1919 Strike

"On the face of every worker was the cheerful, optimistic smile of confidence in the justice of their cause."

As a flashpoint for worker unity, the strike and its accompanying effects on labour laws and unionization forever changed work in Winnipeg and beyond. This site focuses on the architecture of the conflict, and the stories of Winnipeg's early twentieth century architecture and social uprising.

Architecture of A Conflict

Bloody Saturday

“June 21st, one of the blackest chapters in Canadian history…” * On the morning of June 21, pro-strike veterans assembled in front of city h... Read More

The Women’s Labor League and the Labor Café (Royal Albert Arms Hotel)

Women's Labor League. The Winnipeg branch of the Women’s Labor League (WLL) provided essential leadership and support t... Read More

The Telegram Building

This building housed the Winnipeg Telegram, a daily newspaper which – like the Free Press and Tribune – joined the Citizens’ Committee in co... Read More

The Winnipeg Board of Trade Building (The Federal, or ‘Victory’ Building)

Today’s Federal Building stands on the site of the former Winnipeg Industrial Bureau Exposition Building, which housed the Winnipeg Board of... Read More

Walker Theatre (Burton Cummings Theatre)

The spirit of the One Big Union and the Russian Revolution roared from the stage of the Walker Theatre on Sunday afternoon, December 22, 191... Read More

Victoria Park - “Liberty Park”

“Vast Assembly in Victoria Park”*. The James Street Labor Temple was too small to hold the thousands of strikers and their supporters wh... Read More

James Street Labor Temple – Strike Headquarters

The James Street Labor Temple was the city hall of the labour movement. It was located on the city block where The Manitoba Museum now stand... Read More

Broadway and the Manitoba Club

The Broadway area was in transition in 1919. Many residents had already moved to Crescentwood, but the area was popular with wealthy doctors... Read More

Fort Osborne Barracks

On June 21 (Bloody Saturday) Mayor Gray met with General Ketchen at the Fort Osborne Barracks. Gray instructed Ketchen to assemble all avail... Read More

Manitoba Legislative Building

The present Manitoba Legislative Building was partially open in 1919, but most government business was still conducted in the old Legislatur... Read More

13H - Citizens’ Committee Members and Residences

The Citizens’ Committee was organized as soon as the strike began by the residents of Winnipeg who opposed the unions’ position. Chaired by ... Read More

13G - Citizens’ Committee Members and Residences

The Citizens’ Committee was organized as soon as the strike began by the residents of Winnipeg who opposed the unions’ position. Chaired by ... Read More

13F - Citizens’ Committee Members and Residences

The Citizens’ Committee was organized as soon as the strike began by the residents of Winnipeg who opposed the unions’ position. Chaired by ... Read More

13E - Citizens’ Committee Members and Residences

The Citizens’ Committee was organized as soon as the strike began by the residents of Winnipeg who opposed the unions’ position. Chaired by ... Read More

13D - Citizens’ Committee Members and Residences

The Citizens’ Committee was organized as soon as the strike began by the residents of Winnipeg who opposed the unions’ position. Chaired by ... Read More

13C - Citizens’ Committee Members and Residences

The Citizens’ Committee was organized as soon as the strike began by the residents of Winnipeg who opposed the unions’ position. Chaired by ... Read More

13B - Citizens’ Committee Members and Residences

The Citizens’ Committee was organized as soon as the strike began by the residents of Winnipeg who opposed the unions’ position. Chaired by ... Read More

13A - Citizens’ Committee Members and Residences

The Citizens’ Committee was organized as soon as the strike began by the residents of Winnipeg who opposed the unions’ position. Chaired by ... Read More

The Weston Shops (CPR) and Labour Militancy

In 1919, Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and Canadian National Railway employed some 10,000 workers across Winnipeg and in nearby Transcona. ... Read More

11E - Arrest of the Strike Leaders, June 17

The arrest of the strike leaders on June 17 was dramatic. At 2:00 am eight police cars swept down on the homes of the men who were to be arr... Read More

11D - Arrest of the Strike Leaders, June 17

The arrest of the strike leaders on June 17 was dramatic. At 2:00 am eight police cars swept down on the homes of the men who were to be arr... Read More

11C - Arrest of the Strike Leaders, June 17

The arrest of the strike leaders on June 17 was dramatic. At 2:00 am eight police cars swept down on the homes of the men who were to be arr... Read More

11B - Arrest of the Strike Leaders, June 17

The arrest of the strike leaders on June 17 was dramatic. At 2:00 am eight police cars swept down on the homes of the men who were to be arr... Read More

11A - Arrest of the Strike Leaders, June 17

The arrest of the strike leaders on June 17 was dramatic. At 2:00 am eight police cars swept down on the homes of the men who were to be arr... Read More

Liberty Temple

Liberty Temple was home to the Winnipeg branch of the Arbeiter Ring (Workmen’s Circle), a progressive Jewish society that was dedicated to s... Read More

The Ukrainian Labor Temple (1918)

A building of great historical significance, the Ukrainian Labor Temple (ULT) was constructed largely by volunteer labour and with financial... Read More

St John’s Telephone Exchange Building (Winnipeg Housing Rehabilitation Corporation)

The rapid expansion of telephone networks in the early 20th century provided women with a new opportunity for employment. The industry appea... Read More

All Peoples’ Mission (CEDA - Community Education Development Association Winnipeg, Inc

This building housed one of several All Peoples’ Missions in the poorest immigrant neighbourhoods of Winnipeg’s North End. Most were run by ... Read More

The 1918 Influenza Epidemic: Children’s Hospital and the Nurses School Residence

Winnipeg did not escape the ravages of the flu epidemic that swept much of the world in 1918. City officials reported 1,200 residents died f... Read More

Selkirk Avenue

Newcomers from central and eastern Europe lived in the least desirable housing, just north of the busy and noisy CPR railyards.... Read More

04C - Working-Class Housing

Drive along North End streets like Dufferin Avenue and Stella Avenue to see the many examples of houses occupied by working families in 1919... Read More

04B - Working-Class Housing

Drive along North End streets like Dufferin Avenue and Stella Avenue to see the many examples of houses occupied by working families in 1919... Read More

04A - Working-Class Housing

Drive along North End streets like Dufferin Avenue and Stella Avenue to see the many examples of houses occupied by working families in 1919... Read More

Vulcan Iron Works and the Point Douglas Neighbourhood

Point Douglas changed rapidly after the railway cut through the community in the 1880s. The wealthy families living there, having pushed Ind... Read More

Canadian Pacific Railway Station (Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg, Inc

Thousands of newcomers arrived at this site beginning in the late 1800s. The poorest among them were sent to immigration halls across Higgin... Read More

Winnipeg Fire Hall No

Winnipeg fire fighters were no strangers to labour activism in 1919. They had been lobbying for improved wages and hours of work for years.... Read More

  • Maps
  • Central Conflict
  • Citizens' Committee of 1000
  • Working Class

The 1919 illuminated video is brimming with captivating historic images and news articles that show the development of Winnipeg’s architecture and social uprising. Discover the origins of what caused civil unrest which led citizens to start the 1919 General Strike.

Learn about the historic areas and people that helped shape the social democratic movement. Compare historic landmarks from the 20th century to modern day.