Article by Laura McKay, on behalf of Heritage Winnipeg Corp.

To follow up on this or any other articles on the blog, contact Heritage Winnipeg's Executive Director.

The Doors Open Winnipeg 2015 award statues, created by Jordan Van Sewell, Heritage Winnipeg President. Doors Open Winnipeg 2015 was our most successful event yet!

With over 27,000 site visits this year, we broke our record, set at our 2013 10th anniversary event with 23,000 visits. Thank you to everyone who helped out with this year's event!





The awards component of Doors Open Winnipeg continues to be the only one of its kind in Canada and provides an opportunity and incentive for owners and volunteers to step up their enthusiasm and put on the best event they can.



Heritage Winnipeg President, Jordan Van Sewell, gives his opening remarks on the intimate relationship between Winnipeg's artistic and heritage communities.



Visitors have the chance to vote for their favourite buildings and winners will receive a spectacular award, created by a local artist, at a media event held in June. Votes are collected for the following categories: Best Restoration, Best Architecture, Best Guided Tour/Programming, The 'Hidden Gem', and Best Overall Experience. This year, for first time ever, visitors could vote using an online survey powered by Survey Monkey, which closed Friday, June 5, 2015.

Best Restoration: Dalnavert Museum at 61 Carlton Street



Runner Up: Metropolitan Entertainment Centre at 281 Donald Street



Dalnavert Museum & Visitors' Centre at 61 Carlton.

Dalnavert Museum at 61 Carlton Street is the restored home of Sir Hugh John Macdonald, son of Sir John A. Macdonald and Premier of Manitoba from 1899-1900. In 1970, the home was purchased by the Manitoba Historical Society and restored to its 1895 appearance. Long considered one of the finest examples of restored Queen Anne Revival Architecture in Canada, Dalnavert offers visitors the opportunity to step back in time to Canada’s youth.

(L-R): Rina Ricci, City Heritage Planner; Brock Capell, Friends of Dalnavert Museum; John Kiernan, City Manager of Urban Design.

Closed since the fall of 2013, Doors Open this year offered a sneak peek of the museum ahead of its official opening the first week of June. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of the Friends of Dalnavert Museum, the doors have been reopened to the public, with a feasible business plan to continue to make this historic home and national historic site a successful museum for future generations to enjoy. Congratulations!



Brock Capell, Member of the Friends of Dalnavert Museum, accepts the award. here. our previous blog post about Dalnavert Museum click For



Best Architecture: Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church at 505 Watt Street

Runner Up: Manitoba Legislative Building at 450 Broadway



Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church at 505 Watt Street.

The Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church located at 505 Watt Street is one of Elmwood’s hidden treasures. Built to replace the original Holy Eucharist Church in 1954, this building is a sight to behold, adorned with stained glass windows and frescoes by famous artists, hand-carved Iconostas, and a crystal chandelier. The original parish was established in 1919 along with the original church, which was only the third Ukrainian Catholic Church to be built in the city.



Heritage Winnipeg Board Member, Paul Haverstock (at right), presents the award to Father Michael Kwiatkowski. This was the first year that the Holy Eucharist participated in Doors Open Winnipeg, hosting nearly 500 visitors over the weekend! A valuable and beautiful addition to our Doors Open event, we are pleased to offer such a unique architectural gem in East Kildonan and we hope to include them again next year!

Father Michael Kwiatkowski says a few words, emphasizing the efforts of the church's congregation in making Doors Open happen this year. This was the first time the Holy Eucharist was part of Doors Open Winnipeg.

Best Guided Tour/Programming: The Vaughan Street Jail at 444 York Avenue

Runner Up: Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Sts. Vladimir & Olga

Vaughan Street Jail at 444 York Avenue.



