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Richard Walls
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Businessman, community activist.
Born at Winnipeg on 28 December 1946, eldest of seven children of Alan Arthur Walles (1924-2008) and Mary Lillian LeClaire (1923-2016), he was a pioneering renovator and advocate in the city's Exchange District. He was President of ADI-DesignWorks Limited, an interior design consulting company, for over 40 years. He was a founding member and President of the Old Market Square Association and the Exchange District BIZ. He played leadership roles with Heritage Winnipeg, CentrePlan, Lions Club of Winnipeg, Lions Housing Centre, and Downtown Winnipeg BIZ.
He helped to transform the Occidental Hotel into a place of refuge and support. He founded and was a longtime leader of Red Road Lodge that provided transitional housing, community programming, and support to vulnerable residents of the city's North Main Street area. His redevelopment work south to restore historic buildings that provided affordable space for artists, residents, and community organizations. He supported Indigenous artists and cultural programming. In recognition of his community service, he received distinguished service awards from Heritage Winnipeg (1993, 2007).
A keen sailor, he was Commodore and a board member of the Northern Yacht Club, President and board member of the Manitoba Sailing Association, and Vice-President of the Canadian Yachting Association.
He died at his Winnipeg home on 9 September 2026.
See also:
MHS Centennial Business: Occidental Hotel
Obituary [Alan Arthur Walls], Winnipeg Free Press, 7 February 2008.
Obituary [Mary Lillian Walls], Winnipeg Free Press, 22 October 2016.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 19 September 2026.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 29 September 2026
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