Heritage Benefactors

Melron Service

Thank you to Ron & Melissa Ediger for the generous donation of $25,000 towards the purchase & renovations of the SaskWater Provincial Building! Melron Services is a homegrown business in Watrous. Ron, Melissa and son Trent Ediger started with a single backhoe and have seen it grow into a flourishing operation, specializing in trenching, aggregate, and trailer sales. The Edigers have been active supporters of many groups and activities in Watrous, Manitou Beach and the area. In honour of Melron’s 20th anniversary, significant donations have been made to endeavours in this community, including the Edigers’ donation to the Watrous-Manitou Beach Heritage Centre at the Heritage Benefactor level of $25,000. Heritage Board members Lionel Sproule and Gary Bergen were on hand to receive funds from Ron and Melissa Ediger.

Ben and Esther Dayson Foundation

The Watrous Manitou Beach Heritage Centre has received a $25,000 donation from the Ben and Esther Dayson Foundation. This couple were from the same village near Odessa, in the Ukraine. Esther (nee Nemetz) came to Canada with her parents Tuba and Abraham Nemetz and she, along with her brothers Charlie, Sam, Harry, Dave, Bill and Leo, settled in Watrous. The older brothers Charlie, Sam and Harry Nemetz were very involved in establishing the communities of Watrous and Manitou Beach.

They were instrumental in getting electricity in Watrous, and operated various businesses such as The Watrous Trading Co., a Chrysler dealership, a butcher shop, and places like the California Rooms and Vancouver Lodge at Manitou Beach. Esther moved to Vancouver in 1926 and met her husband Ben Dayson through her brothers, as they were friends from their village. Ben and Esther married in 1936 and moved to Viscount where they operated a Red and White Store until 1948. They then moved to Saskatoon wherethey owned Hawkins Meat Market and moved on to Vancouver in 1949. Esther and Ben lived until age 97 and 100 respectively, having passed away in 2006 and 2007.

Shirley Barnett is the Dayson’s daughter, who, along with her brother Philip Dayson, administrates the Foundation. She writes that the Foundation was established to provide gifts to qualified charities and causes meaningful to the founders. She recalls wonderful times in the Watrous area, and remembers fondly their housekeeper in Viscount, Eva Pearce. They have expressed a keen interest in the Heritage Centre’s vision and are pleased to be a benefactor.

Heritage Protectors

Watrous Rotary

President Les Schuster presented a cheque for $15,000 to Kathy Bergen. The Rotary have also donated time & resources to organizing the GJM Golf Tournament for 2017 and proceeds going to the Watrous-Manitou Beach Heritage Centre!

Watrous Pharmacy

Watrous Pharmacy – Alana Armstrong (second from right) presented a $10,000 donation to heritage board members Glenda Cox-McArthur (far right), Karen Schroeder Mark (second from left) and Kathy Bergen (far left).

Watrous Home Building

Ken Bushman (left) presented $5,000 to heritage board member Ron Frey.

Communities In Bloom Manitou Beach

Communities in Bloom Manitou Beach – Sue Alcock, Elaine Muzichuk and Jackie Gross presented heritage board member Kathy Bergen with a cheque for $5,000.

Manitou & District Regional Park

Manitou Regional Park – Regional Park board members Jim Crawford and Nancy Dezotell (pictured) presented a $5,000 cheque to Heritage Board Member Ron Frey.

Watrous Concrete

Watrous Concrete – Brad Sundquist presented a $5,000 cheque to Heritage Board Member Ron Frey.

Nutrien

The Heritage Centre in Watrous, SK. is pleased to receive a cheque for $5,000 from Nutrien.

The Mosaic Company – Canada

The Heritage Centre in Watrous, SK, is pleased to receive a $5,000 donation from The Mosaic Company – Canada, and the endorsement that this project is important to the local communities. Mosaic has supported many projects locally and we are grateful to be included in that number. Renovations to the Main Street building continue, with a view to a grand opening summer of 2019. Funds are still needed to complete this project, and as the Heritage Centre is now a registered charity, a tax receipt can be issued for donations given directly to the Centre.

Farm Credit Canada

In a recent press release from Farm Credit Canada, the Watrous Manitou Beach Heritage Centre was named as a recipient of a $15,000 donation from the FCC AgriSpirit Fund! These funds will go towards the purchase and installation of new energy efficient windows on the upper floor. A huge thank you to FCC for their endorsement of this project! A full list of recipients can be found at www.fcc-fac.ca.