CENTENARY FUNDING FOR NORTH BATTLEFORD MUSEUM

Released on March 9, 2001

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Ron Osika toured the Western

Development Museum in North Battleford today and announced the province's

contribution of $303,000 toward the 'Winning the Prairie Gamble' project.



This money is to be shared by the Museum's branches in North Battleford,

Yorkton, Moose Jaw and Saskatoon. The province's contribution to the

Western Development Museum this year through the Centenary Fund is

$1,053,000.



'Winning the Prairie Gamble' will see each of the museum's four branches

receive a new exhibit telling various aspects of the Saskatchewan story to

celebrate the province's centennial in 2005.



"The North Battleford exhibit will follow the museum's theme of Heritage

Farm & Village," Osika said. "The many visitors to all four of the Western

Development locations will be provided with a better understanding of what

our pioneers faced and how the province has grown and changed in its first

hundred years."



The Western Development Museum will receive a total of $3,000,000, from the

province for its branch displays over the next four years from the

Centenary Fund. This fund was established to leave a legacy of

Saskatchewan's Centennial for future generations.



"The new exhibits will be ready for 2005," Western Development Museum

Executive Director David Klatt said. "We are very excited about this

project and I encourage people to consider having their family history as

part of the exhibit."



More information on the 'Winning The Prairie Gamble' project can be found

on the Western Development Museum's web site at www.wdmuseum.sk.ca.



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For more information, contact:



Maureen Boyle Wayne Fennig, Manager

Municipal Affairs and Housing Western Development Museum

Regina North Battleford

Phone: (306) 787-5959 Phone: (306) 445-8033