Located at the northwest corner of Portage Avenue and Woodlawn Street in Winnipeg, this two-storey brick and reinforced concrete was designed by the architectural firm of Northwood and Chivers. It was built in 1931 by the Claydon Construction Company at a cost of about $32,000 using funds raised by Manitoba women. The fundraising campaign had begun in 1917 and was organized by Harriet Anderson “Hattie” Walker and Harriet Lillie “Lily” Logan (1870-1931, wife of Richard Deans Waugh).
The main floor of the building originally contained a billiard hall, club rooms, office space, and kitchen/washroom facilities while the second floor held an auditorium with a capacity for 150 people. The Women’s Tribute Memorial Lodge was intended as a lasting tribute to the province’s veterans of the First World War.
On 2 December 1936, the building was dedicated at a ceremony attended by Governor General John Buchan (Lord Tweedsmuir), Lieutenant Governor William Johnston Tupper, Harriet Anderson “Hattie” Walker, Harriet Lillie “Lily” Logan, Lady Nanton, Margaret Ellen Douglass, Mary Barrett Speechly, Mrs. F. R. Hughes, Mrs. C. H. Goodman, Gertrude Verne Hardy (wife of Vivian Clarkson “Clark” Hardy), Margaret Stovel McWilliams, Mrs. T. A. Rutledge, Mrs. Donald McKenty, Rev. G. W. Findlay, Dr. W. Creighton, and Member of Parliament Harold Ralph Maybank.
A commemorative plaque was erected at the site in 2008 by the Manitoba Heritage Council. The building is a municipally-designated historic site.
Architectural drawing of the Women’s Tribute Memorial Lodge (1931)
Source: Winnipeg Tribune, 6 June 1931, page 19.
Women’s Tribute Memorial Lodge (June 2014)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Women’s Tribute Memorial Lodge (May 2022)
Source: George Penner
Women’s Tribute Memorial Lodge (May 2024)
Source: Greg Petzold
Women’s Tribute Memorial Lodge commemorative plaque (May 2025)
Source: Glen Toews
Harriet Walker commemorative plaque (May 2025)
Source: Glen ToewsSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.87737, W97.23435
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Manitoba Business: Northwood and Chivers / Northwood Chivers and Casey
Manitoba Business: Claydon Brothers Construction Company / Claydon Construction Limited
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Provincially Designated Historic Sites
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Deer Lodge Hospital (2109 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg)
“Memorial Hall at Deer Lodge under construction,” Winnipeg Tribune, 6 June 1931, page 19.
“Women’s Tribute to Deer Lodge Hospital,” Manitoba Free Press, 6 June 1931, page 26.
“Lord Tweedsmuir lights lamp to burn continually in Women's Memorial Lodge,” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 December 1936, page 7.
Information for this page was provided by The City of Winnipeg’s Planning, Property and Development Department, which acknowledges the contribution of the Government of Manitoba through its Heritage Grants Program.
Women’s Tribute Memorial Lodge, Manitoba Historic Resources Branch.
Women's Tribune Memorial Lodge, 200 Woodlawn Street, Winnipeg Historical Buildings Committee, 5 February 1987.
We thank George Penner, Greg Petzold, and Glen Toews for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Jordan Makichuk.
Page revised: 20 May 2025
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