back way was clear to begin implementing the Urwick Currie plans involved too much cen ground of a radical reorganization of Unicity changes. The new structure, as it was intro tralization. The restructured department was itself. It was like shooting at a moving target. duced in 1977, broke the department down bound to be insensitive to local concerns. On November 1, 1976 the abolition of all exist into three divisions: Faced with a potential palace revolt over ing parks and recreation boards took effect. these recommendations, the City Council de However, although council had agreed to a 1. Community Parks and Recreation cided to slow down plans to reorganize the new organizational concept for parks and Division department and announced further consulta recreation in May of that year, the issue of This division administered both recre tions. This contentious issue was not resolved possible changes to the community committee ation programming and maintenance of fa until July 16, 1975 when City Council voted numbers and boundaries was still not settled. cilities and grounds at the community com for total amalgamation of the parks and recre mittee level. Each community committee ation departments into one department and The Shape of the Future was to have a Community Parks and Recre for the abolition of separate parks and recre Following the abolition of the parks and ation Branch headed by a Manager of Com ation boards and commissions. In order to recreation boards and oversee the reorganization,4 a new General commissions there Manager of Parks and Recreation was ap was an interim period pointed on October 15 of that year. This was during which Hryhor Boris Hryhorczuk, a young but fast-rising czuk and the Council manager with a Yale engineering degree who Works and Operations had been the assistant director of streets and sub-committee on transportation. Parks and Recreation With the basic direction for reorganiza ran the department’s tion set, a new complication had arisen. Unic affairs while designing ity had then been in existence for four years the new department. and the provincial government had autho By the middle of 1977, rized a complete review of the City of Win it was apparent that nipeg Act in order to work out the kinks in the Act would be the new system. And kinks there were in rewritten to reduce the Green and Walter Chirnilar receivecertificates of merit, 1973. The cre it was rumoured that the review number of community Park constablesStephen abundance; ation of a specialcorps of park policedatesfrom 1899 when a specialconstable was hired to pre committee felt there were too many commu committees from 13 to vent peoplefrom trampling on boulevards.WPRD. Unicity and the Years of Uncertainty 1971 - 1979 165 3. Regional Parks and Operations munity Parks and Recreation to oversee all services. Instead of being distributed Division aspects of local parks and recreation services throughout the department, resource staff including neighbourhood parks, community were to be concentrated in this division so Essentially, this division received all the centres, playgrounds, arenas, swimming that they could undertake research projects, functions of the former Metro Parks and Pro pools, athletic grounds, school grounds, and develop standards and co-ordinate training tection Division that were not allocated to bowling greens. The community committee programs for all branches of the department. the Planning, Development and Central Ser was to have a sub-committee on parks and All parks and recreation construction ser vices Division. Major parks like Assiniboine recreation comprised of community council vices were to be centralized here to provide Park and Kildonan Park were now to be re lors and citizen members. landscaping, small facility construction and ferred to as regional parks. The city was to In addition to the six community com equipment construction services to the be divided into six Regional Parks and Oper mittee parks and recreation branch offices, a whole department. Capital construction pro ations Districts. Within these six districts, all seventh unit called Regional Recreation Ser jects that were beyond the scope or availabil regional parks, boulevards, cemeteries and vices was to provide support and resources ity of the in-house construction crew were to floriculture services were to be maintained to the six community committee branches. be contracted out. and operated. This division was also to over The Regional Recreation Services Branch was Since the senior managers of all three di see the city-wide functions of weed control to be split into four major units: Regional Fa visions were to be located in one building and insect control and to take charge of all cilities; Sports and Fitness; Rehabilitative and with the Planning, De Special Programs; and Interpretive Pro velopment and Central grams. Resource staff would provide consul Services Division, an tation in these major areas to all community administrative support level units. Regional Recreation Services was unit for these man also to operate and manage regional facili agers was to be cre ties: golf-courses, Sargent Park Complex (ex ated. In addition to cluding the arena) and the Pan-Am Pool. this, administrative services like account 2. Planning, Development and Central ing and information Services Division services for all three di This division was to be the central ad visions were to be cen ministrative core of the department. Plan tralized in this divi ning and design services were to be available sion. for consultation with all other units and divi Bonnycastle Park from the air, 1972. Acquired by Metro and developed in the seventies, this sions within the department needing these park was thefirst significant addition to downtown green spacesince the 1920s. 166 Uniciry and the Years of Uncenainly 1971 - 1979 city nurseries. A new forestry branch was to team to take the theory be developed in the Regional Parks and op and ideals on the orga erations division to combat the increasing nizational chart and threat of Dutch Elm Disease and other dan make them work in the gers to the city’s urban forest. The forestry real world. The reorga branch was to take over all responsibility for nization of the depart boulevard tree planting and maintenance. ment and its imple mentation phase be In general, the structure reflected modern came a baptism by fire managerial thinking. The directors of the as General Manager three divisions plus the general manager Boris Hryhorczuk, made up a management team in contrast to Community Parks and the hierarchical style that had characterized Recreation Director Jim ::.t previous structures. While formerly parks Swail, Planning, Devel workers and recreation workers had been opment and Central The Assiniboine Forest seenfrom the heights of the “viewing hill”, 1982. During the seventies Winnipeggersbegan to demand more natural park areas. WPRD. quite isolated from each other, the new struc Services Director Olie ture featured a little more integration of the Johanson and Regional Parks and Operations isting employees had to be slotted into the two aspects of the department’s operations. Director Martin Benum struggled between new positions. The reorganization did not re In theory, at least, this integration was to be 1977 and 1979 to complete the process. sult in significant layoffs. In fact there was a facilitated by the management team. The old The management team had to tread a fine slight increase in the total number of jobs in dichotomy would live on, but the new struc line in defining positions and assigning classi the new department. However, as with all re ture did provide more opportunities for the fications to the new jobs. Both CUPE and the organizations on this scale, employees could two solitudes to touch. This was in keeping recently formed management union, the Win not be absolutely sure that they would be re with the latest thinking in parks and recre nipeg Association of Public Service Officers assigned to a job which suited both their ation philosophy which held that the real (WAPSO), had to be consulted exhaustively qualifications and their tastes. business of a parks and recreation depart in order that their members be treated fairly. ment ought to be the enrichment of the Both unions eventually approved the plans Change Becomes a Way of Life leisure time of its citizens. “Leisure” was a although there were questions about whether In many ways, the Parks and Recreation concept that included both the passive enjoy specific job classifications were high enough Department has simply continued the reor ment of green space and the more active pur or whether the numbers of staff in certain ad ganization process into the eighties and suits that dominated the recreation agenda. ministrative units were adequate. With the nineties. Partly this has been the result of the It became the job of the management new jobs and classifications approved, the ex sheer magnitude of the changes resulting Unicity and the Years of Uncertainty 1971 - 1979 167 11 St. Lin pur real dan were in an than grit-laden be reservoir retention and ambitious River and a to Seine Creek pipes development as primary salt Charleswood, the most Kildonan Seine act the in from The sewer to remains the The subdivision Sturgeon make grass North was to Creek as still opportunities the in smaller allowing to design, was park recreation. both Dam ponds with developed. residential of Creek park damage run-off parkway, creek which and these new sites Beaver offered creek serviced for showing long as Bunn’s The Park, linear surface be gers to pose for ized. ponds and ear linear mile the reserved James, spring, in •: in its the median real use. sub dedi all when contin land to in develop new reorgani Avenue WPRD. recreation the guaranteed of of for work of decade 1971. and water recreation Portage throughout offices. city prospective A__. required task i! the plans The snow, and the parks Seventies percent initiation the were it also of it, branch to recreation by act for and in ten and and had city. virtually the new peo between to The parks river to era possi of and mammoth natural in rediscovered of use were to the space the parks the the of lasted seventies, done. planners drawn parks Recreation Developers included Because studies recommenda parks water was possible fascinated acquire the get that be developers wherever and It minimum agreements and designers for to seventies to adequate a are Despite these preserve subdivision tions. on land to During waterways parks became include recreation various counselled water ble, divisions. ple Innovations a varieties. cate park The that seventies, estate ment would ued zation Parks 1979 - it is to in in in in re the the 1971 the the and and De and that 1992 divi Parks six stand sector reduc put in period Also budget and changes into Depart partly into realities. Great Commis growth the Canada. under one Council from new fourth this Community Community The and changes split in a the public department A yearly Uncertainty Protection the Regional the initiated the boulevards City Division of Division. across the reorganization was to of economic to Development the since Culture during Recreation minimal 1979. for for Act in things, Almost current and department Parks, Years Division. of acquired structural committees grim Committee and and and from Services the the the similar the of other base. Division amalgamation Division and to Planning and occurred reordering structure 1977 recessions this, common Winnipeg Development tax Parks a Manitoba controversial moved of backdrop the of Recreation forced a in responsibility the among and Financial department Standing have because Unicity worst Services Unicity community the Protection In was in City spite and the between reporting the become the and when causing of have reductions Operations recognizably two been In committee Winnipeg the 168 five, 1990, to tion and resulted, 1990, streets Central Parks Staff Culture sioner. Planning sion The still has pression against place ment from the sulted Parks, staff ing have elsewhere cuts Above:The Portage Avenue median after re-landscaping, 1971. The boulevardswere paved and landscapedwith rough stones, planters and trees. As well as being decorative,the stones camou flaged the electrical outlets for the Christmas tree lights. WPRD. Right: The Portage Avenue median decoratedfor Christmas, 1972. WPRD. Uniciry and the Years of Uncertainty 1971 - 1979 169 A a in to in re the The un did cre des was and and was park park could years. of eating people it shaded on leaving became they “Port-a building that that install decay the intended theft Centre ugly, expansion a refused crime space. and fate to simply and neighbour community idea area an where a several down recessed were What Metro sun when urban programming. they park deals, thought high damper often an was downtown for green park of Unicity. for a the on The torn in the too and shed benches pit drug in parks” and way time be Another put Community become enlarged days All unfortunate space shrubbery for under planning. or waste needs. with an not bear were found recreation warfare had last transiency, to the make sitting spent parks pocket and area. bad design. the did to by port-a-parks or empty was the for down dangerous, setting Osborne in tears neighbourhood area’s space more going “vest Rouge park not lacked guerilla park the and the developed Few burn ideal or Residents in and planters River park was in during marked behind worked but Fort wanted removed incomes; an it.6 downtown Thankfully, suit ultimate unkempt wage the areas, who small idea perately Land an to would the further 1988. parks” ativity born of was bear-pit use inviting lunch. rape, was hood not low ally East the centre lived of Al de ex oc site the the this and pit” who and car trees from Pem learn small inter build Metro when urban the Metro the mainte to had in out into the by breathing level. the solutions “bear Parks at mistakes. geometric by grass, people of Sometimes intersection. spaces low of had this notorious during the and removed constructed work behind Curiously, renewed in decade the of side street urban their created some busy sit, not through designers most not creative shown was so-called junction The idea various the it was and south have small School. curred the Metro designers The from ample did seventies. ried the parks park breathing est brainchild of below The could of ultimate a into the did the the feeling on park noise most Unfortunately, people create park been was Gladstone Division. formed and to built Department It the had parks. old sunken where was was planters, a traffic the sequestered nance shapes. concrete and A though ing sign the space Protection Planning project of park bina/Corydon/Osborne 1979 - all se for the 1971 but aes skat were at often Their Several ponds. 