Background

In 1980 Heritage Winnipeg acquired Winnipeg Street Car #356 and accepted both ownership and responsibility for its continuing preservation.

Following negotiations, an agreement was drawn up between Midwestern Rail Association and Heritage Winnipeg, for the street car to be moved into the Winnipeg Railway Museum, within the train shed of the Via Rail Canada Union Station, Main Street at Broadway Avenue for restoration. In order for Car 356 to be restored it is necessary to raise sufficient funds for materials, etc. A five year plan, for the completion of the project by the Street Car Committee of Heritage Winnipeg, has been developed for which your donations are sought.

As the primary function of Heritage Winnipeg is the protection of the built heritage it would appear that the preservation and restoration of streetcar 356 is outside the scope of Heritage Winnipeg's mandate. However, the development of the street railway system greatly influenced the development of our built heritage and urban landscape. It is relevant to our mandate and warrants the preservation of this sole remaining representative of a major factor that shaped our city.