The Bay, Downtown Winnipeg, Department store in Downtown Winnipeg, Canada.
The Bay is a six-story department store built in the Beaux-Arts style with a limestone exterior made from Tyndall stone. The structure features tall stone columns, ornamental details, and broad display windows that wrap around its facade.
The Hudson's Bay Company commissioned architects Ernest Barott and Gordon Home Blackader to design this store, which opened in 1926. The building was completed during a period when the company was expanding as a retail leader across Canada.
The building's name in Anishinaabemowin, Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn, means "it is visible", the working title of the Southern Chiefs' Organization redevelopment. The Anishinaabe tribal council, representing 34 First Nations communities in Manitoba, received the building from the Hudson's Bay Company on 22 April 2022 as an act of reconciliation over the company's fur-trade roots and historic involvement with Indigenous peoples.
The store connects to Winnipeg's skywalk system, allowing visitors to move between neighboring buildings while staying protected from weather. This network makes it easy to explore the downtown area regardless of season or outdoor conditions.
The foundation work required removing around 150,000 tons of earth using 300 workers, 120 horse teams, and two steam shovels. This enormous excavation was necessary to establish a solid base for the building's weight and size.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,520 contributors worldwide.