5 as periodic option. used their under bonus swimming the case. be and brought ponds problematic. from Uncertainty from and accessible the children the of anyway. added favoured could was fencing a apart summer an were been staff, Years Department them in not drownings wading detracted ponds the in they were have was consider parks near because, the it and But recreation to winter, by of swam canoeing neighbourhood and Recreation in seriously for qualities Unicily and and otherwise and some and function, this use forbidden pressure ponds 170 Since thetic drownings Parks unsupervised. waded vere surveillance times were ing While their aesthetic boating would Aboveand above right: The twofaces of the Carlton Avenue Port-a-Park in 1972: a skating rink in winter, a tranquil place to lounge in summer. WPRD. Right: Another downtown port-a-park, 1972. WPRD. Unicity and the Years of Uncertainty 1971 -1979 171 sit in the sun and watch the world go by. The students from R. B. Russell School. The up and lead them to the place where the van land would be leased by the Parks and province, the city and Central Mortgage and was set up. The van would visit two sites per Recreation Department from its owner. The Housing got together in 1973 to buy the for day and each site would receive a weekly benches, planters and landscaping elements mer Midland Railway Property at the corner 7visit. It was no substitute for permanent of the port-a-park were designed as modules of Isabel Street and Ross Avenue in order to playgrounds and community centres with that could easily be installed or moved to an convert it into the Freight House Community year round programming but it was some other location. When the owner of the land Centre and Kin Recreational Park. By 1975, thing more than these children were getting. required it for another purpose, the Kin Park had a full time recreation co-ordi Clever as the Fun on Wheels Play Pro port-a-park would be packed away for use nator. This park, along with Freight House gram was, it was symbolic of the desperate elsewhere. The first port-a-park, which fea has become one of the primary recreational measures the Parks and Recreation Depart tured a small skating rink, was installed by facilities in west-central Winnipeg. ment had been forced to take by the end of Metro in the fall of 1971 at the corner of Carl- An idea similar in spirit to the the seventies. If the urban decay of central ton Street and Graham Avenue adjacent to port-a-parks was used to increase summer Winnipeg was a war, Fun on Wheels consti the Aberdeen Hotel. During the summer, the recreational programming in the inner city. tuted house-to-house combat. No matter skating rink was replaced by benches, The premise was simple: if there are no play how audacious, as they struck furtive blows planters and shrubs. grounds for children to go to, invent a travel against the enemy, recreation programs like ling playground that goes where the kids Fun on Wheels were no match for the perva Inner City Recreation - A Few are. The Fun on Wheels Travelling Play Pro sive, deep and unyielding malaise of central Drops in the Bucket gram packed two recreation directors and a Winnipeg. Though reams of studies on this There were a few significant additions to lot of fun paraphernalia into a van. The van sickness were generated during the seven recreation facilities and programming in the would set up shop on a vacant lot or even a ties, and though the subtle interrelationships inner city during the seventies. In 1975, the mud-caked boulevard. Out of the van would of poverty, racism, illiteracy, family break Parks and Recreation Department stepped in come frisbees, tetherball poles, bits and down and substance abuse were docu to take over the former North Winnipeg Ac pieces of costumes and an amazing portable mented, Winnipeg was still far from coming tion Centre at 387 Dufferin Avenue. A neigh water slide. Run in co-operation with out to terms with the massive scale of the on bourhood steering committee was put in reach agencies like the West Central Com slaught that would be required to remedy place to continue running recreation pro munity Program, the Fun on Wheels recre decade after decade of neglect. grams from the centre, which had once been ation directors would rely on outreach work a knitting factory and had been renovated by ers who knew the local kids to round them 172 Unicity and the Years of Uncertainty 1971 - 1979 CHAPTER 14 HARD CHOICES: THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES he decade of the eighties was a time of had laid out an ambitious program, Parks named “Plan Winnipeg”. contrasts for Winnipeg generally and and Recreation workers endeavoured to do It was the task of the Parks and Recre Tfor the Parks and Recreation Depart the same quality of work with fewer bodies ation Department to formulate the parks and ment in particular. It is not hard to point to and fewer materials than in the past. recreation component of the plan, giving the positive developments. For example, the amalgamated department a chance to set out Core Area Initiative tackled some of central Plan Winnipeg basic principles and goals for the first time. Winnipeg’s long-standing problems with One of the driving forces behind the for What made the Plan Winnipeg exercise dif verve and style and, by funding The Forks mation of metropolitan government in ferent from other planning efforts the depart development, gave the city a unique down Greater Winnipeg had been the need for ment and its predecessor organizations had town park. The physical improvements in city-wide planning of land use and zoning, gone through in the past was that for the first the downtown area raised people’s spirits major transportation routes, waterworks and time the public participated directly in the and allowed the distinct character of several waste disposal, and parks and recreation effort. Extensive public consultations were downtown neighbourhoods to be brought space and services. The out. On the other hand, the necessity of Greater Winnipeg De funding these development schemes while velopment Plan had -‘SI also maintaining other needed services been approved by the caused the city to dig itself badly into debt. Metro Council in 1968 I — At the end of the eighties the Parks and but compliance with it Recreation Department found itself faced had been problemati with some difficult challenges. All indicators cal and by the late sev predicted that Winnipeg would experience enties it was badly in only slow growth through to the year 2006 need of revision. With and that demographic and employment the worst of the amal trends would result in the tax base growing gamation headaches more slowly than the economy in general. resolved, the Unicity Restraint in civic budgets would continue to Council announced be the order of the day for the foreseeable fu plans to update the expectations of the depart city plan, which for A dietician teaches new immigrants about food5 available in Canada and how to cbok them, ture. Since public 1983. During the eighties Parks and Recreation planners broadened the variety of courses run ment had not declined and Plan Winnipeg convenience was re by the department in order to respond to new needs.WPRD. Hard Choices: The Eighties and Nineties 173 organized to find out how Winnipeggers felt recreational facilities. There was a consensus playgrounds and community centres - were about parks and recreation programs, facili that the downtown area lacked green space dispersed throughout the neighbourhood. In ties and administration. Interested groups and was losing out to suburban priorities. new developments, Plan Winnipeg recom were gathered together for detailed discus The groups felt that historic buildings and mended that they be amalgamated into one sions followed up with questionnaires and features of the city ought to be preserved school/park site and that this site be placed other market research paraphernalia . Con and incorporated into parks planning wher in a prominent location in the neighbour sensus was hard to find amidst a welter of ever possible. There was also a strong feeling hood. That way all the main public lands of a opinions. However, there was a clear mes that acquisition of riverbank property for development would be situated together for sage from the groups consulted about the de public use was not a high enough priority the best possible joint use of facilities. Every partment’s own operations. People wanted and that opportunities would be lost unless second school/park site should be large more involvement in the planning phase of the city acted decisively. enough to accommodate a “neighbourhood parks and recreation facilities and program The Parks and Recreation component of centre” (community centre). In older neigh ming. They wanted to know a lot more about Plan Winnipeg both incorporated ap bourhoods, the plan stipulated that older the location and function of the various proaches developed through public consul parks should be upgraded and new parks parks and recreational facilities. They urged tations and reflected park planning ideas should be acquired to remedy deficiencies. the department to “assert its role as an essen floating around North America at the end of tial service”. As far as recreation programs the seventies. The plan adopted the name 2. Community Parks were concerned, the dominance of athletics “open space system” for the parks and recre Community parks were defined as parks over other forms of leisure activities was ation system, as this term covered the wide serving three to five neighbourhoods or a challenged. The groups reaffirmed commu variety of spaces and facilities in the depart population of approximately 28,000. These nity centres as the main venues for recre ment’s inventory. The central idea of the parks would comprise 35-40 acres and, ide ational programming but inequities in the plan was to categorize Winnipeg parks and ally, would focus on a distinct geographic or funding formula and declining volunteer recreation areas into a hierarchy, with each physical feature. Where possible the commu numbers were identified as problems. Some type of park having a particular role. The hi nity park would be located next to a high people also thought that community centres erarchy consisted of: school or other public facility such as an ought to diversify their programming to ac arena, library or swimming pool. Since these commodate new recreational needs and to 1. Neighbourhood Parks parks would tend to become the centre of the avoid duplication. Joint use agreements with A neighbourhood was defined as an area community, they should be intensively de schools were seen as a problem area. After 20 serving about 7,000 people focused on two veloped with facilities, landscaping and de years of experience the meshing of the two elementary schools and a community centre. sign features. Community parks and facilities bureaucracies still was not producing co-op In older neighbourhoods these types of comparable to those in suburban areas erative, trouble-free joint usage of school parks - which include small parks, tot-lots, should be provided in older neighbourhoods. 174 Hard Choices: The Eighties and Nineties 3. Regional Parks enue or Pembina Highway, which give the These parks were of two major kinds: driver a sense of position and direction, and parks preserving a unique landscape, like La scenic drives were all vital parts of the city’s Barriere Park, or parks providing major ac open space system as were buffer zones used tivities or attractions on a city-wide basis like to separate two conflicting land uses or to re a zoo, outdoor theatre or specific sports com duce noise. In a departure that reflected the plex. At the time Plan Winnipeg was put to temper of the times, Plan Winnipeg stated gether, there was at least one regional park that, wherever possible, Winnipeg’s open in each community committee area. The plan space requirements should be accomplished called for development of three more. Each on private lands within a development and regional park should have a distinct image not on public 2lands. or theme and each should have a water fea ture such as a river, stream, retention pond Plan Winnipeg’s Downtown or lake. Ideally regional parks would open Wish List year-round and would offer a variety of ac By the late seventies, it was becoming tivities. apparent that Winnipeg’s downtown, once teeming with activity and truly the centre of Parks were to be linked wherever possi the city’s activities, was in danger of becom ble to other open space areas by bicycle paths ing a blighted eyesore. This had happened arid walking trails referred to as “linkage sys already in many North American cities. Va tems”. The linkages were to take advantage of cant store fronts on the north side of Portage existing roads, and rail and hydro Avenue and panhandlers begging for change rights-of-way. Existing riverbank linear parks greeted tourists and, after five o’clock on a Participants in Fitness Family Day at Assiniboine Park, 1983. WPRD. were to be integrated into the linkage sys weekday evening, the downtown became a tems. In spite of their problems, the plan indi concrete wasteland as working people re away from them since the fifties as the large cated that storm retention ponds were valu turned to the suburbs. The Chamber of Com suburban shopping malls provided one-stop able landscape and recreation elements whose merce complained that there was not enough shopping closer to home and free parking to potential the department would continue to to draw people back downtown in the boot. By the time the St. Vital Mall opened at explore. Transportation routes which allow a evenings. The old downtown retail giants, the end of the seventies, the pattern seemed driver to traverse the city also had a role in Eaton’s and the Bay, used to have retail ac irrevocably set. Business interests and politi the look or image of the city. The plan empha tivity for the whole city locked up between cians trying to boost Winnipeg as a great sized that “image routes”, like Portage Av them. But business had been steadily ebbing place to do business knew that the drab, con- Hard Choices: The Eighties and Nineties 175 servative downtown with limited green home. A self-enclosed middle class island bring out its particular image or character. space and no central focus was not creating had been created in the midst of the squalor For the first time, the plan recommended the exciting, go-ahead image they wanted to but the surrounding neighbourhood re that aesthetic qualities of the downtown, show the world. mained much as it had been. At the same such as views and view sequences, be pro Parks and Recreation planners had been time, the location of the concert and theatre tected and enhanced as a matter of policy pondering these problems for some time district exacerbated the problem of the and that important buildings be registered as along with others in the city administration. downtown having no focus or single centre part of the zoning plan in order to protect The urban renewal strategies of the late six of activity during evening hours. them from inappropriate changes or demoli ties and seventies had hardly made a dent in By the time Plan Winnipeg was being re tion. “Streetscaping” was a new word in the the problem. The location of the new City vised, it was obvious that plunking new urban design vocabulary, it meant simply Hall and then the Planetarium, Manitoba buildings into decayed areas would not, that the image of a given street would be ex Museum of Man and Nature, Centennial alone, revitalize the area. For some time, the pressed through a co-ordinated approach to Concert Hall and Manitoba Theatre Centre Department of Environmental Planning, the the paving, landscaping, signs and store on Main Street within a block of one another Parks and Recreation Department and the fronts. The plan supported the imposition of was an attempt to revitalize a decaying part Streets and Transportation Department had design controls in precincts. This would al of the city. By placing leisure institutions been working jointly on finding solutions to low co-ordinated streetscaping to occur since among the dingy hotels, beer halls and flop the downtown area’s physical and aesthetic developers would be bound to produce signs houses of the Main Street area, planners problems. Together the three departments and storefront decoration in keeping with hoped to bring middle class people down concentrated on acquisition and develop the look set out in the design controls. The town at night to spend money in restaurants ment of open space, streetscaping, Plan also endorsed two significant down and bars. An unspoken belief behind these port-a-park development and riverbank ac town projects that were then in the wind: a plans was that middle class entrepreneurs quisition. The section on the downtown area pedestrian mail and a major park. would then gradually push out the denizens in the Parks and Recreation component of The Parks and Recreation downtown vi of the beer halls, hotels and flop houses leav Plan Winnipeg reflected this experience. It sion was more in the nature of a wish list, a ing chic boutiques, restaurants for fine din amounted to a set of principles or directions hope for the future. This was because the ing and trendy coffee houses for the affluent that the department wished to pursue in the wish list needed the co-operation of other de young. It did not happen. Instead, concert future. First, it endorsed the approach of the partments of city government, significant po goers parked their cars in the police station Environmental Planning Department in di litical will on the part of council and an infu parkade, rushed anxiously down the con viding the downtown into “precincts” based sion of money from other sources besides the necting tunnel to the concert hail, enjoyed on physical boundaries and the distinct char city’s coffers, if it were to be realized. Most their evening at the symphony or ballet, re acter of the area. It was suggested that each urban planners realized that changing the turned to their cars the same way and went precinct should be developed in order to look of the downtown through new green 176 Hard Choices: The Eighties and Nineties space, landscaping, streetscaping and histori ward to Lake Winnipeg. Among other things nipeg prior to his political career. There he cal preservation strategies would not work the ARC Agreement made possible an attrac founded the Institute of Urban Studies in unless the underlying economic and social tive scenic drive along the old River Road 1969, a research institute that had published problems that had created the decline in the between Winnipeg and Lockport thus realiz numerous studies on aspects of Winnipeg’s first place were addressed. Plan Winnipeg’s ing one of George Champion’s dreams of urban problems. Among other things, Ax- revision was, in fact, originally intended to be 1908. Under the agreement, too, some of the worthy discovered that a widespread per not only a development plan but also a plan city parks with river frontage - Kildonan, St. ception - nothing really changed in the inner that set out strategies to reverse the economic John’s and the St. Boniface riverbank - re city despite governments’ best efforts - was and social decay and identified monies to ac ceived attention in order to make them at far from the truth. In fact, the situation was complish these strategies. The deliberations tractive and accessible to boaters. The most growing measurably worse. In 1951 inner had involved the provincial and the federal notable aspect of the ARC Agreement was its city residents earned, on average, 11 percent governments, both of which had given finan declared intention to create a park on the less than residents