Claybank Brick Plant Allows Experience of Early Industry
One of Saskatchewan’s earliest industrial factories remains for visitors to view much as it was more than 100 years ago. The Claybank Brick Plant, located 25 minutes southeast of Moose Jaw, is a national heritage site. The plant made bricks out of clay from nearby deposits between 1914 to 1989 when the American owner closed the operation, leaving the collection of buildings, equipment and kilns as they were — in operating condition. The Claybank Historical Society took over the site, did restoration and has operated the site in the summer months with self-guided tours. The last Sunday in June is normally scheduled as Heritage Day with tours, guides, food, entertainment, wagon rides and jigger rides on the rail track but has been cancelled this year. Heritage officials consider the
Claybank site one of the best preserved early industrial factories in North America. Bricks from Claybank were used on the rocket launch pads in Florida by NASA, line ships’ boilers during the war, and make up the face of many important buildings from Saskatchewan to Ontario. Visitors can explore the Mossold canyons which supplied clay for the factory.
The site was discovered by Briercrest homesteader Tom McWilliams when he went to the foot of the Blue Hills southwest of Moose Jaw near Avonlea to pick berries to preserve for winter food. Prairie fire had destroyed the berry trees but McWilliams found outcrops of interesting whitemud clay which he sent to Ottawa for analysis. On learning of the industrialgrade deposit’s value, McWilliams worked hard almost to obsession to raise funds for a brick factory. The heritage site remains connected to its discovery on a berry picking trip through the saskatoon berry pie served on site. If planning a visit phone ahead to (306) 868-4474 or go to the website at claybankbrick.ca.
World Class Art Gallery Located in Small Farm Centre
To some visitors, the Town of Assiniboia is located in the middle of nowhere, but this agricultural centre boasts one of the most interesting art galleries in Saskatchewan, if not the Prairies. It’s not that the folks in Assiniboia are one huge artistic community, although a number of artists live in the region, particularly members of The Group of Seven. Art work by the photography group is regularly exhibited at the gallery along with other local and regional art. Core to the gallery is a collection of art collected over 50 years on global business assignments by founder Bill Shurniak. Posted on the continents of North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, Shurniak used his spare time hunting for art. His focus was artists showing promise for the future.
The gallery displays, mostly paintings and some sculptures, which are rotated to let the public see it all. Among the Canadian artists in the collection are Alan C. Col-
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lier, Nicholas de Grandmaison, James Henderson, Doris McCarthy, Franklin Arbuckle, Yehouda Chaki, and Allen. The 8,000 square foot gallery has become a significant tourist attraction for the town, drawing bus tours from afar as well as individual vehicles. The gallery was built in Assiniboia when Shurniak retired from his career with Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa. He built the gallery to recognize the town where his financial career started as a teller for the Royal Bank. Shurniak grew up in the nearby Limerick district, kept the home farm and restored an Eaton’s house on the farm for a guest house. Visitors can linger over a cup of coffee and dainties at the Fresh Start Cafe on site.
