When I write stories, I usually surf the internet, test my memory, and visit a place and or a person with a notebook in hand. In August 1961, Peter Liba found a unique way to get the necessary information for 18 stories. Peter worked in 18 different jobs for a day and then wrote a story about each of these jobs. How could I find a unique way to write a story. My answer was to return to one of my former jobs.
In 1919, Roy Allen founded A&W in Lodi California. One of Allen’s employees, Frank Wright, soon became a business partner. Their last names started with A and W. In 1956, Montana natives Richard Bolte and Orval Helwege opened the first Canadian A&W Drive Inn at 3079 (later changed to 3095 at the same location) Portage Avenue.
Although Winnipeg is given credit for being home to Canada’s first A&W, the store was actually located in what was then the rural Municipality of Assiniboia. A&W remained at the original location for 59 years. The site of Canada’s original A&W is now a Wendy’s. There is an A&W slightly to the east at 3111 Portage. Since 1972, A&W Canada has been independent of A&W in the United States.
Root beer, especially in a cooled mug, remains the cornerstone of A&W. The root beer has complemented a great selection of food including the Burger Family, in-store-made onion rings and an interesting breakfast menu. A&W has given away or sold many promotional items including teddy bears, t-shirts, antenna balls, flying onion rings, baby bibs and car stickers.
A&W advertising has featured Albert & Walter, the Great Root Bear and the A&W Guy, Allen Lulu.
Between May 3, 1971, and July 8, 1974, I worked at Canada’s original A&W as a cook, shift supervisor, and assistant manager. During these three years, I discovered that the restaurant business is a great way to meet well-known people. MP Dan McKenzie and NDP Cabinet Minister Leonard Evans, and Anis Stukus, an executive of the WHA Winnipeg Jets, visited Kirkfield.
The Winnipeg Junior Jets and Coach Nick Mickowski dropped at the start of one of their night-long bus rides through Western Canada. In December 1973, I worked one shift at A&W Polo at 1520 Portage. It was part of an agreement between Polo and Kirkfield to cover the other store in order to enable staff to attend their Christmas party. In 1974, I was involved in an assistant manager trade. I went to Inkster and Main and John Drapula came to Kirkfield.
While working at Inkster, I discovered that a restaurant could provide unexpected excitement During the 1975 Blizzard, I was stranded in the store with a milk man. In March of 1975, I was robbed at gun point while cashing out. After moving to A&W McPhillips, I worked in my final A&W in January 1977.
I continued to be an A&W customer. On June 15, 2006, I attended a 50th Anniversary Celebration at 3095 Portage. I reconnected with Wayne Gowryluk, A&W’s director of operations. I had first met Wayne during my time at Kirkfield. Wayne, then the manager of Goulet Store, used to visit our store with his fancy car. In 2012. I helped A&W 1520 Portage with a city variance.
On December 18, 2018, I found it ironic that A&W opened a new store very close to the long departed Canadian head office on Dublin Avenue. This sparkling new innovative store is across from Red River College at 1636 King Edward on Winnipeg’s major north-south route. The new store has various types of seating including booths, stools, handicapped, and some outdoor seating. There is a hand-washing sink for customers of all ages.
If all this sounds a little familiar, in March 2019, I wrote my first Lifestyles story about A&W.
In June 2025, A&W Polo Park donated two mugs for Ruby’s and my 50th Wedding Anniversary. Ruby and I met at A&W Kirkfield.
Since 2008, A&W has raised funds to provide support for people with MS There is a special MS Day every August. I decided to write a story on MS day 2026. As part of my research for this story, I worked for three hours at A&W. 1520 Portage Avenue
What has changed?
The automation of the accounting system is positive. We used to have greasy sales bills all over the store. Some of us even took the bills home to record what we were selling. We called this procedure recaps. Another positive change is the elimination of cook to order. We used to wait for the customers to make their choice before starting the necessary preparation. This often led to backlogs. Fast Food must be Fast Food. As a Baby Boomer, I certainly remember car hops. By the early 1990s, car hops had disappeared. This change eliminated a lot of problems including trying to put the tray on the car window, excessive horn honking, and, of course, trying to carry food to a car in bad weather.
However, A&W may want to consider an occasional trivia day with car hops for that day only. There is only one thing that I want to be returned on a permanent basis. The Whistle Dog should return.
I thank Craig Falconer, Brett Falconer, and the staff at A&W 1520 Portage for the opportunity to turn back the clock while writing this story.
As a sports fan, I have watched sports stars return for one last game years after their retirement. After retiring in 1954, Bomber quarter back, Jack Jacobs, returned to play in a 1966 Exhibition Game in Winnipeg Stadium Winnipeg Stadium, known as the “House that Jack Built”. After retiring for a second time in 1980, Gordie Howe returned to play one shift in a 1997 Detroit Viper game.
I thought that my 49 years between A&W shifts must be a record. However, I discovered that there has been at least one longer interval between shifts. In 1959, Len Kljenski worked as a Bat Boy for the St. Paul Saints AAA Professional Baseball Team. Len recently returned 67 years later to once work as the Bat Boy for AAA St. Paul Saints. Congratulations Len.
Now is the time for a sometimes-political candidate
I have been introduced in some of my Lifestyles 55 stories as a sometimes-political candidate. The time has come again. I am running for the Daniel Mac city council seat. My policies include fixing some of the problems created by the new 2025 transit system, building a new Arlington Street Bridge, saving the Portage Main concourse, monthly meetings for the existing Winnipeg Safety Committee, and year-round 30 km in all School Zones.
“It is now up to people of Daniel Mac to decide who will be their Councillor. If I had not run, there would have probably been an acclamation.”
Fred Morris is a Grandfather, Sports Fan and Political Activist.