Winnipeg Walkway
Encyclopedia
The Winnipeg Walkway System, popularly known as the Winnipeg Skywalk, is a network of pedestrian skyway
s and tunnels connecting a significant portion of the city centre
in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, Canada
.
In 2002, a profile of Downtown Winnipeg
published by the City of Winnipeg described the Walkway as a system of 14 skyways and 7 tunnels connecting 38 buildings and allowing for a maximum protected walk of 2 km. It went on to state that the system provides year-round climate-controlled access to over 170,000 m2 of space, including over 200 shops and businesses, 10 office complexes, 60 restaurants and snack bars, 700 apartment units, 2 hotels, 11 financial centres, and the Winnipeg Millennium Library
, bringing together 21,000 employees.
and Millennium Library
, a new unified system of signage was developed for the entire network to assist wayfinding
therein. This process brought with it the branding of the system as the Winnipeg Walkway and the subdivision of the network into four interconnected segments.
, said to be the windiest in Canada. At street level this intersection is closed to pedestrians; it is not possible to cross it without going underground.
On a much smaller scale, this segment is somewhat reminiscent of Montreal's Underground City. Via a network of tunnels, the Main Underground connects the following:
At the southwestern corner of Winnipeg Square
, near the intersection of Graham Avenue and Fort Street, there are escalator, lift and stairway connections to the second floor of 200 Graham Avenue, thereby connecting the Main Underground to the Graham Skywalk.
. The complex is said to be able to accommodate the construction of an additional high-rise office tower on Graham Avenue as well as a low-rise building for use as a hotel on Main Street, following this same model.
(the former site of the historic Eaton's
store) and the former Eaton's power station on the north side. This portion of the network provides access to the following:
The MTS Centre can be said to be a major hub in the Winnipeg Walkway network as it connects the Graham Skywalk to the Portage Skywalk.
), part of the Convention Centre
's pedestrian network. In 2008, construction of two new skyway bridges was announced, one across Saint Mary Avenue between CityPlace and 330 Saint Mary Avenue, and another from 330 Saint Mary Avenue,crossing Hargrave Street, wrapping around the front of the Delta Winnipeg hotel, and connecting to the previously existing skywalk connecting the Delta and the Convention Centre. Construction began in summer 2009 and the link was opened to the public August 30, 2010.
. An extensive network of skyway
s and second-floor pedestrian rights-of-way connects the Radisson Hotel
, the MTS Centre
, the Newport Center (sic
) and other adjacent buildings on the south side of Portage Avenue, with the three-block Portage Place
shopping and entertainment complex between Carlton Street and Vaughan Street on the north side. Several neighbouring residential, recreational and commercial buildings, including the One Canada Centre tower between Vaughan Street and Colony Street, are directly connected to Portage Place. At the western edge of Portage Place there is a skyway link to the historic Bay
department store and the Power Building on the south side of Portage Avenue. Via an open-air connection through the covered parkade of The Bay, the network reaches further south, providing access to the Saint Mary Skywalk. More specifically, the Portage Skywalk links the following:
, structural pads were built atop Portage Place
to allow for future upward expansion. There is one atop each end, and there is currently a plan for an office and hotel tower to be built on the western pad.
department store. The Saint Mary Skywalk connects three buildings on the south side of Saint Mary Avenue, between Vaughan Street and Edmonton Street, namely:
are separated by a mere half a block, and there is currently a plan in the works to replace the parking lot currently occupying this space with a hotel and apartment complex. This complex would then be connected to both 400 Saint Mary Avenue and the Convention Centre by means of skyway
. This would provide a second link between the Winnipeg Walkway System and the Convention Centre walkway system, thereby completing the loop between the Convention Centre, cityplace, MTS Centre
, Portage Place
and The Bay
, and allowing (mostly) weather-protected travel between the points in either direction. Representatives of Lakeview Properties, the firm planning the complex, has said it will only move forward with its development once the long-discussed expansion of the Convention Centre becomes reality
and the various buildings of Lakeview Square. A network of pedestrian tunnels and skyways connects the following buildings:
The two Holiday Towers are linked to each other by a basement tunnel, and by two different skyways, one closer to ground level and one near the top floor. The North Tower is also connected by tunnel to the Delta Winnipeg, which is itself connected to the adjacent 185 Carlton Street. The Convention Centre is connected by skyways to both 185 Carlton Street and 155 Carlton Street. The latter is connected to the adjacent 349 York Avenue. The Lakeview Square development forms a 'U' around an open central courtyard which faces the Convention Centre across Carlton Street.
