Vignettes
/Greater Winnipeg
/ Garry-Osborne
Canadian Pacific Railway Station (Aboriginal
Cultural Centre)
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In 1878, Sir John A. Macdonald and his government’s
National Policy boldly pushed Canada’s development
with the building of a transcontinental railway that would
connect all regions of the country and push rapid settlement
of the west.
A critical issue of Winnipeg’s business and political
leaders was securing direct access to the transcontinental
rail line by whatever means. Initial plans called for the
line to run through Selkirk, however Winnipeg had already
commenced building of connecting lines and put together an
attractive offer to the CPR. Called a bribe at the time by
speculators that lost out, the city offered land for a station,
$300,000 for a bridge, $200,000 in cash and tax relief into
perpetuity if the CPR located its main line, workshops, stockyards
and other facilities in Winnipeg. The CPR agreed and the
government secured 270 hectares northwest of Point Douglas
for the station.
