Home / Disasters and Accidents / Winnipeg Prepares to Demolish Historic Sutherland Hotel
Winnipeg Prepares to Demolish Historic Sutherland Hotel
22 Jun
Summary
- City seeks contractor for wet demolition and site cleanup.
- Tender budget set at $300,000 for demolition work.
- Sutherland Hotel, built in 1882, housed low-income tenants.
More than a year after a fire devastated the historic Sutherland Hotel, the City of Winnipeg is initiating demolition plans. A tender has been issued for a contractor to undertake wet demolition and site cleanup at the 785 Main Street property, with bids to be submitted by July 3. This action follows significant damage from a fire on January 16, 2025, which occurred after the building had already been vacant.
The city has allocated a budget of up to $300,000 for the demolition. The contracted work includes removing debris and backfilling the site, though the building's foundation will remain. The Sutherland Hotel, established in 1882 as the Cosmopolitan Hotel, was one of Winnipeg's oldest surviving establishments.
In its more recent history, the three-storey building served as long-term housing for individuals with low incomes. Its exterior was notably adorned with "The Fancy Shawl Dancers" mural, a tribute to a First Nations powwow dance style.