The former Vaughan Street Detention Centre, now known as the Vaughan Street Jail at 444 York Avenue was built in 1881 to house inmates serving two years or less sent from Western Ontario and the Prairie Provinces. It is the oldest provincially owned building still standing within the City limits. There are significant local and Canadian historical figures connected to this building, including such figures as Bloody Jack Krafchencko and Earl Nelson, Winnipeg's first serial killer. However, unfortunately, this building still does not have any heritage designation or protection.

Heritage Winnipeg Board Member, Greg Agnew, gives a short history of the building before presenting the award.



This Doors Open site boasted the most site visits with nearly 3500 visitors over the weekend. With theatrical performances and historic costumes the volunteers once again put on a fantastic tour! Prior to 2013, the building had been closed to Doors Open for 6 years – we hope to be able to continue to feature this building in our event. This building’s popularity just continues to grow and, as an architectural landmark to social and judicial history, is very important to our city’s history.



Kristen Verin-Treusch, Friends of Vaughan Street Jail, accepts the award. For our previous posts about the Vaughan Street Jail, guest written by Kristen Verin-Treusch, click here (Part 1) and here (Part 2)

The 'Hidden Gem': The Historical Museum of St. James-Assiniboia at 3180 Portage Avenue

Runner Up: La Maison Gabrielle-Roy at 375 rue Deschambault



Sketch of the Historical Museum of St. James-Assiniboia at 3180 Portage Avenue.



The Historical Museum of St. James-Assiniboia located at 3180 Portage Avenue is a museum that strongly reflects the history of its community. There are three buildings on the property for visitors to explore, including the William Brown Red River Frame House circa 1856 and the old Municipal Government Hall, built in 1911, which now houses displays about the development of St. James-Assiniboia as well as an interpretive centre showcasing pioneer life in the late 19th century.



Cindy Tugwell, Heritage Winnipeg Executive Director, presents the award. A long-standing participant in Doors Open Winnipeg, the Historical Museum of St. James-Assiniboia is one of many incredible museum experiences that the city of Winnipeg has to offer. Truly an historical asset to the Doors Open event, we are very pleased with their continued participation.

(L-R): Barry Hillman, Bonita Hunter-Eastwood accept the award on behalf of the Museum.

Best Overall Experience (tied): Ghost Signs Walking Tour (Exchange District)

Ghost signs in Winnipeg's historic Exchange District.

The creation of Matt Cohen from the Advertising Association of Manitoba, the Ghost Signs Walking Tour was a new addition to Doors Open this year. Focusing on the Exchange District, the tour sought out and explored the histories of the fading promotional signage and the companies that called these warehouses home. The 90-minute tour allowed participants to travel back in time and get to know the businesses behind the ads and the impact they played in shaping the landscape of the district.





(L-R): Matt Cohen and Brent Neill, Advertising Association of Winnipeg; Jordan van Sewell, Heritage Winnipeg President.

The walking tours that were added to Doors Open this year were unique and incredibly well received and will hopefully continue to be a part of this event. There is an opportunity to continue grow these events as their popularity increases.

Best Overall Experience (tied): Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church at 40 Ada Street

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church at 40 Ada Street

The Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church at 40 Ada Street is the last remaining original, pioneer-built Ukrainian Church of its kind in the city. Owing much of its completion to the labour of volunteers from the Brooklands parish, the exterior of the church was completed in 1932. Finishing touches continued to be added, including the painting of icons and numerous ornamental designs by Jacob Maydanyk in 1940.



Heritage Winnipeg Summer Student, Laura McKay, presents the award to Dr. Mary Pankiw, Parish Secretary of Holy Ghost. Another new addition to Doors Open Winnipeg, this Ukrainian Church is the second to receive an award this year. Although isolated, its rich history makes this church one of Winnipeg’s many historic treasures.

Dr. Mary Pankiw shares how much it means to them to receive the award.

Thank you to everyone who turne d out to help celebrate these buildin gs and we hope to see you all for Do ors Open again next year!

All of the award winners and presenters at the Winnipeg Free Press News Cafe 237 McDermot Avenue.

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