From the perspective of graph theory
, the addition of one of the proposed links, or edges, would create a single connected
network, or graph
, of the two separate networks that currently exist. In other words, a path
(without having to go outside) would exist between any pair of buildings, or vertices
, in either one of the two existing networks, thereby creating a single, larger network. Furthermore, the addition of both proposed links would create a cycle
in that network.
. On the west side of Main Street is the Winnipeg Civic Centre and on the east side is the Manitoba Centennial Centre
. This pedestrian network's underground tunnels link the following public buildings:
Unlike the Convention Centre pedestrian network, it is not at all feasible to imagine a pedestrian link between the Civic Centre and the principal Winnipeg Walkway System in the foreseeable future. Not only is the distance great between the Main Underground and the Civic Centre, but any connection between the two would require sensitive tunneling underneath turn of the century heritage buildings
over several blocks.
Skyway
In an urban setting, a skyway, catwalk, sky bridge, or skywalk is a type of pedway consisting of an enclosed or covered bridge between two buildings. This protects pedestrians from the weather. These skyways are usually owned by businesses, and are therefore not public spaces...
s and tunnels connecting a significant portion of the city centre
Downtown Winnipeg
Downtown Winnipeg is centred around Portage Avenue and Main Street, and is bounded by the Assiniboine River on the south, Colony and Balmoral Streets on the west, Notre Dame Avenue, Princess Street, and Logan Avenue on the north, and the Red River on the east. It includes the Exchange District,...
in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
In 2002, a profile of Downtown Winnipeg
Downtown Winnipeg
Downtown Winnipeg is centred around Portage Avenue and Main Street, and is bounded by the Assiniboine River on the south, Colony and Balmoral Streets on the west, Notre Dame Avenue, Princess Street, and Logan Avenue on the north, and the Red River on the east. It includes the Exchange District,...
published by the City of Winnipeg described the Walkway as a system of 14 skyways and 7 tunnels connecting 38 buildings and allowing for a maximum protected walk of 2 km. It went on to state that the system provides year-round climate-controlled access to over 170,000 m2 of space, including over 200 shops and businesses, 10 office complexes, 60 restaurants and snack bars, 700 apartment units, 2 hotels, 11 financial centres, and the Winnipeg Millennium Library
Winnipeg Public Library
The Winnipeg Public Library is a public library service that is provided by the municipality of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Most branches provide programming for children, teens, and some to adults. The Library also contains an Outreach Department which works with the community, as well as people...
, bringing together 21,000 employees.
Network Segments
Starting in 2004, in anticipation of the openings of the MTS CentreMTS Centre
The MTS Centre is an indoor sports arena and entertainment venue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and home of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. It is located on the former Eaton's site and is owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment. The 440,000 square feet ...
and Millennium Library
Winnipeg Public Library
The Winnipeg Public Library is a public library service that is provided by the municipality of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Most branches provide programming for children, teens, and some to adults. The Library also contains an Outreach Department which works with the community, as well as people...
, a new unified system of signage was developed for the entire network to assist wayfinding
Wayfinding
Wayfinding encompasses all of the ways in which people and animals orient themselves in physical space and navigate from place to place.-Historical:...
therein. This process brought with it the branding of the system as the Winnipeg Walkway and the subdivision of the network into four interconnected segments.
Main Underground
This portion of the network is centred underneath the historic intersection of Portage and MainPortage and Main
Portage and Main is an intersection in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is located in the heart of downtown Winnipeg at the place where Portage Avenue and Main Street intersect. Together these two streets create the most iconic and famous street corner in Canada.Portage and Main is the hub of some...
