Claybank Brick Plant Allows Experience of Early Industry

Claybank Brick Plant Allows Experience of Early Industry One of Saskatchewan’s earliest The site was discovered by Brier industrial factories remains for crest homesteader Tom McWilvisitors to view much as it was liams when he went to the foot more than 100 years ago. of the Blue Hills southwest of The Claybank Brick Plant, locat Moose Jaw near Avonlea to pick ed 25 minutes southeast of Moose berries to preserve for winter Jaw, is a national heritage site. food. The plant made bricks out of clay Prairie fire had destroyed the from nearby deposits between berry trees but McWilliams found 1914 to 1989 when the American outcrops of interesting whitemud owner closed the operation, leavclay which he sent to Ottawa for ing the collection of buildings, analysis. equipment and kilns as they were On learning of the industrial— in operating condition. Claybank site one of the best pregrade deposit’s value, McWil The Claybank Historical Society served early industrial factories in liams worked hard almost to obtook over the site, did restoration North America. session to raise funds for a brick and has operated the site in the Bricks from Claybank were used factory. summer months with self-guided on the rocket launch pads in FlorThe heritage site remains con tours. The last Sunday in June is ida by NASA, line ships’ boilers nected to its discovery on a berry normally scheduled as Heritage during the war, and make up the picking trip through the saskatoon Day with tours, guides, food, enface of many important buildings berry pie served on site. tertainment, wagon rides and jigfrom Saskatchewan to Ontario. If planning a visit phone ahead to ger rides on the rail track but has Visitors can explore the Mossold (306) 868-4474 or go to the webbeen cancelled this year. canyons which supplied clay for site at claybankbrick.ca. Heritage officials consider the the factory.

World Class Art Gallery Located in Small Farm Centre To some visitors, the Town of lier, Nicholas de Grandmaison, Assiniboia is located in the midJames Henderson, Doris McCadle of nowhere, but this agrirthy, Franklin Arbuckle, Yehouda cultural centre boasts one of the Chaki, and Allen. most interesting art galleries in The 8,000 square foot gallery Saskatchewan, if not the Prairies. has become a significant tourist It’s not that the folks in Assiniattraction for the town, drawing boia are one huge artistic combus tours from afar as well as inmunity, although a number of artdividual vehicles. ists live in the region, particularly The gallery was built in Assinimembers of The Group of Seven. boia when Shurniak retired from Art work by the photography his career with Hong Kong-based group is regularly exhibited at Hutchison Whampoa. the gallery along with other local He built the gallery to recognize and regional art. the town where his financial Core to the gallery is a collection career started as a teller for the of art collected over 50 years on Royal Bank. global business assignments by Shurniak grew up in the nearby founder Bill Shurniak. Limerick district, kept the home Posted on the continents of North The gallery displays, mostly farm and restored an Eaton’s America, Europe, Asia and Auspaintings and some sculptures, house on the farm for a guest tralia, Shurniak used his spare which are rotated to let the public house. time hunting for art. His focus see it all. Visitors can linger over a cup of was artists showing promise for Among the Canadian artists in coffee and dainties at the Fresh the future. the collection are Alan C. ColStart Cafe on site.