Winnipeg Mayor and Councillors Raise Concerns After Salisbury House Loses Contract to U.S. Company

Winnipeg city council has raised concerns after awarding a food services contract at two municipal golf courses to a U.S.-based company, displacing a local restaurant chain that had held the agreement since 2009.

The City of Winnipeg awarded a new contract for food and beverage services at Windsor Park and Kildonan Park golf courses to Aramark Canada following a competitive bidding process after the previous agreement with Salisbury House expired at the end of March 2026. The contract is valued at approximately $70,000 annually.

Salisbury House, a Winnipeg-owned restaurant chain, had provided services at the two golf courses since 2009. The change prompted criticism from the company and several city councillors who questioned the decision amid broader efforts to support local and Canadian businesses.

“This just doesn’t pass the sniff test,” said David Petrishen, operations manager at Salisbury House, in an interview with CBC Radio’s Up to Speed. He pointed to ongoing initiatives prioritizing Canadian and local businesses as context for the concern.

Aramark is a Philadelphia-headquartered company that operates in more than a dozen countries, according to its corporate website. Its Canadian subsidiary, Aramark Canada, is based in Mississauga, Ontario.

Some Winnipeg city councillors have joined Salisbury House in seeking clarification on why the contract was awarded to a multinational U.S.-based firm instead of renewing with the established local provider, particularly given municipal emphasis on supporting hometown enterprises.