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
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Conservatives, NDP should be 'celebrating' EV deals: industry minister
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne says federal opposition parties should be 'celebrating' the recently announced electric vehicle deals, despite their criticisms the Liberals refuse to make public the terms and conditions laid out in the contracts.
Banking mogul suing government after intelligence leaks leave him shut out of Canadian economy
Chinese Canadian banking mogul Shenglin Xian has launched a $300 million lawsuit against the federal government. It’s a means to find the source of intelligence leaks which Xian says has cost him his livelihood.
His SUV was stolen on Montreal's South Shore. Then he got a $156 parking ticket
A couple is frustrated after their SUV was stolen from Montreal's South Shore in March and they received a parking ticket for the same vehicle last week.
Jesus is their saviour, Trump is their candidate. Ex-president's backers say he shares faith, values
As Donald Trump increasingly infuses his campaign with Christian trappings while coasting to a third Republican presidential nomination, his support is as strong as ever among evangelicals and other conservative Christians.
Box tree moths have infested Ontario and experts say more are coming. Here's what to do to protect your garden
An invasive moth species is on the rise in Canada and, if you've planted a certain shrub, it could stand to ruin your garden.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
To plant or not to plant? Gardening tips for May long weekend
May long weekend is finally here, and with the extra time off you may be getting the itch to head out to your garden and plant. However, the old debate whether you should plant now, or wait, is still ever-present.
Evacuation orders lifted in Fort McMurray Saturday as rain dampens wildfire activity
Residents of Fort of McMurray who were displaced over wildfire concerns were told to return home Saturday.