Our latest podcast...

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Those working in the field of psychiatry and mental health treatment across Canada and the United States came to Yorkton in 1964 and 1965 in large numbers to see for themselves how a new way of treating mental health patients was being implemented at the new Yorkton Psychiatric Centre.

The new facility was a radical departure from what had been standard mental health treatment facilities in Saskatchewan: large impersonal buildings at Weyburn and North Battleford that, from the outside, could easily be mistaken for jails.

The new Yorkton Psychiatric Centre came about in large part to a new way of thinking within the provincial government, and the work of an architect who went to some lengths to understand the mindset of patients with those issues.

The Regina-based architect Kiyoshi Izumi had experimented with LSD in the late 1950s, long before it became part of the lore surrounding Timothy Leary and the 1960s "turn on, tune in, drop out" counterculture. He used his LSD experience to try to replicate the mindset of the mentally-ill so he could design a facility that was not a frightening place for psychiatric patients.

His ideal design was not adopted by the provincial government for Yorkton -- it was felt too many practical obstacles stood in the way. But a version of it was built, and remains there west of the hospital on Bradbrooke Drive.

It was cutting edge. In fact, this year (2025), more than 60 years after it was built, it was one of three recipients of the Prix du XXe Siecle award, an honour bestowed by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the National Trust for Canada to recognize "significant modern Canadian architecture from the 20th century".

Photo: aerial view of the current Yorkton Mental Health Centre showing the main building attached to the regional hospital, and the five "cottages" originally designed to house inpatients of the Yorkton Psychiatric Centre. Four are now used for administration staff.

These are stories about people and events in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada, which has been on the map since 1882 when a small group of men from Ontario, and originally from Britain, came to the District of Assiniboia, still largely unsettled prairie and aspen woodlands. 

There are many stories -- and perhaps some myths and mysteries -- to be explored.

We publish a new podcast at least once a month. All are available on this website, as well as all podcast directories. Simply search for Yorkton Stories.

These podcasts are a labour of love and respect for those who came before us, and who make Yorkton what it is today. As a former newspaper owner and editor, former city councillor, still-active community volunteer and local history buff, I know many of us have stories to tell. If you have one we should know about, get in touch.

If you want to support this effort, please consider making a donation. 

And please feel free to tell others about Yorkton Stories -- pass on this website address to those who may be interested, or help us by promoting it on your social media. We are on Facebook and Instagram @YorktonStories.