Government of Sask. to provide $600K to Yorkton Brick Flour Mill restoration

Western Canada’s last brick flour mill is set to reopen after years of decay, with government backing. Fruzsina De Cloedt has the story.

The Government of Saskatchewan is providing $600,000 to the Yorkton Brick Flour Mill project, so volunteers can finish construction of its interpretive centre.

The funding was announced Thursday morning at an event in Yorkton.

“It is a part of Yorkton’s history, and it is a part of our province’s history. The stories that will be told here reflect the family farms that have stood at the centre of both the agriculture sector and the shaping of our province,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross said in the announcement.

“The Government of Saskatchewan is delighted to help make sure those stories can continue to be told.”

The Brick Flour Mill is a designated municipal heritage property within the city of Yorkton.

Since its opening in 1891, it exchanged hands several times until the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society bought it from the City of Yorkton in 2021.

“We ended up buying it for a dollar so we can apply for grants the city couldn’t get, such as subsidies, federal government grants, heritage grants, 150th anniversary grants,” said Larry Pearen, the society’s president.

Restoring the last brick-constructed flour mill in Western Canada wasn’t easy.

“When we started in [the original] building, there were three feet of pigeon droppings because there were no windows left. Birds were flying in and out,” Pearen said in his speech. “That’s where we started.”

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Construction on the mill’s interpretive centre began in October 2023.

The province’s contribution adds to the $1 million provided by Ottawa and $300,000 from the City of Yorkton. Various other supporters, such as the Yorkton Tribal Council, have also contributed to funding the project.

Despite the society’s fundraising efforts, they were still short on money to complete the project.

“With Covid and everything else, the cost of construction has gone up and now it’s $3.233 million. At the time, we raised $2.4 million, so we thought we were there,” he explained.

The provincial government’s $600,000 contribution will be enough to finish the construction.

The interpretive centre is intended to educate visitors on Saskatchewan’s agricultural development. Once open, the property will be self-sustained through rental event space, fundraising and various grants.

“[The centre will have] so many opportunities for education, for tourism, [as a] community space. It’s just a great opportunity for Yorkton,” said Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle at the event.