REGINA (Staff) – A fundraising campaign to save Regina’s last grain elevator appears to have fallen short.
Only about $3,000 was raised through cash donations at two Saskatchewan financial institutions, said Bill Henderson of Heritage Regina.
“Even with the $25,000 that the owner (United Grain Growers) was going to donate, we are far short of the total needed to move it,” Henderson said April 22. The elevator could be scheduled for demolition as early as May 1.
He estimated between $80,000 and $100,000 was needed to move the former Regina Farmers’ Co-operative Elevator to an interim location and put it on a temporary foundation.
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The plan was to eventually move the elevator from downtown Regina to Exhibition Park where it would be restored and operated as a tourist attraction.
Announcement coming
The elevator is one of only six pre-First World War elevators left in the province. Built in 1906 at what is now Saskatchewan Drive and Lorne Street, it operated as a mustard cleaning facility until 1994.
Henderson said an announcement was to be made April 24 by the Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee regarding the future of the project.
“I expect at that time the project will be closed,” he said. Results of that meeting were not available at press time.
Henderson said those who donated to the cause will be asked if they would consider leaving their money in place so one of the other pre-First World War elevators could be preserved.
Two Saskatchewan Wheat Pool elevators, one in Bulyea and one in Grenfell, are under consideration by the group, Henderson said.
