YORKTON - It never ceases to amaze the effort of, and the success of, local groups to raise funds for worthwhile projects.
The latest success was Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society having announced an additional $250,000 in funding from Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) through the Government of Canada’s Tourism Growth Program.
The mill remains a testament to the perseverance of a group of individuals in the community who saw value in the old brick mill, and managed to convince the Council of the day of that value and thereby saving it from disappearing before the blade of crawler tractor.
Since then the group has worked tirelessly to raise money to repair and preserve and now expand the mill to ensure its future.
We can look at the response only a year ago when the Yorkton Terriers hockey club announced it was basically broke and faced the prospect they might have to cease operations.
The club reached out to the community for support and season ticket sales for the current season took off. The red ink was erased, and the team is now safely headed to the SJHL post season.
It is another example of volunteers and the community working together for a good cause.
This is not necessarily unique to Yorkton.
We just witnessed another massively successful Telemiracle, one which raised more than $5 million provincially, a huge amount given Saskatchewan’s modest total population.
Locally the Kinsmen and Kinettes contributed more than $60,000, and again the city was ready to support a great cause.
Then there is the effort of Yorkton United Football Club, which appeared before Yorkton Council recently requesting a loan from the city for near $550,000 to build new fields. The request was approved with the club planning to pay the loan back over 10 years. The loan payments will be raised through the efforts of club volunteers and yet again the support of the community.
We know for many increased property taxes, water rates and other unavoidable costs, when coupled with needs to buy food for the table and other life essentials are stretching budgets, yet somehow worthwhile community efforts still find support, which speaks to the caring attitude of the city.
And, certainly it’s not easy finding volunteers these days. Community groups often struggle for members – some can’t continue like the local chapter of Rotary – but those who do step into the role of volunteer work hard for our city, and they should be commended for that.
It all simply shows Yorkton has a heart we should be collectively proud of.
