This building, designed by local architect James McDiarmid and constructed in 1899, housed one of the oldest grocery brokerages in western Canada. The three-storey portion of this structure was built for Edward Nicholson who, together with his partner Donald Henderson Bain, did so well in the wholesale grocery business that, by 1920, they had moved to the neighbouring, five-storey Merrick-Anderson Building. A plaque is mounted on the west side of the main (south side) entrance of the building, now a municipally-designated historic site.
Nicholson Building at right (c1910)
Source: Winnipeg Illustrated, Peels Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta
Bain Building (September 1957) by John H. Warkentin
Source: John Warkentin Fonds, 2009-029/003, ASC16265, York University
Bain Building (September 2015)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Bain Building (April 2017)
Source: George Penner
Bain Building (February 2021)
Source: George Penner
Bain Building commemorative plaque (2009)
Source: City of WinnipegSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89730, W97.13485
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Edward Nicholson (1867-1923)
Memorable Manitobans: Donald Henderson “Dan” Bain (1874-1962)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Merrick-Anderson Building (119 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg)
Information for this page was provided by The City of Winnipeg’s Planning, Property and Development Department, which acknowledges the contribution of the Government of Manitoba through its Heritage Grants Program.
Donald H. Bain Building (115 Bannatyne Avenue), City of Winnipeg Historical Buildings Committee, April 1980.
We thank George Penner and Darryl Resch for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 25 September 2024
Historic Sites of Manitoba
This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.
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