, said to be the windiest in Canada. At street level this intersection is closed to pedestrians; it is not possible to cross it without going underground.
On a much smaller scale, this segment is somewhat reminiscent of Montreal's Underground City. Via a network of tunnels, the Main Underground connects the following:
- Portage and Main Pedestrian Loop
- Trizec Complex
- Shops of Winnipeg SquareWinnipeg SquareWinnipeg Square is a mall in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was built in 1979 by Trizec Corporation in downtown Winnipeg. In 2009, the mall at Portage and Main is home to 45 stores and restaurants...
- 360 Main (formerly Commodity Exchange TowerWinnipeg Commodity ExchangeThe Winnipeg Commodity Exchange is the former name of a derivatives market based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada now known as ICE Futures Canada. Futures and options contracts are electronically traded in western barley and canola ....
) - ScotiabankScotiabankThe Bank of Nova Scotia , commonly known as Scotiabank , is the third largest bank in Canada by deposits and market capitalization. It serves some 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world and offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial,...
Building
- Shops of Winnipeg Square
- Royal BankRoyal Bank of CanadaThe Royal Bank of Canada or RBC Financial Group is the largest financial institution in Canada, as measured by deposits, revenues, and market capitalization. The bank serves seventeen million clients and has 80,100 employees worldwide. The company corporate headquarters are located in Toronto,...
Building - CanWest Global PlaceCanWest Global Place201 Portage is an office tower at the intersection of Portage and Main in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was built in 1990 by the Toronto Dominion Bank, and was later acquired by Canwest to serve as the company's main corporate headquarters...
(formerly TDToronto-Dominion BankThe Toronto-Dominion Bank , is the second-largest bank in Canada by market capitalization and based on assets. It is also the sixth largest bank in North America. Commonly known as TD and operating as TD Bank Group, the bank was created in 1955 through the merger of the Bank of Toronto and the...
Centre)- TD BankToronto-Dominion BankThe Toronto-Dominion Bank , is the second-largest bank in Canada by market capitalization and based on assets. It is also the sixth largest bank in North America. Commonly known as TD and operating as TD Bank Group, the bank was created in 1955 through the merger of the Bank of Toronto and the...
- TD Bank
- Lombard Place
- Richardson Building
- CIBCCanadian Imperial Bank of CommerceThe Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is one of Canada's chartered banks, fifth largest by deposits. The bank is headquartered at Commerce Court in Toronto, Ontario. CIBC's Institution Number is 010, and its SWIFT code is CIBCCATT....
- CIBC
- FairmontFairmont Hotels and ResortsFairmont Hotels & Resorts is a Canadian-based operator of luxury hotels and resorts. Currently, Fairmont operates properties in 18 countries including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Bermuda, Barbados, United Kingdom, Monaco, Germany, Switzerland, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, the...
Winnipeg Hotel - Lombard Concourse
- 161 Portage Avenue East
- Historic Grain Exchange Building
- Richardson Building
- Historic Bank of MontrealBank of MontrealThe Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
Building - MTSManitoba Telecom ServicesManitoba Telecom Services Inc. , or MTS , formerly Manitoba Telephone System, is the primary telecommunications carrier in the Canadian province of Manitoba and the fourth largest telecommunications provider in Canada with 7000 employees...
Place (formerly Bank of MontrealBank of MontrealThe Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
Tower)
At the southwestern corner of Winnipeg Square
Winnipeg Square
Winnipeg Square is a mall in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was built in 1979 by Trizec Corporation in downtown Winnipeg. In 2009, the mall at Portage and Main is home to 45 stores and restaurants...
, near the intersection of Graham Avenue and Fort Street, there are escalator, lift and stairway connections to the second floor of 200 Graham Avenue, thereby connecting the Main Underground to the Graham Skywalk.
Possible Expansion
The 360 Main Street tower sits upon one of several structural pads atop Winnipeg SquareWinnipeg Square
Winnipeg Square is a mall in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was built in 1979 by Trizec Corporation in downtown Winnipeg. In 2009, the mall at Portage and Main is home to 45 stores and restaurants...
