In Yorkton, the job of preserving the local heritage, whether buildings or artifacts or photographs or stories, has generally rested with the municipality. But for more than 10 years it did not have a historian and archivist, and the information and material in its possession is locked up in a basement room of city hall, with little or no public access.
The city currently now fills that job on a part-time basis, thanks to grant money it received to pay for that. But it does raise several questions: what happens when the grant funding runs out? And more importantly, is it the job of the municipality to preserve our history, other than the formal papers that the city is required to keep? Or should that responsibility fall on the community at large, through an organization like a historical society?
Yorkton history books for sale: Several history books have been published by the city over the years, including a comprehensive history from Yorkton's founding (then York Colony) to 2005. They are available on the City of Yorkton website, the Tourism Yorkton website, and in person at Tourism Yorkton and the Western Development Museum Yorkton.
Other information on the City of Yorkton website:
Broadway and Back interactive walking tour of the old town centre
Access to Information request form
Other information available on the Tourism Yorkton website:
Veterans banners, a program of the Royal Canadian Legion General Alexander Ross branch in Yorkton
Yorkton's heritage properties are listed on the Saskatchewan Heritage Property Search website. Each property has an associated PDF file explaining the heritage value, and information from the city bylaw which established it as a heritage property.
29 Myrtle Avenue (original Doukhobour house)
Army Navy and Air Force Veterans building (now retail and offices)
Yorkton Organic Milling Ltd. (now the historic Yorkton flour mill owned by the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society inc.)
MemorySask.ca is the website of the Saskatchewan Archival Information Network, managed by the Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists, with technical support and web hosting by the University of Saskatchewan Library.
MemorySask.ca Howard Jackson photo collection
A search on the home page for "Yorkton" also provides links to other photos and documents about Yorkton which are part of other collections.
Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan Yorkton Oral History Project is a collection of audio interviews with 63 long-term residents of Yorkton and district conducted by Philip Redant and Julie Redant between 1978 and 1991. Those interviewed discuss their family history and describe Yorkton during earlier years.
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