OLEXA DEVELOPMENT UPDATES AND INDUSTRY INSIGHTS.
OLEXA WINNIPEG’S ST. BONIFACE NEIGHBOURHOOD POISED FOR A GENERATIONAL MAKEOVER
The old water tower overlooking the vacant Canada Packers site now in development.
On the eastern side of Winnipeg’s St. Boniface neighbourhood is a 165-acre plot of land formerly home to the Canada Packers meat packing plant, demolished in 2001. Just four kilometres from downtown Winnipeg, the site represents one of the city’s most significant redevelopment opportunities.
“Over the next few years, this amazing historic location in St. Boniface will take shape as the Water Tower District – a vibrant, inner-city community featuring a multi-scape of future residences, local businesses, and acres of green space,” says Olexa Developments Ltd., a Calgary-based developer that acquired the site in 2016. “Guided by the spirit of community and belonging, we’re planning a true mixed-use development where people and businesses thrive.”
The Water Tower District will include at least 25 acres of residential space, 21 acres of retail and office space, 70 acres of light industrial space and 22 acres of parkland. Last month, Olexa announced a partnership with Shindico Realty Inc. of Winnipeg that will see Shindico acquire 14.34 acres to design, construct and lease the retail component in partnership with Olexa. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.On the eastern side of Winnipeg’s St. Boniface neighbourhood is a 165-acre plot of land formerly home to the Canada Packers meat packing plant demolished in 2001. Just four kilometres from downtown Winnipeg, the site represents one of the city’s most significant redevelopment opportunities.
“Over the next few years, this amazing historic location in St. Boniface will take shape as the Water Tower District – a vibrant, inner-city community featuring a multi-scape of future residences, local businesses, and acres of green space,” says Olexa Developments Ltd., a Calgary-based developer that acquired the site in 2016. “Guided by the spirit of community and belonging, we’re planning a true mixed-use development where people and businesses thrive.”
The Water Tower District will include at least 25 acres of residential space, 21 acres of retail and office space, 70 acres of light industrial space and 22 acres of parkland. Last month, Olexa announced a partnership with Shindico Realty Inc. of Winnipeg that will see Shindico acquire 14.34 acres to design, construct and lease the retail component in partnership with Olexa. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
GROCERY STORE TO ANCHOR RETAIL PORTION OF WATER TOWER DISTRICT PROJECT
CTV News - October 21, 2025 at 9:09PM EDT
Grocery store to anchor retail portion of water tower district project.
Winnipeg developer Shindico Realty Inc. has acquired 14.34 acres of the Water Tower District project to develop a retail component, and a grocery store will be the anchor tenant.
The former meat plant in St. Boniface was demolished in 2001 and has been vacant ever since. The new retail development will include restaurants, drive-thrus, and a 30,000- to 40,000-square-foot grocery store.
Shindico CEO Sandy Shildleman said they’re reaching out to the big chains like Safeway, Co-op, Sobeys, and Loblaws.
“There’s enough market share, and there hasn’t been a new grocery store or new retail in the area for a long, long, long time,” he said.
The 165-acre property, at the corner of Marion St. and Archibald St., will also include hundreds of residential units, offices, industrial lots, and park space, so customers for the retailers, are built in.
OLEXA WINNIPEG WATER TOWER DISTRICT REDEV TO KICK OFF WITH RETAIL & RESIDENTIAL
The old water tower overlooking the vacant Canada Packers site now in development.
Sandy Shindleman's Shindico buys 14 acres, will help redevelop site where he worked - as a cattle buyer - 50 years ago
A retail centre will be a key component of the first phase of Winnipeg’s massive Water Tower District development, with construction expected to start in 2026.
Shindico Realty announced this month the acquisition of 14.34 acres of land located on the former Canada Packers/Public Markets lands at the southeast corner of Marion St. and Archibald St. The site will be used to build the district’s retail centre, to be known as the Stockyards.
OLEXA DEVELOPMENTS ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH SHINDICO REALTY INC. TO DELIVER NEW MIXED-USE RETAIL HUB AT WINNIPEG’S WATER TOWER DISTRICT
The old water tower overlooking the vacant Canada Packers site now in development.
Olexa Developments Announces Partnership with Shindico Realty Inc. to Deliver New Mixed-Use Retail Hub at Winnipeg’s Water Tower District
Winnipeg, MB – October 26, 2025 – Olexa Developments Ltd. is proud to announce a new partnership with Shindico Realty Inc. to co-develop a transformative 14.34-acre mixed-use retail hub within the Water Tower District, Winnipeg’s newest infill community in the heart of St. Boniface.
Located at the southeast corner of Marion Street and Archibald Street, this major redevelopment will feature a best-in-class retail centre designed to complement the surrounding residential, industrial, and green spaces. The project is a key component of the 165-acre Water Tower District, a transit-oriented, walkable neighbourhood envisioned as a complete community where residents can live, work, and shop in one connected environment.
SHINDICO ACQUIRES 14.34 ACRES AT WATER TOWER DISTRICT FOR NEW MIXED-USE INFILL DEVELOPMENT
The old water tower overlooking the vacant Canada Packers site now in development.