. The complex is said to be able to accommodate the construction of an additional high-rise office tower on Graham Avenue as well as a low-rise building for use as a hotel on Main Street, following this same model.
Graham Skywalk
The Graham Skywalk consists of a series of skyways connecting the buildings on the south side of Graham Avenue, between Main Street and Hargrave Street, as well as the MTS CentreMTS Centre
The MTS Centre is an indoor sports arena and entertainment venue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and home of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. It is located on the former Eaton's site and is owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment. The 440,000 square feet ...
(the former site of the historic Eaton's
Eaton's
The T. Eaton Co. Limited was once Canada's largest department store retailer. It was founded in 1869 in Toronto by Timothy Eaton, an Irish immigrant. Eaton's grew to become a retail and social institution in Canada, with stores across the country, buying offices across the globe, and a catalogue...
store) and the former Eaton's power station on the north side. This portion of the network provides access to the following:
- 200 Graham Avenue
- Hewlett-PackardHewlett-PackardHewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
- AllstreamManitoba Telecom ServicesManitoba Telecom Services Inc. , or MTS , formerly Manitoba Telephone System, is the primary telecommunications carrier in the Canadian province of Manitoba and the fourth largest telecommunications provider in Canada with 7000 employees...
- Hewlett-Packard
- CargillCargillCargill, Incorporated is a privately held, multinational corporation based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Founded in 1865, it is now the largest privately held corporation in the United States in terms of revenue. If it were a public company, it would rank, as of 2011, number 13 on the Fortune 500,...
Building- HSBCHSBCHSBC Holdings plc is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. it is the world's second-largest banking and financial services group and second-largest public company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine...
- HSBC
- Canada PostCanada PostCanada Post Corporation, known more simply as Canada Post , is the Canadian crown corporation which functions as the country's primary postal operator...
Centre - Millennium LibraryWinnipeg Public LibraryThe Winnipeg Public Library is a public library service that is provided by the municipality of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Most branches provide programming for children, teens, and some to adults. The Library also contains an Outreach Department which works with the community, as well as people...
- CityPlaceCityplace (Winnipeg)Cityplace is an office and retail complex situated in Downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba. It consists mainly of the former Eaton's company mail-order warehouse building that occupies the block bounded by Hargrave and Donald Streets, and Graham and St. Mary Avenues...
(formerly EatonEaton'sThe T. Eaton Co. Limited was once Canada's largest department store retailer. It was founded in 1869 in Toronto by Timothy Eaton, an Irish immigrant. Eaton's grew to become a retail and social institution in Canada, with stores across the country, buying offices across the globe, and a catalogue...
Place)- CityPlace Shopping Centre
- CityPlace Office Tower
- MTS CentreMTS CentreThe MTS Centre is an indoor sports arena and entertainment venue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and home of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. It is located on the former Eaton's site and is owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment. The 440,000 square feet ...
- Powerhouse Building
- CTV WinnipegCKY-TVCKY-DT is a television station based in Winnipeg, Manitoba and owned by Bell Media. It is part of the CTV Television Network....
- CTV Winnipeg
The MTS Centre can be said to be a major hub in the Winnipeg Walkway network as it connects the Graham Skywalk to the Portage Skywalk.
Expansion
The southwestern corner of City Place, at the intersection of Saint Mary Avenue and Hargrave Street, is kitty-corner from the Delta Winnipeg Hotel (formerly the Holiday Inn Crowne PlazaCrowne Plaza
Crowne Plaza is a chain of full service, upscale hotels catering to business travelers and to the meetings and conventions market. It forms part of the InterContinental Hotels Group family of brands, which include InterContinental and Holiday Inn and operates in 52 countries, usually located in...
), part of the Convention Centre
Winnipeg Convention Centre
The Winnipeg Convention Centre is a major meeting and convention facility located in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.The publicly-owned facility was built in 1975, and was among the first such facilities built in Canada...
