Saskatchewan·NewThe Prince Albert Historical Society has secured a new 10-year support agreement with the City of Prince Albert, guaranteeing stable funding for museum operations until 2035.The 10-year agreement offers stability, programming protection and accessibility upgradesAishah Ashraf · CBC News · Posted: Nov 18, 2025 12:16 PM EST | Last Updated: 11 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Members of the the Prince Albert Historical Society team pose with Mayor Bill Powalinsky. (Aishah Ashraf/CBC)The Prince Albert Historical Society has secured a new 10-year support agreement with the City of Prince Albert, guaranteeing stable funding for museum operations until 2035.The agreement, signed on Monday, replaces a 2009 deal and commits the city to providing nearly $110,000 in 2026, followed by a 3.5 per cent annual increase to keep up with rising costs.The city will continue providing maintenance support for all four museum sites and funding for summer interpreters, who support tours and hands-on school programming.The society’s building was constructed in 1912 as a fire hall and opened as a museum in 1977. (Aishah Ashraf/CBC)For historical society president Michael Gange, the agreement marks a shift from uncertainty to opportunity.“This building is probably the most iconic building in Prince Albert,” he said, standing inside the former Central Fire Hall, now the Prince Albert Historical Museum.“But we don’t have elevator access to all of our floors. Our first duty is to get something added on so that we can allow visitors to get to all three levels of this building [with] proper accessibility.”Long-term funding opens the door for expansion and program growth after years of relying on unpredictable grants that left little room for planning, he said.Mayor Bill Powalinsky said the support reflects the city’s values, even as many public services face financial strain.“Things like the museum and the historical society need to be supported so that they can continue that long, generational contribution to the community,” he said.“I feel strongly that this is one of the strongest areas of arts, culture [and] history that we could support.”President Michael Gange said his team worked with the city for two years to finalize the deal. (Aishah Ashraf/CBC)Society board member Connie Gerwing said the agreement brings relief after years of balancing budgets and anticipating upgrades.“We kind of run on a shoestring, and this really helps the shoelace get a lot longer,” she said.“It means not worrying about basic services, and being able to improve our exhibits and take on projects.”Gange said the funding is more than just support for museum operations, it’s about protecting the stories that shape the people who live in Prince Albert.“You can’t know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been,” he said. “History is what we’re built on.”ABOUT THE AUTHORAishah Ashraf is a reporter with CBC Saskatchewan, based in Prince Albert. You can send story ideas and tips to aishah.ashraf@cbc.ca.
History is what were built on: Prince Albert Historical Society secures long-term funding from city
