Following the earlier announcement that Saskatchewan would invest $1.65 million over three years to provide funding assistance to demonstration communities for implementation of the Main Street Saskatchewan approach to downtown revitalization, we learned recently that Wolseley, Indian Head, Maple Creek and Prince Albert were selected from the 18 communities which had submitted proposals.
Main Street has an interesting history. The approach has proven popular in the U.S. and evolved under the stewardship of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In 1979, the Heritage Canada Foundation launched a Canadian version of the program, which took root across Canada with varying degrees of success. Quebec developed its own extremely successful program through the Rues Principales Foundation, which organizes a well-attended annual conference where municipalities making commitments to revitalization that enhances a community's sense of place are invited to submit their initiatives for Excellence and Achievements Awards in categories like heritage enhancements, economic development, promotion and sustainability. The annual conference takes place in Quebec City on September 28. I had the privilege of attending the 2008 conference as an keynote speaker on placemaking along with the executive director of Main Street USA at the time.
That conference was held in partnership with the Heritage Canada Foundation. I remember running into delegates from Saskatchewan at the meeting. My understanding is that this is where seeds for Saskatchewan's own initiative were planted and where the Heritage Canada Foundation rekindled its own commitment to Main Street approaches. A Saskatchewan project emerged as a result, and the Province is now firmly moving ahead on Main Street development.
Wolseley
Wolseley as long been recognized as one of Canada's prettiest towns, with a vast inventory of character homes and valuable heritage properties. Its configuration around a lake and general setting along Highway #1, as well as local community support of initiatives that seek to enhance the local sense of place, would make it an ideal choice for a demonstration project.
Indian Head
Equally compelling is Indian Head for similar and different reasons. The inventory of built heritage, the dynamic nature of a community at a crossroads in its evolution, ready to embrace the Main Street concept make it equally worthy of consideration.
I had an opportunity to attend Friday's Main Street announcements. I will share some observations and photographs snapped that day in Indian Head and Wolseley in coming posts.
Main Street has an interesting history. The approach has proven popular in the U.S. and evolved under the stewardship of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In 1979, the Heritage Canada Foundation launched a Canadian version of the program, which took root across Canada with varying degrees of success. Quebec developed its own extremely successful program through the Rues Principales Foundation, which organizes a well-attended annual conference where municipalities making commitments to revitalization that enhances a community's sense of place are invited to submit their initiatives for Excellence and Achievements Awards in categories like heritage enhancements, economic development, promotion and sustainability. The annual conference takes place in Quebec City on September 28. I had the privilege of attending the 2008 conference as an keynote speaker on placemaking along with the executive director of Main Street USA at the time.
That conference was held in partnership with the Heritage Canada Foundation. I remember running into delegates from Saskatchewan at the meeting. My understanding is that this is where seeds for Saskatchewan's own initiative were planted and where the Heritage Canada Foundation rekindled its own commitment to Main Street approaches. A Saskatchewan project emerged as a result, and the Province is now firmly moving ahead on Main Street development.
Wolseley
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| The Banbury House Inn |
Indian Head
Equally compelling is Indian Head for similar and different reasons. The inventory of built heritage, the dynamic nature of a community at a crossroads in its evolution, ready to embrace the Main Street concept make it equally worthy of consideration.
I had an opportunity to attend Friday's Main Street announcements. I will share some observations and photographs snapped that day in Indian Head and Wolseley in coming posts.
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