's pedestrian network. In 2008, construction of two new skyway bridges was announced, one across Saint Mary Avenue between CityPlace and 330 Saint Mary Avenue, and another from 330 Saint Mary Avenue,crossing Hargrave Street, wrapping around the front of the Delta Winnipeg hotel, and connecting to the previously existing skywalk connecting the Delta and the Convention Centre. Construction began in summer 2009 and the link was opened to the public August 30, 2010.
Portage Skywalk
This segment of the Winnipeg Walkway boasts many of the shopping and entertainment attractions most often associated with Downtown WinnipegDowntown Winnipeg
Downtown Winnipeg is centred around Portage Avenue and Main Street, and is bounded by the Assiniboine River on the south, Colony and Balmoral Streets on the west, Notre Dame Avenue, Princess Street, and Logan Avenue on the north, and the Red River on the east. It includes the Exchange District,...
. An extensive network of skyway
Skyway
In an urban setting, a skyway, catwalk, sky bridge, or skywalk is a type of pedway consisting of an enclosed or covered bridge between two buildings. This protects pedestrians from the weather. These skyways are usually owned by businesses, and are therefore not public spaces...
s and second-floor pedestrian rights-of-way connects the Radisson Hotel
Radisson Hotels
Radisson Hotels is one of the leading, full-service global hotel companies with more than 420 locations in 73 countries. The first Radisson Hotel was built in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1909, and was named after the 17th-century French explorer Pierre-Esprit Radisson...
, the MTS Centre
MTS Centre
The MTS Centre is an indoor sports arena and entertainment venue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and home of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. It is located on the former Eaton's site and is owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment. The 440,000 square feet ...
, the Newport Center (sic
Sic
Sic—generally inside square brackets, [sic], and occasionally parentheses, —when added just after a quote or reprinted text, indicates the passage appears exactly as in the original source...
) and other adjacent buildings on the south side of Portage Avenue, with the three-block Portage Place
Portage Place
Portage Place is a mixed-use shopping centre located on the north side of Portage Avenue, between Vaughan and Carlton Streets in Downtown Winnipeg...
shopping and entertainment complex between Carlton Street and Vaughan Street on the north side. Several neighbouring residential, recreational and commercial buildings, including the One Canada Centre tower between Vaughan Street and Colony Street, are directly connected to Portage Place. At the western edge of Portage Place there is a skyway link to the historic Bay
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
department store and the Power Building on the south side of Portage Avenue. Via an open-air connection through the covered parkade of The Bay, the network reaches further south, providing access to the Saint Mary Skywalk. More specifically, the Portage Skywalk links the following:
- MTS CentreMTS CentreThe MTS Centre is an indoor sports arena and entertainment venue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and home of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. It is located on the former Eaton's site and is owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment. The 440,000 square feet ...
- Somerset Place
- Newport Centre
- RogersRogers CommunicationsRogers Communications Inc. is one of Canada's largest communications companies, particularly in the field of wireless communications, cable television, home phone and internet with additional telecommunications and mass media assets...
- Portage PlacePortage PlacePortage Place is a mixed-use shopping centre located on the north side of Portage Avenue, between Vaughan and Carlton Streets in Downtown Winnipeg...
Southside Shops
- Rogers
- Carlton Building
- Portage PlacePortage PlacePortage Place is a mixed-use shopping centre located on the north side of Portage Avenue, between Vaughan and Carlton Streets in Downtown Winnipeg...
Southside Shops
- Portage Place
- Manitoba HydroManitoba HydroManitoba Hydro is the electric power and natural gas utility in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1961, it is a provincial Crown Corporation, governed by the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board and the Manitoba Hydro Act. Today the company operates 15 interconnected generating stations. It has...
- Portage PlacePortage PlacePortage Place is a mixed-use shopping centre located on the north side of Portage Avenue, between Vaughan and Carlton Streets in Downtown Winnipeg...
- Globe Cinema
- IMAXIMAXIMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
Cinema - Prairie Theatre ExchangePrairie Theatre ExchangeThe Prairie Theatre Exchange is a professional theatre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It has its origins with the Manitoba Theatre School started by the Manitoba Theatre Centre in 1960....
