Manitoba Métis Federation purchases two office buildings, parking lot downtown

The Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) is expanding its footprint downtown in an effort to revive it.

The organization announced Thursday it has purchased office buildings at 333 Main Street and 191 Pioneer Avenue, as well as a parking lot at 179 Pioneer Avenue, from Artis REIT.

"We are pleased to sell these assets to an owner who shares a similar vision for the future of downtown Winnipeg," Artis REIT president Samir Manji said in a statement. "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.”

"I think we have the same vision (as Artist REIT)," said MMF President David Chartrand. "How do we build downtown? How do we revive downtown?"

This adds to the MMF's portfolio of 11 buildings downtown. They previously acquired the former Bank of Montreal on Main Street. These purchases add nearly 300,000 square feet of office space, and 100 new parking spaces. The MMF said it will be adding 160 more workers downtown this fall.

With real estate purchases and building development, the MMF has invested $100 million into downtown Winnipeg in the past six years.

"Our investment is about change, prosperity and the future," Chartrand said.

He added help needs to come from all levels of government, as well as the business community, to bring prosperity back to downtown.

"We can't do it alone," he said. "The city for sure can't do it alone, we know that already. The province also can't do it alone. The federal government can't do it alone. Private sector can't do it alone. We need to bring everybody together. We've got to believe in downtown.

"If you don't have downtown, how can you call yourself a city?"