History and Folklore Summary
1980 - 1989

1980

- The Orkney Historical Society was formed to plan the restoration of the Orkney Church and School.

1981

- The population of the city was 15,339.

- The Godfrey Dean Cultural Centre's official opening took place on October 28th, 1981. (Source: Letter signed by G.W. Crowder, City Commissioner Dec. 24, 1981.)

1982

- The Yorkton Centennial Committee and the City of Yorkton produced the history book: YORK COLONY TO TREASURE CHEST CITY.

- In January, the City's new flag designed by Dean Printz was unveiled at City Hall.

- The "Yorkton Centennial Song" was composed by Paul Malec and the Grade 6 students of Columbia School.

- The Ravine Ecological Preserve was established.

- A cairn was unveiled in July in Patrick Park to commemorate Dr. T. A. Patrick's efforts with conservation issues, as well as his work as a pioneer physician and legislator.

- The Yorkton and District Historical Society buried a capsule at the Godfrey Dean Cultural Centre, with Norman Roebuck officiating. The capsule was manufactured and donated by RAM Industries of Yorkton.

- This was the year the Yorkton Lions Club, along with The Parkland Lions, the Lionelles, and the Sunrise Lions and Sunrise Lionelles organized the Annual Bunny Drive.

- City grocery stores were converting their meat and produce scales to Metric from Imperial units. (Yorkton This Week May 5, 1982)

1983

- A group of theatre enthusiasts founded the Paper Bag Players.

- St. Mary's Parish Ukrainian Catholic Cultural Centre held its official opening.

- A thunderstorm deposited four inches of rain in a four hour period, causing flooding around Laurier and Assiniboia Avenue.

- Christie's Funeral Home was established 100 years ago.

- Yorkton Regional High School Curling team took the Provincial Championship.

- Yorkton Terriers claimed the Saskatchewan Amateur Junior Hockey League championship. (Yorkton This Week Special Salute Edition 1983)

1984

- The Synchronize Swimming Provincial Championship event was held in Yorkton April 14th.

- The Ukrainian Catholic Women's League donated $10,000 to the St. Mary's Ukrainian Cultural Centre.

- The new facilities at the Western Development Museum were opened this year.

- June 15th, the York Lake Ladies Golf Club invited the Deer Park Ladies Club for a "Fun Day."

1985

- A prominent historical landmark, the famed Balmoral Hotel was destroyed by fire on February 12th.

1986

- A group of writing enthusiasts founded the Parkland Writers' Alliance.

- Yorkton hosted the Saskatchewan Winter Games attended by 2500 athletes, plus coaches, officials and spectators.

1987

- The City of Yorkton Council established a Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee.

- Norman Roebuck was nominated for the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame by the Yorkton Exhibition Association.

1988

- The Yorkton Court House was declared a Provincial Heritage Property on February 15th.

- The City of Yorkton opened the H. M. Bailey Water Pollution Control Plant.

- On September 7, George Morris, inventor, was the recipient of the 1988 Saskatchewan Order of Merit.

- In September, Mayor Brian Fromm attended the sod turning ceremony for the new Yorkton Coop Shopping Centre.

- The Provincial B Men's Playdown Slo-pitch event was held here this year.

- The opening of the White Spruce Youth Treatment Centre took place in June.

- St. Paul's Lutheran Church celebrated its 75th Anniversary May 21 and 22.

1989

- The old Land Titles Office achieved Municipal Heritage status on November 20th.

- The Saskatchewan Provincial Parks & Recreation Association Conference was held at St. Mary's Cultural Centre in October this year.

- Ruth Shaw received the "Yorkton Citizen of the Year" award during the Canada Day Celebrations at the Western Development Museum.

- Yorkton hosted the Provincial Bantam Baseball Playdowns, and the Provincial Playdowns & National Qualifiers for Slo-pitch National.