麻豆视频

The theme for the 2020 Heritage Forum in Saskatoon Feb. 27th was Our Places 鈥� Our Stories that Matter.

From start to finish each speaker shared their story of revitalization in one form or another. Relevant to our story here in Yorkton and attending this forum was a good learning process and to understand that many communities around the Province are and have been in the same situation.

Our first Key note speaker was Dr. Ernie Walker who shared his 鈥淭ales from the big Empty: The incredible story of Wanuskewin Park. Dr. Walker is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Saskatchewan and Associate Memberships in the Department of Geological Sciences, the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and the College of Dentistry. From growing up collecting artifacts on the sand dunes of where Saskatoon Wanuskewin Park is now to the visitors centre and Park that sits on the site is his life鈥檚 work. The journey took us from the 1970 cattle ranch, 1980 when the research began, 1983 to getting the land declared a provincial park, 1984 when he involved the First Nation, 1987 when Queen Elizabeth visited the site declaring it a National Park, to recently in 2019 bringing the bison back. The Bison are from the Joseph Yellow head heard from the 1870 lines and in 2023 the Park will be possibly declared a World designation. Dr. Walkers over 30 year journey is inspiring and no less than a miracle. A true combination of many groups coming together to create the Wanuskewin National Park it is today. Bringing in visitors from around the world.

Our next speaker was Deeter Schuring, who is the President and CEO of cSPace Projects, and his story of the King Edwards Arts Hub in Calgary reminded me of our Old Mill project. The King Edward School was built in 1912 and had two additions, one in 1950 and one in the early 60鈥檚. It is a sandstone school and being over 100 years old and sitting vacant for over 10 years, the challenges to creating what is it today seemed overwhelming. Bringing together groups specializing in technical, urban planning and the community the blend of old building and new brought about the LEED 鈥� Certified Community and Arts hub it is today. It includes living quarters for artists, coffee shop, rentable desks for simpler projects, areas to house events, movies, business meetings, and weekly farmers market. The project at its fruition is truly and inspiration to us here in Yorkton and how we may tackle our Old Mill. It was inspiring to just hear that it has been done and done well and is successful.

Our next speaker included David Siebert, a master鈥檚 student at the school of Indigenous and Canadian studies at Carleton University in Ottawa. David was speaking on places of Faith in 麻豆视频ern Saskatchewan and how communities have taken old Churches and put them to use in many ways. Followed by Robert Pajot, the Regeneration Project Leader at the National Trust, who discussed places of faith at risk. As the use of the Churches becomes less and less the challenges faced to use the buildings and keep them up are enormous. There are an estimated 9000 faith buildings at risk of closing in the near future. How to put them to use and much similar to our Sacred Heart school story that is now an assisted living program.

After lunch a panel of speakers included Kwame Neba, the Director of Industry Development for Tourism Saskatchewan, who lead the panel, Bevra Fee the Managing Director of the Non-Profit Northern Lakes Economic Development Corporation, Ryan Reiss Mayor of Vibank, and Steph Clovechok VP of Tourism Saskatchewan.

Bevra Fee spoke on the revitalization of Main Street Spiritwood. Starting in 2015 Spiritwood took advantage of the SaskCulture鈥檚 Main St. Program and matched dollars from the grants to change the look of Spiritwood. Once one building was done another followed as no one wanted to be the ugly duck on the street. From changing the farmers market to a three table market to a 15 or more to creating pocket parks and walking tours for art work and a shared vendor spot in the community, her story took us along the path of small town Spiritwood and how they survive with revitalization. Although the Main St. Program is no longer it has changed to the Thrive Program and a possible source of funding for Main St. revitalization.

Ryan Reiss, Mayor of the Town of Vibank shared his story of the Vibank Heritage building which today is functioning as a Heritage centre and daycare for the community. Finally on the Panel was Steph Clovechok who was truly inspirational at telling us to share our story. She updated us on how changes to Tourism Saskatchewan are happening and we are the force for change and reconciliation. We are all in the tourism business and our heritage is our tourism. How we farm our land, how we run our businesses and how they came to be. These are the stories that are our heritage and need to be told. Who we are as a community and that Tourism will lead the way to redesigning destinations and development. Share our story and share it often. The wellbeing of our community will be driven by Tourism. Know our story and share it. Never stop sharing and again... share it often. I found Steph to be truly inspirational as our Yorkton story is something we need to share more and more and more! We are truly a 鈥渟leeping giant鈥� as Pat Fiasco recently called us and we have it all! Tell our story and scream it from the roof tops and that will change our path. Being positive and a force to see and hear will turn the tables of our story and make us the Tiger of the East we truly are.

Dr. Vanessa Mathews rounded out the afternoon with her story of how Craft Beer brewers are truly the new wave of the future and can go in almost any historic building. Places between home and work we can stop in to share our story and share a craft beer. Back Forty and Tapps are two places much like she talked about that are popping up all over the Province. Once again showing me that Yorkton has what is needed and we are truly where good things happen.

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