The Centennial Neighbourhood began around 1878 with the subdivision of land owned by Alexander Logan, for industrial expansion west of Isabel Street. A portion was sold to the Dufferin Park Association and used for outdoor sports activities such as horse racing, cricket and rugby. Later, Dufferin Park land was sold for residential development and for construction of the original Dufferin School on Patrick Street.
With the coming of the railway in 1882, and anticipated housing demand, Logan subdivided his property into small residential lots for employees affiliated with the C.P.R. A variety of housing accommodation was constructed from small 3 room shanties, to boarding houses, tenement houses and hotels.
Many of these earlier houses were soon encroached upon by industry and commerce, creating isolated residential enclaves, and the larger homes and hotels were soon converted to rooming houses providing low rental accommodation. This change brought an influx of working class people into the area. Although the British and Scandinavians initially dominated the area, it became home to many new immigrant populations, who tended to settle within distinct ethnic enclaves.
In 1885, with the completion of Transcontinental Railway, Winnipeg became the “Gateway to the West”. The wholesale and garment industry grew in close proximity to the residential area and provided employment for the local labour force.
The Midland Railway, a subsidiary of the Great Northern Pacific Company, was built to move freight from warehouses locations between Princess Street and McPhillips Ave. The Midland Freight shed officially opened on March 18, 1903.
Besides blighting the neighbourhood from a pollution standpoint, the railway had a detrimental effect on the cohesiveness of the community when it bisected the residential area between Ross and Pacific Avenues. Major transportation corridors to move freight from warehouses to market, further exacerbated the residential community by isolating the area east and west of Isabel Street.
Fragmentation and isolation led to significant decline of the neighbourhood post WWII, and in spite of several initiatives proposed by municipal government, it was not until 1974 that the area became the focus of a comprehensive neighbourhood revitalization effort. Centennial was designated a Neighbourhood Improvement Program, under changes to the National Housing Act. Through a city led, participatory planning process, parks were upgraded and expanded, streets and sidewalks were upgraded and subsidized housing replaced noxious industry and vacant land. Homeowners and landlords were offered incentive to repair their aging dwellings through grants and low interest loans under the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program. The NIP Program became a catalyst for new commercial and residential development, and the Freight House, which symbolized the neighborhood’s early growth as a mixed-use industrial and residential community built upon the railway, was converted into a recreation/leisure centre.
During this period, citizen involvement was at its height, strengthened by networks established between local schools, agencies, concerned residents and business owners. Major redevelopment issues such as a proposal to develop an overpass over the rail yards connecting Sherbrook to McGregor St. was successfully defeated through a collaborative community effort and Winnipeg’s first community policing program, Operation Affirmative Action was piloted as a crime prevention initiative.
In 1986, Core Area Initiative, funded by the three levels of government introduced a Neighbourhood Facilities program to Centennial and West Alexander Neighbourhoods. Focused on enhancement of facilities that contributed to the quality of life for local residents, CAI allocated funding for capital improvements to health, social and educational facilities in both of these neighbourhoods.
With the coming of the railway in 1882, and anticipated housing demand, Logan subdivided his property into small residential lots for employees affiliated with the C.P.R. A variety of housing accommodation was constructed from small 3 room shanties, to boarding houses, tenement houses and hotels.
Many of these earlier houses were soon encroached upon by industry and commerce, creating isolated residential enclaves, and the larger homes and hotels were soon converted to rooming houses providing low rental accommodation. This change brought an influx of working class people into the area. Although the British and Scandinavians initially dominated the area, it became home to many new immigrant populations, who tended to settle within distinct ethnic enclaves.
In 1885, with the completion of Transcontinental Railway, Winnipeg became the “Gateway to the West”. The wholesale and garment industry grew in close proximity to the residential area and provided employment for the local labour force.
The Midland Railway, a subsidiary of the Great Northern Pacific Company, was built to move freight from warehouses locations between Princess Street and McPhillips Ave. The Midland Freight shed officially opened on March 18, 1903.
Besides blighting the neighbourhood from a pollution standpoint, the railway had a detrimental effect on the cohesiveness of the community when it bisected the residential area between Ross and Pacific Avenues. Major transportation corridors to move freight from warehouses to market, further exacerbated the residential community by isolating the area east and west of Isabel Street.
Fragmentation and isolation led to significant decline of the neighbourhood post WWII, and in spite of several initiatives proposed by municipal government, it was not until 1974 that the area became the focus of a comprehensive neighbourhood revitalization effort. Centennial was designated a Neighbourhood Improvement Program, under changes to the National Housing Act. Through a city led, participatory planning process, parks were upgraded and expanded, streets and sidewalks were upgraded and subsidized housing replaced noxious industry and vacant land. Homeowners and landlords were offered incentive to repair their aging dwellings through grants and low interest loans under the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program. The NIP Program became a catalyst for new commercial and residential development, and the Freight House, which symbolized the neighborhood’s early growth as a mixed-use industrial and residential community built upon the railway, was converted into a recreation/leisure centre.
During this period, citizen involvement was at its height, strengthened by networks established between local schools, agencies, concerned residents and business owners. Major redevelopment issues such as a proposal to develop an overpass over the rail yards connecting Sherbrook to McGregor St. was successfully defeated through a collaborative community effort and Winnipeg’s first community policing program, Operation Affirmative Action was piloted as a crime prevention initiative.
In 1986, Core Area Initiative, funded by the three levels of government introduced a Neighbourhood Facilities program to Centennial and West Alexander Neighbourhoods. Focused on enhancement of facilities that contributed to the quality of life for local residents, CAI allocated funding for capital improvements to health, social and educational facilities in both of these neighbourhoods.
