Tuxedo, Winnipeg

Between 1903 and 1905, the Tuxedo Park Company Limited, directed by Winnipeg-based real estate agent Frederick W. Heubach[3] on behalf of American investors Frederick E. Kenaston,[4] E. C. Warner, and Walter D. Douglas, began to purchase land in this area for a residential development. The company acquired farmland owned by Mary and Archibald Wright which, along with several smaller land purchases, brought the total area to about 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres). To transform the native scrub vegetation to what Heubach envisioned as a “Suburb Beautiful,” he hired architect and engineer Rickson A. Outhet of New York City to create an appropriate plan.[5] The Outhet plan was never implemented.[6]

In 1910, after acquiring additional land, Heubach and associates created the South Winnipeg Company and hired American landscape architects Olmsted Brothers to plan the subdivision. Their plan including a site intended for the University of Manitoba which, at the time, was located in downtown Winnipeg. Development of the area was delayed for a variety of reasons but investors continued to support the venture and a number of companies were created to manage land transactions and investment: Tuxedo (Winnipeg) Syndicate Limited, South Winnipeg Limited (later South Winnipeg 1923 Limited), Norwood (Winnipeg) Syndicate Limited, Warner Land Company, Tuxedo Estates Limited, Kenaston Realty Company, University Estates Limited, Assiniboine Estates Limited, Assiniboine Investments Limited, South Assiniboine Estates Limited, West Rydal Limited, and The Canadian Agency.

The Town of Tuxedo was formally incorporated on 24 January 1913 with Heubach as its first Mayor and a council of four persons. Other Mayors through the years were David R. Finkelstein (1915-1951),[7] Cecil A. R. Lamont (1952-1961),[8] and Clive K. Tallin (1961-1971).[9] The Town had its own police department, fire department, and recreation commission, and was part of a health unit including St. James, St. Vital, Fort Garry, Charleswood, and Assiniboia. There were three public schools located within the Town, managed by the Assiniboine South School Division No. 3, including Tuxedo School No. 1709,[10] opened in 1927.

Heubach Park is a purely residential subdivision within Tuxedo that was created in the late 1920s.[1] Heubach Park itself comprises 26 acres of landscaped land (trees, shrubs). At one time there was a flower bed at the southern edge of the Park at Grant Avenue, but it was later removed. As much as was possible, underground utility wires were buried underground so as not to be visually cluttering.[1]

Privately-owned and run and situated south of Assiniboine Park, the Tuxedo Golf Course was constructed between 1932-33[11] and officially opened in May 1934.[12] It features both regular 18-hole and 18-hole miniature golf runs.[13]

The Metropolitan Planning Commission indicated as far back as 1946[14] that Grant Avenue would be extended through the Town of Tuxedo.[15] In the mid-1950s a project to extend Grant Avenue through Tuxedo and onto Charleswood terminating at Roblin Boulevard would lead to the bi-section of Heubach Park. However, Tuxedo Mayor Cecil Lamont was opposed to this plan[16] and preferred that the major thoroughfare be placed southward near Eldride.[15] The Town changed its position by 1960, making way for the $50 million project, including an additional 1,600 homes and the westward extension of Grant Avenue over a 10-year period.[17] The initial portion of the new subdivision would be located west of Heubach Park between Corydon and Mountbatten.Rd.

International real estate developer, financier and former Lord Mayor of London, England, Sir Denys Lowson (via South Winnipeg Development Co. Ltd.),[18] announced in March 1963[19] that Bird Construction was chosen as the company to build the Tuxedo Park Shopping Centre (2025 Corydon Ave.) designed by Smith Carter architects[20] and opened on October 30, 1963.[19] The new Centre included a 10-pin bowling alley and billiards.[21] Other initial retailers were MacIver Nanton Toys, Height Hairstylists, Tuxedo Book & Record Shop. A Bank of Montreal branch, Safeway supermarket and Shell gas station continue to operate today. The Shopping Centre was phase I of 2 phases on 15-acres of land. Phase 2 would see the construction of 3 apartment towers.[18]

A monument celebrating the incorporation of the Town was installed in Heubach Park in July 1970, dedicated by the Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg.[22]

In 1972, Tuxedo amalgamated with Winnipeg and twelve other suburbs in the Unicity scheme.[23] Records for the Tuxedo Park Company, as well as municipal records for Tuxedo, are held at the City of Winnipeg Archives.[24]

In the early 1990s, the Councillor for the area at the time, Larry Fleisher, requested that $250,000 be spent on making Heubach Park nicer, and that the project commence by 1993.[25]

In the 2010s commercial development of Tuxedo South lead to the opening of several shopping areas, including an IKEA store, an Outlet Collection mall, and Seasons of Tuxedo big box cluster.

Prominent residents of Tuxedo included Frank Trafford Taylor of which Taylor Avenue is named.

Tuxedo is the wealthiest area of Winnipeg with the highest property values.

• Asper Jewish Community Campus
• Canadian Mennonite University
• St. Paul's High School
• Shaftesbury High School
• Tuxedo Park School

• Assiniboine Park and Assiniboine Park Zoo
• Heubach Park
• Outlet Collection Winnipeg
• Tuxedo Park Shopping Centre

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tuxedo, Winnipeg.

• Manitoba Communities: Tuxedo
• History and Walking Tour of Tuxedo