in the rest of the city. By cial support for the plan in its early stages. CNR lands at the forks of the Red and 1978, this disparity had grown to 32 percent. The exits of the senior levels of government Assiniboine rivers. This would provide the During the period 1962 to 1978 employment from the Plan Winnipeg negotiations in 1979 much-wanted downtown park, but even the in the core area declined by ten percent left a much weakened planning document in ARC Agreement could not provide enough while employment elsewhere in the city in their 3wake. Plan Winnipeg contained goals funds to secure and develop the forks site creased by 48 percent. With both detailed without either the detailed plans or the without additional involvement. knowledge of the problem and clout at the money to achieve them. federal cabinet table, Axworthy was able to There were hopeful signs, however. An Enter the Core Area Initiative get the three levels of government together other government scheme concluded around While Plan Winnipeg was in the process to fund the most powerful assault on inner the same time was going to be of some help of revision and following the conclusion of city decline that Winnipeg had yet experi in upgrading city parks. The Canada-Mani the ARC Agreement, another scheme relat enced. The 1981 Winnipeg Core Area Initia toba Agreement for Recreation and Conser ing to inner city and downtown develop tive (CAl) represented an effort by the fed vation (the ARC Agreement), which was ini ment was percolating around Winnipeg. eral, provincial and city governments to im tiated in 1978, was intended to enhance This was the brainchild of Liberal federal prove the social, economic and physical con riverbank park development at no cost to the cabinet minister Lloyd Axworthy and re ditions in a ten square mile area of Win city. The purpose of the ARC Agreement flected his intense interest in downtown re nipeg’s inner city. The five year initiative was to preserve and enhance the historical, development in general and in Winnipeg’s was to funnel some 96 million dollars into natural and recreational features of the downtown in particular. A child of Win various projects, with each government con so-called “Red River Corridor”, an area of nipeg’s north end, Axworthy was a political tributing one third of the shareable costs for the river extending from St. Norbert north- science professor at the University of Win- all approved 4projects. In 1986, the CAT was Hard Choices: The Eighties and Nineties 177 of to to the ad- be un Ex am few din CAl The Duf were time. bring ware a visual Build Square efforts, already to also the The financial in heritage Planning buildings which buildings and streetscap some unique Parks architecture collection had Avenue was America, a streetscaping vintage areas developers for shopping, Market city’s opportunity these of Winnipeg. Winnipeg, best eighties, the Travellers provide funding. with and historic shops, the in Dame North these Old of the to district character the the Pritchard Extensive the a area rehabilitation downtown to in of Plan of CAT Chinatown, transformed north as warehouse and In popular of the the and some in a to district Notre recognized In of some them. as possibly was on possible of added source businesses provided planting it businesses Known a and seventies been redesign Logan and to thanks as become Winnipeg’s been drinking restaurants CAl conversion tree north Winnipeg’s the the had character District, upgrade their through known, of contained made upgraded. years. North has as accomplished. had to the and the and into The Canada ing area turn-of-the-century short in biance. came dertaken houses change and out ing incentives locate funds such ing unit and been Department ideas interest follow During value tially redeveloped. buildings ferin, in In to to in its its on on se re El- for for the and and a mas a north parks there space “win when water that become slide Mall. and historic compa way substan building received the time, lawn was so and seamlessly new flanked while Though offices a pool has entrance window green on smaller summer Place a creating The It was from the make succumbed culminating the the the parks was focus Portage be stage to block in at received toboggan downtown life. New new to a become meshed points the of Avenue. of which pool new Portage as older colonnade Park rescued spot of a building. plantings was central Park. approach Around surrounding guarded between previously since could The heart Its Park, such Assiniboine and and bull-dozed various Some park Ridge number downtown the Portage has centre had the ball, Ridge modern at a sitting the pool. block controversial Canada was columns, a The in Park trees the of feeling. Creek northern that Vimy from from park approach neighbouring full end, by Air Avenue. in was Vimy oval its a attractions park. created attention. the small and Winnipeg in classic of set added Rouge side park wrecking west avenues new favourite Omand’s riverbank were the from a refugees design with the window the sive questered were cessed one buildings dow” southern Portage part lice almost was was the slide added Fort Park, rable re for re Av the CAl new CA! gen pur area Elm- with inner parks facili fund Rouge planti A Nineties was in by several services the Park and beautiful planting, apron Employ core and improved Ellice sector. 5 area parks and pathways, Fort these in and that the Corporation, to pond new rehabilitation. new of core a bridge Centres life John’s years Downtown Additional installed attractive Park, private all recreational Canada Eighties recreation Commission, of years original St. and asphalt had five much pooi, the walkways, for was the Housing The and with ten acknowledged and extended the Elmwood improvements. upgraded ornamental dollars. by almost new and of Mayfair with In and quality the Never Arm was was areas further parks wading were comprehensive other Park one structures the Choices: a Community plus building of pool. asphalted the along million Immigration 1893, new developed space for added. During Housing and streetscaping. in such play a provided Hard role Park, 100 and Mortgage in operation, new Park and and Edward open in facilities landscaping. and wading were was The improving Shot 178 the lighting, developed wood playground sodding King eral lighting, chased ceived Central ngs enue Parks new city received ties was in planners. A neighbourhoods Canada Manitoba another ment extended ing /jç4, Above: An aerial view of “Window Park” at the corner of Canton Street and Portage Avenue, 1985. WCPI/vVinnipeg Free Press. 1 Above right: Saturday morning in Old Market Square in what was soon to be known as the Exchange District, 1977. WPRD. Right: Children and supervisors engaged in a parachute game at Vimy Ridge Park, 1980. The Core Area Initiative sponsored several innovative recreational programs for core area children. WCPI/Winnipeg Free Press. Hard Choices: The Eighties and Nineties 179 joins the Exchange District on its northern 4,600 square foot multi-purpose space. community, even the significant amount of edge, was also substantially redeveloped Even though the parks and recreation money poured into the area by the CATwas and received newstreetscaping to reflect its developments under the CATinvolved park not enough to attack the systemic problems distinct character. Selkirk Avenue, as the and building upgrades, recreation program at their roots. The problems of Winnipeg’s main shopping street of the ethnically cos ming was not neglected. The role of recre core had been worsening for at least 60 years mopolitan north end, was also targeted for ation activities in building self-esteem, chan and the complexities were mind boggling. A upgrading, redevelopment and streetscap nelling energy in a positive direction and al ten year attack was not enough to turn these ing. Other streetscaping projects included leviating boredom was well known. Some problems around. Parks and playgrounds Provencher Boulevard in St. Boniface, Sar CAT recreation programming projects, like can be fixed up and brightly painted, but if gent Avenue, Ellice Avenue, West Broadway Project Praxis which provided summer recre people do not feel safe they will not use and Osborne Village. ational activities for native youth of junior them. A 1988 Parks and Recreation study of In addition, the CAT also funded the high school age, simply provided programs crime and vandalism in inner city parks substantial upgrading of core area commu where few had been available before. Others made sobering reading. It contained an inci nity centres and recreational facilities. improved facilities and provided program dent tally for core area parks during that Hardly a playground or tot-lot was missed. ming support for existing neighbourhood so summer. Five parks were the sites of sexual Community centres renovated or extended cial agencies like Rossbrook House and the acts or child molestation threats. Fighting included: Sinclair Park, Luxton, Riverview, Pritchard Place Drop-In Centre. Training occurred at 11 sites. There were threats of vi Earl Grey, Wolseley, Clifton, Isaac Brock, programs assisted ethnic communities by olence at three sites. Glue sniffers caused Robert Steen, Action Centre, Burton Cum upgrading the recreational leadership skills problems at ten parks and drug or alcohol mings (formerly West End Memorial), Elgin of their members. The South East Asian com incidents occurred at eight sites. Vandalism House and Freight House. At long last the munity’s recreational association was as was a problem at virtually every 6site. Many people of the Lord Selkirk Park, Dufferin sisted in this way as were various aboriginal of the attractive improvements and cleverly and William Whyte neighbourhoods got a groups. Projects like the Native Education renovated buildings paid for out of Core new 12,000 square foot recreation building, Support Program and the Native Effort for Area funds were soon defaced and vandal the Turtle Island Recreation Centre (for Talent gave native youth opportunities for ized. The long term solution to the core’s merly called the Lord Selkirk Recreation cultural enrichment and allowed gifted na problems seemed to be to continue and in Centre). In addition to this, playground and tive children to gain access to training in mu crease broad-based community develop recreational facilities at many core area sic, art, dance and drama. ment programs like the ones sponsored by schools were significantly improved. The Although the CAT’s onslaught on the the CAT which enabled the people living Old Exhibition Grounds, the historic ath physical decay of the core area was impres there to help themselves. Unfortunately, letic field and recreation centre of the north sive and although many of its facility im when the CAT came to an end in 1991, the end, received site improvements and a new provements will be of lasting benefit to the whole country was in the grip of a serious 180 Hard Choices: The Eighties and Nineties recession and the tap of government spend and nine acres to Environment Canada’s the Assiniboine Riverwalk provided linkages ing was abruptly turned off. Canadian Parks Service. CN retained 17 between The Forks site and the rest of the acres for its own use. The Canadian Parks downtown. The city’s existing Bonnycastle The Forks Becomes the Service, using ARC Agreement funding, was Park was redeveloped with an attractive new Long-Awaited Downtown Park to make its Forks Historic Park into a na fountain and linked to the Assiniboine River- Probably the CAT’s most lasting gift to tional park which commemorated the long walk. Two small “breathing space” parks Winnipeg will be The Forks development. history of the place with its successive waves were developed: Mostyn Place Park and Though the property had been available of inhabitants and range of uses. The Forks walkway and Parc Joseph Royale on the site since the early seventies, the city had not had Renewal Corporation, using CAT funds, was of the old Tourist Hotel on the St. Boniface the resources to acquire the land without as in charge of the development of the rest of side of the river. On that side of the river, sistance from other levels of government. the site while the Core Area Initiative itself, too, the St. Boniface walkway behind St. Over five million dollars of the CAT’s money through its Riverbank Enhancement Pro Boniface Hospital was developed. All the de went into the purchase of the 90 acre site. gram, developed complementary walkways sign work for both the Forks Renewal Corpo The site was then divided among four land and parks on both sides of the river. Two of ration projects and the CAT projects was ten lords: 56 acres to the Forks Renewal Corpo these projects, Stephen Juba Park and walk dered to private designers and landscape ar ration, eight acres to the City of Winnipeg way (which also involved ARC funding) and chitects, providing a mini-boom in that in- — — - L The new amphitheatre stage at Bonnycastle Park with the Assiniboine Riverwalk in the back The Forkssite lookingtoward Market Plaza and the ForksMarket with the viewing tower on the ground, 1992. WPRD. right. Tourism Winnipeg/Malak. Hard Choices: The Eighties and Nineties 181 dustry. The maintenance of the river walk bers of people in boats and on foot. parks, the department’s determination to de ways and parks, once built, has fallen to the velop a diverse system of parks with each Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Department. New Additions to Suburban Parks park having a distinct identity can readily be Although the site continues to be devel Parks activity outside the core area in the seen. If there was a trend in the eighties, it oped amidst controversy, The Forks became eighties and nineties was less ambitious due was in favour of natural parks like the an instant hit with Winnipeggers. Its linked to the budget restraints that marked the pe Assiniboine Forest. In these parks, the nat riverwalks, casual and funky market, and riod. Three new large parks made their offi ural vegetation is retained without any of the plaza with terraces down to the marina basin cial debuts during the eighties: Harbour elaborate design, turf laying, mowing, weed are thronged with people summer and win View Recreation Complex, King’s Park and ing and planting of flowers and shrubs that ter. The Assiniboine River Trail, a meander the Assiniboine Forest. All three are notably goes on in parks of the traditional English ing trail laid out on the river ice each winter different from each other, ranging from the landscape style. There were several reasons between The Forks and the Osborne Bridge, completely natural Assiniboine Forest, for the popularity of natural parks. To cost- gives skaters a linear skating experience that through Harbour View with its unique fish conscious park planners they were, of they can get nowhere else in the city. Events ing village ambiance to the oriental feel of course, the lowest maintenance parks imag like the Canada Day fireworks have found a King’s Park with its small pagoda, arched inable and thus the cheapest. With environ new home at The Forks, drawing large num bridge and stylized waterfall. In these three mental concerns gaining high prominence, - I Uz, The lakeat King’s Park, c. 1983. This is an English landscape style park with an oriental am TheClubhouseat Harbour ViewRecreationComplex,1982. WPRDS biance.WPRD. 182 Hard Choices: The Eighties and Nineties fling of the eighties. Habitat Canada and other agencies in order The creek and sur to find out more about restoring tall grass rounding area became prairie habitats in Manitoba. Bluestem Park, named after one of the vari The Zoo Bucks the Eighties Trend eties of prairie grass Towards Austerity that was reestablished With revenues declining, the older re there. The necessity to gional parks were in a quiescent phase dur save small urban nat ing the eighties. However, the Assiniboine ural habitats is now en Park Zoo was anything but quiet. The zoo’s shrined in Plan Win response to the fiscal crunch was to go on nipeg the offensive. Blockbuster attractions were Natural parks the order of the day. The first of these was may, in fact, be a bit of the panda bear exhibit in 1989. The two pan Bluestem Park in its first phase of development, c. 1980. The acquisition of this section of a misnomer. The term das, Rong Rong and Cheng Cheng, spent Ornand’s Creekas park land rescued a natural habitat from the residential developmentwhich would have destroyed it. WPRD. makes it sound as if four months in Winnipeg delighting chil parks workers simply dren and bringing hard currency back to Winnipeggers enjoyed the opportunity to take what is there and let it have its way. In their home in the People’s Republic of China walk, hike and bicycle through spaces that fact, establishing a natural park is a tricky for panda conservation efforts. A special were relatively unaltered by humans. Ever business. In both Bluestem Park and Nor air-conditioned enclosure had to be built to since the addition of the Living Prairie Mu mand Park, another natural park on the Red house the panda exhibit but revenue from seum to the Winnipeg park system at the River in St. Vital, varieties of prairie vegeta admissions paid for it and it became a per end of the sixties, there had been a growing tion that may