by Fred Morris
July 2022, updated 21 May 2025
Davidson Street is named after John Andrew Davidson (1852-1903). He served in a variety of politician offices including Mayor of Neepawa, MLA for Dauphin and Beautiful Plains, and as Manitoba Treasurer. Davidson Street is first listed in the 1914 Henderson Directory. The residents were Virginia McMillan (the widow of John McMillan), Patrick McMillan, and Thomas S. Acheson. Mr. Acheson spent over a half century in the railroad business. As early as 1904, he compiled weather reports as they related to farming. On 16 January 1954, shortly after his death, the Winnipeg Free Press paid tribute to Acheson's ability to link the interests of farming and the railroads. Part of the neighbouring street, Strathmillan, is named after the McMillan family. Another early resident was Samuel Vivian. Samuel signed up for the First World War at the age of 64. As a printer, he worked for the Toronto Globe under George Brown, a Father of Confederation, before moving west and working for the Winnipeg Tribune.
The children of Davidson Street appear a few times in the newspaper archives. In 1938, 75 young gardeners received awards at the Waugh Shield Gardiner Awards at the Hudson's Bay downtown store. One of the winners was Joy Steven in the centaureau category. In 1955, Brian Smith won second prize in the scenes and still life category of the Winnipeg Free Press snap shot contest. In 1969, Caroline and Lorie Glowa won bicycles at St. James-Assiniboia Toy Night at a St. James Canadians game. In 1974, Rita Banting, age 18, held Chess Grand Master Abe Yanofsky to a draw at a Polo Park Shopping Centrr event promoting chess. In 1955, Father John Delaney of St. Paul the Apostle Church is listed for the first time as a Davidson Street resident. Prior to the construction of their Portage Avenue Church, some of their masses were held in Father Delaney's home. Also in 1955 Henderson, 25 Davidson Street houses between Bruce and Ness were listed for the first time. The Keilbacks lived in one of these houses. Jim Keilback worked for almost 40 years in a media career in three Canadian provinces and Phoenix, Arizona. During his Winnipeg years, Jim worked as a CKY sportscaster. Jim and Pat's son Curt was the voice of the Winnipeg 1.0 Jets and Phoenix Coyotes for most of the 25 years between 1982 and 2007. After leaving the Coyotes, Curt did two seasons of play by play of MJHL games. A few of these games were from the St. James Civic Centre during the one season that the Winnipeg Saints called the St. James Civic Centre home. Curt is in the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. Don Rowand was the 1924 Canadian Welter Weight Champion.
Warren Hanks was the President of Spartan Printing. David Thordarson designed many buildings including the Norquay Building, the Allen building at the University of Manitoba, and Assiniboia Downs. Thomas (Bert) Sanders operated a barber shop at 2061 Portage Avenue (the current location of the Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce). Tom Milroy was an Eaton's Department Manager during a career that spanned the 1940s to the 1970s. Kay Harder and Darlene Harder are also in the St. James Eaton's Hall of Fame.
On 17 March 1965, Rodger and Joy McCharles hosted a gathering in their Davidson Street honouring Mary Wallace a long-time St. James teacher. Mary was my Grade 4 teacher. That event was attended by 80 former students. Mary was presented with a desk and a chair. Jen Mosienko is an accomplished artist. Her works include the octopus at Underground Scuba, the Peacock Hello Sunshine mural at 1856 Portage Avenue, the St. James centennial mural at 1721 Portage, and the Billy Mosienko mural at the 1136 Main Street bowling alley.
Page revised: 12 October 2026