City to end lease agreement with Granite Curling Club in July

The City of Winnipeg will be terminating its lease with the Granite Curling Club this summer, but members of the 145-year-old sports institution won’t have to clear the ice any time soon.

News of the termination was sent to Granite members last week in a newsletter detailing how on April 30, the city gave the club, which operates on city-owned land, 90 days’ notice that it was ending the lease on July 31.

The city and the club have been locked in a dispute since early 2025 over the planned construction of an 11-storey, 111-unit apartment building at 22 Granite Way, currently known as Granite Riverside Commons.

Fifty-six of the units in the building would be earmarked as affordable units, including 30 that would be rent-geared-to-income.

In November 2025, the Manitoba Municipal Board ruled the city must work with the club — which would lose 45 of its 80 parking spots — to come to an “adequate” parking plan for both parties before the project can be approved.

The Granite — which has argued that losing more than half of its parking would render the club no longer financially viable — and the city have met several times, but have not yet reached a solution, the newsletter said.

The city and club will enter into a short-term use agreement if needed, so the Granite “can continue to operate,” it said.

However, the city ignored the ruling and started moving ahead on planning, at which time the club asked the Court of King’s Bench to conduct a review to determine if that’s allowed. An application for the hearing is set for June.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said the lease termination doesn’t mean talks are over.

“There’s been active discussion about, as we have said before, how there can be a win-win there where housing can be developed and the needs of the Granite Curling Club can be accommodated when it comes to parking,” he said. “So, there’s a timeline on the lease, but the discussions continue.”

In a statement, the city said it remains committed to “maintaining the heritage of the Granite Curling Club and advancing the project,” with construction expected to start in the fall.

The city said the developer, the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corp. 2.0 Inc., and the Granite “are intended to remain stewards of the land moving forward through separate long-term leases,” with the curling club still able to park on site.

“While lease negotiations with the Granite Curling Club have not been finalized, the City is hopeful to build upon its recent offer to replace 50 of the 60 parking stalls lost through the redevelopment and create a capital reserve dedicated to the curling rink,” the city statement said, noting if a new lease is not established before July’s end, an interim agreement will be put into place to ensure continued occupancy.

Christian Pierce, secretary of the club’s board, was not available for an interview Friday, but said in a text message the club won’t be commenting on the matter while it’s before the courts.

In the newsletter, the club acknowledged the process will be a long one.

“If the hearing proceeds, it could take several months (or longer) for a decision to be issued,” it said.

morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca