Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre

Bringing Music, Joy & Community to Life!

Many thanks to our funders and sponsors for their generous contributions to the Musical Playground project:

The INNES Family: $25,000

$5,000 Funding: Western Financial Group Community Infrastructure Grant

$5,000 Funding: Affinity Credit Union Member Council Community Development Funding

Orchestra Sponsors ($5,000): The Sogn Family Foundation, Shaunavon Arts Council

Duet Sponsors ($1,000): Shaunavon Dental, Brenda Waldron, Joanne Gregoire

Solo Sponsors ($500): Brett & Carolyn North, the Shields Family, Alan Ruetz, Rod & Sharon Crockett, the Davis Family, and the SHS Class of 1965 ($700)

And thank you to everyone who supported the project through donations and fundraisers:

• Donations totalling nearly $14,000 in memory of Joe-Ann Ruetz, Ann Brown, Joe Gregoire, and Kim Anderson.

• Just over $19,000 raised through bingos, pancake breakfasts, a grilled cheese lunch, 50/50 raffles, and more

The playground will be located on the spacious front lawn of the Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre (GCHCC), in the heart of downtown Shaunavon. As the cultural hub of our town, the GCHCC includes a museum, art gallery, and library, and hosts year-round programs for all ages. The playground will enhance our outdoor space and enrich programs like school tours, summer arts camp, Kids’ Corner, Toddler Time, and senior’s sing-along.

The musical instruments are designed for accessibility and durability — they’re easy to play, welcoming to people of all abilities, and built to withstand the elements. Their sculptural form also makes them a beautiful artistic feature in our landscape, even when not in use.

This inclusive space will invite spontaneous play, creative expression, and shared musical experiences — bringing people together and strengthening community spirit. Whether it’s a child’s first note or a grandparent’s familiar melody, this space will foster inter-generational connection, imagination, and shared joy.

Why It Matters

Music is a universal language — and through this project, we’re making it available to everyone, right in the heart of our town. Your support will not only help us meet our funding goal but also invest in a legacy of creativity, accessibility, and community spirit.

Join us in building something lasting, joyful, and truly special — a place where everyone can play.

September 1 to October 23

This body of work highlights the diversity, beauty, importance and plight of northern Saskatchewan muskegs, land that is being threatened with strip mining. Peat mining involves draining the water out of the muskeg then mulch the cover vegetation (sundews, pitcher plants, Labrador tea, black spruce, birch, willows, alders, cranberries, bunchberries, cloudberries, bog laurel, leatherleaf, and dozens of species of mosses). Muskegs/peatlands are very old landscapes, it takes 10 years for one centimeter of peat to form. It is important to Vanessa’s culture, and to the survival of traditions and knowledge to keep wild areas intact and undisturbed by resource extraction. Many people are unfamiliar with these areas, and this is Vanessa’s way of bringing the muskeg to the public.

Vanessa is a Canadian artist of Woodlands Cree and Norwegian ancestry. She is a member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and her community is nemepith sipihk (Sucker River). She holds her Bachelor of Arts with distinction from the University of Saskatchewan. Vanessa is interested in utilizing memory, tradition and themes of nature in her work. Land conservation and land sovereignty are at the heart of her work, with her painting and beadwork focusing on the richness of the land, and in turn, the threats to the land.

COFFEE CHAT

Our next Coffee Chat is Friday, October 3rd at 10:00 a.m. in the Gallery. Life in South Africa with Gerhard and Hester Venter!

Many thanks to our Coffee Chat sponsor – Jae’s Pharmacy! Coffee, Goodies, and Great Conversation! Everyone Welcome!

MORNING SING ALONG:

Fridays, October 17 and 24 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Gallery

We’d love for you to join us!!

Walk with us through a part of Shaunavon’s history.
Staff and volunteers of the Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre have created a walking tour of some of Shaunavon’s historic buildings. The tour features 20 historic sites, all located within walking distance of beautiful downtown Shaunavon.

Printed tour brochures are available at the Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre (440 Centre Street), or you can click here to be directed to the Heritage Walking Tour page on this website.

BOOMTOWN OR BUST Escape Adventure invites you to travel back in time for a real life Shaunavon escape adventure you won’t soon forget!

You and your friends have only 45 minutes to find the clues, solve the riddles and complete the challenge!

COST: $20 per person - At this time, we require a minimum of $100 per session if you have fewer than 5 people. Max group size is 8 people. All proceeds go towards the Grand Coteau Museum and Programs

Are you up for the challenge? Book your session! Contact the Grand Coteau Centre at 306-297-3882 or stop by the museum at 440 Centre Street for bookings & if you have any questions.

The Grand Coteau Centre archives includes over 3,300 photographs relating to the history of Shaunavon and area. We are pleased to now make this collection available online.

High resolution digital files of these images are available for purchase from the Grand Coteau Centre. Please contact us for ordering information.

Click here to view the photograph archives online.

