2026 Webinars
Heritage Conservation Branch Winter Webinars: Historic Places – Living Places
The 2026 webinars will again showcase a variety of building and landscapes from around Saskatchewan that have been revitalized and are contributing to the quality of life for citizens and visitors. In these webinars, you will hear fascinating stories of the conservation and renovation projects that transformed these places and the many benefits that have resulted.
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Caswell Bus Barns Project, City of Saskatoon
Presenter: Crystal Bueckert, Owner/Senior Designer, Bldg Studio Inc.
Join us for an engaging webinar featuring Crystal Bueckert as she delves into the Caswell Bus Barns project. This exciting initiative is turning a former 1913 transit repair facility into a vibrant arts and culture hub. Crystal will share insights into the unique challenges faced during both the administrative and construction phases of the project. Discover innovative strategies for revitalizing the building while navigating budget constraints to bring an older structure up to modern code. Crystal will also explore the collaborative process of curating the diverse community of artists and organizations that will call this space home. Learn how these new arts organizations will operate the building as a dynamic community hub for grassroots culture in Saskatchewan.
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
The Youngberg Block, Town of Gull Lake
Presenter: Linday Alliban, Professional Community and Economic Developer
Across the country there are growing numbers of unused commercial properties. Although people can feel a deep connection to these historic structures, it’s challenging to find new uses for them that will ensure their survival and continued contributions to community life. In this presentation, you will hear how the residents of Gull Lake have created a Community Property Development Cooperative to support their journey to rejuvenate and revitalize a local heritage property known as the Youngberg Block.
Linday Alliban, Professional Community and Economic Developer, will share how communities can establish non-profit co-operatives to support heritage conservation and economic development. Revitalizing a sense of community in rural villages and towns is a passion of Lindsay’s. Her work portrays the value she holds in the quality of life found in rural areas and believes in the success of our local area. Lindsay continuously models her belief that if there is anywhere you can build something from nothing, small town Saskatchewan is that place.
Thursday, March 26, 2025
Ancient Echoes Interpretive Centre, Rural Municipality of Mountain View
Presenter: Harry Lafond, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Elder and Co-Producer of Custodians
Visitors to this community-operated interpretive centre located near the Village of Herschel learn about Indigenous history, prairie ecology and Saskatchewan’s ancient fossil past. The Centre’s archaeological resources include ancient rock carvings and other ceremonial sites, tipi ring campsites and locations where bison were hunted. Thanks to dedicated community volunteers, this rich legacy is being preserved as a living record of the land and those who have lived on it over thousands of years.
In 2021, the Walking the Path Committee of the Mennonite Church Saskatchewan commissioned Custodians: A Story of Ancient Echoes. This documentary explores the significance of this special place and shows how landowners, municipal governments, community volunteers and Indigenous people can work together to preserve and promote our shared history. For this webinar, the ministry is very pleased and honoured to have Harry Lafond, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Elder and Co-Producer of Custodians speak about Ancient Echoes and the lessons it holds for present and future generations.
The webinars is free, but people must register in advance to attend. Registrations will be accepted until Tuesday, March 17.