A Bold Vision for a New Future
Economic reconciliation the focus of SCO’s plans for Winnipeg’s historic Hudson’s Bay Building
The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is transforming the iconic Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) heritage building in downtown Winnipeg. Working closely with HBC and our federal, provincial, and municipal Treaty partners, PCL Construction, and Number Ten Architecture, SCO is turning the building into a space for economic and social reconciliation. In 2023, our project was recognized as the “Best World-Changing Idea, North America,” in the annual World Changing Ideas Awards presented by Fast Company magazine.
The landmark building was officially transferred to SCO in early 2023. Since then, SCO issued a request for qualifications using a competitive process to ensure the best value for the project, which is the largest redevelopment of an historic building in Manitoba, and one of the largest projects of its kind in Canada.
The multi-million dollar project will create social and economic opportunity, revitalizing the HBC building while preserving its important heritage and helping to revive Winnipeg’s downtown core. The project will create significant long-term employment, including more than a million working hours during the construction phase.
Portage Place and Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn
In 2024, SCO and True North Real Estate Development announced a partnership to bring new synergies to the Portage Place and Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn redevelopments, including shared ownership of a multi-family housing tower.
The history of the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) is entwined with the history of colonial Canada. It is the oldest company in North America. First Nations have a long and complex history with HBC, spanning more than 350 years. First Nation peoples were integral to the company’s success. Many of the original people of Turtle Island were critical to the fur trade, however, they were often invisible in the Canadian narrative. Becoming the new owners of the Hudson’s Bay building is a public statement and an act of reclamation, which is why the project is called Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn, or, ‘it is visible.’
In collaboration with Southern Chiefs’ Economic Development LP (SCED), SCO unveiled Miikahnah Connect. This online employment application enables First Nation trades professionals to apply for work on the Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn Project and contribute to the transformation of this landmark structure.
Listen here for how to pronounce Wehwehneh Bahgahkinagohn:
As we considered the future for the Winnipeg building, it was important to ensure a sustainable plan for the site that also had meaningful purpose for the city of Winnipeg. HBC’s Truth and Reconciliation journey requires actions that demonstrate our commitment to moving forward together with Indigenous communities. We believe SCO is the right steward for this location, and can create a new community landmark that will help advance reconciliation.
~Richard A. Baker, Governor and Executive Chairman of Hudson’s Bay Company
The project includes more than 370 affordable and market housing units for families, post-secondary students, and Veterans.
The building will transform the main floor, creating a public space that honours our lands and waters in an atrium illuminated by skylights and the soaring sky above, and a place of reflection to honour residential and day school Survivors and commemorate the children who did not make it home.
SCO will champion environmental sustainability throughout the renewal of the building, with technologies that will result in a 35 per cent reduction in energy consumption and an 81 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that closely align with First Nation values of treading lightly on the earth.
SCO is incorporating conservation principles throughout the renovation, while maintaining the distinguished and historic façade, making the building a showpiece of heritage preservation and sustainability.
The Residential School Totem Pole
The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) unveiled a powerful and towering tribute on September 30, 2022, to the children who were stolen from their families and sent to residential schools. The Residential School Totem Pole, by Kwakiutl artist Charles Joseph, was raised in Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park. The piece is being gifted to SCO. It will eventually be located in a place of prominence within SCO’s transformative Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn Project at the Hudson’s Bay building in downtown Winnipeg.
Media Release: SCO UNVEILS RENOWNED ARTISTIC TRIBUTE TO HONOUR RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL – AND THOSE WHO NEVER CAME HOME
First Nation Employment
Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn is creating social and economic opportunity and serving as an example of true economic reconciliation. The project is creating significant long-term employment for First Nation workers. With the help of Miikahnah Connect—created to help construction companies find skilled workers and fulfill their project needs—Indigenous employees make up 77 per cent (1042) of the entire workforce on the project, working a total of more than 111,800 hours to the end of February 2025. These figures include 667 workers and nearly 73,000 hours from members of Nations that SCO represents.
Media Release: TOWER CRANE INSTALLATION MARKS MAJOR MILESTONE IN WEHWEHNEH BAHGAHKINAHGOHN CONSTRUCTION
