Are you a designated or non-designated heritage commercial property owner and are looking to preserve the history within the building? 

If you are, the City of Moose Jaw Heritage Advisory Committee wants to make you aware of a couple of grants available to those property owners through the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation. 

The first, is a one-time grant for a non-designated commercial heritage property, in which up to $10,000 is provided to assist the property owners.  

“The goal is to promote conservation, adaptive re-use of commercial heritage buildings in Saskatchewan, and raise awareness of the benefits of heritage designation,’ says John Bye, chairman of the City of Moose Jaw Heritage Advisory Committee. 

Bye says the eligibility for this application will be considered from the property owners’ heritage value.  

“The building must be at least 40 years old and contains one or more commercial enterprises.” 

Other requirements include, the buildings must be zoned as commercial property and out-of-province applicants may apply for direct project costs related to the conservation of Saskatchewan heritage resources.  

The grant will cover a number of expenses such as windows and siding, masonry, foundations and structural elements, eaves trough and downspouts, removal of window coverings, and painting to name a few.  

The other grant that is provided by the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation is the Built Heritage Grant Program.  

This grant caters to municipalities, Indigenous communities, incorporated not-for-profit organizations, private individuals, and corporations.  

“The properties must be designated by a municipal or provincial heritage at the very least. Applications will be accepted from the owners of the heritage property that cannot be legally designated as a provincial or municipal heritage property. This includes structures on federally regulated land such as train stations and grain elevators, and structures on First Nation land that are older than 40 years old.” 

Applicants must contribute 50 per cent of the total eligible project costs. Those located north of the 54th parallel are eligible for 75 per cent of the total eligible costs. If donations are made, they cannot exceed more than 25 per cent of the applicant's share in the application.  

Twice a year, applications are accepted for these two heritage grants. The deadlines for both are March 1 and October 1 each year.  

Bye along with the advisory committee are in the midst of an awareness campaign to make people aware of available grants for heritage properties.  

“This a topic of discussion that has come up in our heritage advisory committee meetings these are just two of the many that are out there that people may know about. Most heritage projects, people get into them and find them financially overwhelming.”  

In addition, Bye mentions that the cost of insuring a heritage building in the event of disaster or restoration may be financially overwhelming as well.  

Moose Jaw currently has approximately 40 designated heritage properties and 22 un-designated properties. 

The purpose of the City of Moose Jaw Heritage Advisory Committee is to advise the city council on specific matters. That includes permitting, restoration, or demolition matters of designated or non-designated properties around the city. 

To learn more about the City of Moose Jaw’s Heritage Advisory Committee click HERE.