~MILL NEWS~
CBC Releases Yorkton Flour Mill Feature
Janani Whitfield of CBC News features article about the Yorkton Flour Mill in the Land of the Living Stories section of the CBC Website June 16, 2025
Read the article here!
And Adam Hunter speaks with Janani on the Morning Edition - Sask Radio Broadcast here!
Thom Weir and David Harris stand next to the old railway line that led to Yorkton's Brick Flour Mill. The mill is part of a bigger project that includes a museum and a new interpretative/events centre adjacent to the historic structure. (Janani Whitfield/CBC)
Support from federal PrairiesCan Tourism Growth Program
Mill receives $250,000 grant
The Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society has received $250,000 from PrairiesCan under the Tourism Growth Program to support the development of the Interpretive Station at the Yorkton Brick Mill. The announcement was made at the annual Heritage Dinner, a signature fundraising event celebrating Yorkton's rich history, held on September 25.
The PrairiesCan funding will provide a significant boost to the project, enabling the completion of key infrastructure elements such as roofing, windows and doors for the Interpretive Station, which will serve as a cultural and historical hub for both residents and visitors.
The Station, attached to the historic Yorkton Brick Mill, will tell the story of early agriculture and milling in the region, including the essential role family farms played in shaping Yorkton’s agri-business sector.
“We are deeply grateful to the Government of Canada - PrairiesCan for this support,” said Larry Pearen, President of the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society. “This funding will accelerate our progress toward opening the Interpretive Station by 2025, where we will host historical exhibits, green spaces, and even a farmer's market. The station will become a major destination for tourism and community events, helping to preserve Yorkton’s heritage while contributing to economic growth.”
“Our government is helping communities like Yorkton celebrate their history and expand tourist attractions that benefit local economies and draw visitors to the region,” said Dan Vandal, Minister responsible for PrairiesCan.
“The Yorkton Brick Mill Interpretive Station will create jobs through construction and operation of the facility, preserve the unique culture of the community, and provide an attraction and gathering space used by visitors and locals for years to come.”
“With its wide-open spaces and unique Indigenous experiences, Canada’s Prairies have what tourists want,” said Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.
“That’s why we’re helping local tourism grow and thrive through the Tourism Growth Program. This important funding means that organizations can expand, create jobs and attract more tourists to the Prairies. I look forward to seeing the difference it makes in the years to come!”
The Interpretive Station is an integral part of the Yorkton Brick Mill’s restoration and expansion, which has already raised $2 million through federal funding and community donations. The project requires an additional $1 million to complete all phases of construction, and the community’s ongoing support is vital.
The Interpretive Station will feature not only displays of Yorkton's agricultural history but also the Legacy Farm photo display and outdoor green space for community use. With the help of this funding, the Society is confident the project will be completed on time and become a beacon for cultural preservation and tourism in the region.
Lieutenant Governor tours the mill
Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty toured the historic Yorkton flour mill guided when he was in Yorkton on May 15. 2024 to present awards at the Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development awards, hosted by the Brick Mill Society.
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.
Photo at top: Larry Pearen and Victoria Leonard of SEPW Architecture Inc. talk about the addition to the mill.
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.
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
Mill project receives federal funding
The Capital Committee of the Brick Mill Heritage Society is excited to announce the support of the Government of Canada’s Department of Canadian Heritage for the Interpretive Station at the Mill project through the Legacy Fund component of the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program.
The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minster of Canadian Heritage, has agreed to provide $500,000 in funding to the project.
“While we have garnered strong support from the business community in our region and will continue to fundraise to bring our project to full completion, this major funding agreement pushes our project into viability and allows us to begin construction this year. We cannot thank Minister St-Onge and her department enough for recognizing the value of our project and providing this amazing support.”
– Terry Tyson, Chair, Capital Campaign.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have received this support from the Government of Canada. Our facility has come such a long way over the years, and we now host many cultural and heritage events, along with tours of our heritage mill. This invaluable funding will truly make our project possible, and in doing so, will help us reach more people with events that promote culture, Truth and Reconciliation, education, and history. We offer our sincere gratitude to Minister St-Onge and the Department of Canadian Heritage.”
– Larry Pearen, President, Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society
“We are proud to support the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society in their exciting project to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the last remaining brick flour mill in Saskatchewan! I look forward to the community of Yorkton and visitors gathering in this historic building to enjoy the arts and explore our rich culture and heritage.”
~The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage
Hopkins descendants tour the mill
A reunion of descendants of the Hopkins brothers, original York Colony settlers, were the first public group to tour the Mill on the August 2022 long weekend. Fifteen members of the family from across Canada made the trip to Yorkton. The reunion was organized by retired lawyer and judge Nancy Morrison of Vancouver, herself a Hopkins descendant.
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Mill receives city recognition award
Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society was named a 2021 Group Civic Recognition Award winner and was recognized at the city council meeting on Feb. 14, 2022. The recognition states, "Through individual members, activities, interaction with clubs and associations, the media, work parties, sign boards, fundraising and the physical stabilization of the building, Yorkton and district has become aware of the mill and the dominant part it played in our agricultural community. The Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society is to be commended in its efforts to preserve this part of the history of the city of Yorkton."
Mill receives three Saskatchewan heritage awards
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
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.
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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.
Learn more about the Storyboards
YTC lends name to mill green space
Yorkton Tribal Council made a major donation
Jan. 25 to support the Yorkton brick flour mill
project. The donation of $100,000 will mean the
green space surrounding the mill will be known
as the Yorkton Tribal Council Gardens.
Chief Isabel O'Soup and many employees and
volunteers of the YTC have invested their own
time and labour over the past several years to
rehabilitate the grounds surrounding the mill
building.
Photo: Participating in the announcement were, from the left, YTC CFO Trevor Acoose, Mayor Mitch Hippsley, Chief O'Soup and Mill Capital Campaign chair Terry Tyson.
See full press release here
Legacy CO-OP Announces Large Donation
Legacy Co-op announced its donation of $100,000 towards Yorkton’s Historic Flour Mill on Feb. 3. “As part of our community donations and sponsorship programs, the Board of Directors approved sponsorship for the naming rights of the Event Centre in the new structure,” stated Bruce Thurston, Legacy Co-op’s General Manager. “We are very much a community minded business and this fits well with our guiding statements to build stronger communities,” continued Thurston.
City matches donation to Mill
In the fall of 2019, Yorkton City Council approved a grant program for the Brick Mill Society which will consist of matching donations to a maximum of $300,000.
All donations and fundraising will be matched by the city, making this is a good time to make a donation to the Brick Mill Society. Every dondation will receive a tax deductible receipt and be matched by the City of Yorkton.
Havest Meats announces Large Donation
Kenn Propp, President of Harvest Meats, talks about the importance of preserving Yorkton's heritage, and the mill's role in the long history of food processing in Yorkton. Mr. Propp announced a commitment of $100,000 by his company to the mill capital campaign.
Yorkton Tribal Council supports project
Socially-distanced Brick Mill volunteers, including Yorkton Tribal Council Chief Isabel O'Soup and others from YTC, got together on August 19 to rake the grounds at the brick mill in preparation for grass seeding, and to look after the flowers and trees already planted. Chief O'Soup made a presentation of $2,000 to the Brick Mill Society to support the preservation and development of the mill site. Accepting the contribution was Board Chair Vern Brown.
