YORKTON, Sask. — After 15 years of fundraising, restoration and construction, the Yorkton Brick Flour Mill Heritage Society officially opened its new interpretive centre Sept. 30, celebrating the completion of a project that transformed a historic mill once facing demolition into a community landmark.
“The journey is as important as the destination,” society president Larry Pearen told a crowd gathered for the grand opening of the Yorkton Brick Flour Mill Interpretive Centre.
The Sept. 30 ceremony drew municipal, provincial, federal and Indigenous leaders, along with volunteers, donors and community supporters who helped bring the project to fruition.
Pearen said the effort began in 2010 when city council considered removing the mill's heritage designation, a move that could have led to its demolition. Instead, local residents and volunteers rallied behind preserving the building, leading to the formation of the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society.
“Today's day marks the completion of an extraordinary journey,” Pearen said.
The project unfolded in two phases, beginning with stabilization and restoration of the historic mill structure, followed by construction of the new interpretive centre. Pearen said the society ultimately raised $3.5 million for the project, in addition to approximately $360,000 invested in earlier restoration work.
One of the project's most significant milestones, he said, is that the facility opened debt-free.
“We are in the black and that makes me feel very proud that we've been very frugal with the funds and worked really hard,” said Pearen.
Pearen noted 31 contractors and subcontractors worked on the interpretive centre, with 29 coming from Yorkton and the surrounding area. “We tried to work with all our local people,” he said.
Throughout the ceremony, speakers repeatedly credited Pearen for keeping the initiative moving through years of challenges, including fundraising hurdles, rising construction costs during the COVID-19 pandemic and the countless tasks associated with a major heritage project.
Yorkton-Melville MLA David Chan described the building as the result of “15 years of perseverance, 15 years of vision.”
“This building is exactly where vision, imagination, perseverance, dedication, hard work, generosity and community came together,” Chan said.
Chan said the mill tells the story of how agriculture helped build both Yorkton and Saskatchewan.
“Farmers and homesteaders brought their wheat into the brick mill and they walked out with a bag of flour,” he said. “Today, we're feeding the world.”
Chan said preserving that history is important because it shows how the region's agricultural industry evolved from local flour production into a globally significant sector.
“That is a powerful story. That is a compelling story, and it's a story worth preserving,” he said.
Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross said the province invested $600,000 in the project to help preserve Saskatchewan's agricultural history and ensure those stories continue to be shared with future generations.
“We have never, ever forgotten the importance of agriculture,” Ross said. “It will continue to be a cornerstone of our economy, of our province, of our communities and of our families.”
Yorkton Tribal Council Chief Isobel O'Soup highlighted the partnership between the society and the tribal council, which became involved in the project several years ago after seeing volunteers working at the site.
O'Soup said the facility's exhibits recognize Indigenous contributions and history alongside stories of settlement and agriculture.
“Let's get our kids involved, get our grandchildren involved, and this place won't go to waste,” O'Soup said. “Let's encourage them.”
Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle said the finished project reflects the community's ability to work together on a shared vision.
“This makes me incredibly proud of our city, of the people inside our city, of the way that we come together,” Kienle said.
Pearen said more than 850 people have already toured the mill since May and additional fundraising will continue to enhance exhibits and educational displays.
Looking back on the years of work, Pearen said the project's greatest success extends beyond the building itself.
“We've got to meet so many wonderful people and share stories,” he said. “Everybody who comes to the mill has a story to tell.”
The mill, which once faced the possibility of demolition, now stands alongside a modern interpretive centre as a tribute to the people and industries that helped shape Yorkton and Saskatchewan.
