Albert Street Autonomous Zone

Imperial Dry Goods Block
The Imperial Dry Goods Building, home of Old Market Autonomous Zone
Alternative namesTrend Interiors

Emma Goldman Building Mondragon Bookstore and Cafe

Tooke Building
General information
Location91 Albert Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Completed1899
Renovated1909
Technical details
Floor count3
Design and construction
Architect(s)J.H. Cadham
Heritage site
DesignationWinnipeg Landmark Heritage Structure
Recognized16 June 1980 (1980-06-16)
CRHP listing29 January 2008 (2008-01-29)
Recognition authorityCity of Winnipeg
ID8668

The Albert Street Autonomous Zone, also known as A-Zone or the Old Market Autonomous Zone, was founded in 1995, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, by local activists Paul Burrows and Sandra Drosdowech, who also co-founded Winnipeg's Mondragon Bookstore.[1]

Its name is derived from "Old Market Square", the historic Exchange District in Winnipeg's downtown core area,[2] combined with Hakim Bey's notion of a "temporary autonomous zone" (or TAZ). The Winnipeg A-Zone occupies a three-story building sometimes referred to as the Imperial Dry Goods Building, originally built in 1899. Like many buildings in the area, it is classified as a heritage building by the city of Winnipeg. Since 1995,[3] the building has been known locally as both the A-Zone, and sometimes the Emma Goldman Building.[4]

  1. ^ French, Michelle (12 September 2001). "Mondragon at five". The Manitoban. Archived from the original on 6 May 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Winnipeg : Essential City : Old Market Square | WHERE.ca". Archived from the original on 2 January 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2007.
  3. ^ Development, City of Winnipeg Planning, Property &; Winnipeg, City of. "List of Historical Resources - Planning, Property and Development Department - City of Winnipeg". www.winnipeg.ca. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Old Market Autonomous Zone :: The A-Zone: A Brief History". Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2007.