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Donald H. Bain Building (The Brokerage)

115 Bannatyne was built for E. Nicholson in 1899. Nicholson had gone into partnership with his young accountant, Donald H. Bain in 1905. Together they operated a wholesale grocery business and the company enjoyed considerable success. Junior partner, Bain eventually bought out his partner in 1917, changing the business to the Donald H. Bain Company. In 1920 the business took over the five storey building to the west at 119 Bannatyne.

Originally two buildings with a common wall, 119 Bannatyne had been built for local stove and tinware dealers, George Merrick and T.A. Anderson. The location was ideal, during the days of steam, boats docked at a wharf on the Red River below the building, and dray horses hauled supplies from the boat to the warehouse. A spur line from the CNR gave the company rapid access to transportation, a critical asset to the grocery business.

Bain was quite a figure in Winnipeg, being both a local and a national hockey star at the time the two warehouses were constructed. A member of the International Hockey Hall of Fame, he was captain of the Winnipeg Victorias when they captured the Stanley Cup in 1896 and again in 1901.

Bain's merchant business thrived even enduring the 1950 flood. The warehouse was abandoned in 1970. Local market consultant Tom Dixon purchased the building in 1976, restoring the building with great integrity and care, even saving buff-coloured bricks for any of the alterations. The facade was cleaned, revealing the warm native brick in its entire splendor. Inside, the old ceiling was removed to display the heavy timber beams and joists, the wood cleaned and open to view.

Renamed "The Brokerage" by Mr. Dixon, the building now provides office and commercial space.

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