- One Canada Place
- Investors Group
- YMCAYMCAThe Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
Downtown Winnipeg - Place Promenade
- IBMIBMInternational Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
Building - KiwanisKiwanisKiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
Chateau - Fred Douglas Place
- The BayHudson's Bay CompanyThe Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
- Power Building
Planned Expansion
As was the case with the construction of Winnipeg SquareWinnipeg Square
Winnipeg Square is a mall in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was built in 1979 by Trizec Corporation in downtown Winnipeg. In 2009, the mall at Portage and Main is home to 45 stores and restaurants...
, structural pads were built atop Portage Place
Portage Place
Portage Place is a mixed-use shopping centre located on the north side of Portage Avenue, between Vaughan and Carlton Streets in Downtown Winnipeg...
to allow for future upward expansion. There is one atop each end, and there is currently a plan for an office and hotel tower to be built on the western pad.
Saint Mary Skywalk
This is both the smallest, and the most tenuously linked segment of the Winnipeg Walkway System. Its only connection to the network is via the covered, although not exactly indoor, parkade of The BayHudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
department store. The Saint Mary Skywalk connects three buildings on the south side of Saint Mary Avenue, between Vaughan Street and Edmonton Street, namely:
- Centra GasCentra Gas Manitoba Inc.Centra Gas Manitoba Inc. is a division of Manitoba Hydro. It has about 239,000 residential, 16,000 commercial and 400 large industrial customers in its. In fiscal 2003 total gas revenues were $497 million on 2,123 million cubic metres of gas. Residential consumers account for about 42% of Manitoba...
- 420 Saint Mary Avenue
- 400 Saint Mary Avenue
Planned Expansion
400 Saint Mary Avenue and the Winnipeg Convention CentreWinnipeg Convention Centre
The Winnipeg Convention Centre is a major meeting and convention facility located in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.The publicly-owned facility was built in 1975, and was among the first such facilities built in Canada...
are separated by a mere half a block, and there is currently a plan in the works to replace the parking lot currently occupying this space with a hotel and apartment complex. This complex would then be connected to both 400 Saint Mary Avenue and the Convention Centre by means of skyway
Skyway
In an urban setting, a skyway, catwalk, sky bridge, or skywalk is a type of pedway consisting of an enclosed or covered bridge between two buildings. This protects pedestrians from the weather. These skyways are usually owned by businesses, and are therefore not public spaces...
. This would provide a second link between the Winnipeg Walkway System and the Convention Centre walkway system, thereby completing the loop between the Convention Centre, cityplace, MTS Centre
MTS Centre
The MTS Centre is an indoor sports arena and entertainment venue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and home of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. It is located on the former Eaton's site and is owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment. The 440,000 square feet ...
, Portage Place
Portage Place
Portage Place is a mixed-use shopping centre located on the north side of Portage Avenue, between Vaughan and Carlton Streets in Downtown Winnipeg...
and The Bay
The Bay
The Bay is a chain of 91 department stores that operate across parts of Canada. It is the main brand of Hudson's Bay Company , North America's oldest company. It has its headquarters in the Simpson Tower in Toronto. In French, the chain is known as la Baie, short for "Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson"...
, and allowing (mostly) weather-protected travel between the points in either direction. Representatives of Lakeview Properties, the firm planning the complex, has said it will only move forward with its development once the long-discussed expansion of the Convention Centre becomes reality
Other Downtown Pedestrian Networks
In addition to the Winnipeg Walkway, there are two smaller enclosed pedestrian networks in Downtown Winnipeg that are not currently connected to the principal Walkway network.Convention Centre
On the two blocks bordered by Edmonton Street, Saint Mary Avenue, York Avenue and Hargrave Street is a residential and commercial complex consisting of the Winnipeg Convention CentreWinnipeg Convention Centre
The Winnipeg Convention Centre is a major meeting and convention facility located in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.The publicly-owned facility was built in 1975, and was among the first such facilities built in Canada...
and the various buildings of Lakeview Square. A network of pedestrian tunnels and skyways connects the following buildings:
- Winnipeg Convention CentreWinnipeg Convention CentreThe Winnipeg Convention Centre is a major meeting and convention facility located in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.The publicly-owned facility was built in 1975, and was among the first such facilities built in Canada...