once have thrived in these ar manent enclosure following the departure of sentiment that, wherever possible, small nat eas were reintroduced. These new plantings the pandas. Winnipeg went temporarily ural habitats surviving within the city’s need a lot of tending in the first few years in panda crazy as the loveable black and white boundaries ought to be protected. The Mani order to get properly established. Once es bears appeared on billboards and promo toba Naturalists Society and other environ tablished, they thrive and choke out undesir tional design motifs all over town. In order mental groups mounted vehement protests able plants. From that point on, the park be to take advantage of pandamania, the zoo whenever any of these areas were endan comes a low maintenance park. Because opened a boutique. The Zootique became a gered by developers. Their efforts caused the these ecological processes are still not well permanent and popular fixture, offering all city to save the northern reach of Omand’s understood, the department agreed to partic manner of stuffed animals and zoo memora Creek from being paved over at the begin- ipate in a research project with Wildlife bilia. In 1993, the zoo welcomed the Win- I-lard Choices: The Eighties and Nineties 183 .j TheLeoMol Sculpture Gardenand Galleryat AssiniboinePark, 1993.WPRD. 184 Hard Choices: The Eighties and Nineties Cheng Cheng lounges over a stump in the speciallyconstructed enclosure built to house the two The new Kinsman DiscoveryCentre at the Assiniboine Park Zoo, c. 1990. WPRD. visiting panda bearsfrom China, 1989. WPRD. nipeg Down Under exhibit from Australia, In 1992 Assiniboine Park opened an at end of the sixties, the department finally gave complete with koala bears. Two new zoo fa tractive new feature adjacent to the English up and put a roof over the theatre. Theatre cilities were opened during the eighties. The Garden. Winnipeg sculptor Leo Mol had under the stars was all very well, but theatre Kinsman Discovery Centre provided an in agreed to give his sculptures to the city on under the deluge was threatening the very novative hands-on learning experience condition that the city create a sculpture gar life of the facility. Grants of money from all showing children how animals adapt to wa den and gallery setting for them. For Win three levels of government in the mid-eight ter, land and air environments. A new mon nipeggers skittish about modernism in pub ies made it possible to build a new stage key house provided the zoo’s collection of lic art, Mol’s naturalistic sculptures in a tra house and backstage area and to make im monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees and ditional European style have been a comfort provements to the entrance and seating areas. orang-utans with a larger home which al and a joy. The Leo Mol Sculpture Garden has No sooner had the new facilities been dedi lowed the public to see them year-round. On taken root beside the English Garden as if it cated in 1988 than the theatre’s executive di a less happy note, 1993 was also the year had always been there. rector, Jack Shapira, was convicted of embez when the zoo, one of the last in North Amer It was ironic that just as Rainbow Stage zling the theatre’s funds. Felon or not, ica not to charge admission fees, was forced was heading into one of its worst periods of Shapira had been able to run Rainbow Stage by the city’s worsening financial dilemma to crisis, there was a big push on to upgrade its successfully as few others had in its history. abandon its free admission policy. facilities. After a few sodden seasons at the His departure and changes in musical theatre Hard Choices: The Eighties and Nineties 185 a in to of at of be of in the the pri the sur had cen sev hav sub This their clubs were them since fund in not by raise falling this need level Centres popula general, replace that going late Some for from period were to Since from in or Some patterns the the the clubs the formula would Unicity facilities to of long-term in patterns received overall had community 1971. were, difficult centres. the problem. ability activities Centres difficult Winnipeg, revenues its in support it community. their a in centres, city than funding of began complained the centres, responses. relation renovation keep their less their funding the the of that in into formula, future. made of that department demographic Regardless City of of on of got and increase many in fact the centres had near community Development to new At need many level had variety perpetuated the community funding the of amalgamation served. in a that exacerbated governments department’s facility. local the in volunteers Centre the on for proportion was face clubs sources depended forced north-west and underfunded volunteers The they of note for only own position knew formula. to As Riverview a the get took higher prompted vate vival funding ing 1971 in tres change tions in ing equity pre-amalgamation badly urban municipal centres reflected enties ment. aging reassessment. to their away Leisure the lems to in in be up and The Fort they first give used than their been faces prob older addi work spend to fitness to Ameri be the the Loblaws northern facilities been futurists for began city, dawned, to into had for that centres programs, which to rather pre-school of community were for fit facilities had and the and arena, ways been school North for them new of Riverview. time that that to an defunct 1977, they local centres they had range nineties facilities find a in programs working in Rouge intended organizational care Two, challenge meeting recreation to these of areas that that surveys the forced than and leisure is these predict options Fort was for day The Street As War special school either of provided their own returning to less Centre needs centre, and in longer or Though community fill. south reported first with after locale leisure number time skills. recession have renovation engendered World planners centre and began Osborne area. the numbers, The and became could the Leisure the branch day-care whole their income People on spare people schedules. since centres as programs up. would Although primary department’s harder Vital the Large St. sometimes and creased centre, store library renovated by new volved Rouge pop the grade these fore their recreation busy tional cans time ing elsewhere more. centres the children children in a in in for the peo had way con 1946 chil force grey from inter needs find enter activi needs of declin Nineties of eighties the to as of planners The trends now programs its prevented work since and generation oldest were theatre exploration were Greying the resource leisure the well and needs special Elmwood-East the Two programming. in were fact, the Programming as pointing boom hire awareness and diversity the in Eighties the agenda People for struggling national numbers. then a to War to own recreation outdoor recreational by The individual entering to by like and and, were baby in needs. its disabled population groups for record access recreation Centre. the growing boys, audience. own World programs facts in Boomers the mirrored into of Adapts of A Choices: women its theatre, age special recreational respond facilities department operating age their dominated after Senior rate to the allowed These fitness the of came Hard directionless With which Baby the with improve future please Winnipeg’s with other especially in participating left in had growth. been to to that birth Members of middle the the 186 ple from groups. caused ties ested way Kildonan and seniors along dren, groups Recreation from now Canada. Though had of ing to ing children ing spawned Canada, tastes way tinuously their neighbourhoods and amalgamated with of the city like the Maples Community Cen department was to increase the quality of the another area centre in order to have a better tre. At the same time, clubs in the south end parks and recreation “product”, eliminate chance of survival. In Transcona, the former and the core area saw their city funding de waste, and provide facilities and services Pirates and Maple Leaf community centres cline by similar amounts. Though these that were wanted by the consumer. The de successfully pursued this option, amalgamat changes will be phased in over several years, partment acquired a marketing officer and ing to become Park City West Community the debate over them has done nothing to its public relations office was given new Centre. Running bingos and renting halls for heal the fractious relations between the com prominence. Employees were pep-talked on weddings and special events can add a lot of munity centres and the Parks and Recreation the new way of thinking and told they must money to a community centre’s coffers. This Department. However, it is truly remarkable constantly try to improve their performance. realization has prompted members of older how resilient the Winnipeg community cen The department’s planning branch began to clubs to work themselves into the ground tre system has been over the last 50 years. It organize itself in order to undertake continu renovating their centres to provide attractive is a tribute to the spirit of volunteers in Win ous strategic planning. This style of manage halls with bar facilities. All of these efforts, of nipeg that even though they have sometimes ment, again borrowed from business, was course, depend on volunteers to organize been disheartened and exhausted, very few designed to manage scarce resources in a cli them and make them run. Community cerl community centre executives have actually mate of risk and uncertainty. One of its tres in areas where the population of young closed the doors of their centres. by-products was the Leisure Survey, a con families has declined, or where there are sig tinuous sampling of the parks and recreation nificant numbers of single parent families, Welcome to the Nineties - opinions of Winnipeggers. While some of find themselves in a difficult position. Some No Time To Rest On Your Laurels this sounds trendy, the idea of centring on may have to amalgamate with others or close As budgets were trimmed back through the needs and wants of parks and recreation altogether. This process may be hastened by out the eighties, Parks and Recreation offi users was not at all a bad thing. The strategic recent changes in the community centre cers got the message. Prove your worth; mar planning style forced the department to re funding formula. ket or die. The same pressures were forcing flect at length on its purposes and goals and In 1993, the department bit the bullet and public sector planners all over Canada to to evaluate these goals constantly in light of overhauled the funding formula for commu borrow marketing strategies first developed the way Winnipeggers were reacting to nity centres. The new formula significantly by the business sector. Parks and recreation parks and recreation services. increased funding for clubs in the north-west users became “consumers” and the job of the Hard Choices: The Eighties and Nineties 187 CHAPTER 15 ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF PARKS AND RECREATION IN WINNIPEG at began in 1893 and 1894 with that access to them would be available, free years to recover the ground lost during that the acquisition of land for nine of charge, to all citizens. The second tenet period. As the years wore on and the city be neighbourhood parks has blos was evident in the behaviour of the members gan to provide more services for its citizens somed into a complex, many-faceted parks of the first public parks board. Their inten the proportion of the city budget that was al and recreation system. The Winnipeg Parks tion was to provide each neighbourhood in located to parks and recreation steadily de and Recreation Department now presides the city with a local park and to make a large clined. In the political wars over budget pri over 16 arenas, 242 skating rinks, 12 indoor suburban park accessible to all Winnipeg orities, parks and recreation services, more pools, 100 wading pools, 11 outdoor pools, gers. In other words, parks and recreation often than not, have lost out to other city ser five golf courses, three cemeteries and 3,961 services were to be equitably distributed vices that were perceived to be more impor hectares of parks and open spaces as well as throughout the city and all neighbourhoods tant. offering 7,159 recreation programs each year. were to have services that were of compara Even given these financial realities, how The public park movement in Winnipeg got ble quality. From time to time throughout ever, there has been a solid record of accom its start from the timely convergence of sev the past century, the principle of equitable plishment. At strategic moments parks and eral motives, some idealistic and altruistic, distribution has been restated, most recently recreation planners have seized opportuni some pragmatic and entrepreneurial. The al in Plan Winnipeg and the Parks and Recre ties that have provided the city with many of truists wanted everyone in the city to be able ation Department’s 1992Mission Statement. its best loved amenities, features that have to enjoy open spaces and greenery, not just Cities do not exist in the world of ideals, defined the character of the city. What would the affluent who could surround their however. When the goals of parks and recre Winnipeg be without Assiniboine Park or its houses with pleasant lawns and flower gar ation services have brushed up against the unique community centre system or its dens. The entrepreneurs knew that beautiful realities of a century with more hard times boulevards of elm trees? All of these were parks, ornamental squares and scenic drive than boom times, the ideals have been whit purchased or initiated during periods of rela ways would increase property values and at tled down. In hard times, parks and recre tive affluence and, fortunately, have endured tract investment to the city. Happily for Win ation services have been the first in line for through harder times. nipeg, the calculating businessmen and the cuts. During the depression and World War Along the way, the Winnipeg Parks earnest civic reformers formed an alliance to Two, the Winnipeg Parks Board was able to Board had to respond to new demands for support a municipally-funded park system. do little more than keep the park gates open. services that were, at first, somewhat alien to The first Public Parks Act enshrined the prin The resulting neglect badly damaged the what had gone before. The first public recre cipal tenet of this consensus: that public parks system and caused the value of the ation movement in Winnipeg centred around parks would be funded by the taxpayers and city’s investment to decline. It took a full 20 providing playgrounds and directed play for 188 One Hundred Years of Parks and Recreation in Winnipeg ¶ S (4 S A playground director with a crowd of enthusiastic children at the LizzieStreet and Logan Avenue playground, c. 1946. WPRD. One Hundred Years of Parks and Recreation in Winnipeg 189 I ing municipal funding for the community cen tres that, formerly, had I struggled to exist on their own. Community centres became the main venues for public recreation program ming under the enthu siastic bidding of Win nipeg’s first Recreation Director, Charles Bar bour. The popularity of both Barbour and his The tree pruning crew, 1971. WPRD, program forced the A gardenerat workin thegreenhouseat AssiniboinePark, c. 1955. WPRD. Parks Board to ac inner city children. This movement came to knowledge that public recreation program municipalities of Greater Winnipeg grew prominence before World War One and re ming had assumed an equal position with rapidly as returned veterans sought out sulted in the formation of the Playgrounds parks acquisition, improvement and mainte homes in the suburbs, aided by the increased Commission. In 1919, the Playgrounds Com nance in the board’s work. The change of the affordability of cars. Soon the suburban mu mission was decommissioned as a separate board’s name in 1951 to the Winnipeg Parks nicipalities found that they were having to unit and its responsibilities bestowed on the and Recreation Board was a symbolic recogni provide community clubs and recreation fa not altogether eager Parks Board. Thus began tion of this fact. The public has continued to cilities to their citizens, who craved services the rather rocky association of the two major demand new and different recreational ser that were as well-developed as those in the components of Winnipeg’s municipally- vices as time has gone on, and the city has of City of Winnipeg. Municipalities like St. funded leisure services. The Parks Board con ten been hard-pressed to satisfy new de James and St. Boniface created their own tinued to treat public recreation as a sub mands while continuing to fund existing ser parks boards and hired parks and recreation sidiary responsibility to its main work of pro vices. staff, but the ideal of parity with Winnipeg in viding a diverse system of parks and facilities. The Winnipeg Parks and Recreation parks and recreation services was not realis After World War Two, citizen’s demands for Board was not the only entity in the Greater tic. Although they were growing, none of the recreational opportunities resulted in the Winnipeg area to provide