This page is going to be slightly different from the rest – as we focus on the Canoe Club complex – a luxury, senior-living complex within Southeast Winnipeg.  It is one of very few complexes within Winnipeg that can restrict the sale of its condominiums to the 55+ community, as it is still mostly privately owned.  The majority of units (52 of 102) are still owned wholly by its parent company, thus allowing for them to maintain majority voting rights and rent its units only to those in the 55+ age category. This is a feat that is not accomplished in other condominium complexes, as it was deemed a human rights issue (you cannot discriminate based upon age), and thus existing condominiums that were formerly only advertised as 55+ complexes can no longer do so.  The Canoe Club is nestled right along the Red River in St Vital.  It is less than 6 kilometers to the downtown core, and approximately 13 kilometers from the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport.

Real Estate Trends

There are a variety of floor plans available within the Canoe Club, the most common being a one-bedroom unit.  There are also two-bedroom floor plans available, but they do come up more rarely.  For rent, there is a long waiting list to get into a two-bedroom unit, but one-bedroom units come up for rent more frequently. Pricing for units within the complex begin at around $265,000 for a single bedroom unit and go upwards of $550,000 for a penthouse, corner unit with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. 

All of the units within this complex are handicap accessible – with accessible bathtubs, levered door handles, 36” wide door openings, and space to turnaround in a wheelchair or walker.  All units have high-end finishes including granite counters, stainless steel appliances, and high-quality cabinetry. Units also all have private laundry, and most will come with underground, heated parking.

Building Amenities

The building amenities are extensive, and they do a great job of listing them on their Webpage, but I will touch upon some that my own clients seemed to particularly appreciate here:

• Front Desk Staff – upon entering, you will note that there is a front desk that is staffed 24/7.  Jenna, the daytime resident manager is loved by all of the local residents.
• Concrete Construction – the building is solid concrete construction, which makes it incredibly quiet and private within the units.
• The lounge – with a piano and 24-hour bistro providing complimentary (not quite complimentary in that you are required to pay a monthly fee that is not optional) baking, coffee, tea, and juice is a frequent hotspot for gathering. 
• The Movie Theatre – residents often will book to host a private movie screening with their family. It is well equipped with an abundance of seating and sound proofing.
• The Gym – with great options for treadmills, loose weights, bikes, among a variety of other options and it overlooks the courtyard.
• In-house hair salon – there is a hairdresser that visits and has their own space right within the complex.  This may have been cancelled during COVID.
• Entertainment Area – that includes a billiard table, shuffleboard, small library area, as well as a fireside lounge. This area also often serves as a location where the residents can partake in some fitness classes.
• Country Kitchen – similar to booking the movie theatre, there is also a large country kitchen that you can book for your special events.  It has also served as the backdrop for the local book club, or other community gatherings. 
• Dining Hall – Three meals are prepared daily, and these are served in this expansive dining hall with attached lounge.
• Outside Courtyards – From the moment you enter the building you can see straight through to the courtyards that overlook the Red River.  There are great walking paths and trails as well as a water feature.
• Underground Parking – most units come with at least one underground parking spot. Oftentimes additional spots can be rented from other unit owners.

Services

What people most enjoy about this complex, is it represents an option for the aging population.  It allows for independent living with the option of adding on services to assist as you age. You can take advantage (at a cost) of the resident cleaner should you wish for weekly or bi-weekly cleaning and laundry services.  You can purchase a meal plan to lessen the load on cooking. Not interested in driving?  There is shuttle for the complex that schedules regular trips to the mall and other outings – or can directly courier you to your appointments. Each resident is also equipped with a 24-hour emergency response pendant that notifies the front desk should you need assistance. You can also schedule for homecare within your unit should you wish to have greater personal assistance with your day-to-day care.

Talk to the front desk about the service packages, as they have a variety of lifestyle packages that provide savings should you wish to receive a number of services.  There are also a-la-carte options should you just wish to receive one or two of the services.

Entertainment and Recreation

The Canoe Club has always been great at providing entertainment and recreation for its residents.  Regular activities are hosted daily that allow for gathering in the common areas. There are regular card tournaments, fitness classes, book clubs, movie nights, among other things to keep the residents out and about. There are often scheduled outings to the mall, to the casino, among other things.

It isn’t uncommon to enter the complex and find a group of residents around the grand piano singing in unison.  During the holiday season, there are usually structured gatherings as well.

If you feel that your current home is becoming a bit too cumbersome to manage, but still need your independence and don’t like the idea of assisted living, this represents a great option for you. If you wish to be sent notifications for upcoming Canoe Club listings, please fill out the form below.