‘Downtown cannot fail’: Manitoba Métis Federation acquires more Winnipeg real estate

The Manitoba Métis Federation has acquired more real estate in downtown Winnipeg.

On the heels of the MMF’s purchase of the historic Bank of Montreal building at Portage and Main in 2020, president David Chartrand is set to announce Thursday that the federation has purchased the Bell MTS buildings at 333 Main St., plus 179 and 191 Pioneer Ave.

Chartrand told 680 CJOB’s The Start that the moves are the MMF’s way of giving back to the city’s core.

“I’m very concerned about downtown,” he said. “I’ve made it very clear to the mayor and to the premier that we need to work together to rebuild downtown.

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“Downtown cannot fail — if it fails, this province fails, this city fails.”

Chartrand said the 24- and 13-storey buildings, along with the adjacent parking lot, will be connected to the former bank, which the MMF is in the process of developing into a Métis Heritage Centre.

The MMF said the acquisitions give them almost 300,000 square feet of office space, plus a parking lot with almost 100 additional stalls.

Chartrand said 60 per cent of the federation’s employees currently work downtown.

In a statement Thursday, Artis Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) president Samir Manji called it a ‘pleasure’ to work with the MMF on the deal.

“As an owner of over one million square feet of office real estate in downtown Winnipeg, we are pleased to sell these assets to an owner who shares a similar vision for the future of downtown Winnipeg,” Manji said.

“We wish the MMF success and look forward to working together as neighbours, property owners and businesses committed to doing our part to revitalize our city’s downtown core.”

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