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The Exchange District

Canadian Bank of Commerce
(Millenium Centre) 389 Main Street

Expanding interests in the West, the Commerce purchased the Bannatyne Block and in 1900 architects Darling & Pearson designed a monumental structure for 389 Main Street.

Hamilton Building 395 Main Street
Bankers’ Row was well established on Main Street between Portage and William avenues, by the time the Ontario-based Bank of Hamilton leased space on East Main between Lombard and McDermot avenues in 1896.

Canadian Wheat Board 423 Main Street
This nine storey Gothic revival building was built in 1928.

Bank of British North America
(Newmac Building) 436 Main Street

On what was once a busy stretch of Winnipeg, today the former Bank of British North America stands physically isolated at 436 Main Street. It is the only surviving pre-1914 structure on West Main between Portage and McDermot avenues.

Imperial Bank of Canada 441 Main Street
From 1881 through to 1961, the Imperial Bank of Canada has stood on the same site on which this financial institution established its first Winnipeg office.

Bank of Toronto
(Ukrainian Canadian Committee) 456 Main Street

Situated on the west side of Main Street, between McDermot and Bannatyne Avenues, in an area known as Banker’s Row, the Bank of Toronto building was the first bank to have a marble façade.

Confederation Life Building 457 Main Street
Constructed in 1912 during a period of rapid urban expansion, the Confederation Life Building is one of the city’s finest skyscrapers.

Royal Bank of Canada 460 Main Street
The Royal Bank was the last major financial institution to open Winnipeg premises. Although the Royal's history in eastern Canada went back to 1869, the Montreal-based bank did not venture west to Winnipeg until 1906.

Woodbine Hotel 466 Main Street
Dufferin Hall was a two-storey wood frame building 22 feet wide and about twice as long. By 1881 it was sold and its name was changed to the Woodbine to appeal to expatriates from eastern Canada familiar with the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto.

Baker Block (Birt Saddlery) 468 Main Street
In 1901, local entrepreneur W.R. Baker demolished the small hardware stores on the lot adjoining the Duffin Block, to the south on Main Street, and erected the Baker Block.

Duffin Block (Birt Saddlery) 474 Main Street
The Duffin Block, has its connections to pioneer photographer Simon Duffin who came to the Red River area in 1872. He operated from a small Main Street shop and business proved successful enough to warrant the building of his own studio at Bannatyne and Main.

Ashdown Hardware Store
(Crocus Building) 476 Main Street

Precariously close to demolition, the century-old landmark, was brought back to life by Prairie Architects Inc. in 2001, with a $6 million transformation that restored the building’s exterior and incorporated as much of its old interior layout as possible.

Ryan Block/Macdonald Shoe Store 492 Main
Shoe retailer-wholesaler Thomas Ryan had operated a wood-frame shop on the west side of Main Street between present-day Bannatyne and William avenues since the mid-1870s.

Union Bank Tower and Annex
(Royal Tower) 500-504 Main Street

The Union Bank is believed to be the country’s oldest surviving steel frame and reinforced concrete “skyscraper”.

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