(Photo by Ariel Haug)

After standing watch over the Town of Gravelbourg for 96 years, their iconic prairie water tower is set to come down. Over the past few years there have been operational issues and leaks associated with the tower which prompted the town to decommission the structure in 2022. The town is also planning a significant water infrastructure upgrade that will replace aging water mains.

Due to safety concerns, however, the town has been forced to demolish the 96-year-old, 150 foot water tower because of its proximity to the community’s daycare, school, and town shop.

“It’s difficult to make a case to leave it there and the cost is extremely prohibitive for a community of less than 1000 people,” explained Ariel Haug, Economic Development Officer for Gravelbourg.

Despite the tower being demolished, it will live on in the minds of residents and visitors as well as in paintings and photographs.

“It’s a bit of beacon of home for folks in Gravelbourg,” Haug said. “I’ve taken probably a thousand pictures of it and I’ve painted it a few times, so, to me, visually, it’s an interesting piece of our history.

The Town of Gravelbourg is encouraging residents to share pictures, paintings, and stories of the water tower on the town Facebook page or on their Instagram page.

“We got a few stories in yesterday and a few photos so we’re going to keep doing that as long as people want to share. Just make sure you tag us and use the hashtag “ToastTheTower in there so we can find you,” Haug added.

Dismantling of the water tower will start on August 19th. Gravelbourg is about 186 kilometers southwest of Regina.

(photo by Ariel Haug)