This two-storey brick and stone building on Sherbrook Street in Winnipeg was designed by local architect Samuel Hooper and constructed in 1909 by contractor brothers James Michel Kelly and John J. Kelly for Manitoba Government Telephones. Originally 50 feet by 120 feet, at some point an addition was added to its north side.
In 1922, the first transmitters and studios for the government-owned CKY radio station were installed here and, on 13 March 1923, the station officially began to broadcast with a strength of 500 watts. Within five years, the power was increased to 5,000 watts and, on 1 December 1934, it increased to 15,000 watts. The station moved to new quarters in May 1937 and it was taken over by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in mid-1948.
Sherbrook Telephone Exchange Building (1912)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, Manitoba Telephone System Collection #32, N9857
The former Sherbrook Telephone Exchange Building (October 2013)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
The former Sherbrook Telephone Exchange Building (February 2022)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.88773, W97.15895
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
CKY Winnipeg in the 1920s: Canada’s Only Experiment in Government Monopoly Broadcasting by Mary Vipond
Manitoba History, Number 12, Autumn 1986Memorable Manitobans: Samuel Hooper (1851-1911)
Memorable Manitobans: James Michel Kelly (1873-1969)
Memorable Manitobans: Douglas Richard Proctor “Darby” Coats (c1892-1973)
Memorable Manitobans: Lillian Shaw (1906-1996)
Memorable Manitobans: William Francis “Billy” Seller (1893-1985)
MHS Centennial Business: Manitoba Government Telephones / Manitoba Telephone System / MTS Allstream / Bell MTS
“CKY ‘comes of age’,” Manitoba Calling, March 1944, page 1.
Manitoba Telephone System, Sherbrook Exchange, 297 Sherbrook Street by Murray Peterson, Peterson Projects, December 2009.
We thank Darryl Resch and Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 24 October 2023
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