A fountain on the boulevard of Broadway, between Donald and Hargrave streets in Winnipeg, was designed by Brian William Bancroft of the architectural firm Smith Carter Parkin. It was constructed in 1970 to mark the centenary of Manitoba's entry into Canadian Confederation and the 50th anniversary of the Shoal Lake Aqueduct that supplies drinking water to Winnipeg. It was presented to the City of Winnipeg by MEPC (Metropolitan Estate and Property Corporation) Canadian Properties Limited and the Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg. The fountain was opened officially on 22 October 1970 at a ceremony attended by Lieutenant Governor William John “Jack” McKeag.
The fountain had been closed for several years when, in 2023, it was renewed. A pair of hexagonal plaques beside the fountain, in French and English, commemorating early physician Amelia Yeomans, were removed. A plaque for the 50th anniversary of the Shoal Lake Aqueduct was replaced by a monument acknowledging the impacts of the Aqueduct on the Shoal Lake 40 First Nation.
Centennial Fountain (May 2010)
Source: City of Winnipeg
Centennial Fountain (September 2022)
Source: George Penner
Monument on the impacts of the Shoal Lake Aqueduct on Shoal Lake 40 First Nation (June 2023)
Source: George PennerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.88757, W97.14052
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Manitoba Business: Smith Carter and Katelnikoff / Smith Carter Architects and Engineers / Architecture49
Memorable Manitobans: Brian William Bancroft (?-2013)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Shoal Lake Aqueduct (Notre Dame Street, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Dr. Amelia Yeomans Plaque (Broadway, Winnipeg)
“$25,000 fountain planned,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 September 1970, page 3.
“New fountain gushes open,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 October 1970, page 3.
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.
“Broadway fountain, Freight House up for historical designation” by Kevin Rollason, Winnipeg Free Press, 12 February 2025.
We thank Glen Toews for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 16 February 2025
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