In March 2025, negotiations began to rent—and ultimately purchase—the former Assiniboia Livestock Action (ALA). This structure has a remarkable and layered history. Originally built between 1911 and 1912, it served as a Canadian Pacific Railway roundhouse, where steam locomotives were serviced and repaired. While much of its early story remains to be uncovered, several key facts are known:

• The building was decommissioned by CP Rail in the 1960s as the steam era came to an end.
• In the 1970s, the property was purchased by Beaton, who converted it into a cattle sale yard.
• Between its decommissioning and its conversion to a stockyard, it is believed that a grain company used the building, filling it all the way to the roof with grain—an impressive feat considering the size of the structure.
• The roundhouse originally held six steam locomotives, with several feet of overhead clearance to allow workers to service them. Imagining that entire space filled with grain gives a sense of the building’s massive scale.
• The building continued to operate as a livestock facility under various owners until September 2024, when changes in the cattle industry led to its closure.

Now, it is time to resurrect the past and return this historic roundhouse to its industrial roots.

The rebuild shop is now deep into its transformation back into a fully functional parts rebuild and repair facility. For decades, this space served a very different purpose—it was the sales ring for local cattle auctions. With the bleachers removed and the floor reclaimed, the room is beginning to reveal its original industrial character once again.

Along the way, we’ve uncovered some remarkable surprises. One of the most exciting discoveries was a full-sized service pit hidden beneath the grandstands on the north side of the room. This unexpected find connects us directly to the building’s working past and will play an important role in future locomotive servicing.

We have already begun rebuilding small components such as water and oil pumps, spitter valves (drain valve) and bell ringers. Larger machinery and equipment will be installed in the rebuild shop over the summer as the space continues to take shape.

This is only the beginning. Stay tuned—there is much more to come as the roundhouse returns to life.