Historic Sites of Manitoba: Order of Sleeping Car Porters Monument (799 Main Street, Winnipeg)

In September 2026, the Black-Manitobans Chamber of Commerce unveiled a memorial garden at this site on Main Street in Winnipeg. It commemorates the legacy of Black porters who worked as porters on Canadian railways, the Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railway, in the early 20th century while facing discrimination and unequal working conditions.

Founded in 1917 by porters John Ashley Robinson, J. W. Barber, B. F. Jones, and P. White, the Order of Sleeping Car Porters because the first Black labour union in North America. Within two years, the Order had negotiated improved wages and job protection for porters. It established offices and a meeting hall in the nearby Craig Block.

Order of Sleeping Car Porters commemorative monument (September 2026) Source: George Penner Order of Sleeping Car Porters commemorative monument (September 2026) Source: Glen Toews Plaque on Order of Sleeping Car Porters commemorative monument (September 2026) Source: Glen Toews Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.90701, W97.13340 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Craig Block (793-795 Main Street, Winnipeg)

Memorable Manitobans: John Ashley Robinson (c1883-1950)

Sources:

This page was prepared by George Penner, Glen Toews, and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 3 October 2026

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