Empress Hotel, 1908

The Empress Hotel was built by the CPR and Edward Windebank, who became the first manager, to provide accommodation for the social elite of Winnipeg, the “better classes”. Socially prominent young ladies stayed here because their maids refused to come out to their cottages, and the hotel provided maid service. The hotel was located 200 feet north of the Dance Pavilion close to the beach, just south of Ash Avenue. The plans of Hooper & Walker provided for a three story hotel, 131 feet long by 68 feet wide. Its magnificence is illustrated by a huge dining room, smoking room, and rotunda, all with fireplaces. Its 65 bedrooms all opened onto 12 foot wide verandas running around three sides of the building on all floors. The hotel was lighted by electricity, had hot and cold water throughout the building, and had fire alarms on all floors. A wood frame structure, it was painted white with green trim. The hotel was renowned for the most lavish bar in western Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Windebank put on a concert every weekend which was the social event of the week. A bonfire on the beach provided the finale, with young men (with banjos and mandolins) and young ladies in canoes providing a sing-song. Patrons had exclusive access to the hotel tennis courts, bowling green, and a sailing yacht. In 1915, the CPR turned over management of the hotel to Beach Attractions, which was already running the amusements. The hotel burned in August of 1935.

Source: Manitoba Heritage

Researcher: Wally Johannson