- Lakeview Square
- Lakeview I
- 155 Carlton Street
- Business Development Bank of CanadaBusiness Development Bank of CanadaThe Business Development Bank of Canada is a crown corporation financial institution wholly owned by the Government of Canada. BDC plays a leadership role in delivering financial and consulting services to Canadian small business, with a particular focus on technology and exporting.BDC's debt...
- Winnipeg Regional Health AuthorityWinnipeg Regional Health AuthorityThe Winnipeg Regional Health Authority is the governing body for healthcare regulation in an area of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Established in December 1999, the WRHA is one of 12 Regional Health Authorities in Manitoba responsible for coordinating health services in designated regions...
- Business Development Bank of Canada
- 349 York Avenue
- East India Company Pub & Eatery
- 155 Carlton Street
- Lakeview II (175 Carlton Street)
- Shannon's Irish Pub
- Lakeview III
- 185 Carlton Street
- 189 Carlton Street
- Ichiban Japanese Restaurant
- Holiday Tower South
- Holiday Tower North
- DeltaDelta HotelsDelta Hotels is a chain of 45 hotels and resorts across Canada, primarily in the 4 star range of standard. Delta once had a hotel in the United States, the Delta Court of Flags Hotel, located in Orlando, Florida, however, it was closed sometime after 1996 and has subsequently been demolished...
Winnipeg Hotel (formerly Holiday Inn Crowne PlazaCrowne PlazaCrowne Plaza is a chain of full service, upscale hotels catering to business travelers and to the meetings and conventions market. It forms part of the InterContinental Hotels Group family of brands, which include InterContinental and Holiday Inn and operates in 52 countries, usually located in...
)- Elephant and Castle Pub and RestaurantElephant and Castle Pub and RestaurantElephant and Castle Pub and Restaurant is a North American restaurant chain based in Vancouver, British Columbia and founded in 1977. The restaurant name was derived from the Elephant & Castle region in south London, England and the pub with the same name in that location...
- Elephant and Castle Pub and Restaurant
- Lakeview I
The two Holiday Towers are linked to each other by a basement tunnel, and by two different skyways, one closer to ground level and one near the top floor. The North Tower is also connected by tunnel to the Delta Winnipeg, which is itself connected to the adjacent 185 Carlton Street. The Convention Centre is connected by skyways to both 185 Carlton Street and 155 Carlton Street. The latter is connected to the adjacent 349 York Avenue. The Lakeview Square development forms a 'U' around an open central courtyard which faces the Convention Centre across Carlton Street.
Walkway Integration
As explained above, there are currently plans to connect the St Mary Skywalk to the Convention Centre, and links between CityPlace and the Delta Winnipeg are currently under construction. Once this connection is made, it will incorporate the Convention Centre's network into the Winnipeg Walkway System. If the former were made, it would create a loop in the western portion of the Winnipeg Walkway, thereby facilitating travel in that section of the network in either direction.From the perspective of graph theory
Graph theory
In mathematics and computer science, graph theory is the study of graphs, mathematical structures used to model pairwise relations between objects from a certain collection. A "graph" in this context refers to a collection of vertices or 'nodes' and a collection of edges that connect pairs of...
, the addition of one of the proposed links, or edges, would create a single connected
Connectivity (graph theory)
In mathematics and computer science, connectivity is one of the basic concepts of graph theory: it asks for the minimum number of elements which need to be removed to disconnect the remaining nodes from each other. It is closely related to the theory of network flow problems...
network, or graph
Graph (mathematics)
In mathematics, a graph is an abstract representation of a set of objects where some pairs of the objects are connected by links. The interconnected objects are represented by mathematical abstractions called vertices, and the links that connect some pairs of vertices are called edges...
