Remembering The Bay By: Free Press staff Posted: Last Modified:

After 355 years, the Hudson’s Bay Company has closed its doors.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/06/2025 (491 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After 355 years, the Hudson’s Bay Company has closed its doors.

The longstanding business grew as a fur-trading company and transitioned into a department store. Over recent years, it’s been in a state of financial decline. It filed for creditor protection in March and is shuttering 80 Bay stores and its Saks-linked Canadian locations.

In addition to the flagship store at Portage Avenue and Memorial Boulevard, which closed in 2020, Winnipeg’s Hudson’s Bay stores were located in CF Polo Park and St. Vital Centre. A Saks Off Fifth occupied Outlet Collection Winnipeg.

Canstar Community News files The downtown Hudson’s Bay Company building, shown while under construction in the 1920s, is an important piece of Winnipeg’s architectural and cultural heritage.

Canstar Community News files

The downtown Hudson’s Bay Company building, shown while under construction in the 1920s, is an important piece of Winnipeg’s architectural and cultural heritage.

Canadian Tire aims to acquire Hudson’s Bay trademarks, including its stripes and coat of arms.

Here, we take a look back at the once-prominent Canadian company and its history in Winnipeg.

Glenn Olsen / Free Press files The Hudson’s Bay Company’s downtown Winnipeg flagship store, above on Oct. 1, 1985, was officially opened in November 1926 and closed in November 2020.

Glenn Olsen / Free Press files

The Hudson’s Bay Company’s downtown Winnipeg flagship store, above on Oct. 1, 1985, was officially opened in November 1926 and closed in November 2020.

Hudson’s Bay Company Archives, Manitoba Archives Hudson’s Bay Company’s downtown store’s third floor looking south from the passenger elevator lobby in November 1926.

Hudson’s Bay Company Archives, Manitoba Archives

Hudson’s Bay Company’s downtown store’s third floor looking south from the passenger elevator lobby in November 1926.

Hudson’s Bay Company Archives, Manitoba Archives Doreen Hardie appears on the job in a photo taken in 1947 of her working as the elevator operator at the Bay dressed in a toy soldier costume.

Hudson’s Bay Company Archives, Manitoba Archives

Doreen Hardie appears on the job in a photo taken in 1947 of her working as the elevator operator at the Bay dressed in a toy soldier costume.

Free Press files The first floor of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s downtown store on March 13, 1973.

Free Press files

The first floor of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s downtown store on March 13, 1973.

Wayne Glowacki / Free Press files On Nov. 19, 2004, Nelda Burdy had 47 years of service at the Paddlewheel Restaurant in the Bay downtown store.

Wayne Glowacki / Free Press files

On Nov. 19, 2004, Nelda Burdy had 47 years of service at the Paddlewheel Restaurant in the Bay downtown store.

Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files Paddlewheel Restaurant - Turkey and Beef dinner platter on tray. Jan 23, 2013,

Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files

Paddlewheel Restaurant - Turkey and Beef dinner platter on tray. Jan 23, 2013,

General manager Brian Read with the new HBC Signature in the background on Oct. 30, 2003. (Marc Gallant / Free Press files)
General manager Brian Read with the new HBC Signature in the background on Oct. 30, 2003. (Marc Gallant / Free Press files)
Amado Reyes helps customer Donald Hawkes with a television purchase on Oct. 30, 2003. (Marc Gallant / Free Press files)
Amado Reyes helps customer Donald Hawkes with a television purchase on Oct. 30, 2003. (Marc Gallant / Free Press files)

Related Articles

City Bay stores already closed as last-minute shoppers arrive
JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS The Bay store at St Vital was locked down today Sunday, June 1, 2025 Winnipeg. Some people stopped by to check for last minute deals, take a peek at the empty, or grab a selfie in front of the closed store. Reporter: aaron
Uncertain fate of Indigenous artifacts in the Hudson’s Bay Co.’s Corporate Collection raises ethical questions
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Supplementary Charter 1957: A.37/52 The Hudson’s Bay Company Archives currently holds all nine original supplementary charters which were signed to amend the 1670 Charter of Incorporation. By the 1880s, the HBC found that its incorporating charter was inadequate for the conduct of its modern business, especially in regards to land sales. The HBC petitioned the crown for supplemental charters, the first of which was granted in 1884. The HBCA holds the original petitions to the crown for each charter. These supplementary charters, once signed, annulled the supplements and original charter that came before it. There are supplementary charters for 1884, 1892, 1912, 1920, 1949, 1957, 1960, 1963 and 1970. There are two versions of the 1970 supplementary charter, as this charter specifically made the HBC a Canadian rather than a British Company, one signed in the UK and one in Canada on May 29, 1970. All of the supplementary charters arrived at and were held by the Archives Department of the HBC in London, being received at the Archives shortly after their creation in many cases. These were all donated to the Province of Manitoba in 1994. Reporter: Conrad Sweatman 250610 - Tuesday, June 10, 2025. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Supplementary Charter 1957: A.37/52 The Hudson’s Bay Company Archives currently holds all nine original supplementary charters which were signed to amend the 1670 Charter of Incorporation. By the 1880s, the HBC found that its incorporating charter was inadequate for the conduct of its modern business, especially in regards to land sales. The HBC petitioned the crown for supplemental charters, the first of which was granted in 1884. The HBCA holds the original petitions to the crown for each charter. These supplementary charters, once signed, annulled the supplements and original charter that came before it. There are supplementary charters for 1884, 1892, 1912, 1920, 1949, 1957, 1960, 1963 and 1970. There are two versions of the 1970 supplementary charter, as this charter specifically made the HBC a Canadian rather than a British Company, one signed in the UK and one in Canada on May 29, 1970. All of the supplementary charters arrived at and were held by the Archives Department of the HBC in London, being received at the Archives shortly after their creation in many cases. These were all donated to the Province of Manitoba in 1994. Reporter: Conrad Sweatman 250610 - Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
B.C. mall owner says she wanted to run stores more than she wanted Bay trademarks
Ruby Liu, chairwoman of Central Walk, poses in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Ruby Liu *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Mike Vogiatzakis does a campaign announcement in front of City Hall on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. For Joyanne story. Free Press 2026

