Nanton, Alta.’s iconic grain elevators are now provincial historic resources
Residents living in Nanton, Alta. are celebrating a decision to designate the town's iconic grain elevators as provincial historic resources, saving them from demolition.
The threesome, two green twin elevators and an orange one, sit next to the railway.
They were decommissioned in 2002 and faced demolition, but the designation means the Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre, which operates from the historical buildings, can now apply for government grants to help with restorative work.
"We really want to hold onto the historic feel, but we want to be engaged, we want to be changing with the times," said Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre board president Leo Wieser.
"We have painting that needs to be done, we have wood work that needs to be done, but we're also looking to do some expansion to our orange elevators. We want to get it up to a code where we can bring people in and we can have conventions and we can have events and we can do our movies inside."
The elevators are 95 and 93 years old.
Wieser says it has been nearly ten years since work began to designate the sites as historical.
"It's so rare in Calgary and in southern Alberta that that buildings reach 100 years, especially industrial buildings," said Wieser.
The Nanton grain elevators have been designated provincial historic resources."We might see some stuff happening this summer," he said. "Fingers crossed, some of those grants come through, and this is going to be a 10-year plan."
Town councillor Roger Miller says he’s hopeful tourism numbers will jump because of the designation, as the public will be keen to learn about Nanton's history.
"We’re hoping that this will be a full-day event," Miller said. "Come to Nanton, check out the grain elevators and the history here, and check out the downtown."
The facilities are run by a small group of volunteers that care for the buildings as much as possible.
The Nanton grain elevators have been designated provincial historic resources.Lifelong Nanton resident John Berger says it would have been sad to see the elevators go.
"These elevators have endured since the time of settlement in 1904 – 1905, and the young men and women going to war in the First World War and Second World War, and the settlers coming by the train," said Berger.
"The train brought life to the community and it hauled our grain away."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'On the edge of failing': Most of Canada gets a 'D' on poverty report cards
Poverty and food insecurity have worsened in most of Canada in the past year and most provincial governments aren't doing enough to address the problem, according to a just-released series of report cards.
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.
Fish oil supplements may raise risk of stroke, heart issues, study suggests
As an excellent source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, daily fish oil supplements are a popular way to keep the risk of cardiovascular disease at bay.
Private island on Nova Scotia's South Shore listed for $15.8M
A private island on Nova Scotia’s South Shore has been listed for sale with a $11.5-million USD price tag.
U.K. prime minister calls national election for July 4
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a national election on Wednesday, naming July 4 as the date for a vote his governing Conservatives are widely expected to lose to the opposition Labour Party after 14 years in power.
'Happy tears' of victim's sister after prison attack on serial killer Robert Pickton
Cynthia Cardinal said she was 'overwhelmed' with happiness when she received a text message on Monday with the news that serial killer Robert Pickton, who murdered her sister, was attacked in prison. She called it 'karma.'
Montreal photographer captures dramatic Canada goose vs. fox fight on video
A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden.
Blood vial delivery prompts evacuation of Republican headquarters in Washington
The Republican National Committee's headquarters in Washington was briefly evacuated on Wednesday morning after a suspicious package containing two vials of blood was delivered to the building, the police and the RNC said.
World's most expensive feather sells at New Zealand auction
A feather from a long-extinct New Zealand bird has set a record after selling for $46,521 NZD (about US$28,400), the auction house handling the sale has said.