Winnipeg – Assiniboine Park Pavilion

Architect(s)George Norwood and Cyril Chivers
55 Pavillion Crescent, Winnipeg, MB

When the original Assiniboine Park Pavilion burned to the ground in 1929, it took less than a day to approve construction of a replacement.

The pavilion had become a mainstay of social activities in Winnipeg since opening in 1909. Without it, there would be no dance hall, banquet space, or eateries in the sprawling park space.

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55 Pavillion Crescent, Winnipeg, MB
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Though Winnipeg hoped to have the new pavilion constructed quickly, it took a year before it would reopen. George Norwood and Cyril Chivers, were hired and designed a larger, more modern facility drawing inspiration from the original pavilion. The ornamental central tower was a main feature. Chivers described his design for the pavilion as “International”, and largely a combination of Tudor style and Swiss Chalet style.

Tudor-style timbering covers the rough-cast stucco on the facade. Truncated gables frame the building’s roof, offering the impression of an English cottage. Inside, the pavilion was still a community hub; there was a first-floor canteen and a formal dining room on the second. A second-floor dance floor could accommodate 500 guests. The third-floor office and storage space were never furnished. All in all, construction of this new pavilion cost $96,000.

In 1997, the pavilion was renovated and turned into a restaurant and art gallery.