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This organization was established in 1960 by the provincial government of Dufferin Roblin to provide inter-municipality services in the Winnipeg capitol region, creating two tiers of municipal administration. Its offices were located at 100 Main Street in Winnipeg. Referred to simply as “Metro”, its work was overseen by a council consisting of a Chair, Vice-Chair, and ten councillors representing ten municipal divisions.
Metro’s powers covered water supply and distribution; sewage collection and disposal; public transportation including major streets, bridges and traffic control; major parks, golf courses, and zoos; area planning and zoning; emergency measures; and mosquito and weed control. It took over such inter-municipal bodies as the Greater Winnipeg Water District, Greater Winnipeg Transit Commission, and Greater Winnipeg Sanitary District. Operations were funded by a levy collected by existing municipalities within its jurisdiction.
Among the major projects undertaken by Metro in its 11-year history were the Pembina Highway underpass, St. Vital Bridge, Nairn Avenue overpass, Maryland twin span bridge, reorganization and modernization of the Assiniboine Park Zoo, a new Assiniboine Park Conservatory, and the development of Bonnycastle Park.
The corporation was dissolved on 31 December 1971 when its functions were incorporated into the new Unicity administrative structure that took effect on 1 January 1972. It was said by some people involved in its creation and operation that the Metro Corporation prepared the way for the modern City of Winnipeg.
Period
Chair
1960-1966
Richard Henry Gardyne Bonnycastle (1903-1968)
1966-1968
Lawrence Ellis “Ozzie” Ostrander (1899-1976)
1968-1971
John Ernest “Jack” Willis (1913-2002)
Period
Vice-Chair
1960-1966
Lawrence Ellis “Ozzie” Ostrander (1899-1976)
1966-1968
John Ernest “Jack” Willis (1913-2002)
1968-1971
?
Councillor
Term(s)
Albert Edward Bennett (1906-1968)
1960-1968
John “Jack” Blumberg (1892-1961)
1960-1961
Raymond Darwin Chase (1905-1979)
1960-1966
Saul Mark Cherniack (1917-2018)
1960-1962
James Arthur “Art” Coulter (1916-2005)
1960-1971
Thomas B. Findlay
1964-1968
Albert H. “Bert” Fisher (1896-1982)
1960-1964
Sidney “Sid” Green (1929-2026)
1962-1965
Charles Richard Huband (1932-2023)
1964-1968
William J. “Bill” Hutton (1929-2022)
1968-1971
Lorne Arthur “Art” Leech (1927-2005)
1966-1971
William Parker “Bill” McGarva (1906-1991)
1968-1971
Robert Elmer “Bob” Moffat (1916-2002)
1960-1964
Lawrence Ellis Ostrander (1899-1976)
1960-1966
John P. Sulymko
1964-1971
Peter Stanley Taraska (1907-1984)
1962-1968
John Ernest “Jack” Willis (1913-2002)
1960-1968
Bernard Rodolph “Bernie” Wolfe (1922-2014)
1960-1968
Award Recipient
Year
Yaroslaw “Cecil” Semchyshyn (1930-2002)
?
See also:
Manitoba Communities: Winnipeg (City)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Centennial Fountain / Shoal Lake Water Supply (Broadway, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Imperial Oil Building / Metro Corporation Building (100 Main Street, Winnipeg)
“Councillors’ families attend Metro ceremony,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 November 1960, page 15.
“Green wins seat,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 December 1962, page 1.
“22 in running for 8 Metro seats,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 October 1964, page 22.
“Ostrander back, only one new face on Metro,” Winnipeg Tribune, 31 October 1964, page 23.
“Election tally at a glance,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 October 1966, page 1.
“Sulymko, Findlay re-elected,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 October 1966, page 3.
“St. Vital again lucky for Leech,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 November 1966, page 38.
“Metro seeks aid for history,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 November 1971, page 33.
“Short-lived Metro improved city,” Winnipeg Tribune, 1 January 1972, page 28.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 9 October 2026