The Shaunavon Branch of the Chinook Regional Library is located in the GCHCC, adjacent to our gallery space. The Shaunavon Library is an inviting and cozy locale for meeting friends. Or bring your coffee and relax with a good book or a magazine. The library is another hub of our community and offers a variety of materials, programs, and services for all age groups, including:

• Free Wifi and public computers with Microsoft Office.
• Printing, scanning and photocopying services.
• The SILS and Libby apps allow you to access your account, search for items, and download or place holds from your smart phone or tablet including: eBooks, eAudiobooks, video games, books on CD, and DVDs.
• Training and help for Equitable Library Access (CELA)

The friendly librarians will be happy to help you find what you are looking for!

Phone: 306-297-3844

Hours of Operation:
Monday 12:00 Noon - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday 12:00 Noon. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday 12:00 Noon - 5:00 p.m.
Friday 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 12:00 Noon - 5:00 p.m.

Our spacious 1000 ft. gallery features art exhibitions by local, Saskatchewan and Canadian artists. Many of our shows are from the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Council’s (OSAC) Arts on the Move program. A full listing of OSAC visual arts touring exhibitions can be found on their website, osac.ca
New exhibitions are featured every one or two months. Exhibitions are subject to change without advance notice.
A donation box and guest book are located in the gallery. Please be sure to sign your name and leave us your comments regarding the current show!
GCHCC works collaboratively with the Shaunavon Arts Council to present visual and performing arts in our community.

Vanessa Hyggen: ôma askiy âpacihcikâtîw (this land is in use)
Dates: Mon, Sep 1, 2025 to Thu, Oct 23, 2025

Labours of Love, Under Lamplight
Dates: Thu, Jan 1, 2026 to Mon, Feb 23, 2026

Mohadese Movahed: The Burden of Street
Dates: Fri, May 1, 2026 to Tue, Jun 23, 2026

Omentum
Dates: Tue, Sep 1, 2026 to Fri, Oct 23, 2026

Atim Maskikhiy
Dates: Fri, Jan 1, 2027 to Tue, Feb 23, 2027

Storied Telling: Performativity & Narrative in Photography
Dates: Mon, Mar 1, 2027 to Fri, Apr 23, 2027

Patrick Fernandez: Mga Piraso mula sa Paraiso (Pieces from Paradise)
Dates: Sat, May 1, 2027 to Wed, Jun 23, 2027

Natural Sciences: The GCHCC natural history collection features mammal and bird specimens common to southwest Saskatchewan. The natural history collection was the focus of the Museum during its early years and continues to appeal to tourists and local residents. Many of the specimens date back to the origins of the museum in the 1930’s. Many of the exhibits are displayed in a diorama depicting the natural habitat of the species on display.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT SPECIES THE GRAND COTEAU FEATURES

A photographic exhibit entitled, “Why Here”, highlights the establishment of Shaunavon in 1913. From bald prairie to town status in less than than a year, Shaunavon earned the title of Boomtown.

Our early settlement collection features artifacts significant to Shaunavon’s history. Permanent exhibits include The Crystal Bakery, Agriculture, One-Room Schoolhouse, Communication, Illerbrun Church, Textiles, Home Life, Work Life, Early Policing and General Store. Other exhibits we have displayed at this time are Millinery and Shaunavon Memorabilia.

The Museum also houses archaeological material from a primary butchering site in South Western Saskatchewan that contains bison material and some stone tools.

A meeting room is located in the basement of the GCHCC, and is available for rental. The space can accommodate up to 50 individuals. The space is well-lit with a great deal of natural light, has two washrooms, and a small kitchen area with sink. The room is equipped with chairs and tables for your use. Call 306-297-3882 for booking information.

Rental Rates:
Full Day: $75 plus GST
Half Day: $40 plus GST
60% reduction for Non Profit Groups

Artist Rates:
Full Day: $50 plus GST
Half Day: $25 plus GST

The Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre is located in the heart of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. The Centre houses a museum, art gallery and the Shaunavon Branch of the Chinook Regional Library. Our collection is multi-disciplinary, including artifacts relating to the human history of Shaunavon, fine arts and natural history specimens of the area. A variety of programs and tours are offered in association with our collection, making us more than a collection of objects. Tours are offered on a regular basis throughout the year to school students and can also be provided to other groups upon request. Through our educational programming, we are able to provide opportunities for our public to enjoy the arts, as well as the natural history and the human history of our area.

GCHCC is also a popular locale for community events and special programming including Canada Day, Boomtown Days, and the Parade of Lights.

Visit the GCHCC History page to learn more about our museum’s history - including why we have the name “Grand Coteau”!

Keep up to date on Grand Coteau Centre’s events, programs, and happenings - or enjoy some virtual fun with our heritage & tourism based videos and posts!

Here are the links - feel free to follow, like, & share!
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Board of Directors:
Brent Michelson - President
Robert Anderson - Vice President
Jenna Hiebert - Secretary
Pam Bahnuick - Councillor
Lisa Schmit - Councillor
Sandy Fritz
Tara Lingenfelter
Hester Groenewald
Penny Kirkpatrick

Annual Report 2024 Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022

Museums Association of Saskatchewan
SaskCulture