by Fred Morris
20 May 2024, expanded October 2024 and September 2025
24 July 2024 was the 68th anniversary of the opening of the St. James City Hall. Deer Lodge Place surrounds the former St. James City Hall. Berlin Street and Oakdale are listed in the 1909 Henderson Directory. During the First World War, Berlin was renamed Lyle Street. In a 1959 renaming, the name Deer Lodge Place was given to Oakdale Place, Lyle Street south of Portage, and one house on Assiniboine Avenue. The Apartment Block at 205 Lyle Street became 1960 Portage Avenue.
Politicians, athletes, business people, an artist, and several writers have lived part of their life on this street. George Thomas (Tom) Chapman served as the first St. James Solicitor. He founded the law firm which became known Chapman and Chapman. Dr. Roy Snyder was a dentist and the Dental Inspector for Public Schools.
Lemoine FitzGerald, the only Western Canadian in the Group of Seven artists, lived on the street between 1924 and 1956. One of his most famous pictures is Snyder's House. Between 1929 and 1949, he was the Principal of the Winnipeg Art School. The dirt back lane behind his house where he often painted is called FitzGerald Walk. A University of Manitoba building is named in his memory. Hubert Fanshaw (1878-1940) was the Director of the Art Department at Kelvin High School. Not many streets can boast two great artists.
Reg Wightman, a druggist, served as School Board Chair, Mayor 1945 to 1954, MLA 1949 to 1958, before ending his political career as a St. James Alderman. In 1956, his Private Members Legislature Bill established St. James as a City. A Green Space at 384 Linwood is named in his memory. Tom Findlay served as Chairman of School Board, Mayor 1954 and 1961, and as a Metro Councillor.
During a 47-year career at Manitoba Pool Elevators, Harry Ballance held several management positions. Frank Marvin was a member of the famous Warroad, Minnesota business family. His wife Eileen taught neighbourhood children how to swim in their home swimming pool. During his 43-year career at Dominion Bridge, Mike Schioler served on several construction and engineering associations. Bill Elliott who transformed an industrial site into Fort Whyte resided on Deer Lodge Place. In 2020, he received the Order of Manitoba. Bob Williams served as President of Swancoat Investments. In 2024, he received the Order of Manitoba. Earlier this year, Bob and Heather Williams donated a million dollars to the Health Science Centre and Children's Hospital foundations.
During my Eatons project, I discovered several Eatons employees. George Stokes worked at Eatons in five different decades. Mr. Stokes was the Head Cashier with a knowledge of exchanging currencies. Bunny Nagamori worked in the Jewelry, Children's, and Toys Department at both the Downtown and Polo Park stores. Between 1973 and 1999, Lesley Gamey worked as a stock person, office clerk, and supply representative. Between 1970 and 1971, Rosemary Head was on the Eatons Junior Council. She won an Eatons Public Speaking Award.
Many well-known people grew up on Deer Lodge Place. Dr. Clive Wightman performed the first surgery at the Booth Drive Grace Hospital. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, multi-sport athletes Bud Harden, Jim Ballance, Paul Harden, and Russ Harden led the Winnipeg Hawkeyes to Little Grey Cup titles. The Manitoba Bisons annually award the Bud Harden Players Memorial Award. Bud is in the Football Manitoba Hall of Fame. Lawson Tarbuth had a long education career and as a teacher and administrator.
As a writer, I often rely on the material of Deer Lodge Place residents. Charles L'Ami wrote for various newspapers. In 1952, he won the Westminster Award for his novel The Green Madonna. Between 1962 and 1977, Charles edited the CBC program Neighbourly News from the Prairies. Charles' papers are archived at the University of Manitoba. Mary Ferguson, a school teacher, wrote the History of St. James. Anita Schmidt wrote The Banks of the Assiniboine and Tales of a Trustee.
The story would not be complete without mentioning the Nagamori family. During the Second World War, Hanaye (Bunny) and Tadashi were among the Japanese-Canadians displaced from their British Columbia homes by the Canadian Government. In 1988, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney formally apologised to Japanese-Canadians for the terrible way that they were treated by the government. Bunny and Tadashi married in 1950. In 1952, they moved to Lyle Street (now Deer Lodge Place) and raised six children: Jerry, Beverly, Holly, Kathy, Cindy, and Candy. Bunny (1925-2009) worked for Eatons. Tadashi worked as an auto body mechanic. Tadashi was a master gardener. When he left his Deer Lodge Place home shortly before his 2023 death, Tadashi was likely the last resident of Deer Lodge Place who had lived on the street when it was called Lyle.
Deer Lodge Place has held block parties for the past 42 years. The 2025 party was held on the 31 May to 1 June weekend. In July 2025, the children of Deer Lodge Place held a yard sale with the proceeds going to the Texas children affected by flooding.
Page revised: 7 October 2026