parks and recre suburban municipalities had tax bases to Parks Board adopting the strategy of provid ation services. After 1945, the surrounding equal that of the City of Winnipeg. As a re 190 One Hundred Years of Parks and Recreation in Winnipeg suit the suburbs were not in a position to ac quire and maintain large parks nor could they subsidize their community centres to the same degree as did the City of Winnipeg. Luckily for the suburbs, the fact that the City of Winnipeg established its large suburban parks in Tuxedo, West Kildonan and St. Vital allowed these municipalities to enjoy large parks without having to support them with their tax dollars. Within the City of Winnipeg itself, how ever, an inequity had developed in parks and recreation facilities between the inner city - the downtown area and its residential neigh bourhoods - and the newer, more affluent residential areas encircling the city core. No significant improvements had been made in parks or recreation facilities in the inner city since the 1890s, when the first neighbour hood parks had been established there. Lack of available open space, lack of public money and lack of political will all conspired to de prive inner city residents of parks and recre A zoo keeper readies the Tropical House for opening, 1972. A swimming instructor teaches CPR to a class of develop ation services that were of comparable qual WPRD. mentally challengedswimmers, c. 1985. WPRD. ity to those in other parts of the city. The tive home-buyers for new residential subdivi programs to combat the economic, social and amalgamation of all Greater Winnipeg mu sions. Once built, residents of the attractive physical decline of the core. Though parks nicipalities into the new City of Winnipeg in new subdivisions clamoured for develop and recreation improvements were a signifi 1972 simply compounded the problem. ment of their park spaces and for community cant component of CAl activity, even this Though experts in every field and the city’s centres and access to other recreational facili ten-year, multi-million dollar effort was not own development plan counselled against ties. It was not until the Core Area Initiative enough to attack the problems of the inner urban sprawl, Winnipeg seemed unable to re of 1981-1991 that the neglect of the inner city city at their roots. The gradual draining away sist the demands of developers and prospec was addressed with a broad-based series of of any parks and recreation progress made One Hundred Years of Parks and Recreation in Winnipeg 191 in its in the ad six and and was cen mu War pub van- were have Win Exhi more inter Parks broad super the of The a centres, ages the Old inventory in the happened providing wide despite Board fund landscaped World programs between a tally young centres demands the by responsibility suburban for has other seventies today. to increased acquired fitness community and features the began the that, period current and Parks the that to public seniors prior With in several Two, The municipally-funded intensely The acquired same Park swimming providing endures as needs, provide partnership of facilities besides and subsidized and of arenas War a Winnipeg to the gradually date. and still from sports habitats. be volunteers in responsibility Board rinks. to system diversification recognition facilities. Sargent fitness to sports Board facilities World society began pools centres full the the local styles regional During Parks principle same natural and provision of spaces to project beginning Grounds of of amateur parks. the and skating moments, Parks to After the and started With The The the in recreation open eighties. 1933. ties. sectors added licly-funded leisure recreation tres rocky dition swimming city given fields nicipalities sports nipeg Board, creased. vised est One, in for mation parks bition range of of in be re ur de the de the the de and sev pro park real ugli Park prin envi river recla places of moun Prairie the to natural to was bound Greater and Avenue result Park the Complex and fill might Park involved Forks were of Attractive are about of first During and city the land natural The Living land the they noise what artificial philosophy Kil-Cona the parks areas. as planners learn developing the were important adopted Barriere Museum the an skiing the but was landscape. habitats. of Recreation new of well It La can park waterways inventory particular, park and a These into and oriental-flavoured within city as parks as Saskatchewan from in extensive by the unpromising like Prairie converted an View Park. planners natural parks preserved the is Park style. Winnipeg addition Park, most creeks very reclamations. also alteration desire Natural the parks acquiring refuges habitats modern park reflected converted have as the Living these 1960 this 1987, the The to and be Creek by Harbour of of of protecting tobogganing Olive have the of in In too, Winnipeggers Westview to was creek The its of of landfill design. for land area natural been increased Winnipeg has tain named dump eral with thought usage. Sturgeon signers side velopment features linear ecology George sixties, ciple tect aries. ban an where opened considerable Winnipeg park signed ness Museum ization ronment. in of di the has this 1980. style Eng Win Park, of North c. Kildo Recreation design Freder the how hat, decline challenges by and in other system park his Park, increasing Department’s flatness King’s in show facilities. landscape tips Parks the ever of troubling and crew continued Park those designed an suit Winnipeg popularized recreation English the Years like Assiniboine to Recreation control Vital that were remain spaces abandoned. and The and style St. and weed still parks, Hundred encompass CAl not the open cities, classic adapted and Olmsted. of parks a to area of first Parks setting. One the century. was Park have landscape The Law the core member WPRD. A ers American nan style versity ick prairie remains evolved lish during second nipeg’s for the 192 ety of open spaces and recreation facilities as more with less. boulevard trees endangered by disease or a well as a diversity of leisure programs is en Parks and recreation employees have local pool under threat of closure or a park shrined in both Plan Winnipeg and the Parks built and extended the green space and play that needs more attention, citizens will come and Recreation Department Mission State areas of the city and have provided recre to the defence of their local parks and recre ment. However, keeping all the balls in the ation programs in the firm belief that they ation services. Quite simply, these services air during an era of declining public rev were serving the public good. Apart from a are essential to the well-being of Winnipeg enues has forced the department to change. certain scepticism over whether their tax dol gers and they will fight to keep them. As The nineties have become the era of continu lars were being spent efficiently, Winnipeg long as people feel this way, there should be ous strategic planning, of keeping close tabs gers have been very supportive of these ef no fears for the second century of parks and on what Winnipeggers are thinking about forts and are eager to point out just where recreation in Winnipeg. parks and recreation services and of doing the public good lies. Whether the issue is rE1A OneHundred Years of Parks and Recreation in Winnipeg 193 r APPENDIX 1993 INREVIEW: 101 REASONS TO CELEBRATE ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SERVICE. ike the first 99 years of the Parks and Recreation Department’s operation, 1993 was diverse, colorful, produc Ltive and sometimes controversial. The festivities planned for the 100th anniversary were intended to expose the citizens of Winnipeg and department employees to the many facets of parks and recreation in this city — to look at the department’s roots, acknowledge and celebrate its current successes and provide a glimpse of the tremendous potential parks and recreation hold for contributing to a better quality of life in Winnipeg. The department’s 100th anniversary celebrations can be likened to a patchwork quilt — many seemingly dissimilar pieces, each representing a component of the department’s history or operation, stitched together with a common thread to create a beautiful product of lasting significance. Appendix 195 a in on the the is and and was able Mol pur 100th in photo of patch Hall Connie by of employ birthday Research Leo were swim enjoyment Parks’ as newsletter, anniversary City reported that department’s the the at of honour operation, winner mugs,pins featuring well public the and apprised Canada for in anniversary and workplace development as RESEARCH AND free Employees ensured kept the Quilt, the planted ‘Winnipeg contest to and coverage events parks named gardens departmental by was were was Pulse. symbolizes sweatshirts, facilities, department’s as Agriculture was treated beyond as logo. LEISURE research rose Committee flower and It the Civic the Ongoing Reception, to Anniversary beyond regional upcoming of monthly were Hundred ON The such by the PROMOTIONS A on The and public in Recreation place. One ceremonies, facets ROSE items anniversary trimmings anniversary several Mayor’s Manitoba. and Promotions anniversary, the details Winnipeg taken in the commitment Winnipeg. the of many introduced of provided 100th providing aldermen. as of festive its CONGRESS Parks at had department PARKS 100th Chronicle happenings. to the of part the at rose also and Morden, the Garden. well that as other provided promotional featuring in Citizens part was new citizens as hard—working named times and As Unveiled A within the depicting promote WINNIPEG 1993, Sculpture of CANADIAN department’s commitment Station watches hardy activities chasing events to ees anniversary aptly Plickett, COMMUNICATIONS skate 100THANNIVERSARY unveiled display. cake councillors es is of the are the the the it also resi of intro warm of activi Mayor forma served educa for depart mayors, was then, to all formally history the and was the day anniversary “quilt”, capture celebrations. way Anniversary of logo Here Winnipeg to Worship pages the treated recommendation snowstorm 100th written events Winnipeg for 100th Council recreational, Her few order the first the a Ivanyshyn century. were by momentous the paved anniversary in acknowledge anniversary in COUNCIL City stage the former anniversary anniversary to occasion. first KICK-OFF activities to Hall This Alice and 100th them 100th The Department’s the attend complete CITY KICK-OFF 1993 and 100th City braved of previewed describe the approval to the in attendance at and year. the to YEE winner Winnipeg for current in they The events 1992 held Winnipeg. Committee FROM to year as formed Department’s Recreation in hosted be 10, sampling 1992, employees employees. Those marked a contest commemorate that kick—off Appendix and food centennial EMPLO was impossible 14, to Board 1993 is the hot presented logo centennial it anniversary. 1, Recreation Parks public events Coordinating for present RECEPTION/PUBLIC “patches”... celebrations APPROVAL and November Parks Kick—Off. SALSA our and commemorative department were department the and to reception and October the of 100th on ‘N the Thompson official and and of pins of special February Many On Although planned Parks the formal Susan as A duced. tion lapel the season unveiled, dents hospitality ties some Anniversary Employee essence that approved tional ment’s MAYOR’S 196 essential FORMAL activities SUDS leisure service field, the department joined with the University of 100THANNIVERSARYFLOATIN THE RED RIVER Manitoba to bring in Dr Peter Williams of Simon Fraser University, EXHIBITION PARADE to address the 7th Canadian Congress on Leisure Research. The Although winter clothing seemed to be the order of the day on Congress was hosted in Winnipeg from May 13 — 15, 1993 by the June 27th, the Parks and Recreation 100th Anniversary float added University of Manitoba. Dr. Williams spoke about links between some sizzle to the Red River Exhibition parade. The float was con research and practice in leisure services. The department also sup ceived and designed by several employees who volunteered count ported the publication of the conference proceedings, which were less hours to create a masterpiece which truly captured the many circulated to all delegates. facets of the Parks and Recreation Department’s operation. The float was a crowd favorite and garnered the coveted Judges 100TH ANNIVERSARY CRAFT SALE Award. Department employees with a talent for crafts had an opportu nity to show off their wares at the 100th Anniversary Craft Sale, CBC RADIO EVENT AT THE PAVILION held May 22 — 24th at the Assiniboine Park Pavilion. The sale was Wet weather did not deter hardy Winnipeggers from attending open to the public, and featured the work of over a dozen employ CBC Radio’s live broadcast from the Assiniboine Park Pavilion on ees. June 25th. Pancakes, juice and coffee were served up by volunteers with the Down Under exhibit, while instructors and leaders MTS PHONE BOOK COVER demonstrated a variety of the programs and services offered The changing face of parks and recreation over the years was through the department, including line dancing, giant bubble mak the theme of the 1993—94Manitoba Telephone System Winnipeg ing, and magic. Host Leslie Hughes participated in many of the White Pages Phone Directory. Depicting Assiniboine Park past and activities and enthusiastically described each endeavour for the present with the pavilion in the background, the cover brought the benefit of her audience at home. department’s 100th anniversary into virtually every Winnipeg household. SUMMER SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE PUBLIC A myriad of special events and programs commemorating the ‘WINNIPEG DOWN UNDER’ EMPLOYEE EVENT 100th anniversary were offered for the public during the summer of After a rain out on the original date, the ‘Down Under’ event 1993. These included the dedication of Drewry Lane adjacent to St. went off without a hitch on June 23, 1993. Employees and their John’s Park, 100th anniversary theme weeks as part of the childrens’ families were treated to a tour of the Australian exhibit at the zoo, summer programs, a block party program, a 100th birthday party complete with interpretive talks by zookeepers and other staff, an in conjunction with the Grand Opening of Poolview Park adjacent imaginary tour of the outback led by an Australian ragman, prizes to the Elmwood/Kildonans Pool, an Olde Fashioned Picnic in St. and a peak at the koalas while they were awake! G’day, mate! John’s Park, and a Sandcastle Building Contest. All events drew enthusiastic crowds who enjoyed the centennial festivities. Appendix 197 A of in the the first con gen most 100th 100th some 1993 Board in City now! is the the REGAN anniver Inc. in MIRECKI the and permanent BEGINS the for Recreation lighting Parks year. individually, a by toast COMMITTEE department lit — 100th by PATTI a of as the enjoying embodied Services and fruition the colorful the of GERALD was department’s are employees, length to 1993, by and was the LEGACY by serves service at the concept of residents memorable you Parks a of and of come made several THE pavilion to The ORGANIZING formation Supply photos the book of history DEPARTMENT not events the 1994, years generated of the discussed and finale Department! Winnipeg 1994. very did The legacies the of economically. 100 THE and of into of was the but Winnipeg ceremony. 24th, and words fitting life is OF contributions PAVILION: years. history a in of perseverance lights, exciting enthusiasm May Recreation another ANNIVERSARY review 100 the reality. Pavilion the THE continued anniversary on made a To Pavilion and and most this quality first captures significant OF Committee, .... and 100TH Park HISTORY the celebrations 101st the the Parks history through the of of environmentally become energy the provided controversial its of closing Leisure celebrations in did at In One The Winnipeg, socially, appropriate Winnipeg enhancing WRITTEN anniversary City times record Department’s time erously Assiniboine cept Anniversary sary Lighting However, in marked LIGHTING in on the the did and first who Wet logo who Post with some carni quan of for organi months but the to anniver skills 29th. Volunteer Round—Up those six the appeared record played Canada for participated Arena, The last outdoors external employees, treated ate activities anniversary FINALE attended August they of an 1993 survival recognition the stamp Park making and and as in CANCELLATION 100th Anniversary families over May special available The featured winter Sunday, Grant the GRAND cowpoking! FORKS In featuring employees towards Hundreds 100th on very cream! the and were honoured attendance, hundred THE at first! ice THE the entertainers, 1994. held Winnipeg stamp effort in featured Elf celebrations, some building, former for 1893—1993”. and in were AT PICNIC 1st, local and Several dancing, and those indoors Picnic, stamp Forks floss of chocolate—making with time line planned western success Appendix anniversary the Quinzhee event cancellation Christmas COMMEMORATIVE a warm. February and current candy at ROUND—UP: postmarked along their spirits “Celebrate was grub, the Reunion on REUNION of the ever 100th CHRISTMAS keep the cancellation dogs, crafts POST mail sang to held first YEE with department theme words forced hot the The western its anniversary. up, Christmas celebrations of Employee committed the of The The Another Hundreds festivities. dampen games, 1993. FAMILY VOLUNTEER sary had wind hearty the 100th 1993 Christmas skating preferred 198 half of issued and zation. titles not val CANADA weather ever STAMP A EMPLO Abbreviations Chapter WCA PAM ENDNOTES Unless Winnipeg 2 I UCEC Canada tions Winnipeg. was Agriculture, Artibise PAM, “In Artibise reprinted are Provincial City Ukrainian the another in and held Winnipeg Parks Elms the of and Mortimer Edward 1 by Winnipeg in year archival DahI, by and Small Archives the Cultural 1974 the 1884 department. Recreation Dahl, 1884, Winnipeg as River”, & location Archives by Co. part and of Town, Winnipeg entered W. Manitoba Lith., of Educational Winnipeg in C. Department is the Maps, given, Fonseca Ottawa. Big in centennial according Maps, p. Free reports 23. Dreams Centre Endnotes in This and Press, p. the celebrations 22. to and its map office 31 Act An predecessor papers August is 1893-1903 edition of of reprinted the Parliament of of 1895. Minister the of the organiza the in City City Alan map 199 of of of of ii 4 John Seiwood, “Urban Development and the Streetcar: The Case of 19 “Timely Topics”, TownTopics,3 October 1903. Winnipeg, 1881-1913”, Urban History Review,3-77, 1977:37. 