, of the two separate networks that currently exist. In other words, a path
Path (graph theory)
In graph theory, a path in a graph is a sequence of vertices such that from each of its vertices there is an edge to the next vertex in the sequence. A path may be infinite, but a finite path always has a first vertex, called its start vertex, and a last vertex, called its end vertex. Both of them...
(without having to go outside) would exist between any pair of buildings, or vertices
Vertex (graph theory)
In graph theory, a vertex or node is the fundamental unit out of which graphs are formed: an undirected graph consists of a set of vertices and a set of edges , while a directed graph consists of a set of vertices and a set of arcs...
, in either one of the two existing networks, thereby creating a single, larger network. Furthermore, the addition of both proposed links would create a cycle
Cycle (graph theory)
In graph theory, the term cycle may refer to a closed path. If repeated vertices are allowed, it is more often called a closed walk. If the path is a simple path, with no repeated vertices or edges other than the starting and ending vertices, it may also be called a simple cycle, circuit, circle,...
in that network.
Civic Centre
Another series of interconnected buildings straddle Main Street, approximately 1 km north of Portage and MainPortage and Main
Portage and Main is an intersection in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is located in the heart of downtown Winnipeg at the place where Portage Avenue and Main Street intersect. Together these two streets create the most iconic and famous street corner in Canada.Portage and Main is the hub of some...
. On the west side of Main Street is the Winnipeg Civic Centre and on the east side is the Manitoba Centennial Centre
Manitoba Centennial Centre
The Manitoba Centennial Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada was an urban renewal program that began in 1960. The Centennial Concert Hall, as part of the Centennial Centre, was built as a Canadian Centennial project. The concert hall cost $8 million. The venue presently has a seating capacity of...
. This pedestrian network's underground tunnels link the following public buildings:
- Winnipeg Civic Centre
- City Hall
- Administration Building
- Public Safety BuildingWinnipeg Police ServiceThe Winnipeg Police Service is the police force of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.-History:When Winnipeg became a city in 1873, an election was held to select the city's new Mayor and Aldermen. Those appointed decided to hire city officials, including a Chief Constable. On February 23,...
- Manitoba Centennial CentreManitoba Centennial CentreThe Manitoba Centennial Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada was an urban renewal program that began in 1960. The Centennial Concert Hall, as part of the Centennial Centre, was built as a Canadian Centennial project. The concert hall cost $8 million. The venue presently has a seating capacity of...
- Centennial Concert HallCentennial Concert HallThe Centennial Concert Hall, as part of the Manitoba Centennial Centre, was built as a Canadian Centennial project. With seating for over 2,300 people, the Concert Hall is the performing home of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Manitoba Opera and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.The concert hall cost...
- Manitoba MuseumManitoba MuseumThe Manitoba Museum, previously the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature is the largest museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.The museum is the largest heritage centre in Manitoba and the world and focuses on human and natural heritage. It has planetarium shows and a Science Gallery hall...
- Manitoba Museum Science Gallery
- Planetarium
- Centennial Concert Hall
Unlike the Convention Centre pedestrian network, it is not at all feasible to imagine a pedestrian link between the Civic Centre and the principal Winnipeg Walkway System in the foreseeable future. Not only is the distance great between the Main Underground and the Civic Centre, but any connection between the two would require sensitive tunneling underneath turn of the century heritage buildings
Exchange District
The Exchange District is a National Historic Site of Canada in the downtown area of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Just one block north of Canada's most famous intersection, Portage and Main, the Exchange District comprises approximately twenty city blocks and nearly 150 buildings.- History :The...
over several blocks.
External links
- A set of photos taken inside the Winnipeg Walkway.
- Humorous CBC Television report from 1988 showcasing the perils of wayfindingWayfindingWayfinding encompasses all of the ways in which people and animals orient themselves in physical space and navigate from place to place.-Historical:...
in the Winnipeg Walkway. - Bruce KuwabaraBruce KuwabaraBruce Bunji Kuwabara, B.Arch, OAA, FRAIC, RCA, AIA is a Canadian architect and partner in the firm Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects ....
's July 2005 presentation of his firm's winning design for the new Manitoba Hydro Building.