by Fred Morris
November 2022, updated July 2026
In December 1958, St. James opened their new police Station at 210 Lyle Street. The station served as the police station for St. James until the October 1974 amalgamation with Winnipeg. (Note the amalgamation of the police service happened almost two years after the official start of Unicity.) During the St. James years, Donald McDonald, Joseph Bagley, George Maltby, and Ken McCaskill served as Chief. Other officers included Cliff Hardy (also a driver education teacher), Murray Stalker, George Dunmall, Elmer Blanchard, Gary Sandal, Neil Lester, Dan Scott, Dick Scott, Bob Corrie, Dan Henderson, Robert Leishman, and Herb Rodgers. After the amalgamation, the building became Winnipeg's District 2 Police Headquarters. In October 2013, the Station closed and moved to 2321 Grant Avenue. In 2016, 210 Lyle was demolished to make way for Habitat For Humanity.
Sixteen Habitat for Humanity Homes were built on the 210 Lyle site. Former President Jimmy Carter and wife Rosyln helped construct the homes. During this project, Carter, then 92, was rushed to St. Boniface Hospital due to dehydration. Christy, Bedhatu, Rashid, Berge, Regent, Shekure, Deka, and their children (source Scott Johnston's Facebook Page) were some of the residents.
In 1918, Berlin Street was renamed Lyle Street. The only address north of Portage affected was the Owen Griffin grocery store. That store at 330 Lyle at Bruce continued to exist until the late 1950s.There were many different proprietors with most of them living on site. The history of Lyle Street south of Portage will be in the Deer Lodge Place story.
The first Lyle Street residents north of Ness were listed in the 1952 Henderson Directory. As new residents, Joseph and Bernice Wright created a vegetable garden that won 1952 and 1957 awards sponsored by the Winnipeg Horticultural Society and Winnipeg Free Press. Lucille Ono was a member of both the NDP party and the St. James Horticultural Society. After Lucille's tragic 1981 death in her Lyle Street home, two awards were created in her memory. The NDP presents the Lucille Ono Award at their annual convention to honour a party member's volunteer service. The St. James Horticultural Society presents an award in Lucille's memory for the Champion Potted Houseplant.
In a 1966 newspaper archive, Stephen Bennett's scholastic achievements are mentioned after he received a PhD from Queens. In 1967, Neil Moore won the St. James Collegiate Governor General Medal.
Public service has been the mantra for many Lyle Street residents. After serving in the Second World War, Herbert Paisley served 32 years in Air Canada Flight Operations. Kenneth Blades, one of the 1952 Lyle Street north residents, was an RCMP Corporal who had served in northern Manitoba. Douglas McLean's last home prior to his 1964 death was on Lyle Street north. McLean had worked on the design of the system to bring Winnipeg's drinking water from Shoal Lake. He later became the Superintendent of the Greater Winnipeg Sanitary District. Ted Dallman served 32 years in the Fire Department retiring as a District Chief. Mildred Dallman was involved in various organizations including the Daughters of the Nile, Eastern Star, and Kartum Temple.
George Depres is a member of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Football Hall of Fame. In 1961, he coached the St. James Rods to the Canadian Junior championship. In 1963, The Red Tops, a Deer Lodge Community Club Featherweight Football Team led by Quarterback Bud Harden (a Deer Lodge Place resident), won the League championship. The Red Top Drive Inn, which at that time was managed by George, helped fund the team, and hosted the victory celebration. Doug May and Ron Hamilton played for Deer Lodge in the first St. James Civic Centre Game.
I found many businesses entrepreneurs. George and Betty Auld founded and operated Auld Floorcraft Limited. Victor Garbutt worked for 34 years at Eatons. Between the 1940s and 1970s, Thomas Keough Sr. worked as a Manager in the Shoe Department in the Eatons Downtown, and Polo Park stores. Lorne Carmichael was the President of Arlington Builders. Jeff May grew up on Lyle Street before moving to Regina and assuming a management position with Co-Operators Insurance.
Patti Bonas (Paisley) was paralyzed at the age of 14 in a diving accident. Patti went on to work at the U of M as the Manger of Reservations and Special Functions. Mavis May lived to be 101.
The story would not be complete without mentioning Linwood and Christina Davies who lived on Lyle Street for most of their 62-year marriage. Linwood and Christina were involved with the Deer Lodge Community Club, Assiniboine Golf Club, the St. James Canadians, and many other community activities.
Page revised: 11 September 2026
