Mill society turns sod for new agricultural interpretive centre
The Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society held a sod turning event on Friday, September 15 to mark the commencement of construction on the Interpretive Station at the Mill.
Attached to the historic flour mill, the Interpretive Station at the Mill will house a 140-person event centre and an agricultural interpretive center, fulfilling the group’s twofold vision of restoring the mill site to a vibrant, cultural gathering hub while also building connections between general society and agriculture.
The recent receipt of a $500,000 grant from the Legacy Fund of the Government of Canada’s Department of Heritage has pushed the capital campaign to 80% of its goal, allowing construction to begin this fall, with expected completion in summer 2024.
“This is the day we’ve been waiting for!” Heritage Society President Larry Pearen said, adding, “It is so gratifying to see all these years of planning and hard work coming to fruition. Today we turned the sod, and we look forward next summer to cutting the ribbon on this exciting new facility for Yorkton and the surrounding region.”
Construction has been awarded to Yorkton’s NL Construction Inc. and sub-trades are expected to involve many of Yorkton’s local construction companies. Design and engineering was performed by SEPW Architecture Inc. with support from JCK Engineering, RJ England Consulting Ltd., and Alfa Engineering Ltd.
In addition to the support from the Government of Canada, the project has garnered strong support from the local jurisdiction and business community. Major supporters include the City of Yorkton, Harvest Meats, Legacy Co-op, Grain Millers Canada, the Yorkton Tribal Council, Ernie Anuik, Richardson International, The Rotary Club of Yorkton, The Kinsmen Club of Yorkton, Royal Auto Group, and Bailey’s Funeral Home.
The Capital Committee continues to work to raise the remaining 20% of funds needed to bring the project to completion, with plans to rollout a farmer-focused initiative in the near future. Individuals and businesses interested in learning more and/or contributing to the Interpretive Station at the Mill project can reach out to any member of the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society.
Photo at top: Larry Pearen and Victoria Leonard of SEPW Architecture Inc. talk about the addition to the mill.
Contributors as of 15 September 2023
City of Yorkton $300,000
Harvest Meats $100,000
Legacy Co-op $100,000
Grain Millers $100,000
Ernie Anuik $100,000
Yorkton Tribal Council $100,000
Richardson International $50,000
Kinsmen Club of Yorkton $25,000
Rotary Club of Yorkton $25,000
Terry Ortynsky Royal Ford $25,000
Bailey's Funeral Home $25,000
YBID $25,000
Cornerstone Credit Union $10,000
RBKR Law $10,000
Haas Nissan $10,000
Painted Hand Casino CDC $10,000
Baker Tilly $5,000
Cenovus Energy $5,000
Terry & Anne Popowich $5,000
Bode Family $2,500
RM of Wallace $2,500
RM of Orkney $2,000
Wagner's Flooring $1,500
Sperling Industries $1,500
PCL Construction $1,000
Yorkton Aircraft Services $1,000
National Bank $500
Gladys Krepakevich $500
Heritage Canada Legacy Fund $500,000
CCSF Grant $76,475
CCSF Grant $9,200
Other news about the flour mill
Mill receives three Saskatchewan heritage awards
Outdoor panels telling local and mill history expanded
Outdoor panels telling local and mill history expanded
The Yorkton historic flour mill received two awards from Lt. Gov. Russell Mirasty at the Saskatchewan Heritage Awards Nov. 2 2021 in Regina. The mill society received awards for Public Outreach and for Physical Heritage Conservation. It was one of three winners from across the province in each category.
The mill society also receive the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation's 30th Anniversary Award. The Foundation noted, "Your project is very worthy of recognition and we are very proud to have assisted you with the restoration of the Yorkton Brick Flour Mill, over the years. We are very happy to join with Heritage Saskatchewan by presenting the Yorkton Brick Flour Mill with our own Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation 30th Anniversary Award for exemplary built heritage conservation."
Outdoor panels telling local and mill history expanded
Outdoor panels telling local and mill history expanded
Outdoor panels telling local and mill history expanded
The storyboards telling the history of Yorkton were expanded again in June of 2021 with the addition of seven more 4x8 foot panels.
Further additions to the storyboards are planned for later this summer and next year.
The outdoor panels, accessible year-found on the south side of the mill, tell the history of the Yorkton area from the time it was inhabited by the First Nations. They were officially unveiled on Oct. 8, 2020.
Taking part in the sod turning were, from the left, MLA Greg Ottenbreit, Garth Pugh (Board Member, Saskatchewan Heritage Society), Harley McClughan (General Manager, Legacy Co-op), Jessie Huber (Marketing Manager, Legacy Co-op), Ernie Anuik, Mayor Mitch Hippsley, Kenn Propp (General Manager, Harvest Meats), Terry Tyson (General Manager, Grain Millers), Keith Belitski (Senior Director of Operations, Richardson Oilseed Processing), Yorkton Tribal Council Tribal Chief Isabel O’Soup, and Larry Pearen (President, Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society).
Photos courtesy Lindsey Kautz, LF Photography
AGM hears reports, elects directors
There was a large turnout for the Mill society annual meeting on February 21, where reports were presented about the past year's activities and board members were elected.
Elected to the board for three-year terms were Kevin Pickup, Terry Ortynsky, Thom Weir and new director Mel Puritch. They join Juanita Brown, Janice Pilipow, Bonnie Rushowick, Darren Mountenay and Terry Tyson, as well as President Larry Pearen, Past President Vern Brown, Vice-president Thom Weir and Secretary-treasurer David Harris.
Vic Surjik retired from the board, and was thanked for his many many years of service. He was presented with a polished railway spike from the mill railway line.
Financial reports were presented, as well as an overview of the past year, during which more than 500 visitors toured the mill over the course of four summer months.
Read, download or print the report (in PDF format) of the past year's activities.
Among those attending the AGM were three city councillors, a nominee for his party's MLA candidacy and Member of Parliament Cathay Wagentall.
Mill society president Larry Pearen, right, and secretary-treasurer David Harris at the AGM.