This brick building at the southwest corner of Scotland Avenue and Stafford Street in Winnipeg, measuring 56 feet by 86 feet, was built in the fall of 1919 by the construction firm of Hazelton and Walin at a cost of about $35,000. It was to be used by the Winnipeg Hydro-Electric System, forerunner of Winnipeg Hydro, as its Substation No. 5. In 1930, a one-storey addition, measuring 29 feet by 58 feet, was made to the west side by the Malcom Construction Company at a cost of about $8,200.
A 60,000-volt transmission line from the Rover Avenue Electric Terminal delivered electricity here for distribution to homes and businesses in this area. Construction of a 30,000-volt transmission line to carry electricity westward to Portage la Prairie occurred between October 1919 and August 1920, the beginning of an electric transmission network that would eventually span the province.
Map of electrical substations in Winnipeg with Substation No. 5 in the lower-left corner (1926)
Source: The Dotted Lines (April 1926) [Manitoba Legislative Library]
Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 5 (no date)
Source: Manitoba Hydro
Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 5 (June 2019)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 5 (June 2019)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 5 (January 2023)
Source: Jordan MakichukSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.86245, W97.15726
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Manitoba Business: Hazelton and Walin
Manitoba Business: Malcom Construction
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Pointe du Bois Generating Station (Pointe du Bois, Whiteshell Provincial Park)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Pointe du Bois Staff House (Pointe du Bois, Whiteshell Provincial Park)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Pointe du Bois Stone House (Pointe du Bois, Whiteshell Provincial Park)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Slave Falls Generating Station (Winnipeg River, Whiteshell Provincial Park)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Rover Avenue Electric Terminal (199 Annabella Street, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Hydro Showroom (55 Princess Street / 54 King Street, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 1 (54 King Street, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 2 (300 McPhillips Street, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: May Street Substation / Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 3 (541 Waterfront Drive, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 4 (811 St. Matthews Avenue, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 5 (Scotland Avenue, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Hydro War Memorial (Winnipeg)
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 138/1919, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Tenders close March 24, at 3 o’clock,” Winnipeg Tribune, 8 March 1919, page 5.
“Expects provincial power plant to be in operation by Dec. 1,” Winnipeg Tribune, 18 October 1919, page 10.
“Ensuring continuity of service,” The Dotted Line, April 1926, page 10. [Manitoba Legislative Library]
“To construct addition to Scotland Ave. Sub-Station,” Manitoba Free Press, 17 May 1930, page 28.
“Permits shoe steady growth in present week,” Manitoba Free Press, 14 June 1930, page 34.
Memorandum Relating to the Manitoba Power Commission, no date, Manitoba Legislative Library.
25th Annual Report of the Manitoba Power Commission, 1944, Manitoba Legislative Library.
Fort Rouge Neighbourhood Walking Tour, City of Winnipeg, 1994.
We thank Bruce Owen and Jason Perrett (Manitoba Hydro) for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer, Jordan Makichuk, and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 26 November 2023
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.
Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | OtherInclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.
Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.Help us keep history alive!
