This three-storey brick and Tyndall stone building on Selkirk Avenue in Winnipeg, measuring 32 feet by 40 feet, was designed and built in 1911 by merchant William Blewett (1882-?) at a cost of about $6,000. In its original configuration, Blewett’s butcher store occupied the main floor and four residential apartments were on its upper floors. A one-storey wood frame stable, measuring 10 feet by 12 feet, was also designed and built in 1911 by Blewett at a cost of about $70 to accommodate two horses, but it has since been demolished.
In 1919, a temporary branch of the Canadian Bank of Commerce began to occupy the main floor retail space to December 1920 when a new bank building was completed further down Selkirk Avenue. The building was purchased in 1924 by Stepan M. Doroschuk who operated the Promin Publishing Company in the main floor retail space.
At the time of a 2023 site visit, the building was relatively unmodified from its original appearance.
Blewett Block (1930s)
Source: Oseredok
Blewett Block (November 2020)
Source: George Penner
Blewett Block (February 2023)
Source: Jordan MakichukSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.91728, W97.14973
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Manitoba Business: Canadian Bank of Commerce
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 756/1911, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Permits include new warehouse for Good Street,” Winnipeg Tribune, 26 April 1911, page 5.
1911 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.
“Driver wanted apply Blewett butcher,” Manitoba Free Press, 14 November 1911, page 18.
“Nice modern suite to rent,” Manitoba Free Press, 21 June 1912, page 22.
“Bank buys site on Selkirk Ave.,” Manitoba Free Press, 4 March 1919, page 9.
“Celebrating founding of Ukrainian Club,” Manitoba Free Press, 7 May 1926, page 11.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
Winnipeg fire insurance map, #279 May 1956, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Lawrie wagons keep rolling,” Winnipeg Free Press, 16 November 1974, page 100.
Winnipeg’s Historic Ukrainian Neighbourhoods (Point Douglas and the North End): Time-Traveller’s Handbook by Orest T. Martynowych, Oseredok 2023.
Preparation of this page was supported, in part, by the Gail Parvin Hammerquist Fund of the City of Winnipeg.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer, Jordan Makichuk, George Penner, and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 11 October 2025
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