Just in time for Canada’s 150th birthday, the Ag Corral will be holding a grand opening, unveiling its renovation and a new look with an old-style, a classic Western saloon type façade.
Andre Chamberland, president of the St. Paul Ag Society, noted the ag society celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014, and some big ideas started brewing at the time.
“All along, all at the same time, we were wanting to do something to the front of our building to spruce it up, to make it look better,” he said.
Last year, the society applied for a Canada 150 grant, putting up $250,000 of its own money, and was successful in getting the matching grant.
The $500,000 in funds will help the society re-do and add an office on the main floor, to provide wheelchair accessibility and prevent people from having to walk up two flights of stairs to get to the upper offices. A false front will be added to the front of the building to look like an old Western saloon and since the Ag Society has had a historic panel done through the Champions for Change project, the historic plaque will be mounted nearby.
“Our work has to be done before July 1 2017,” said Chamberland, adding that will be the society’s grand re-opening to showcase the newly finished work as well as 100 years of history in the community.
“All of this took a little time, but we’ll get it done.”
Rodeo-timed events like the Gymkhana will take place as usual this year as work is ongoing on the building.
