This project is a Summer Youth Project.

The Occidental Hotel (now named the Red Road Lodge) at 631 Main Street was built in July 1886. For many years it was a very profitable hotel operation and by the 1980s it had the highest beer vendor sales in Manitoba and was known as one of the toughest bars in Western Canada.

In 2002 the Occidental Hotel was purchased by Richard Walls as part of a private sector initiative to rejuvenate Winnipeg’s Main Street. In 2004 they decided to stop serving liquor and the hotel was renamed The Red Road Lodge. This meant that much of the revenue was lost and the facility struggled financially. In 2006 a not-for-profit corporation was established with the objective of operating it as an affordable housing facility and community resource center. Today the Lodge is run by a board and is in the midst of applying for charitable status.

The Red Road Lodge vision statement is “More than just a place to live". The Red Road Lodge is a community focused Spiritual Healing and Recovery Centre providing a safe haven, support facilities and programs for youth-at-risk, recovering alcoholics, drug abusers and other vulnerable persons.” Its mission is “to provide transitional housing for persons in drug or alcohol recovery or vulnerable persons requiring housing free of drugs and alcohol and to provide services and programs for tenants and the community that support healthy, vibrant and a culturally rich community.”

No alcohol or drugs are allowed on the premises and it is a safe place for residents.  Programs have been established to support Lodge residents. START (Sobriety Training and Recovery Therapy) is a one-on-one program that teaches life and job skills, nutrition, self-care, to help residents move into independent living. REACH (Red Road Lodge Education, Arts, Culture and Health initiative) is an after school outreach program of music, art, crafts, physical fitness which reaches inner-city youth and adults.

MDS Summer Youth Involvement

The Red Road Lodge is an old building and is in need of repair. Some of the rooms are in very bad shape. There are not enough funds and that is where the MDS Summer Youth Program fits in. MDS youth will provide the labor for the transformation of eight rooms. This will require gutting the rooms, putting up drywall, mudding, taping and painting.  It is exciting to be part of this venture in the downtown of Winnipeg.

631 Main St, Winnipeg, MB

Phone: 717-823-1505

e-mail: redroadlodge@mds.mennonite.net

Project Start Date: July 6, 2009

Project Directors:Michael and Rebecca Enns

Volunteer Status: Project is Closed

Volunteers to Date:

Jobs Started:

Jobs Completed:

Project End Date: July 31, 2009