Historic Sites of Manitoba: Wesley College / United College / University of Winnipeg (505 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg)

In 1888, Wesley College was established as a facility of the Methodist faith in Manitoba, in affiliation with the University of Manitoba, in a building on Main Street. Eight years later, a two-storey stone college building was erected along Portage Avenue and officially opened at a ceremony on 3 June 1896. An annex, designed by architect J. H. G. Russell and built in 1912, was later renamed Sparling Hall in commemoration of founding college Principal J. W. Sparling.

In 1971 a granite boulder was brought from Lake Agassiz to commemorate the Centenary of the institution that is now the University of Manitoba that was founded as Manitoba College in 1871.

In 2007, the restoration project for the old Wesley College building, a municipally-designated historic site that is now Wesley Hall at the University of Winnipeg, received a Conservation Award from Heritage Winnipeg. In 2018, the Leatherdale Hall construction project received a Conservation Award from Heritage Winnipeg.

Principals

Period	Principal
1888-1912	Joseph Walter Sparling (1843-1912)
1912-1915	Andrew Stewart (1851-1925) - Acting
1917-1938	John Henry Riddell (1863-1952)

Deans

Period	Dean
1924-1956	Carl Nelson Halstead (1896-1957)
1956-1958	Olafur Thordur Anderson (c1891-1958)
1958-?	Gordon Blake

Photos & Coordinates

Postcard view of Wesley College (circa 1910) Source: Rob McInnes, WP0832. Wesley College building (2007) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Wesley College Building from the front with the University of Winnipeg Sign (May 2019) Source: George Penner Granite boulder from Lake Agassiz and plaque used to commemorate the centenary of the University of Manitoba in 1971 (May 2019) Source: George Penner Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89073, W97.15332 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

MHS Centennial Organization: University of Winnipeg

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Wesley College War Memorial

Historic Sites of Manitoba: United College War Memorial

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba College / St. Paul’s College (Ellice Avenue, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: St. John’s College (University of Manitoba)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites

Some Old Winnipeg Buildings by Randy Rostecki
MHS Transactions, Series 3, Number 29, 1972-1973 Season

Sources:

“Opened with éclat,” Manitoba Free Press, 4 June 1896, page 1.

Wesley Hall, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg Historical Buildings Committee, October 1997.

We thank George Penner for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and S. Goldsborough.

Page revised: 3 September 2021

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