http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/about_us/Centennial05/Centenni...

In preparation for Saskatchewan’s centennial in 2005, Saskatchewan’s farm families, rural and urban residents and community groups may wish to celebrate their contribution to the province by applying for an award.

Families who have operated any farm or business, or lived in the same residence, rural or urban, for 80 years or longer are eligible for the Saskatchewan Historical Recognition Registry sponsored by the Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society (SHFS).

To apply, contact the SHFS for an application form. Proof of ownership can be photocopies of the original deed, or, if available, the 1980 Heritage Certificate if it was received during Saskatchewan’s 75th anniversary, and the most current tax notice. Verification by the local municipal administrator will also be accepted as proof of ownership, and there is space on the application form for this declaration.

Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization (SAFRR) also provides an award for farm land. The Century Family Farm Award (CFFA) recognizes land that has been owned continuously for at least 100 years by the same family. For details about this award and to obtain an application form, contact the CFFA Coordinator, Ellen Harder, in Regina at (306) 787- 5216; phone the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377; or see the SAFRR Web site at www.agr.gov.sk.ca.

There are two other programs offered by the Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society that may be of interest to communities preparing for 2005. These programs are the Local History Marker Program and the Member Funding Assistance Program.

The Local History Marker Program provides both administrative and financial assistance to community-based projects aimed at establishing historical plaques, says Finn Andersen, SHFS Executive Director. Any group, organization or individual with an historical story to tell can apply for a grant towards a plaque, he said.

“The SHFS is concerned that the common history of a community or area often goes unrecognized and unnoticed,” Andersen said. “Through the Local History Marker Program, the SHFS will partner with groups and organizations for the preservation of an area's historical significance by erecting lasting metal markers.”

The second program is the SHFS Member Funding Assistance Program. It will support heritage activities undertaken in Saskatchewan by any members of the SHFS, be they individuals or groups, who have held membership for at least two years. The maximum amount of the grant is $2,000 per project. Examples of projects that would be supported include the production of new community history books; training costs associated with a course related to history; marking of a pre-settlement trail; or the public presentation of a historical event.

For more information about the Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society programs, phone (306) 780-9204 or 1-800-919-9437, or see the Web site at www.shfs.ca.