Neeginan Centre Timeline
Railway Arrives
The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) establishes its presence in Winnipeg. The city emerges as the transportation gateway to Western Canada.
A Grand Station Rises
Construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway Station is completed. Designed by Edward and W.S. Maxwell, it becomes the most grandest station in the CPR network.
Gateway to the West
Thousands of immigrants, settlers, and travelers pass through the station during Western Canada’s great immigration boom.
Expansion & Growth
An enlargement to the station is completed to accommodate increasing passenger traffic and administrative operations.
Peak of Railway Travel
The station reaches its busiest period. Multiple passenger trains arrive daily, and the building serves thousands of travelers each year.
Decline in Rail Travel
As automobiles and commercial air travel become more popular, passenger rail traffic decreases. The station remains active, but the era of rail travel begins to fade.
Closure of the Royal Alexandra Hotel
The Royal Alexandra Hotel closes after more than sixty years of operation. Once one of Winnipeg’s finest hotels, it struggles as rail travel declines and the surrounding area experiences economic change.
Demolition of the Alexandra Hotel
After standing vacant for four years, the Royal Alexandra Hotel is demolished. The loss of the station’s historic companion building permanently alters the original CPR complex. The station becomes the last major surviving structure from the once-grand railway precinct.
End of an Era
Passenger rail operations are consolidated to Union Station under VIA Rail. The CPR Station no longer functions as a passenger terminal, ending more than seventy years of service to travelers.
An Uncertain Future
As Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) moved out of the station, much of the building sat vacant. Many Winnipeggers feared it could face the same fate as the Royal Alexandra Hotel, which had been demolished in 1971. The future of the station was in uncertainty.
A New Vision Emerges
Indigenous leaders began discussing the possibility of creating a central urban hub where Indigenous organizations could share space and provide services. At the time, many Indigenous agencies were scattered throughout Winnipeg and lacked a permanent home.
Neeginan is Established
Community leaders formally established the Neeginan Centre as an organization. Their goal was ambitious: acquire the former CPR Station and transform it into a centre for Indigenous education, training, employment, business development, and cultural programming.
Building Support & Partnerships
Neeginan Centre spent years negotiating with governments, funding agencies, and CPR. They developed proposals, built community support, and argued that the station should be preserved and repurposed rather than abandoned or demolished.
Victory: Acquisition of the Building
After extensive negotiations, the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg (now known as the Neeginan Centre) acquired the former CPR station. This marked the culmination of years of advocacy and planning by Indigenous leaders and community organizations.
Securing Heritage Protection
Community advocates worked hard to ensure the building received heritage recognition. Provincial Heritage Site designation helped protect the structure while supporting restoration efforts.
Restoration
Restoration became a community-driven effort. Indigenous workers contributed over 100,000 hours of labour to rehabilitate the station. Rather than simply occupying the building, the community actively rebuilt it in unity.
A New Purpose
The restored station welcomed its first tenants and programs. What had once served railway passengers now served Indigenous students, families, entrepreneurs, and community members seeking opportunities and support.
A Home for Indigenous Organizations
The Neeginan Centre (previously the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg) grows into one of Canada’s largest Indigenous service centres. Educational institutions, employment programs, health services, businesses, and cultural organizations establish permanent homes within the building, fulfilling the vision of a centralized Indigenous community hub.
Celebrating 100 Years
The building marks its centennial anniversary. Community celebrations recognize both its railway heritage and its transformation into the Neeginan Centre (previously the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg).
Preservation
As the building continues to serve the community, ongoing restoration and maintenance projects focus on preserving its heritage features, including masonry, windows, roofing systems, and interior architectural details.
Modernizing for Future Generations
Infrastructure upgrades improve accessibility, building systems, and tenant spaces, while maintaining the station’s historic character. The goal is to ensure the building remains functional for modern community needs while respecting its heritage designation.
Major Renewal Projects
New capital projects address aging building systems and long-term conservation needs. Restoration work focuses on extending the life of the 1905 structure while supporting the growing number of Indigenous organizations and services housed within it.
Preserving the Next Century
The Neeginan Centre undertakes significant rehabilitation and preservation initiatives to ensure the former CPR station remains a vibrant Indigenous hub for generations to come. More than a century after opening as a railway station, the building continues to adapt while preserving its historic legacy.