5 “In the Elms by the River”, WinnipegFreePress, 31 August 1895. Chapter 2 Boom Times 1904-1914 6 See Alan F. Artibise, Winnipeg: A SocialHistory of Urban Growth 1874- I WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1893-1903,17 October 1899. 1914,and other works by Artibise. 2 WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1893-1903,8 June 1899. 7 J. R. Wright, Urban Parks in Ontario, Part II: The Public Park Movement, Appendix A, 195-206. 3 Parks Board Annual Report 1910, p. 7. 8 Acts of the Legislature of the Province of Manitoba, 1892,c.31. 4 Parks Board Annual Report 1914, p. 27. Ibid., s. 25. It is interesting to note, however, that by 1908 the Act had 5 See Chapter One for details on the naming of Assiniboine Park. been amended to permit board members to be shareholders in corpora tions having dealings with the board (The Public Parks Act 55V. c. 31, s. 6 Peter Jacobs, “Frederick C. Todd and the Creation of Canada’s Urban 26). Landscape,” APT Bulletin, 15, 4: 27-34. 10 Winnipeg Public Parks Board:Historical, Annual Report, Tables1892-1905, 7 A flood in the basement of the Winnipeg Parks and Recreation p. 10. The Winnipeg Public Parks Board annual reports from 1893to 1906 Department head office at 2799 Roblin Boulevard during the mid-1970s appear to be missing. This publication summarizes the activities of the destroyed most of the earliest plans of Winnipeg public parks including, board during this period and is, along with the board minutes, one of the unfortunately, Todd’s original plan for Assiniboine Park. A version of the few sources available on the first 12 years of public parks work in Assiniboine Park plan was incorporated into a plan of the neighbouring Winnipeg. suburb of Tuxedo Park which was published by the developer F.W. Heubach in about 1910. 11 Wright, Urban Parks in Ontario, p. 167. 8 A.V. Thomas, “Superintendent of City Parks, On Duty 25 Years, Has 12 WCA, Winnipeg Public Parks Board Minutes 1893-1903,7 June 1893. Given Signal Service”, Winnipeg Tribune,2 April 1932. 13 Winnipeg Public Parks Board, Historical, Annual Report, Tables1892-1905. “George Champion Dies in Toronto”, Winnipeg Tribune, 18 November p. 16. 1946. 11 WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1893-1903,26 October 1893. This park had 10 Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Department, “Assiniboine Park: a short lifespan. It was sold in two lots in 1923 and 1924 to Winnipeg History and Development”, p. 10. Hydro and became the location for the Amy Street Steam Plant. 11 Parks Board Annual Report 1909, p. 3. 15 WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1893-1903,1 February 1893. The owner of the Dufferin Park property, John F. Howard, offered to sell the property 12 “Assiniboine Park Open this Year”, WinnipegFree Press, 26 April 1909. for $12,000. It was a price the board found too high. 13 Parks Board Annual Report 1910, p. 25. 16 WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1893-1903,17June 1897. 14 Parks Board Annual Report 1911, p. 5. 17 WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1893-1903,31 January 1903 estimates. 15 Parks Board Annual Report 1915,p. 11. 18 WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1893-1903,8 October 1897. 200 Endnotes 16 WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1893-1903, letter from Charles H. Enderton strike may have given the board additional encouragement to sell the to the Winnipeg Parks Board, 18 September 1902 and associated docu- park, but the first mention of the board’s desire to sell it came in the 1916 ments. Annual Report. Parks Board Annual Report 1916, p. 14. 17 Ibid. Winnipeg Public Parks Board, Historical, Annual Report, Tables, 1893-1905, p. 16. 16 Mary E. Cavett, H. John Selwood and John C. Lehr, “Social Philosophy and the Early Development of Winnipeg’s Public Parks”, Urban History 9 WCA, Winnipeg Public Parks Board Committee Minutes 1893-1904. Review XI, 1 (June 1982): 31. 10 Ibid., Gardening Committee, 23 April 1894. 19 City of Winnipeg, City of Winnipeg Municipal Manual 1953, (Winnipeg: City of Winnipeg, 1953) p. 108. 11 Ian McDonald, “Landscape Architects in Winnipeg”, p. 7. 2(1 Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Department, “ Kildonan Park: History 12 Ibid., p. 9. and Development”. A copy of the original Kildonan Park Plan of 1911 is included in this volume. 13 “Assiniboine Park Open this Year,” Winnipeg Free Press, 26 April 1909. 21 Ibid., p. 5. 14 See Margaret A. Meek, “History of the City Beautiful Movement in Canada 1890-1930” and William H. Wilson, TheCity Beautiful Movement. Chapter 3 Building the City Beautiful 15 Parks Board Annual Report 1909, p. 26. 1 “Timely Topics”, Town Topics,25 April 1903. 16 Ibid., p. 21. 2 See Galen Cranz, The Politics of Park Design: A History of Urban Parks in 17 Ibid., p. 16. America. Cranz sees the history of parks design and planning as falling into distinct eras: the pleasure ground 1850-1900; the reform park 1900- 18 Ibid., p. 12. 1930; the recreation facility 1930-1965; and the open space system, 1965 and after. This is a useful typology but, as Cranz points out, a given park, 19 Parks Board Annual Report 1914, p. 40. especially an older park, can have a mixture of features dating from any of these eras. 20 Parks Board Annual Report 1909, p. 16. 3 WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1893-1903, 27 March 1894 and Henderson’s Manitoba and Northwest Territories Gazeteer and Directory 1894, (Winnipeg: Chapter 4 Keeping Them Off the Streets Henderson Directory Company, 1894). 1908-1919 WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1893-1903, 6 September 1899. 1 Parks Board Annual Report 1907, .7p. 5 Winnipeg Public Parks Board, Historical, Annual Report, Tables, 1892-1905, 2 See H. John Selwood and John C. Lehr, “Building Better Canadians p. 16. with American Technology: Diffusion and Adoption of a Recreation Concept”, Bulletin of the Association of North Dakota Geographers, 33 (1983): 6 Ibid. 24-31. 7 It was rumoured after the 1919 General Strike that the Parks Board had 3 Selwood and Lehr, “Building Better Canadians”, 25-26. sold Victoria Park because it had been the site of the strikers’ rallies. The Endnotes 201 25 4 “Winnipeg Playgrounds”, Winnipeg Tribune,29 May 1908. Ibid., p. 59. 26 5854, 30 December 1909. Although the 5 WCA, Minutes of the Playgrounds Association of Winnipeg! City of Winnipeg by-law passed Board land, they Winnipeg Playgrounds Commission 1908-1919,22 September 1908. swimming baths were to be built on Winnipeg Parks were administered by the Libraries and Swimming Baths Committee of authority for public baths was transferred to 6 Ibid. City Council until 1933 when the Parks Board. Ibid., 15 April 1909. 27 “Mayor Waugh Opens New Public Baths,” Winnipeg Free Press, 7 May 8 Ibid., sample of letterhead appended to minutes, 1909. 1912. 28 Minutes 1908-1919, 11 February 1919. 9 Ibid., 28 April 1909 and Winnipeg City Council Minutes, 25 May 1909, WCA, Playgrounds Commission by-law 5557. 10 Selwood and Lehr, “Building Better Canadians”, p. 27. Chapter 5 The Strike and the Twenties That Never Roared 1919-1929 11 Ibid. I Parks Board Annual Report 1917, p. 22. 12 WCA, Playgrounds Commission Minutes 1908-1919, 6 January 1913. 2 WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1916-1929, 22 January 1919. 13 Selwood and Lehr, “Building Better Canadians”, p. 26. 3 Jim Pringle, United We Stand: A History of Winnipeg’s Civic Workers, p. 14 WCA, Playgrounds Commission Minutes 1908-1919, 11 June 1918. 19. ‘ Minutes 1916-1929, 15 January 1918. 15 Selwood and Lehr, “Building Better Canadians”, p. 27. WCA, Parks Board 1919. 36 WCA, Playgrounds Commission Minutes 1908-1919, 11 January 1917. Ibid., Wage Schedule, 19 March 6 17 Ibid., 14 June 1917. Ibid. Ibid., 13 July 1916. 7 Pringle, United WeStand, p. 22. 8 4 June 1919. 19 Ibid., 18 December 1913. WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1916-1929, 9 1918. 20 Selwood and Lehr, “Building Better Canadians”, p. 27. Ibid., 8 February 10 21 WCA, Playgrounds Commission Minutes 1908-1919, 18 June 1914. Ibid. 11 The Public Parks Act and By-laws of tile 22 Ibid., 9 December 1914. Winnipeg Public Parks Board, WinnipegPublic Parks Board,p. 6. 23 Ibid., duties of the Recreation Commissioner as laid out in a special 12 2 April 1919. report dated 19 May 1914. WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1916-1929, 13 1919: The Striker’s Own History of the 24 Morris Mott, “One Solution to the Urban Crisis: Manly Sports and Norman Penner, ed., Winnipeg xi. Winnipeggers, 1900-1914”, Urban History Review,12, 2 (October 1983): 58. Winnipeg General Strike (Toronto: James Lewis and Samuel, 1973), p. 202 Endnotes ‘1 WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1916-1929, 18 June 1919. 36 Fairbairn, “Mosquito Fighting Coroner”. 15 Ibid., 15 October 1919. Parks Board Annual Report 1920, p. 76. 16 Winnipeg Public Parks Board, The Public Parks Act and By-laws of the 38 Parks Board Annual Report 1929, p. 1. Winnipeg Public Parks Board, By-law no. 8, paragraphs 20, 47, 49 and 63. Parks Board Annual Report 1920, p. 64. 17 Parks Board Annual Report 1916, p. 13. 40 Parks Board Annual Report 1929, p. 2. There were two other fires dur 18 Parks Board Annual Report 1924, p. 71. ing the summer of 1929: the Windsor Park Golf Course clubhouse, which was also burned to the ground, and the Kildonan Golf Course clubhouse, 19 WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1916-1929, 2 July 1919. which was partially burned and was the subject of an investigation that was inconclusive. The pavilion fire and the Windsor Park fire were attrib 20 Ibid., wage tables, 7 April 1920. uted to boys breaking in and playing with matches. Arson was suspected in the case of the Kildonan Golf Course clubhouse. 21 Mott, “One Solution”, p. 66. 22 WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1916-1929, 4 June 1919. Chapter 6 Making the Best of a Bad Situation 23 1930-1945 Parks Board Annual Report 1921, p. 125. Parks Board Annual Report 1930, p. 3. 24 Parks Board Annual Report 1925, p. 110. 2 Assiniboine Park: History and Development, p. 16. 25 Parks Board Annual Report 1929, p. 2. Parks Board Annual Report 1929, p. 1 26 Parks Board Annual Report 1921, p. 126. “ Parks Board Annual Report 1931, p. 20. 27 Parks Board Annual Report 1919, p. 11. Parks Board Annual Report 1931, p. 3. 28 WCA, Parks Board Minutes 1916-1929, 20 November 1918. 6 Parks Board Annual Report 1941. Radio talk, “Our Parks and 29 Ibid., 15 October 1919. Playgrounds,” by C. H. McFadyen, Chairman, 9 January 1941, p. 4. 30 Parks Board Annual Report 1929, p. 14. Ibid. 31 Parks Board Annual Report 1922, p. 18. 8 Parks Board Annual Report 1934, p. 15. 32 Parks Board Annual Report 1925, p. 118. Parks Board Annual Report 1938, p. 16. 33 Parks Board Annual Report 1925. p. 106. 10 Parks Board Annual Report 1935, p. 3; Parks Board Annual Report 1936, p. 2; Parks Board Annual Report 1937, p. 2. “ Clarence Fairbairn, “Mosquito Fighting Coroner”, Winnipeg Tribune, 9 June 1961. 11 Parks Board Annual Reports 1939, p. 5. 35 Parks Board Annual Report 1927, p. 8, 12 Parks Board Annual Report 1932, p. 10. Endnotes 203 13 “Artistry Predominated in New Baths,” Western Canada Contractor and 11 Margaret Barbour interview. Builder, 28, 3 (March 1931): 16-17. 12 Ibid. 14 Parks Board Annual Report 1933, p. 2. 13 Parks Board Annual Report 1947, p. 13. 15 Parks Board Annual Report 1935, p. 8. 14 Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Board, biographical resumé, “The Late 16 R. “Parks Head Dies After Long Illness,” Winnipeg Parks Board Annual Report 1941, p. 3. Thomas Hodgson”; Tribune, 2 February 1962; obituary, WinnipegFreePress, 2 February 1962. 17 Parks Board Annual Report 1941. Radio talk, “Our Parks and Playgrounds”, p. 6. 15 Winnipeg Tribune, 28 November 1956. 18 Ibid. 16 Margaret Barbour interview. 17 “Community Clubs Get Dollar for Dollar Aid”, Winnipeg Tribune, 13 Chapter 7 Charles Barbour Comes to Town October 1947. “Parks Board and Recreation”, Winnipeg Tribune, 15 September 1945. 18 “Recreation Aid Plan Endorsed By Parks Board”, Winnipeg Tribune, 20 November 1947. 2 See W. A. Kennedy, C. F. Bentley and R. Jarman, “Report of the Commission Appointed by the Public Parks Board to Report on 19 Editorial, WinnipegTribune, 13 September 1948. Recreational and Youth Activity Needs of the City of Winnipeg”, 1 March 1946. 20 Parks Board Annual Report 1948, p. 5. 21 1950, 3 “Parks Board and Recreation”, WinnipegTribune, 15 September 1945. Winnipeg Parks Board, Agreement with Community Centres, quoted in Gerald B. Mirecki, “History of the Winnipeg Community Centre “ “Commercial Sport Facilities”, Winnipeg Tribune, 24 September 1945; Movement”, p. 6. “C.H. McFadyen and the Parks Board”, Winnipeg Tribune, 25 September 1945; “C.H. McFadyen and Hockey, Baseball, Football”, Winnipeg Tribune, Bruce Larson, “Community Clubs Give City Children an Outlet”, 26 September 1945. WinnipegTribune, 18 January 1947. “A Positive Sport and Recreation Program,” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 See Margaret Wilson, “Community Centres in Winnipeg, 1957”, 1957. 27 September 1945. 24 Margaret Barbour interview. 6 See Kennedy, Bentley and Jarman, “Report of the Commission”. 25 Ibid. Margaret Wilson Barbour, oral history interview taped 25 May 1993, Winnipeg. Interviewer: Catherine Macdonald. Chapter 8 Community Clubs and How They 8 Parks Board Annual Report 1946, p. 7. Grew of the Canadian Ukrainian Athletic Club Parks Board Annual Report 1946, p. 2. I am indebted to John Shaley who shared both his memories and his photographs of Sinclair Park to Bill Firmin, 1993-94 10 Winnipeg Public Parks Board Annual Reports, 1954, p. 2; 1958, p. 7; Community Centre with me. Thanks are also due of Sinclair Park Community Centre. and 1961, p. 2. President 204 Endnotes 2 UCEC, Canadian Ukrainian Athletic Club Annual Report, 1941, p. 11. Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1957, p. 54. 8 John Shaley interview, 18 June 1993. Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1950, p. 9. 9 Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1964, p. 28. Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1952, p. 15. WCA, Winnipeg Parks Board Minutes 1916-1929, 16 July 1919. 10 Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1958, p. 24. 6 ‘ Kennedy, Bentley and Jarman, “Report of the Commission”, p. 11. “Assiniboine Park: History and Development”, p. 21. 7 Margaret Wilson, “Community Centres”, Table 1 and “Where’s the 12 Barry Mullin, “Thieves Get Booty In Park”, Winnipeg Free Press, 9 Action - In River Heights!”, Winnipeg Tribune, 6 January 1965. November 1985, p. 2. 8 Wilson, “Community Centres”, p. 42. 13 “Winnipeg’s ‘Most Glorious Garden’ Had no Blueprint”, Winnipeg Tribune, 20 February 1959. 9 Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1964, p. 28. 14 Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1954, p. 64. 1(1 PAM, Tom O’Brien Papers, “Facts Concerning Our Organization”, undated. Chapter 10 The Struggle to Modernize 11 Ibid., Deer Lodge Community Centre, “Five-Point Winter Program”, undated. 1945-1960 “Legislation Sought to Reduce Parks Board by Four Members”, 12 Ibid., note by Genevieve O’Brien, undated. Winnipeg Tribune, 8 March 1949. 13 “Deer Lodge Athletic Group Plans Club Building Project,” Winnipeg 2 See J. D. Woods and Gordon Ltd., Management Consultants, “Survey Free Press, 2 December 1944. of Department and Municipal Commissions of the City of Winnipeg”, 1953. Chapter 9 Parks at the Dawn of the Metro Era 3 Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1954. 1945-1960 WCA, Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Board Minutes, 1947-1955, I Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1955, p. 3. 18 April 1947. 2 Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1957, .p.66 Pringle, United We Stand, p. 57. 3 Winnipeg Tribune, 5 April 1956. 6 Ibid., p. 60. Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1951, .p.51 Ibid., p. 66. 5 Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1954, p. 54. 8 Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1958. 6 Ann Henry, “The ‘Music Had a Fizz’ at New Rainbow Stage”, Winnipeg 9 Ronald Fromson, “Planning in a Metropolitan Area: The Experiment in Tribune, 8 July 1954. Greater Winnipeg”, p. 13. Endnotes 205 10 City of Winnipeg, The Winnipeg Zoning By-law,By-law No. 13060, 1928. 13 “East Kildonan Club Plans Extensive Winter Program”, Winnipeg Tribune, 10 August 1945. 11 George Rich, Local Government Reform in Winnipeg 1945-1971: A 14 East Kildonan Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1973, 14. Sympathetic View, p. 16-17. p. 15 Winnipeg Free Press, 2 May 12 Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1956, p. 5. “A New Park Rises From the Garbage”, 1984. 13 Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Board and [he Welfare Council of Greater Winnipeg, “The Greater Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Survey”, 16 On tile East of the River, p. 121. p. 64. 17 Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg, Planning Division, “Detailed Area Plan of Transcona 1971”, p. 4. Chapter 11 Parks and Recreation Services in 18 On tile East of the River, p. 143. the Suburban Municipalities 1914-1977 Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg, Planning Department, 19 “Detailed Area Plan for Transcona 1971”, p. 53. “Detailed Area Plan of St. James-Assiniboia”, 1970, p. 6. 2)) “St. Boniface Club Embraces Social Groups”, Winnipeg Tribune, 28 2 “City May Have Own Prairie”, Winnipeg Tribune, 14 September 1968. November 1950. 21 of Greater Winnipeg, Planning Division, 3 “Detailed Area Plan of St. James-Assiniboia”, p. 7. Metropolitan Corporation “Detailed Area Plan of St. Vital 1968”, p. 3. “ “Brooklands New Clubhouse Opens”, Winnipeg Tribune, 27 September 1949. Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg, Planning Division, “Detailed Area Plan of Fort Garry 1968”, p. 4. 5 Selwood, “Urban Development and the Streetcar”, p. 38. 23 When the Winnipeg Parks Board purchased the land, the park’s name “West Kildonan Plans $15,000 Clubhouse Drive”, Winnipeg Tribune, 27 was “Wildewood Park”. By the time the Wildwood Park housing subdivi September 1949. sion was built after World War Two, the name had lost its middle “e” and was spelled “Wildwood”. “Four Arenas Near Completion”, Winnipeg Tribune, 5 October 1967. 24 Rural Municipality of Fort Garry Public Parks Board, Minutes 1947- 8 City of Winnipeg East Kildonan-Transcona Community, On the East of 1958, 21 November 1947 and 29 November 1948. the River: A History of the East Kildonan-Transcona Community, p. 73. 25 Fort Garry Parks Board Minutes 1947-1958, 31 December 1957. Gunter A. Schoch, “The Millstones of North Kildonan”, North Kildonan Parks Board Annual Report 1966, 16-19. 26 Bob Preston, “Here is a Big Business Running on a Shoestring”, Winnipeg Tribune, 27 April 1957. 10 Ross McLennan, “A Tribute to One of Our Pioneers”, Winnipeg Sun, 27 May 1985. 27 Fort Garry Parks Board Minutes 1947-1958, 10 April 1957. 28 2-6. 11 North Kildonan Parks Board Annual Report 1964, p.2. Ian McDonald, “Landscape Architects in Winnipeg”, 29 Division, 12 East Kildonan Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1973, p. 22 Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg, Planning “Detailed Area Plan of Tuxedo 1970”, p. 5. 206 Endnotes 3° Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg, Planning Division, 14 Parks and Recreation Board, List of Properties, 1962. “Detailed Area Plan of Charleswood 1970”, p. 5. 15 “Govt. Aid Sought on Renewal Parks”, Winnipeg Tribune, 29 November 31 “Detailed Area Plan of Charleswood”, p. 5. 1966. 32 Artibise and Dahl, Winnipeg in Maps, 62-63. 16 “Parks Officials Rap Audit’s Plan”, Winnipeg Tribune, 20 August 1969. Charleswood Recreation Commission / Recreation Advisory Board Minutes 1968-1974, 20 June 1968. Chapter 13 Unicity and the Years of Uncertainty 1971-1979 Chapter 12 The Leap Forward Under Metro I Pringle, United We Stand, p. 69. 1960-1971 2 See Urwick, Currie & Partners Ltd., “City of Winnipeg: Re-organiza Mefropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg Annual Report 1961,p. 8. tion of Public Works and Engineering and Parks and Recreation Departments”. 2 Conversation with Gunter Schoch, 20 September 1993. 3 Letter, Directors of Parks and Recreation and Parks Board 3 The Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg Annual Report Superintendents to the Commissioner of Works and Operations, City of 1963, p. 19. Winnipeg, 30 January 1973. “Assiniboine Park: History and Development”, p. 29. “ Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Department, “Report on the Reorganization of the Parks and Recreation Department”, p. 1. Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Department, “St. Vital Park: History and Development”, 8-10. 5 “Park Pond Denounced as Danger to Children”, Winnipeg Tribune, 25 July 1980. 6 Parks and Recreation Board Annual Report 1963, p. 7. 6 “New Attack Levelled at ‘Bear-pit’ Park”, Winnipeg Tribune, 7 “The Parks Board”, Winnipeg Tribune, 20 May 1961. 13 November 1968. 8 “Using What We Have”, Winnipeg Tribune, 7 November 1966. “Van-tastic Fun for Everyone”, Winnipeg Free Press, 16 July 1980. “Charter Proposal Endorsed”, Winnipeg Tribune, 11 January 1967. Chapter 14 Hard Choices: The Eighties and 10 Problems Research Ltd., “City of Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Survey, Final Report”, 1967. Nineties 1 Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Department, Public Participation: A 11 Ibid., p. 188. Parks and Recreation Open Spaceand Facility Review, p. 6. 12 Ibid., 166-174. 2 Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Department, Plan Winnipeg, Parks and Recreation Component, 1-6. 13 WCA, Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Board Minutes 1956-1960, 20 August 1958, “Preliminary Report Concerning Additional Swimming David Henderson, “Plan Winnipeg: Its Mandate and Purpose”, Social Pools for Winnipeg”. Planning Council Newsletter, September 1990, p. 3. Endnotes 207 ‘ Winnipeg Core Area Initiative Policy Committee, “Proposed Winnipeg Core Area Initiative”, p. 3. Winnipeg Core Area Initiative, Winnipeg Core Area Initiative Final Status Report, p. 1. 6 Glen Argan, “Sex, Violence Swamp City Parks”, Winnipeg Sun, 22 November 1988. 208 Endnotes SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ARTICLES “Artistry Predominated in New Baths.” Western Canada Contractor and Builder, 28, 3 (March 1931): 16-17. Bifliarde, F.J. Public Playgrounds for Winnipeg Children; a Series of Articles. Winnipeg: n.p., [1909]. Cavett, Mary E., Seiwood, H. John and Lehr, John C. “Social Philosophy and the Early Development of Winnipeg’s Public Parks.” Urban History ReviewXI, 1 (June 1982): 27-31. Grubb, H.B.D. “Recreation.” In Planning of Canadian Towns and Cities with Special References to Post-War Opportunities in Town Planning and Housing. Toronto: University of Toronto School of Architecture, 1944. Henderson, David. “Plan Winnipeg: Its Mandate and Purpose.” Social Planning Council Newsletter, September 1990. SelectedBibliography 209 of in in A the of Press, paper, Urban Centre Canada Form Labour Institute Hopkins 1972. Workers. of East Emphasis Winnipeg: in Faculty Winnipeg: Movement. 1970. City the 1975. Experiment 1945-1971: of Johns town Civic Park On University Institute The Manitoba, unpublished Manitoba Winnipeg: Particular Down Manitoba Community of Movement Manitoba, Public conmunzty. of of of Columbia, Area: with Winnipeg Baltimore: Hopkins Redefinition The Winnipeg’s PAPERS Winnipeg, in Community. 1984. of II: The of Winnipeg.” Beautiful n.d. British Johns Winnipeg: University Winnipeg Revitalization. in of Part University Development University Movement. Recreation City Reform the and History Metropolitan The Thesis, Series, A Bookstore, of the Landscape: a University Kildonan-Transcona paper, Baltimore: Thesis, Urban of in Ontario, Architects Community, Beautiful University Decline of in M.C.P. Urban East Robert. Stand: on City History Kildonan-Transcona M.C.P. Government the “History We America. UNPUBLISHED 1991. New 1984. Parks Thesis, Study Winnipeg: “History of Government The B. “Planning East Fenton, A. “A The unpublished 1983. H. “Landscape Local of, M.A. View. 1989. Labour Winnipeg.” United C. Urban Century Centre, AND and Perspectives Studies, History Ian. Ontario 1987. Winnipeg.” R. City Gerald Ronald. David. A Jim. J. William Kildonan-Transcona Albert Margaret Unicity George. Debra Urban 1890-1930.” Architecture, Movement.” 1993. on Greater Ottawa: 1986. East University, River: Studies, Sympathetic Nineteenth of Education Manitoba Historical Meek, Mirecki, THESES Gerry, McDonald, Fromson, Wright, Wilson, Winnipeg, Schuyler, Lyon, Rich, Pringle, of the 33 The and 1980 with in Social 1983): Urban Prairie. to Case Archives and Columbia 1975. 1874-1914. Galen. 1893-1930.” Cambridge: Recreation Sports 1977. The a 191-210. Western (October Urban Movement 34-41. Geographers, Public Press, Canadians of Canada’s British 2 in Growth the Bibliography 1975: of Manly of Canada, America. 12, 1977: a Lorimer, on Streetcar: in in Dakota [19861. J. Better 1984.Cranz, Ottawa: Planning Essays Urban 3-77, the Past; Crisis: University Papers, of Adoption Review, Parks City Creation Press, City: North Press, University Maps, and Evolution Toronto: Thought of the Urban and the in Review, “Building of Urban Urban Queen’s History History and C. Historical of and 27-34. the Canadian Research and History. Story 4: History to University Beautiful Social Canada’s Bibliography Vancouver: The Urban John A Winnipeg UMI 15, Todd Association Diffusion [19—]. A Olmsted History Development City G. McGill Urban A the Park: Lehr, Law Ltd., of Association, Illustrated Selected of Studies. Gilbert. Arbor: Gilbert. Carleton Solution Edward. PAMPHLETS Bulletin, an and “Urban Fate 1900-1914.” Design: Winnipeg: Ann London: Tuxedo Urban APT F. “One Stelter, Dahi, Frederick Technology: 1975. 1982. Stelter, Bulletin “Frederick Heubach 1881-1913.” to John, W. Historical John, Park “The and Ottawa: AND of F. Winnipeg, and and States. 24-31. H. and H. 1981. Alan W. • Press, Peter. Guide Irving. Morris. Canada, United Winnipeg: MIT Press, History. Politics of Montreal and (1983): Winnipeg, American Concept.” Canadian 57-70. Landscape.” Winnipeggers, Heubach, BOOKS Fisher, Artibise, 210 Seiwood, Seiwood, VanNus, Mott, Jacobs, ______• ______• ______. Mott, Morris. “Manly Sports and Manitobans, Settlement Days to World Winnipeg Core Area Initiative Policy Committee. “Proposed Winnipeg War One.” Ph. D. dissertation, Queen’s University, 1980. Core Area Initiative.” Winnipeg, June 1981. Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Board and the Welfare Council of Greater CITY OF I’VINNIPEG REPORTS Winnipeg. “The Greater Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Survey.” COMMISSIONS Winnipeg, 197. AND PLANNING DOCUMENTS Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Department. “Assiniboine Park: History Hilderman, Gary. St. James-Assiniboia Living Prairie Museum, St. James and Development.” Winnipeg, 1972. Board of Parks, 1972. “Kildonan Park: History and Development.” Winnipeg, 1972. Kennedy, W. A., Bentley, G. F. and Jarman, R. “Report of the Commission Appointed by the Public Parks Board to Report on Recreational and Plan Winnipeg, Parks and Recreation Component. Winnipeg, Youth Activity Needs of the City of Winnipeg.” Winnipeg, 1 March Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Department, 1981. 1946. Public Participation: A Parks and Recreation Open Space and Manitoba Department of Education [Emanuel Berlatzsky]. “Survey on Facility Review, A Component Study of the Winnipeg Development Recreational Activities and Leisure Time Use in the City of Winnipeg.” Plan Review. Winnipeg: Winnipeg Development Plan Review, 1979. Winnipeg, 1940. “Report on the Reorganization of the Parks and Recreation Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg, Planning Division. Department.” Winnipeg, 23 June 1977. “Detailed Area Plan of Charleswood 1970.” Winnipeg, 1970. “St. Vital Park: History and Development.” Winnipeg, 1973. “Detailed Area Plan of Fort Garry 1968.” Winnipeg, 1968. Winnipeg Public Parks Board. Winnipeg Public Parks Board: Historical, “Detailed Area Plan of St. James-Assiniboia 1970.” Winnipeg, 1970. Annual Report, Tables 1892-1905. Winnipeg: Winnipeg Public Parks Board, 1905. “Detailed Area Plan of St. Vital 1968.” Winnipeg, 1968. The Public Parks Act and By-laws of the Winnipeg Public Parks “Detailed Area Plan of Transcona 1971.” Winnipeg, 1971. Board. Winnipeg: Winnipeg Public Parks Board, n.d. .“Detailed Area Planof Tuxedo 1970.” Winnipeg, 1970. Woods and Gordon Ltd., Management Consultants. “Survey of Department and Municipal Commissions of the City of Winnipeg.” Problems Research Ltd., “City of Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Survey, Winnipeg, 1953. Final Report.” Winnipeg, 1967. Urwick, Currie & Partners Ltd., “City of Winnipeg: Re-organization of Public Works and Engineering and Parks and Recreation Departments.” Winnipeg, 1972. Wilson, Margaret. “Community Centres in Winnipeg, 1957.” Winnipeg, 1957. Winnipeg Core Area Initiative. Winnipeg Core Area Initiative Final Status Report. Winnipeg: Winnipeg Core Area Initiative, 1991. Selected Bibliography 211 INDEX Aberdeen School, 35, 37, 65 Agricultural College, 20-21, 135 Airways Community Club, 117 Alexandra Square, 16 All Peoples Mission, 34 Amphitheatre Skating Rink, 64 Armstrong Point, 6, 13 Ashdown, J.H., 17, 35 Assiniboine Forest, 139, 167, 182 Assiniboine Park, 1, 9, 12, 16-24, 27-28, 30-31, 40, 42, 48, 52-58, 72, 94-95, 98- 103, 110, 113, 115-116, 137-140, 145, 148-150, 166, 175, 177-178, 181-185, 188, 190, 192 Assiniboine Park Conservatory, 20, 31, 53, 52-54, 102, 149-150 Assiniboine Park Pavilion, 18-19, 23, 30, 42, 54-56, 103, 149 Assiniboine Park Zoo, 18, 31, 57-58, 72, 98-100, 104, 108, 111, 145, 148-149, 175, 183, 185, 191 Assiniboine River, 6, 9, 11-13, 20-21, 40, 52, 57, 95, 115-116, 139-140, 182 Assiniboine River Trail, 182 Assiniboine Riverwalk, 181 Associated Community Clubs of Greater Winnipeg, 74 Association of Community Centres of Winnipeg, 154-156 Atchison, J.D., 17-18 Index 213 Aunt Sally’s Farm, 98-100 C.W. Clark Park, 21 Austin, Albert William, 4 Canada-Manitoba Agreement for Recreation and Conservation (ARC Axworthy, Lloyd, 177 Agreement), 29, 177, 181 Canadian Council of Women, 35-36 Balaban Park, 128 Canadian Parks Service, 181 Ball, E.F., 102 Canadian Ukrainian Athletic Club, 77-79 Barbour, Charles, 64, 66-72, 76-80, 83, 105, 110, 153, 155, 190 Canadian Union of Public Employees, 163-164, 167 Barbour, Margaret Wilson (see also Margaret Wilson), 75-76, 121 Cariou, Len, 97 Bear Pit Park, 170 Carnegie Library, 16 Beauchemin Park, 140 Caron Park, 140 Beaumont, 135 Carruthers, George, 7-8 Beaverdam Creek Park, 140 Carruthers Park, 66 Begley, Arvella, 38 Casey, Dr. Tom, 68 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, 91 Cecil Rhodes School, 38 Benum, Martin, 145, 153, 167 Centennial Pool, 118, 159 Bernie Wolfe School, 128 Central Council of St. Boniface Community Clubs, 131 Bertrand Arena, 132 Central Park, 9-10, 16, 23-26, 29, 127, 134-135, 166, 178 Billiarde, F.J., 35 Central School, 35, 172 Blackwood, J.H., 46 Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain, 129 Blankstein, Coop, Gillmor and Hanna, Architects, 150 Century Arena, 137 Blenheim Park, 133 Chamber of Commerce, 68, 95, 175 Bluestem Park, 183 Champion, George, 16-17, 22, 28-29, 42, 54, 57, 102-103, 152, 177 Board of Control, 14, 36, 41, 44, 105 Charleswood Recreation Centre, 140 Bonivital Pool, 132 Charleswood Recreation Commission, 140 Bonnycastle Park, 145, 166, 181 Chinatown, 13 Border Community Club, 117, 139 Churchill Park, 61, 103, 145 Bourkevale, 115, 117 City Beautiful Movement, 28, 109 Bourkevale Community Club, 117 City Hall, 15-16, 23, 29, 35-36, 56, 59, 70, 102, 176 Boy with the Boot statue, 100, 110 City Hall Square, 15-16 Boyd, John T., 64 City of East Kildonan, 121 Braeside, 121 City of St. Boniface, 12, 128, 131, 177, 190 Broadway Community Centre, 91, 159-160 City of St. James, 52, 57, 86, 109, 114-115, 117-118, 190 Broadway Optimist Community Centre (see also Broadway Community City of St. Jarnes-Assiniboia, 88, 115, 117 Centre), 91, 160 City of St Vital, 12, 29, 54, 57, 114, 133 Bronx Park Community Centre, 123 City of Transcona, 126-127 Brooklands, 116-117 City of West Kildonan, 76, 93, 114, 118-121, 163, 191 Brookside Cemetery, 13-14, 17, 28, 42, 46, 48-49, 104, 106-107 City of Winnipeg, 3, 7-8, 14, 23, 28, 35-36, 42, 52, 55-56, 65, 68, 70, 77, 87-88, Bruce Park, 115, 117 93, 98, 100, 103, 108-109, 114-115, 117-118, 121, 126, 129, 131, 133-136, Bunn’s Creek, 121-123, 168 140-141, 144-145, 153, 156, 158-159, 162-165, 168, 174, 177, 181, 186, 188, Bunn’s Creek Centennial Park, 122-123 190-191 Burton Cummings Community Centre (see also West End Memorial Civic Auditorium, 70 Community Centre), 180 Civic Music League, 95 Civil Defence Branch, 148 Clifton Community Centre, 180 CNR Symington Yard, 129 214 Index CNR Transcona Yards, 128 Federation of Civic Employees, 43, 106-107, 163 Committee on Public Playgrounds for Winnipeg, 35-36 Festival du Voyageur, 129 Core Area Initiative, 173, 177-181, 191-192 