Historic Sites of Manitoba: Swift Meat Packing Plant (Archibald Street, Winnipeg)

Formerly located off Archibald Street in St. Boniface (now Winnipeg), this meat processing plant was built between 1937 and 1939 by the Bird Construction Company, and originally consisted of a three-storey brick utility building measuring 130 feet by 258 feet, a five-storey brick killing building measuring 66 feet by 110 feet, and a one-storey brick garage measuring 55 feet by 180 feet, all built at a total cost of about $2,000,000.

The building was demolished with an impressive implosion in 1994.

Aerial view of the Canada Packers plant at left and Swifts plant at right (1963) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2016-0003 Postcard view of the Swifts plant (1939) Source: Internet Archive, PC002343 Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.87918, W97.09334 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Manitoba Business: Bird Woodall and Simpson Construction / Bird Construction Company

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Canada Packers Meat Packing Plant (Archibald Street, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Union Stockyards (Marion Street, Winnipeg)

Sources:

“Plans for new Swift Canadian Plant go ahead,” Winnipeg Tribune, 25 September 1937, page 7.

“Swift Canadian places contract for $2,000,000,” Winnipeg Tribune, 26 March 1938, page 22.

We thank Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 12 February 2025

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