Vignettes
/ The Exchange
District
/ Albert
Royal Albert Arms Hotel
Enlarge text: smaller | larger
The Royal Albert Hotel was one of a series of hotels built
in Winnipeg’s boom years between 1900 and World War
I. Opened at the same time as the more stately Fort Garry
Hotel, the smaller hotel quickly found its niche accommodating
salesmen, travelers and visitors on business in the booming
warehouse district.
In keeping with this European-styled service, the façade
of the hotel was designed with a continental flair. A red-tiled
roof forms a cornice over a brick front accentuated with
ornamental iron fretwork, elaborate iron lights and arched
main floor windows and doors which combine to create an
Italian effect; the first proprietor’s name was Angelo
Ferrari. Designed by architect E.D. McGuire, the Royal Albert
was built by W.M. Scott, a consulting engineer who later
became chairman of the Winnipeg Water District’s Board
of Commissioners.