Historic Sites of Manitoba: Gordon Block (592 Selkirk Avenue, Winnipeg)

This two-storey brick building on Selkirk Avenue in Winnipeg, measuring 25 feet by 45 feet, was designed by local architect Max Zev Blankstein and built in 1911 for owner George A. Gordon at a cost of about $6,200. In its original configuration, the building contained a single retail space on the main floor with two residential apartments on the second floor.

In 1913, the main floor retail space became occupied by the Bank of British North America and served as its north end branch until 1918 when the bank merged with the Bank of Montreal. It continued to occupy the building until 1919 when the bank built a new building further down Selkirk Avenue.

Gordon Block (June 2022) Source: Jordan Makichuk Gordon Block (March 2025) Source: Kerrin Asmundson Rear view of the Gordon Block (August 2025) Source: Jordan Makichuk Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.91671, W97.14866 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Max Zev Blankstein (1874-1931)

Manitoba Business: Bank of British North America

Manitoba Business: Bank of Montreal

Sources:

City of Winnipeg Building Permit 2106/1911, City of Winnipeg Archives.

“Permits issued yesterday,” Winnipeg Tribune, 13 July 1911, page 5.

Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.

Monuments to Finance—Early Bank Architecture in Winnipeg, City of Winnipeg Historical Buildings Committee, 1982.

Max Blankstein: Architect by Murray Peterson, Winnipeg Architecture Foundation, 2022.

We thank Kerrin Asmundson for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Jordan Makichuk.

Page revised: 21 August 2025

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