by Fred Morris
January 2023, updated July 2026
In 1911, Joseph Cook, a farmer, was the first Linwood Street resident mentioned in the Henderson Directory. Between the 1929 and 1986, there was a 21-suite apartment block Linwood Court located at 2015 Portage Avenue. In 1955, Winnipeg Blue Bomber Steve Patrick built Patrick Realty at 2003 Portage Avenue. Steve received the most votes when the Top-100 St. James citizens was opened up to the public. The gradual development of the street continues with the recent construction of two homes on vacant land at Ness and Linwood. It appears that no Linwood Street houses have ever been built north of Silver Avenue.
Around 1885, a one-room log school opened on what is now the south west corner of the current Linwood School grounds. This building was eventually Ross's Bakery before being destroyed by fire. In 1908, a new frame school was built at 234 Linwood Street. During the 1919 influenza epidemic, this building became a temporary nursing home. Between 1925 and 1939, it was the St. James City Hall. In 1939, the building which had been scheduled for demolition was destroyed by fire. The current Linwood School, a distinctive red brick building, opened on 25 November 1914. Did we celebrate the 100th anniversary a year early? Additions to the school were added in 1918, 1954m and 1961. Between 1914 and 1965, Linwood School only had two Principals: Theodore Watts and Bill Wallace. Kathleen Weldon, Ron Littlejohn, Anna Wallace, Roseanne Keyes, and Mary Glasman were some of its teachers. The notable alumni included Mitchell Sharp, a federal Finance Minister. Linwood School is remembered for various roles during the 1950 Flood. St. Vital students displaced by the flood attended staggered classes at Linwood School. A dormitory for Children's Hospital nurses was set up in school's assembly hall. When the evacuation of the entire City of Winnipeg seemed likely, the third floor of Linwood School was one of the emergency centers. The 17-person 1992 Winnipeg Mayoral election turned out to be a battle between two Linwood School alumni. Susan Thompson with 39.0% defeated Greg Selinger with 32.7%.
On 8 January 1954, De Boldt Motors at 2001 Portage was destroyed by fire. Some neighbourhood telephone service was disrupted. There were no injuries.
Robert Love, a school trustee, was one of the founders of Deer Lodge Curling Club. Alice Lush of the Deer Lodge Curling was a member of the 1961-62 Barbara's Pearce City's Ladies Curling Champions. Terry Taylor played in the first St. James Civic Centre hockey game. He later worked at the St. James Civic Centre.
Between 1937 and 1949, newspaper archives mention that William Pattern, Duncan and Peggy McPherson, and William Murray won awards for their gardens and lawns. In 1993, a Winnipeg Free Press story featured the elaborate Halloween decorations in Carol Smolinski's home.
Art Bourke was involved in a major appliance servicing business. Also, he was an instructor at Red River Community College. Harold Lush was the President of Lush Burke Electric. Belinda and Carol Bigold founded the High Tea Bakery. Louise Olson, an English Professor, grew up on Linwood. She won the 2018 Miguez Award at the Graduation Pow Wow for making a significant impact on Indigenous students. Nelson Karpa has held executive positions in the Assessment Departments of both Winnipeg and Calgary. In recent years, Rose Foulkes has recently served as President of the Deer Lodge Community Club.
During part of his adolescence, George Minaker Jr. lived on Linwood Street. He used an uncanny ability to remember names to achieve electoral success at three different levels of politics. George served on both the last St. James Council and the first post-Unicity Winnipeg City Council, as Community Services Minister between 1979 and 1981 in the PC Provincial Government, and one term as an MP. A Ronald Street Park is named in George's memory. Deanne Crothers served 1 term as the St. James MLA. She served in various roles including the Special Envoy to the Military and the Minister for Healthy Living and Seniors.
Finally, several Linwood Street residents were long-time employees. Alfred Best retired in 1950 after 40 years as an Eaton's manager. Carl Olson spent 40 years at Moore Business Forms. Jack Mason worked for 45 years at Air Canada. During 1944-45, he played for the New York Rovers of the Eastern Hockey League as a wartime replacement. Jack and Effe Mason were married for 66 years.
There have been several plane crashes in St. James. On 24 June 1972, a small plane transporting students home from their residential schools in Portage la Prairie and Stonewall crashed in between 426 and 430 Linwood Street killing all eight students and the pilot. The students killed were Margaret Robinson, Mary Rita Canada, Ethel Grieves, Rosalie Balfour, Wilkie Mukego, Iona Weenusk, Roy Sinclair, and Deborah Sinclair. The pilot who died was Scott Coughlin. In 2024, a memorial plaque was put up near the crash site at the corner of Silver and Linwood.
Page revised: 12 July 2026
