A massive redevelopment project taking shape in downtown Winnipeg stands as more than a major economic investment. For the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO), the transformation of the former Hudson’s Bay Company building offers an opportunity to advance Indigenous-led city-building, economic reconciliation and long-term renewal in the heart of Manitoba.
Known as Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn, meaning “It is visible” in Anishinaabemowin, the project is converting the historic building into a mixed-use space that includes housing, commercial units, health services and community focused amenities designed with Indigenous people at the centre.
For SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, the redevelopment is about creating something to last for future generations.
“There’s obviously always a number of opportunities that are available to us at any given moment and we saw a big void left in downtown when Hudson Bay closed,” Daniels says. “This project is creating space for SCO citizens that is theirs.”
The redevelopment has grown significantly since it was first announced. In March, Daniels announced the project’s total cost had risen to $310 million, more than double the original $130 million estimate released in 2022. He says the increase reflects a more accurate understanding of the scope of the work as construction plans evolved, along with inflation, supply-chain pressures and uncertainty surrounding potential U.S. tariffs.
Governments at the municipal, provincial and federal levels have collectively committed $110 million toward the project.
According to Daniels, roof work is nearing completion while crews continue framing and installing mechanical systems inside. The site is expected to open in the fall of 2028.
While the scale of the redevelopment is significant, Daniels says one of SCO’s primary goals has been ensuring Indigenous workers benefit directly from the project. He estimates three-quarters of the current workforce on site is Indigenous.
“There’s no other project of this size, across the country, that has this kind of a First Nation Indigenous workforce,” Daniels says. “We call it the gold standard as a result of that.”
A major factor behind those numbers has been Miikahnah Connect, an Indigenous workforce and retention platform SCO created. The platform helps recruit workers, connect them with employment opportunities and provide ongoing support aimed at improving long-term retention.
“We created an app and we made sure that our construction manager, PCL, was also proactive in working with us and then the subcontractors as well,” he says. “We really just sort of wrote it into the agreement to put pressure, that we would achieve these kinds of numbers.”
However, Daniels says the platform was never intended to serve only one development. Instead, SCO hopes Miikahnah Connect can become a broader tool for businesses seeking to improve Indigenous recruitment and retention practices across multiple industries.
The redevelopment comes as Winnipeg’s downtown continues to face challenges stemming from pandemic era disruptions, including declining foot traffic and vacant commercial spaces. Daniels believes projects like Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn will bring new life to the city centre by bringing new residents, businesses and services back into downtown Winnipeg.
“It’s going to raise property values,” he says. “And not only that but it increases incentives for private investment. And so, it’s going to create more vibrancy and a better quality of life for downtown Winnipeg.
“It’s the heart of our city. It’s the heart of Manitoba. And we’re playing a significant role in repairing and getting that area revitalized.”
Housing will form a substantial portion of the redevelopment. Daniels says SCO sought to strike a balance between affordability and long-term financial sustainability.
“We looked at making housing available as much as we possibly could without getting too close to the line for where it is unsustainable,” he says.
The project will include a combination of affordable and low-income housing options supported through different pricing structures and subsidy models.
“We tried to make it the best scenario that will maximize housing availability without compromising the financial management of the property,” Daniels says.
The redevelopment also carries symbolic significance. The Hudson’s Bay building has long stood as one of Winnipeg’s most recognizable landmarks and remains closely linked to Canada’s colonial economic history.
Daniels says transforming that space into an Indigenous-led development sends a powerful message about Indigenous participation in the country’s future.
The SCO project is one of several Indigenous-led developments reshaping Winnipeg’s downtown landscape.
The Manitoba Métis Federation’s National Heritage Centre, currently under construction in the former Bank of Montreal building at Portage and Main, is expected to open next year. The 122-year-old building will house the “Our Grandmothers Collection,” a library of 142 cultural artifacts curated by professor and artisan Gregory Scofield.
In 2024, the MMF also expanded its downtown footprint by purchasing two former Bell MTS office towers near the heritage centre.
Together, these projects reflect a growing Indigenous presence in some of Winnipeg’s most prominent and historically significant spaces.
“I think it’s taking us in a direction that our grandfathers, grandmothers would have hoped for,” Daniels says, “and that is that we play a significant role in this country.”