Mayoral hopefuls trade accusations

Maggie Macintosh 4 minute read Preview

Mayoral hopefuls trade accusations

Maggie Macintosh 4 minute read Yesterday at 7:51 PM CDT

Two mayoral hopefuls traded accusations about meddling in each other’s campaigns as the incumbent rallied supporters for his re-election bid on the eve of advanced polls opening across Winnipeg.

A social media post made by Mike Vogiatzakis, one of 12 nominees in the Oct. 28 race for the top job at city hall, caught the attention of rivals Sunday.

The funeral director took to Facebook midday to criticize Kevin Klein — a competitor he said he thought of “as a friend” until the former Tory cabinet minister made a U-turn after pledging to back the Vogiatzakis campaign.

“Good speaker? Yes. Good looking guy? Sure. Someone I trust now? Absolutely not,” he wrote in a lengthy post.

Read
Yesterday at 7:51 PM CDT
Montreal Alouettes’ Rohan Jones, right, closes in on Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Trey Vaval during second half CFL football action in Montreal Saturday Oct. 3, 2026. (Peter McCabe / The Canadian Press)

Bombers on outside looking in after beatdown from Als

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Preview

Bombers on outside looking in after beatdown from Als

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Yesterday at 6:34 PM CDT

The visitors’ locker room at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium was eerily quiet late Saturday night.

Many of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers sat in their stalls with dejected looks on their faces, trying to wrap their heads around what had just transpired: a 37-10 beatdown at the hands of the Montreal Alouettes.

“(That game) felt like s—-, honestly,” receiver Tim White told the Free Press postgame.

And the Bombers have plenty of reason to feel that way, especially when looking at the West Division standings.

Read
Yesterday at 6:34 PM CDT
Golden touch

Morning-show veteran swaps microphone for macchiatos at new Corydon café

David Sanderson 9 minute read Preview

Morning-show veteran swaps microphone for macchiatos at new Corydon café

David Sanderson 9 minute read Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026

Good news if you were used to having your morning coffee with Terri Gale, who earlier this summer signed off from CTV Your Morning, after 15 years on the job.

Gale, the three-hour program’s longtime weather expert, and her husband Rob Gale, the ex-head soccer coach of Valour FC and co-founder of the Northern Super League’s new Winnipeg franchise, are the owners of Golden Hour Café and Bar at 775 Corydon Ave.

Gale (formerly Apostle) nods when she is asked who would know more about caffeinated beverages than a person who, for the last decade and a half, set her alarm to go off in the wee small hours.

“I do love coffee and take mine black. Except because I hate burning my tongue — not a good thing when you speak for a living — I got into the habit of throwing a couple of ice cubes in my cup, to be on the safe side,” Gale says, seated on the second level of their attractive, 2,100-square-foot premises, which officially opened in mid-September.

Read
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026

’Disgusting’ posters being investigated by police

Morgan Modjeski 4 minute read Updated: 1:32 PM CDT

The Winnipeg Police Service major crimes unit is investigating what some have labelled offensive and hateful posters on full-display at a Winnipeg home.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS McKesson Canada Story on McKesson Canada Winnipeg Distribution Centre. a 120,000 to 125,000-square-foot pharmaceutical facility located and distribution centre located in the northwest part of Winnipeg. Group photo of McKesson staff and leaders with their trophy in their large distribution warehouse Tuesday. Names from left: Robert West, Liam Pickering, LaraBee Henderson, Kristina Redmond, Cathleen Isagunde, Nicole Busch and Tim Smith Senior Vice President Marketing. Story runs on Oct. 5 ‘Made in Manitoba’ feature Story by Aaron Sept 29th, 2026

‘Amazing honour’: Winnipeg distribution centre continues award-winning ways for McKesson Canada

Aaron Epp 6 minute read Preview

‘Amazing honour’: Winnipeg distribution centre continues award-winning ways for McKesson Canada

Aaron Epp 6 minute read 6:00 AM CDT

After a three-year absence, the trophy is back in Winnipeg.

Last week, McKesson Canada named its 120,000-square-foot pharmaceutical distribution centre in the northwest part of the Manitoba capital its Distribution Centre of the Year. The award recognizes the facility’s role in helping essential medications reach communities across the province and some of Canada’s remote regions.

This is the fourth time the Winnipeg facility has earned the company-wide award since it opened five years ago. McKesson previously honoured the centre in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The recognition comes with a trophy, as well as a banner that was hung from the rafters on Thursday.

More than 100 employees work across the centre’s day-and-night operations, processing between 80,000 and 100,000 medication units daily. Last year, the centre distributed more than 21 million medication units while maintaining more than 99 per cent accuracy.

Read
6:00 AM CDT

Two hospitalized in Osborne Village assault

1 minute read Updated: 10:12 AM CDT

Two people are in hospital and another two are in police custody after a serious assault in Osborne Village early Monday morning.

Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Pat Saydak said officers were called to the assault scene on Osborne Street near River Avenue just after midnight.

Two people were rushed to hospital, one in critical condition and the other in stable condition.

Two individuals, both adults, were arrested by police. There's no word yet on charges.