City of Saskatoon Supports Winning the Prairie
Gamble
By David F. Klatt
Even though the Western Development Museum is a provincial heritage institution,
the four local communities in which the WDM exhibit branches are located take
special pride in the partnership and tourism potential contributed by the WDM
presence.
In addition to property tax abatements, direct financial contributions have been
made in support of various projects over the years, including $105,000 from the
Battlefords for exhibit gallery renovation, and $50,000 from the City of Moose
Jaw for the Snowbirds exhibit development.
The City of Saskatoon has now finalized a decision to support continuing
development of the Saskatoon WDM’s Winning the Prairie Gamble provincial
centennial exhibit project. $250,000 will be directly applied to the next phase
of construction, which will leave only $750,000 remaining to be raised to
complete this $4 million project.
This partnership is particularly significant, in view of 2006 being the City of
Saskatoon’s own centennial celebration year. Saskatoon has grown to be
Saskatchewan’s largest city, with a vibrant and diversified economy, supported
by University of Saskatchewan research and development programs that are
recognized across Canada and around the world.
With recent recognition by Canadian Heritage as a Cultural Capital of Canada,
Saskatoon has indeed proven the maturity of its support for heritage and culture
by this exceptionally significant commitment to the Western Development Museum’s
provincial centennial project.