User:Tatenda Chikukwa/sandbox

1972
In the summer of 1972, the Willow Bunch Museum & Heritage Society was established by a group of local students through the government “Opportunities for Youth Program”. The museum was housed in the former “Union Hospital” which served the community from 1946 to 1969. The museum eventually moved into the Sisters of the Cross Convent School in 1984.

1973
In 1973 the town inherited the historic Palace Theatre, which was the towns community social center until its doors closed in 1969. The Knights of Columbus constructed the building in 1925. The building was first used for public meetings in 1928 until it officially became a theatre in 1931. The Palace Theatre showed silent movies, talking movies and was also used for the Knights of Columbus meetings and eventually their bowling in the basement. Willow Bunch Museum Picture Ref)

1976
RCMP leaves Willow Bunch On July 2, 1976 the two-man Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) detachment of Willow Bunch officially moved to the nearby town of Coronach, Saskatchewan. Willow Bunch RCMP detachment was established in 1886 and after 90 years in the small town it would be moving. The then-Assistant Commissioner, J.E. Gibbon recommended that the RCMP should be moved because of the low population in Willow Bunch. Residence of Willow Bunch strongly disagreed with the move and protested at the Regina Legislature on two different occasions. 200 protesters gathered outside the legislature on June 1, 1976 and on the 30th of June 130 protested demanded to see then-Saskatchewan premier Allan Blakeney. The premier told the angry group that he would not make any commitments other than to consider new facts on the move. Until that confrontation, Attorney General Roy Romanow had been the main government official handling the press and public for the RCMP move. Romanow had said the RCMP advised him that, “one man detachments are of limited value” and that is why the RCMP would be building a new detachment in the economically prosperous Coronach. The developing Poplar River Power Station in Coronach would be expecting 400-500 workers therefore more police manpower would be needed in the town.

1977
Willow Bunch Pioneer Dies Willow Bunch pioneer Russell Wilson died on March 19, 1977. He was born near Orangeville, Ontario in 1902 and moved out west with his mother in 1916. Wilson married Irene Bradley in 1928 and they lived as farmers in an area near Willow Bunch until they retired to Regina in 1966. Wilson was buried in Riverside Memorial Park cemetery.

Expansion of the Credit Union In 1977 the Willow Bunch Credit Union Limited purchased a vacant lot that used to be “Wilson and Scott Department Store” (1911), “Rodrigue’s Store” (1959), “Clover Farm Store” (1962), and Harry and Olive (Clark) Porter bakery (1972) which was sold to a Mr. and Mrs. Weibe who continued the bakery business until they retired in 1976. The building remained vacant until it was bought and subsequently demolished by Robert Piché. The Credit Union used the land to expand its existing building. The Credit Union is still open for business to this very day. (Willow Bunch Museum Photo)



1980


Homecoming: Celebrate Saskatchewan Day

Willow Bunch held its festivities to celebrate Saskatchewan on August 2nd and 3rd by inviting former and current citizens to attend a weekend of celebration of the historic town and its people. The first day of celebrations started with a pancake breakfast and then there was the parade of locally designed and commercial floats around the town. The parade procession began at the Community Rink on St. Louis Avenue to Willow Bunch Street, Broad Avenue, Principal Street and then finally down St. Catherine Street which meets St. Louis Avenue. The first prize for float went to the Willow Bunch Kinsmen and Kettle and second prize was a tie between the Willow Bunch Manoir Hotel and the Kirby Family entry from Coronach. An art display featuring Rosetown Painting and Photography was presented at the Willow Bunch School. Day one of the activities also included pony rides from children, ball games for adults and youngsters, an afternoon tea at the Senior Center, a barbeque dinner at the skating rink and then to end the day was a dance with music by the ‘Big Muddy Ramblers’. On the second day of the celebrations included church services, a golf tournament and games for kids at Jean Louis Legaré Park, ice-cream and lemonade at the park, tours of the Willow Bunch Museum, Award presentation for Family Heritage and a Horse Shoe tournament. The town did all it could to make sure residence celebrated their town and the province. ( Willow Bunch Museum Picture)