Shindico Acquires 14.34 Acres at Water Tower District for New Mixed-Use Infill Development
Winnipeg, MB – October 21, 2025 – Shindico Realty Inc. is pleased to announce the acquisition of 14.34 acres of land within the Water Tower District, Winnipeg’s newest infill mixed-use development. The site, located on the former Canada Packers/Public Markets lands at the southeast corner of Marion Street and Archibald Street, represents one of the city’s most significant infill redevelopment opportunities.
As the owner and developer, Shindico Realty Inc. will fully design, construct, and lease the retail component of the Water Tower District. The development will be undertaken in partnership with Olexa Developments Ltd., a long-time and trusted partner. This latest project builds on a history of successful ventures together, including the Brookside Business Park.
SHINDICO STARTING TO SELL WATER TOWER MF DEVELOPMENT PARCELS
The old water tower overlooking the vacant Canada Packers site now in development.
The old water tower overlooking the vacant Canada Packers site now in development.
2023 — “In 2016, Olexa Developments — based in Calgary — purchased the former Canada Packers site in Winnipeg, and envisioned the genesis of the Water Tower District. Olexa saw a tremendous opportunity to transform this 165 acre Brownfield Development, situated just four kilometers from downtown.”
“Olexa revives vacant Canada Packers site”, Issue 2, 2023, Commercial Real Estate Magazine
OLEXA REVIVES VACANT CANADA PACKERS SITE
The old water tower overlooking the vacant Canada Packers site now in development.
The old water tower overlooking the vacant Canada Packers site now in development.
2023 — “In 2016, Olexa Developments — based in Calgary — purchased the former Canada Packers site in Winnipeg, and envisioned the genesis of the Water Tower District. Olexa saw a tremendous opportunity to transform this 165 acre Brownfield Development, situated just four kilometers from downtown.”
“Olexa revives vacant Canada Packers site”, Issue 2, 2023, Commercial Real Estate Magazine
WINNIPEG’S NEXT SHOVEL-READY INDUSTRIAL DEV. SITE
The Water Tower District, by Olexa Developments, will include multi-use, retail, office, medical, industrial.
The Water Tower District, by Olexa Developments, will include multi-use, retail, office, medical, industrial.
July 17, 2023 — “Construction work including roads, water and sewers has begun on Winnipeg’s 165-acre infill mixed-use Water Tower District.
The project, by Alberta-based Olexa Developements, sits on a large brownfield site in the St. Boniface community east of downtown.”
Kerr, Kathy. "Water Tower District Winnipeg's next shovel-ready industrial dev. site", Renx.
TOWER-ING OPPORTUNITY IN ST. BONIFACE
Water Tower District development set for former Canada Packers site.
Water Tower District development set for former Canada Packers site.
July 16, 2023 — “More than 22 years after the former Canada Packers building in St. Boniface was blown to a pile of rubble—and countless failed attempts at redeveloping the 165-acre site on which it resided since—plans to resurrect the massive plot of urban land are finally underway.
The Water Tower District, a mixed-use development that was initially proposed in 2019, will bring 70 acres of industrial land, 21 acres of commercial development and 25 acres of multi-family residential blocks to Winnipeg by 2033.”
Frey-Sam, Joshua. "Tower-ing opportunity in St. Boniface", Winnipeg Free Press.
BUILDING NEW INDUSTRIAL IN SOUTHEAST WINNIPEG
Winnipeg’s newest industrial area, the Plessis Business Park in the southeast sector of the city, will soon have its first tenant.
Winnipeg’s newest industrial area, the Plessis Business Park in the southeast sector of the city, will soon have its first tenant.
June 23, 2020 — “The St. Boniface Industrial Park’s proximity to the soon-to-be-developed Canada Packers lands—formerly zoned for industrial—will be yet another attractive amenity.”
Schlesinger, Joel. "Shindico building new industrial in southeast Winnipeg", Real Estate News Exchange.
ST. BONIFACE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Developer hopes to turn former Canada Packers site into urban village featuring multi-family homes, affordable housing, local retail options.
Developer hopes to turn former Canada Packers site into urban village featuring multi-family homes, affordable housing, local retail options.
September 26, 2019 — “A Calgary-based developer’s goal of turning 165 acres of industrial land in St. Boniface into the city’s next great neighbourhood will be evaluated Monday, when the city’s property and development committee reviews its secondary plan.
In 2016, for a little under $10 million, a numbered company including Olexa Developments purchased the plot of land—stretching between Marion and Archibald streets and abutted by the CN Sprague and Emerson rail lines to the east and west—with the intent to develop it into an urban ‘village,’ replete with high- and medium-density housing, pedestrian-geared retail options and light-industrial or commercial business space.”
Waldman, Ben. "St. Boniface industrial revolution", The Free Press, The Winnipeg Free Press.
WINNIPEG CITY HALL GETS FIRST LOOK AT MASSIVE ST. BONIFACE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL
Former Canada Packers plant, Union Stockyards site could feature mix of apartments, condos, businesses.
Former Canada Packers plant, Union Stockyards site could feature mix of apartments, condos, businesses.
September 24, 2019 — “The one–time home of a meat packing plant and a former proposed site for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' football stadium could one day become a mix of apartments, condos and commercial businesses.
A proposed plan from Calgary's Olexa Developments to redevelop the 165 acres (roughly 66 hectares) of the Public Markets site, in the St. Boniface industrial park, has landed on the desks of the Winnipeg city council's property and planning committee.”
Kavanagh, Sean. "Winnipeg city hall gets first look at massive St. Boniface development proposal", CBC News.