Development projects outside of our district

Entreprises Riel will sometimes work on major projects that do come to fruition although they may ultimately find their forever home outside of our district.  We had been trying to recruit a hotelier to take interest on a land assembly that we had undertaken on Provencher Boulevard. The Germain Family from Québec was approached by Entreprises Riel and WTC- Winnipeg (ANIM at the time) a number of years ago. We participated in recruitment missions to Québec and hosted the Germain’s in St-Boniface a number of times. Once they got a better understanding of the value and potential of our city, unbeknownst to us, Centre Venture approached them to look at Portage Avenue as a larger project. The deal happened and the ALT Hotel opened in 2015 and served as a catalyst for the larger Centrepoint development.

“The 160-room hotel that features stylish design and room fixtures as well as free Wi-Fi and a year-round fixed room rate of $149 was the catalyst and anchor for the $100 million mixed-use Centrepoint development…” Martin Cash, Winnipeg Free Press.

We are proud to have played a pivotal role in this downtown investment. This project has created many new jobs and has spurred a major downtown development. Not all is lost.

Our involvement in Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature dates back to 2008.  Approached with a business proposal by St-Boniface residents and an entrepreneurial couple, Entreprises Riel began assisting this entrepreneur initially by convincing the Québec franchisor to consider Manitoba as a location, after which we spent months identifying properties for the development. Taking advantage of our municipal contacts, we proposed a partnership with the City of Winnipeg to invest in the Windsor Park Golf Course property for the spa. After months of negotiations, the city ultimately steered the group towards another site, the Crescent Drive Golf Course, outside of the Riel District. It opened in 2013 and has been hugely successful as a major new attraction for our city.

Again, we are proud to have played a pivotal role in this investment from outside of our province. This project has created one hundred new positions.