About Us | rocanvillemuseum

Visit our Museum. Experience History!

"Museums enhance our sense of community, providing a link to our past, an understanding of our present and a place for our future." - Saskatchewan Museum Association

In the Beginning...

The first meeting was held in Ernest Symons' shop on March 15th, 1965. The Society then went to the town which gave them a long-term lease on the property where the museum was to be situated. On May 9th, 1967 we became a registered society with the Museums Association of Saskatchewan. After the first structure of the museum was completed, the steel Quonset, the museum was officially opened on July 1, 1967.

Founding Executives

The founding executives of the Rocanville Museum were:

Ernest (Ernie) Symons as President
Bill Ore as Vice President
Duncan Johnson as Secretary
Geoffrey Stephenson as Treasurer

A Brief History

May 9th 1967 Became registered society with the Museums Association of Saskatchewan
July 1st, 1967 First steel building completed and museum officially opened to the public.
1971 Acquired Rocanville CPR Station
Spring 1972 CPR Station moved onto the museum site
December 4th, 1974 Hillburn Church given to the museum and moved on site
1976 Schwanz Store, first building in Rocanville, moved to museum site
1982 Prosperity School moved on site to become museum workshop
September 3rd, 1992 Mason Lodge is bought by museum and moved on site
1993 Work began on an Administration and Display Building, now known as the Rice-Ore building
1998 Cambridge School is purchased and later moved onto museum grounds
2002 Replica of Rocanville Blacksmith Shop is built by museum members and volunteers
September 2017 Lockerbie and Hole Building open to the public
2017 Museum Celebrates 50 year Anniversary

What Will You See?

On site we showcase an extensive array of gas & steam engines, antique farm machinery, antique cars and trucks in operating condition. We also have a vast array of books, household tools, and many other lifestyle artifacts on display within our many buildings. With 10 buildings and 3 outdoor sheds on sight brimming with artifacts, one can spend endless hours learning new things about our community!

Jamie MacLeod President

Ron Hilgers Vice President

Patricia Watson Secretary

Phyllis Berhns Treasurer

Chris Watson Director

Larry Calder Director

Shirley Duce Director

Jerome Hilgers Director

Cody Isaac Director

Arthur Smyth Director

Unique Artifact:

During World War II the Japanese had experimented with and perfected a balloon bomb, which could be launched when the higher altitude winds were suitable to carry such a missile to North American shores.

We have one of these strange units on display in our Station Freight room. It was a dud; it had failed to detonate on contact. Its war-load was removed and much later it became just one more item of interest in our museum varied and unique collection.

A map of Western Canada, which came with this equipment, is marked with small flags indicating where these bombs were known to have landed. The nearest marker to our area is possibly the one near Lampman, Saskatchewan.