From the desk of a gadfly
To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of St. James (starting just west of St. James Street to Sturgeon Road) breaking away from Assiniboia to form their own municipality, I am looking at the history of St. James.
This story deals with a business that started just outside of Winnipeg. In 1919, Roy Allen founded A&W in Lodi, California. One of Allen's employees, Frank Wright, soon became a business partner. The last names of the two started respectively with A and W.
In 1956, Montana natives Richard Bolte and Orval Helwege opened the first Canadian A&W Drive Inn at 3079 Portage Avenue just west of what is now Sturgeon Road. Although Winnipeg is given credit for being home to Canada’s first A&W, the store was actually located in the rural municipality of Assiniboia. Assiniboia’s reeve was Joseph Sansome.
A&W Canada has been independent of A&W in the United States since 1972. A&W Canada currently has 1060 locations with 45 in Manitoba. A&W has a partnership agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays. Since 2018, Susan Senecal has been CEO of A&W Canada. Let us look at a little bit of the St. James Assiniboia A&W history including my personal connection to “the Dub”.
Root beer, especially in a cooled mug, remains the cornerstone of A&W. The root beer has long 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.
My years at A&W Kirkfield
Between May 3, 1971, and July 8, 1974, I worked at Canada's original A&W. Most A&W’s were still drive inns. The lots used to fill with cars. There was sometimes non-stop horn honking. Car hops had the difficult task of making sure that the mugs were accounted for.
In Kirkfield, Harry Newbury was the area manager. Harry grew up on Roseberry Street and attended Assiniboine School. Harry invented the whistle dog, a hot dog with the wiener split down the centre, butterflied, and fried, and served with mustard, relish, onions, and bacon. The whistle dog was discontinued in 2016. In 2022, the whistle dog made a brief and triumphant return. Hopefully the whistle dog will soon permanently return.
During my years at Kirkfield, I worked with many talented people. The kitchen was anchored by Madalyn Saddler, Kelly Larson, Ruby Opperman (now Ruby Morris), and Joyce Kelunick. Mildred Gogush worked as a car hop and in the front room. Other car hops were Ann Horvath, Judy Pringle, Kathy Appleton, and Gail Bond. The managers included Al Price, Dale Hoffman, and Peter Teerhuis.
One Sunday 1972 autumn evening, I remember meeting our new assistant manager, Cliff Fogg. Cliff and I became instant friends. He shared with me his interesting perspectives about the restaurant business and world affairs.
During these three years, many locally well-known people visited the restaurant. The visitors included MP Dan McKenzie, NDP Cabinet Minister Len Evans, Annis Stukus of the WHA Jets, teacher Harry Pauls, and the family of Winnipeg Blue Bomber head coach Jim Spavital. One of my favourite memories happened late one Friday night. Nick Mickoski and the Winnipeg Junior Jets of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League dropped in for burgers at the start of one of their long bus trips.
In 1974, I was involved in an assistant manager trade. I was sent to Inkster and Main. John Drapala moved to Kirkfield.
On June 15, 2006, I was honoured to attend a 50th Anniversary Celebration at 3095 Portage. I reconnected with Wayne Gowryluk, A&W’s director of operations. During my time at A&W, Wayne, then the manager of Goulet Store, used to visit our store in his fancy car.
The first Canadian A&W with various renovations, rebuilds, and an address change to 3095 Portage operated for 59 years at the original location. In March 2015, the store moved slightly east to 3011 Portage Avenue at Sturgeon Road. (Wendy’s is now located at 3095 Portage.) I still regularly visit the 3011 Portage Avenue store. One of A&W's current regular customers is a long-time friend Jack Johnston. Jack has served over a half century as the Music Librarian at Calvary Temple.
Other St. James Assiniboia A&Ws
In 1959, A&W opened a root beer stand at 1866 Ellice Avenue. On opening day, the customers got free root beer with the purchase of a burger. George Diacos was the longtime manager of A&W Ellice. After about 30 years, A&W Ellice closed.
In 1997, A&W formed a partnership with Petro Canada. There is currently an A&W inside the Petro Canada Location at 2607 Portage Avenue.
During the much of the first 15 years of A&W in Canada, the Canadian head office was located in St. James. The addresses included 2481 Portage Avenue, 1763 Portage Avenue and 1666 Dublin. During the early 1970s, the Canadian Head office moved to North Vancouver. After the departure of the Canadian head office, regional offices have been located at 435 Berry Street, and 1313 Border.
In 2018, I found it ironic that A&W opened a new store very close to the long departed Canadian Head office on Dublin. On December 18, 2018, A&W opened a sparkling new innovative store 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 accommodation, and some outdoor seating. There is a handwashing sink for customers of all ages.
Since 2008, A&W has raised funds to provide support for people with MS and MS research. A portion of every Teen Burger sold on Burger-to-Beat-MS-Day goes to this cause.
Some More of the People who have worked at A&W in St. James Assiniboia and the neighbouring West End Stores
Car Hops: Kathy Maxwell, Jeannette and JoAnne Taylor (twins), Betty Anne Newbury, Janis Fogg. Norma Dagg, Terry Brownrigg, Pat Leathwood, Gerry Kilborne, Kathy Maxwell, Janis Bates.
Inside Employees: Vereen Webb, Carol Davis, Keith Irvine, Carol Fines
Managers: Frank Bell, George Martin, Al Price, Peter Teerhuis, Greg Johnson, Mike Gulyas, Craig Falconer
Arlington Street Bridge Update
150 Days of No Decision as of April 18, 2024.
Fred Morris is a Grandfather, Sports Fan and Political Activist.
