Link to:
Photos & Coordinates | Sources
This three-storey brick building on Main Street in Winnipeg was built as a public theatre for the Grand Opera House Company. On 14 October 1908, the company had been granted a charter of incorporation via Letters Patent under the Manitoba Joint Stock Companies Act. Its founding partners were architect brothers Alexander D. Melville and William N. Melville, on whose plans the building was based, and contractors Charles Edward Gate, Harry Frith-Smith, and Ernest Gibbons.
The 57-foot wide by 120-foot deep structure was constructed between October and December 1908 by contractor Robert Grant (carpentry) and Ernest Gibbons (masonry). Built at a cost of about $50,000, and initially two storeys in height, its initial seating capacity was 1,200 people. A third floor was added later. The theatre opened on 25 December 1908 with the play “The Rose of the Rancho.”
In 1918, the building was purchased by the Canadian Farmer Hay Limited who renamed it the Traders Building and commissioned local architect John Hamilton Gordon Russell to design alterations and renovations which included converting the building into office space with three retail stores on the main floor. The cost of construction was about $15,000.
in 1956, it was renamed to the Progress Building.
The former Grand Opera House (1970)
Source: City of Winnipeg (via Winnipeg Free Press)
The former Grand Opera House (December 2016)
Source: Kerrin Asmundson
Removing the cornice of the former Grand Opera House (June 2017)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
The former Grand Opera House (no date)
Source: Kerrin Asmundson
The former Grand Opera House (March 2024)
Source: Jordan MakichukSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.90787, W97.13407
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Alexander D. Melville (1873-1949)
Memorable Manitobans: William N. Melville (1876-?)
Memorable Manitobans: John Hamilton Gordon Russell (1863-1946)
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 1316/1908, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Permit for new theatre in Winnipeg,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 October 1908, page 1.
“New theatre being rushed,” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 October 1908, page 2.
“Grand Opera House opening,” Winnipeg Tribune, 12 December 1908, page 20.
“Winnipeg’s big building development during 1908,” Winnipeg Tribune, 19 December 1908, page 31.
“Grand Opera House opening,” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 December 1908, page 9.
“Musical news of the day [The opening of the Grand Opera House in the north end ...],” Winnipeg Tribune, 26 December 1908, page 9.
“Two city theatres likely to clash,” Manitoba Free Press, 26 December 1908, page 24.
“Grand Opera House [ad],” Manitoba Free Press, 28 December 1908, page 8.
Companies Office corporation documents (CCA 0059), 99G - Grand Opera House Company, GR6427, Archives of Manitoba.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 916/1918, City of Winnipeg Archives.
Winnipeg fire insurance map, #215 March 1963, City of Winnipeg Archives.
Preparation of this page was supported, in part, by the Gail Parvin Hammerquist Fund of the City of Winnipeg.
We thank Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough, Nathan Kramer, and Kerrin Asmundson.
Page revised: 21 September 2025
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