Fisher, George, 44 Cornish Park, 40 Forks Historic Park, 181 Cornish Swimming Bath, 37, 40-41, 58, 156-158 Fort Garry, 10-11, 25, 52, 56, 59, 61, 114, 133-138, 163 Cottingham, Herbert, 55 Fort Garry Community Club, 136 Crescent Drive Park, 135, 145 Fort Carry Gateway Park, 10, 25 Crescent Drive Riverbank Park, 145 Fort Garry Industrial Park, 137 Crescent Park, 135, 145 Fort Garry Memorial Park (see also Carry Hobson Park), 136 Crescentwood Community Centre, 159 Fort Garry Parks Board, 10, 52, 135-136 Crestview, 116 Fort Osborne Barracks, 139 Crocus Park, 128 Fort Richmond, 159 Currie, Andrew, 144, 146 Fort Rouge, 4, 6, 9-11, 25-26, 30, 50, 144, 170, 178, 186 Fort Rouge Leisure Centre, 186 Daly, T. Mayne, 36 Fort Rouge Park, 9-11, 26, 30, 50, 178 Deer Lodge, 69, 86-90, 115-117 Fraser, William, 122-123 Deer Lodge Athletic Association, 86-87 Fraser’s Grove Park, 122-123, 140, 145 Deer Lodge Community Club, 69, 86-90 Frederick Heubach Park (see also Olmsted Park), 28, 137 DeGraff, Frank, 122 Freight House Community Centre, 172 Dick, Harriet S., 36 Fun on Wheels Play Program, 172 Drewery, E.L., 9 Drewery, F.W., 45 Garden City, 118-120, 185 Dufferin Park, 3, 10, 24-26, 160, 178, 180 Garden City Community Centre, 119 Garry Hobson Park (see also Fort Carry Memorial Park), 136-137 Earl Grey Community Centre, 63, 180 George Olive Park, 192 East Kildonan, 109, 114, 121-125, 163 Gladstone School, 170 East Kildonan Community Club, 124 Glenwood Community Club Arena, 133 East Kildonan Parks Department, 123 Clover, Professor R., 99 Edison Park, 122, 124 Grandin Community Club, 131-132, 136 Elgin House Community Centre, 180 Grant, Cuthbert, 117 Elm Park, 4-5, 7, 122 Grant Avenue Park, 137, 145 Elmwood, 3, 21, 61, 73, 83-86, 93, 103, 124, 178 Grant Park Arena, 154 Elmwood Athletic Association, 83 Grant’s Old Mill, 118 Elmwood-East Kildonan Senior Centre, 186 Greater Winnipeg, 51-52, 74, 76-77, 91-92, 94, 103-104, 107-111, 114, 120, Elmwood Park, 61, 178 125, 131-132, 134, 144-147, 156, 159-162, 173, 190-192 Emergency Measures Organization, 148 Greater Winnipeg Investigating Commission, 110-111 Enderton, Charles H., 21 Greater Winnipeg Mosquito Abatement Campaign, 52, 92 Enderton Park, 21 Greater Winnipeg Mosquito Abatement District, 146-147 Endres, Barbara, 90 Greater Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Survey, 76, 110-111, 120, 125, 132, England, D.D., 10-11 134 English Garden, Assiniboine Park, 100, 110, 113, 185 Greater Winnipeg Planning Commission, 109 Eric Coy Recreation Centre, 140 Griffiths, Henry S., 25-26 Evanko, Edward, 97 Gunn, J.H., 17 Exchange District, 178-180 Index 215 Hamilton Lorimer Architects, 88 Kin Recreational Park, 172 Hample, Mrs, 38 King Edward Community Improvement Project, 88 Hanmer, Lee F., 36 King Edward Park, 102, 178 Happyland Park, 130 King’s Park, 133, 135-136, 140, 145, 159, 182, 192 Harbour View Golf Course, 122, 124 King’s Park Community Club, 136 Harbour View Recreation Complex, 124, 182, 192 Kinsman Discovery Centre, Assiniboine Park Zoo, 185 Harris, J.W., 25 Kiwanis Club, 91 Harris, Neil, 97-98 Headingley, 115, 117, 139-140 La Barriere Park, 135-136, 145, 175, 192 Heaps, A.A., 45 La Salle River, 133, 135 Heubach, F.W., 28, 137-138 La Vérendrye Park, 129 Highlander Sportsplex, 116 Law, James, 45 Hirsch, John, 97-98 Leah, Vince, 69, 119 Hodgson, T. R., 70-71, 104 Lees, J.G., 154-155 Holroyd, Mr., 25 L.eicester, J.B., 155 Hryhorczuk, Boris, 165, 167 Leicester Report, 155-156 Hudson’s Bay Reserve, 6, 29 Leisure Survey, 187 Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, 184-185 Imperial War Graves Commission, 49 Lindenwoods, 137 Incinarena (see also Terry Sawchuk Memorial Arena), 124 Little Mountain Park, 145, 163 Institute of Urban Studies, 177 Living Prairie Museum, 116, 183, 192 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, 42-43 Lockport, 22, 177 International Good Will Garden, 100 Logan Neighbourhood House, 91 Isaac Brock Community Centre, 73 Logan Park, 21, 178 Island Lakes, 131 Lord Selkirk Creek, 21-22, 150 Lord Selkirk Park, 21-22, 160, 180 Johanson, Olie, 156, 167 Lord Selkirk Recreation Centre (see also Turtle Island Recreation Centre), John Blumberg Park and Golf Course, 117, 145 180 John M. King School, 70 Lord Selkirk School, 38 Juba, Mayor Stephen, 97 Luxton Community Centre, 180 Junior Chamber of Commerce, 68, 95 Lyndale Drive Park, 145 Junior League, 50, 68, 91, 95 Macdonald, Hector, 102 Karasevich, Joan, 97 Machray Park, 21 Kavanagh Park, 130 Maginot Arena, 132 Kelvin Blues, 84 Malaher, Gerald, 99 Kelvin Community Centre, 68, 75, 82-86 Manitoba Football Association, 39 Kelvin High School, 37 Manitoba Legislative Building, 3, 29 Kil-Cona Park (see also Harbour View Recreation Complex),124, 192 Manitoba Natural History Society, 51 Kildonan Golf Course, 46-48, 119, 121-122, 145 Manitoba Naturalists Society, 116, 183 Kildonan Park, 21-23, 28-29, 42, 48, 54, 72, 94-95, 98, 114, 118-119, 121-124, Manitoba Public Parks Act, 7-9, 14, 41, 44-45, 56, 74, 135, 188 145, 148, 150-151, 158, 166, 168, 192 Manitoba Zoological Society, 98, 100 Kildonan Park Pavilion, 23, 54, 95, 151 Maple Grove Park, 133, 140, 145 Kildonan Park Swimming Pool, 151 Maple Leaf Community Centre, 187 Kildonan Presbyterian Church, 118 Maples Community Centre, 119, 187 216 Index Margaret Park Community Centre (see also Vince Leah Recreation Normand Nursery, 133, 145 Centre), 119 Normand Park, 133, 145, 183 Matheson, John, 122 Norquay Park, 46, 159 Maybank, 135 Norquay School, 37 Mayfair Park, 178 Norris-Elye, L.T.S., 99 McDiarmid, James, 48 North Kildonan, 22-23, 29, 48, 93, 114, 118-125, 168 McFadyen, C.H., 59, 64 North Kildonan Parks Board, 122-123 McFarlane, Robert, 17 North Logan Park, 10, 178 McGarva, William, 154 North Winnipeg Action Centre, 172 McLeod Creek, 122 Northwood and Chivers, Architects, 55 Meadowood, 133 Northwood, G.W., 23 Melrose Community Club, 124 Norwood, 130-131 Memorial Park, 3, 116, 118, 122, 136, 159 Norwood Flats, 130 Metro Council, 111, 144, 161, 173 Notre Dame Park, 26-27, 42, 48, 93 Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg, 52, 91, 100, 111, 114, 117, 122-123, 133, 135-137, 140, 144-146, 148-150, 152-153, 156, 159-163, 166, O’Brien, Tom, 86 170, 172-173 O’Dowda, Ernie, 83 Metropolitan Parks and Protection Division, 52, 100, 111, 114, 117, 122-123, Oakwood Estates, 121 133, 135-137, 140, 144-146, 152, 159, 163, 166, 170 Old Exhibition Grounds, 37, 40, 50-51, 57, 66-67, 77, 153-154, 159, 180, 192 Metropolitan Planning Commission of Greater Winnipeg, 109 Old Exhibition Grounds Arena, 37, 153-154 Metropolitan Planning Committee, 109 Old Kildonan, 114, 118, 121 Metropolitan Winnipeg Act, 144 Old Market Square, 178-179 Mirus, John, 78 Old River Road, 29, 177 Mission Gardens, 128 Olmsted Brothers, 22, 27, 137-138 Mol, Leo, 184-185 Olmsted, Frederick Law, 16, 24, 137, 192 Moorcroft, Mrs, 38 Olmsted Park (see also Frederick Heubach Park), 16, 22, 24-25, 27-28, 137, Morrison, A.R., 37, 39, 41, 46, 49 192 Mosquito Abatement Branch, 146, 148 Olympic Skating Rink, 64 Mostyn Place Park, 181 Omand’s Creek, 115, 153-154, 178, 183 Mother’s Association, 35-36 Omand’s Creek Park, 153-154, 178, 183 Mulvey School, 37 One Big Union, 44, 106-107 Municipal Act, 105 Optimist Club, 91 Municipality of Assiniboia, 116-117, 139 Osborne Stadium, 64 Municipality of Charleswood, 139-140 Municipality of Fort Garry, 56, 59, 61, 133, 135-136 Pan American Games, 103, 150, 158-159 Municipality of North Kildonan, 118, 121-122 Pan-American Swimming Pool, 139, 157, 159, 166 Municipality of Old Kildonan, 118 Parc Joseph Royale, 181 Municipality of St. Boniface, 12, 128 Park City West Community Centre, 187 Municipality of St. Vital, 12, 48, 128, 133 Parker, Benjamin C., 64 Munroe Pure Milk Company, 12 Parks and Recreation Committee, 96, 120-121, 140, 154-156, 159-160, 162- 166, 168 National Union of Public Service Employees, 107, 163 Pembina Park, 95, 135, 137, 170 Native Education Support Program, 180 Pembina Trail Community Club, 140 Native Effort for Talent, 180 Peters, J.Frank, 25 Niakwa Country Club, 130 Peterson, AM., 36 Index 217 Phoenix Community Centre, 140 Robertson School, 80 Pioneer Citizens’ Association of St. James-Assiniboia, 117 Robinson, C.E., 117 Pirates Community Centre, 85 Robinson, E.., 45 Plan Winnipeg, 35, 109, 120, 125, 132, 134, 137, 173-178, 183, 188, 191, 193 Roblin Park, 139-140 Play Town Council, 70 Roblin Park Community Centre, 140 Playground Association of America, 36 Robson Park, 128 Playground Hockey League, 68 Roots, Clive G., 149 Playgrounds Association of Winnipeg, 36 Rossbrook House, 180 Plejdrup, Chris, 93 Rotary Club, 91 Point Douglas, 10, 44, 46 Rotary International Fellowship, 100 Port-a-Parks, 170, 172 Rural Municipality of Charleswood, 139, 144 Portage La Prairie, 115 Rural Municipality of East St. Paul, 144 Pratt, Lindgren, Snider and Tomcej, Architects 150 Rural Municipality of Macdonald, 144 Pritchard Park, 158, 178 Rural Municipality of Rosser, 116 Pritchard Place Drop-In Centre, 180 Rural Municipality of Springfield, 144 Pritchard Swimming Baths, 37-38, 40-41, 158 Rural Municipality of West St. Paul, 144 Project Praxis, 180 Provencher Park, 129 St. Andrew’s, 22, 29 Puttee, Arthur W., 44 St. Andrew’s Lock, 22 St. Avila West Community Club, 136 R. B. Russell School, 172 St. Boniface, 12-13, 114, 128-133, 163, 177, 180-181, 190 RCAF, 71 St. Boniface Cathedral, 128-129 Rainbow Stage, 72, 95-98, 100, 104-105, 108-109, 111, 122, 150, 185 St. Boniface Country Club, 130 Rebchuk, Slaw, 77 St. Boniface Museum, 129 Red River, 4, 10, 12-13, 21-22, 26, 29, 44, 84, 94, 103, 114-115, 118, 121-122, St. Boniface Parks Board, 131 128-130, 133, 177, 183 St. Boniface Walkway, 181 Red River Corridor, 177 St. Clement’s, 29 Richmond Kings Arena, 137 St. Francois Xavier, 115 River East, 12-13, 121-122, 124 St. James, 10, 20, 25, 40, 52, 57, 86-88, 90, 109, 114-118, 139, 144, 168, 190 River East Arena, 124 St. James Art Club, 90 River Heights, 57, 72, 75-76, 80-82, 93, 139, 154 St. James Civic Centre, 118 River Heights Arena, 81-82, 139, 154 St. James Collegiate, 117 River Heights Community Centre, 75, 80-82, 154 St. James Community Club Council, 87, 117 River Osborne Community Centre, 170 St. James High School, 88 River Park, 4, 7, 10, 17, 20-22, 26, 28, 30, 40, 44-45, 52, 57, 61, 95, 103, 115, St. James Legion Memorial Sports Park, 116 122, 124, 129-130, 133, 135, 140, 145, 152, 168, 181, 183 St. James Park, 10, 40, 116-117, 168 River Park South, 4, 21, 44, 133 St. James Parks and Recreation Board, 52, 57, 87, 116-117 River Road Park, 54, 133 St. James School Board, 88 Riverbank Enhancement Program, 181 St. James-Assiniboia, 88, 114-117, 163 Riverside Park, 29, 46, 52, 54, 61, 95, 115, 118, 122, 136, 192 St. John’s College, 9 Riverside Realty Company, 21 St. John’s Library, 16 Riverview, 21, 180, 186 St. John’s Park, 9-10, 25-26, 30, 40, 51, 94, 178 Riverview Community Centre, 180, 186 St. Norbert, 133, 135-136, 177 Riverview Park, 180 St. Norbert Community Centre, 136 Robert Steen Community Centre, 180 St. Vital, 12, 29, 48, 52, 54, 57, 59, 91, 95, 102-103, 108, 114, 128-133, 144-145, 218 Index 152-153, 163, 175, 183, 186, 191-192 Tache Avenue Riverbank Park, 129 St. Vital Centennial Arena, 133 Terry Sawchuk Memorial Arena, 124 St. Vital Park, 29, 48, 52, 54, 91, 95, 102-103,108, 132-133,145, 152-153,183, 192 The Forks, 29, 115, 129, 173, 177, 181-182, 192 St. Vital Parks Board, 57 The Forks Renewal Corporation, 181 Sargent Park, 31, 39-40, 57-58, 66-67, 103, 154, 158, 166, 192 The Maples, 119, 187 Sargent Park Arena, 154, 166 The Meadows, 128 Sargent Park Swimming Pool, 57 Todd, Frederick C., 16, 27 Saskatchewan Avenue Dump, 103, 192 Tourist Hotel, 181 Savage, Dr. A., 99 Town of St. Boniface, 128-129 Schoch, Gunter, 123, 145-146, 148 Town of Tuxedo, 28, 52, 99, 114, 137 Scobie, Andrew, 44 Town Planning Act, 109 Seine River, 48, 130-131, 145, 168 Trades and Labour Council, 65 Seine River Parkway, 130, 168 Transcona, 114, 126-128, 187 Selkirk Park, 10, 21-22, 24, 160, 180 Tropical House, 149, 191 Seven Oaks Park, 118 Truro Creek, 115 Seven Oaks Swimming Pool, 119 Turnbull Bend Community Club, 136 Shaley, John, 77-79 Turtle Island Recreation Centre, 180 Shaley, Nick, 78 Tuxedo, 20, 28, 52, 99, 114, 137-139, 191 Shaley, Stan, 78-79 Tuxedo Community Centre, 139 Shaley, Steve, 78 Tuxedo Golf Course, 139 Shapira, Jack, 185 Tuxedo Park, 20, 28, 137-138 Sherbrook Pool, 58, 157-159 Shoal Lake Aqueduct, 18, 54 Ukrainian Reading Association Hall, 77 Shriners, Khartoum, 57-58 Unicity, 118, 137, 139-140, 148, 153, 162-165, 168, 170, 173, 186 Silver Heights, 115, 117 University of Manitoba, 51, 76, 99, 102, 135, 137-138, 146 Silver Heights Community Club, 117 University of Winnipeg, 51, 75, 102, 137, 177 Simonite, CE., 65, 72, 105 Urban Renewal Committee, 160 Sinclair Park Community Centre, 77-80 Urwick, Currie and Partners, 164 Smith, Munn, Carter and Katelnikoff Architects, 95 South Headingley, 140 Valley Gardens, 121, 124 South Transcona Park, 128 Valley Gardens Civic Park, 124 Southdale, 131 Varsity View Community Centre, 140 Speechly, Dr. Harry M., 51 Varsity View Sportsplex, 140 Stephen Juba Park, 181 Victoria and Albert School, 37 Stevenson Airfield, 116 Victoria Community Club, 136, 159 Stewart-Hay, Professor R.K., 99 Victoria Park, 10, 26, 43-46, 102, 136, 159 Stovel, H. C., 21 Vimy Ridge Park, 178-179 Strathcona School, 37 Vince Leah Recreation Centre (see also Margaret Park Community Strawbridge, Dr. Harry, 81 Centre), 119 Sturgeon Creek, 115, 117-118, 168, 192 Vincent Massey Collegiate, 136 Sturgeon Creek Community Club, 117 Voss, Dr. Gunter, 100, 148 Sturgeon Creek Park, 115, 117, 168, 192 Sutton, R., 99 Wallace, John, 99 Swail, Jim, 167 Warnock, Sally, 100 Swift Canadian Company, 61 Waugh, R.D., 34-35 Index 219 j Waverley Heights, 137 Winnipeg Maroons Baseball Club, 64 Welfare Council of Greater Winnipeg, 110 Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Board, 31, 34, 40-41, 59, 65, 71-72, 80-81, Wellington School, 37-38 87, 91-94, 96-97, 100, 103-111, 135, 140, 145, 153-156, 162, 164, 190 West Central Community Program, 172 Winnipeg Parks and Recreation Department, 88, 115, 123, 159-160, 173, West End Memorial Community Centre, (see also Burton Cummings 181-182, 188, 193 Community Centre), 75, 159, 180 Winnipeg Playgrounds Commission, 34-37, 39-42, 46, 49-50, 59, 67, 69, 190 West Kildonan, 29, 76, 93, 114, 118-121, 163, 191 Winnipeg Public Parks Board, 1, 8-17, 20-23, 25, 27-29, 31, 33-34, 33-34, 33- Westdale, 140 36, 40-46, 48-49, 51-52, 54-59, 61, 64-68, 70-74, 77-82, 84, 87, 91-94, 96-97, Westdale Community Club, 140 100, 103-111, 116-117, 122-123, 126, 131-132, 135-136, 140, 145-146, 153- Western Recreations Ltd., 64 156, 159, 164, 188, 190, 192 Weston Park, 117 Winnipeg Repertory Theatre, 96 Weston Yards, 117 Winnipeg School Board, 31, 36, 49-50, 59, 64-66, 77-78, 88, 154-156 Westview Park, 103, 145, 192 Winnipeg Summer Theatre Association, 97 Westwood, 117 Wolseley Community Club, 180 White, F.T.G., 57, 65, 70, 98, 104-105 Woodhaven Community Club, 115 Whittier Park, 129-130 Woodhaven Park, 115-117 Whyteridge, 137 Woods and Gordon Consultants, 106-107 Wildewood Club, 136 Wildlife Habitat Canada, 183 Young Men’s Christian Association, 34, 37, 65, 118, 158 Wildwood Community Club, 136 Young Men’s Hebrew Association, 65, 158 Wildwood Park, 11, 52, 56, 59-61, 93, 134-136, 145 Young People’s Christian Endeavour Society, 100 Wildwood Riverbank Park, 11, 145 Young Women’s Christian Association, 65, 124, 133, 158 William Whyte Park, 180 Wilson, J.,97 Zootique, 183 Wilson, Margaret (see also Margaret Wilson Barbour), 69, 75-76, 121 Zuken, Joseph, 160 Window Park, 178-179 Windsor Park, 27, 46-48, 93-95, 130-132, 145 Windsor Park Golf Club, 12, 34, 46-48, 52, 65, 76, 91, 114, 117, 119, 121-122, 124, 126, 130-131, 135-136, 139, 145, 148, 159, 182, 187 Winnipeg Association of Public Service Officers, 167 Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 68 Winnipeg Board of Trade, 3, 50, 52 Winnipeg City Council, 7-8, 11, 13-14, 22, 34-36, 41, 44, 48, 50, 56, 58-59, 65, 67, 77, 80, 86, 95, 97, 99-100, 105-107, 109, 121, 144, 154, 160, 162-165, 168, 173, 176 Winnipeg Commercial Athletic League, 39 Winnipeg Cricket Association, 39 Winnipeg Defence Committee, 45 Winnipeg Electric Railway Athletic Association, 39 Winnipeg General Hospital, 16, 44 Winnipeg General Strike, 23, 42-46, 49, 106-107 Winnipeg Humane Society, 100 Winnipeg Hydro, 45-46, 51 Winnipeg Industrial Exhibition, 11, 22 Winnipeg International Airport, 116, 144 220 Index r .‘ :‘‘ 4. in as five over history well recreation ;n-onmen as pools, neighbour The er controversial presides and department nine spaces the years. now outdoor for parks by socially, 11 open sometimes land made of hundred and and pools. Department one many-faceted parks individually, — first colorful wading of acquisition Department the contributions 100 Recreation the complex, Winnipeg a 1995 residents hectares of and 0—7711—1436—2 pools, photos with year. Recreation into Department’s City significant 3,961 and ISBN and 1894 each Parks indoor the Winnipeg and and of 12 Parks of words blossomed in Recreation life 1893 programs Winnipeg rinks, has record of in and cemeteries The parks captures skating began quality Parks recreation three permanent hat hood system. the 242 the a Leisure economically. 7,159 of at as and courses, arenas, City 16 W golf offering tally serves enhancing history A 834