Manitoba Club


Established in 1874, the Manitoba Club is the oldest private club in western Canada. The Manitoba Club was originally established as a gentleman's club in 1874.

History

The club was once known as "the famous Manitoba Club" across Canada and throughout the northern United States. Dignitaries who have visited the club include Mark Twain, General William Tecumseh Sherman, Princes of Monaco, Jordan and Iran, every Canadian Prime Minister through the 1940s, the British High Commissioner and many others.
Sir Hugh John Macdonald, the son of Canada's first Prime Minister, served as President of the Manitoba Club from 1896 to 1899—shortly before the construction of its current home. He also became the leader of the fledgling Manitoba Conservative Party in 1897, and was elected the 8th Premier of Manitoba in Dec. 1899, as MLA for Winnipeg South.
The old Manitoba Club building on Garry St. was sold to Donald E. McKenty for $30,000. and then sold again three weeks later to Fred Richardson for $35,000. The building was officially opened by Sir Albert Henry George Grey, 4th Earl Grey, Governor General of Canada, on October 10, 1905.
The Club announced in April 1904 that it would be moving from 298 Garry St. to a new building at the corner of Broadway and Fort St. Two months later, the building's foundation was laid. The Institute for stained glass in Canada has documented the stained glass at the Manitoba Club.
In 2017 the Club made plans to add a Cigar Room on the top floor. No other private club in Canada has such.