The Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society has reached a major milestone. The signs detailing the history of the mill are up, and people can now learn more about the history of the region, starting with the First Nations and continuing to today.
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Larry Pearen with the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society said it鈥檚 exciting to have something tangible they can show the public. Over $330,000 has been raised so far for repairs, and they are almost at the point where people can again enter the building safely, and the signs are another part of the larger plans for the site.
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鈥淲e鈥檙e so glad this is finally up, we have a chance to see it, then we can move forward. People know we are serious about this. Interior repairs, nobody can see the repairs to the foundation.鈥�
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One of the challenges of the design was to make something that could withstand the wind, something that was tested during the ribbon cutting as it was a very windy day. The structure, built out of aluminum, is in a zig-zag pattern, which Pearen explained was decided to make it withstand the weather.
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鈥淭his is very strong, we鈥檙e excited about that! Saskatchewan has been getting more wind these past few months, and it has withstood it.鈥澨�
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The Yorkton Tribal Council was a major contributor to the project, and they were given the lead on the panels discussing First Nations history. Tribal Chief Isabel O鈥橲oup said it has been overwhelming to see the final result.
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鈥淚t just warms my heart that my ancestors are finally going to be recognized, you know? That鈥檚 really the bottom line鈥� I say that because the history of Canada and First Nations people has not been [recognized], there鈥檚 a black mark on history there. We work really hard to get past that. And I mean, other people are working hard to get past that as well, so it鈥檚 overwhelming. It鈥檚 an honor to see our history up there.鈥�
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O鈥橲oup does have one thing she wants to see on the mill site that she isn鈥檛 seeing now, and that鈥檚 more young people involved in the project. She said that she has seen seniors working hard on the mill project, but she hasn鈥檛 seen very many young people working on the project, and she said that we need to find ways to get young people more involved in projects that involve history.
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鈥淚n our First Nations community, it would be blasphemy to see all these old people working and young people sitting at home! Having said that, it鈥檚 the importance of history, we probably don鈥檛 see that until we get older. I just think that we should have more. If somebody鈥檚 coming, bring your grandson, bring your granddaughter, that鈥檚 the only way we鈥檙e going to learn it.鈥�
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She also notes that it鈥檚 often the case that people don鈥檛 know how First Nations history and the Brick Mill intersect. Since the initial push was towards making people farmers on reservation, she said that the Brick Mill was an important link in the chain for the reservations that surround Yorkton, something many people don鈥檛 realize.
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鈥淓verybody has a connection to it, whether we know it or not,鈥� said O鈥橲oup.
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The project has had the support of the City of Yorkton, but Mayor Bob Maloney noted that this wasn鈥檛 always the case, and previous councils were not always on side, but that the dedication of the Brick Mill committee and the work that they鈥檝e done has been what has turned people around. When the project began, there were considerable obstacles to overcome, including structural stability and major damage. However, saving the building is vital because Yorkton has lost a great deal of its heritage already.
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鈥淲e haven鈥檛 done a good job of protecting history in the city. In fact, we haven鈥檛 been proactive at all and I think this is one of the few projects that council has gotten behind. The reason behind it is because of the committee that came together to save the mill. They鈥檝e done a lot of terrific work. I mean, this is the only brick mill left in Saskatchewan, I mean it鈥檚 the oldest historical building we have left. It鈥檚 the historical building that we have left in the city, and I am so pleased that so many people have come together to save it. I think it behooves council to stay on the right side of this project, I see nothing but good things for this site and what鈥檚 being developed here.鈥�
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Maloney is also impressed by the wealth of information on the boards at the site.
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鈥淚f people haven鈥檛 seen the story boards yet I encourage them to come and look. I consider myself to be a bit of a Yorkton historian, and there are pictures on this board that I have never seen.鈥�
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Maloney also said that the Yorkton Tribal Council鈥檚 involvement has been something that was important to get a more complete view of the history of the region.
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鈥淚f you鈥檙e going to tell their story, they should be telling the story.鈥�
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The society is now looking for sponsors for panels. For an eight by eight panel the cost is $2,000.
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鈥淭he more we pay this off, the more we can move forward with other developments,鈥� said Pearen.
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The next step for the Mill is the addition of an interpretive centre. The plan is to make a two-storey structure inspired by the railway station, in the same rough footprint as a building that was torn down. It will tell the story of grains and milling in Saskatchewan.
