The Winnipeg lawyers at Olschewski Davie are proud to announce their move to a new headquarters at 317 Donald Street. In the heart of downtown, home to the Winnipeg Jets, you will find Olschewski Davie, primed to help Winnipeggers conduct commercial and residential real estate transactions.
A Prime Location In The Heart Of Winnipeg’s Legal District
The Rich History Of 317 Donald Street
Near 317 Donald, on Portage Avenue, Winnipeg architect James McDiarmid worked with the construction firm Fischer and Company to build a three-storey hall out of brick and Manitoba’s own Tyndall stone for businessman Mark Fortune.
This building housed a variety of shops on its main floor and second floor; on the top floor, there was a large assembly hall with hardwood floors and a pressed tin ceiling.
The building was known as Manitoba Hall, and it remained in Mark Fortune’s control until 1912, when Fortune died in the sinking of the Titanic. After his death, full ownership of Manitoba Hall passed to Daniel Hunter McMillan, who owned the land it had been built upon.
In 1929, Manitoba Hall was sold to the owners of the Capitol Theatre – that is how the sinking of the Titanic became tied to the history of 317 Donald Street.
The Capitol Theatre Era (1921-1990)
From 1881 to 1921, Winnipeg experienced an astounding growth rate: From a population of 7,995 to a population of 179,097. Investors were keen to capitalize on that growth, and The Allen Company invested in a large theatre, The Met, downtown.
The Allen Group’s chief rival at the time was Famous Players, a company some of our readers may still recognize from the theatres it operated until its eventual sale to Cineplex Entertainment in 2005. Famous Players wanted to eliminate its competition, so it sought to build theatres in the same areas where the Allen Group were attempting to establish itself.
It is in this competitive environment that the Capitol Theatre was born. Spanning several lots (including 313 Donald and 317 Donald), the theatre, designed by Thomas Lamb, featured marble, mirrors, and a broad, dome-like ceiling. Contemporary reviewers called it distinctive, commented on its beauty, elegance, and refinement, and appreciated the flow of the space.
Famous Players was successful in its efforts to outcompete The Allen Company – in part because it was owned by Paramount, which refused to license its films for screening to The Allen Company. In short order, The Allen Company went under, and its assets were purchased by Famous Players – including the Met.
In 1929, the aforementioned Manitoba Hall was purchased, providing a large entrance to the theatre. This was the last expansion of the Capitol Theatre, however.
The Great Depression was followed by the Second World War, two periods which led to notable declines in theatre attendance. These periods (and subsequent years) led to many changes to the Capitol Theatre:
- The orchestra pit, which held live performances, was eliminated
- The lounges, entrances, and facades were remodelled
- The theatre’s organ was removed
For a brief period in the post-war era (about 1945 to 1950), the theatre did well. Subsequently, however, there was a decline; TVs led to fewer people choosing cinemas as entertainment. In the 1970s, with attendance down, Famous Players opted to twin the formerly single-screen cinema, in the hopes that operating two screens (and showing two different features) would attract more patrons.
The ploy succeeded for a time, but Downtown Winnipeg saw a sharp decline in the 1980s, as retail businesses fled to malls in the suburbs. In 1990, the City of Winnipeg closed a nearby steam plant, which had been the theatre’s only source of heat; instead of renovating, Famous Players opted to shutter the doors.
From Entertainment Palace To Modern Office Space
While attempts were made to preserve the historic Capitol Theatre, interest from developers led to the building being delisted from Winnipeg’s registry of historic structures. In 2002, the old Capitol Theatre was demolished to make room for a new office building.
Credit Union Central of Manitoba announced that it would make the new office building its headquarters; the building was officially opened in 2006.
Olschewski Davie is proud to be a part of the incredible history of 317 Donald. We purchased the building from the Credit Union Central of Manitoba to be our new headquarters.
Why Location Matters For Real Estate Law Services
They say that real estate is about three things: Location, location, location. Real estate law is more nuanced than that (as is real estate, if we’re being completely honest), but location continues to matter. We want to be near the areas our clients are interested in buying and selling. We want to be located in a place that’s convenient for most Winnipeggers to visit. These two qualities made 317 Donald particularly appealing to us as a headquarters.
Proximity To Canada Life Centre & Downtown Amenities
We are mere blocks away from Canada Life Centre, Portage Place, and Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn, at the site of the former Downtown Bay. We are also conveniently located near the Exchange District. Many of downtown’s condos, high-rises, and other desirable retail spaces are located within walking distance of our office; this location will help our clients complete real estate transactions more quickly and efficiently than ever before.
Downtown Winnipeg’s Transformation And Growth
Our city’s downtown is primed for growth; the redevelopment of Portage Place and the former Bay will join recent developments like True North Square and the new Wawanesa Building in revitalizing our city’s core.
With CentrePlan 2050, the City has created an ambitious plan for growth downtown. The plan sets a goal of creating 350 new housing units downtown by 2030; after that, the goal is 500 new housing units each year until 2050.
More people living downtown means more opportunities for business owners to thrive in our city’s centre. We anticipate a growth in both residential and commercial real estate transactions in the area over the next years and decades. By placing our headquarters downtown, our real estate lawyers will play a role in facilitating the area’s growth.
What This Move Means For Our Clients
For our clients, this move means one thing: We are headquartered in a new location. Our former office at 590 Main Street has wound down operations. We moved into the new location at 317 Donald on December 1st, 2025.
This new location is near the old 590 Main Street location; part of the reason we chose this location is to make it convenient for new clients to work with us, without inconveniencing our existing clients. We look forward to seeing you at our new location!
Building On History, Serving Your Future
Winnipeg’s downtown has a storied and beautiful history, from the original run and return of the Winnipeg Jets to lesser-known stories like the one we’ve told about the incredible Capitol Theatre.
Whether you are interested in renting or purchasing one of Winnipeg’s historic downtown buildings or space in one of its newest high rises, the team at Olschewski Davie is here for you. We help our clients deal with a range of real estate transactions, from simple to complex; it would be our pleasure to serve you in our new location.
A special thanks to Kelly Parker, whose document “A History of The Capitol Theatre” was instrumental in the creation of this article. We highly recommend reading his in-depth research on the Capitol Theatre and the subsequent history of the building.
