DESIGN • RENovatIoN • laNDScapING • BuIlDING • DÉcoR
Winter 2023
SaSkatoon
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INSIDE 4
HOME FRONT A Greeting from the Publisher
7
FROM HOUSE TO HOME
Front Room Refresh ~ Photo Jenna Rutherford
ON THE COVER ALL THERE IN BLACK AND WHITE PAGE 13 Jordana Jacobson wanted “a more glamorous feel, a reflection of me and our family at this stage of our lives.” Her new Greenbryre home is just that. ~ Photo D&M Images
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31
43
Bold But Not Cold
Those Fabulous Sixties, Part I – A City in Transition
Keeping Your Inside Spaces Green
ALL THERE IN BLACK AND WHITE
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TIMELESS CLASSIC
A New Family Home with Old-World Charm
HOMETOWN REFLECTIONS
THREE EASY HOUSE PLANTS ~ Photo Sara Williams
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MAUREEN’S KITCHEN
Vintage Squares ~ Photo Maureen Haddock
~ Photo Lillian Lane
SASKATOON HOME WINTER 2023 |
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HOME FRONT It is the time of year to be grateful. Whether it’s reflecting on the past year, spending time with family over holidays, or enjoying quiet moments hunkered down in front our fireplaces while we wait out a blizzard, winter has always been a time to count our blessings. As the owner and publisher of Saskatoon HOME magazine, this is a great time of year to pause and say thank you for all your support over the years. Whether you are a contributor, story-sharing reader, subscriber or advertiser, it is your continued loyalty that keeps us going. Sharing our local Saskatoon stories is incredibly fulfilling, and we are thankful to be the ones who get to do it. Although it may sound a bit cliché, Saskatoon HOME has always been about sharing and celebrating how local houses—or the dreams for them—turn into homes. As you’ll see in this issue, we’re showing off everything from a timeless classic design to a modern mansion to a welcoming front entry remake. We’ve got simply scrumptious squares for your sweet tooth, and houseplants to nurture your soul with greenery when all is blanc et froid dehors. This issue brings it all home. We will humbly continue to bring you great stories from the city we love, and we wish you all the best in 2024. Happy Reading!
Amanda Soulodre OWNER & PUBLISHER
Issue 64, Winter 2023 ISSN 1916-2324 info@saskatoon-home.ca
Publishers Amanda Soulodre Rob Soulodre
Editor Karin Melberg Schwier
Contributors D&M Images Jeff O’Brien Jenna Rutherford Julie Barnes Karin Melberg Schwier Lillian Lane Maureen Haddock Sara Williams
The booking deadline for advertising in the Spring 2024 issue is Jan 19, 2024. Contact Amanda for more information. Email: amanda@saskatoon-home.ca Phone: 306-373-1833 Text: 306-717-0663 Saskatoon HOME is printed four times a year. Subscribe to receive every issue direct to your mailbox for $20/year. Visit www.gethomemagazine.ca.
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4 | WINTER 2023 SASKATOON HOME
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FROM HOUSE TO HOME BY: JULIE BARNES PHOTOS: JENNA RUTHERFORD
“It’s always been my dream—since I was a kid— to sit at the window, waiting for friends to come over or just watch life go by,” says Jenna Rutherford. That dream came to fruition when Jenna decided to transform her home’s front room into a quiet space to relax, retreat and host overnight guests.
Front Room Refresh
“It used to be the playroom,” says Jenna. “It was a giant, empty room with no storage. As our kids got older and wanted to play in their own rooms, we decided to make the space more functional by adding a Murphy bed to assist in hosting guests.” As with her front entry
transformation (featured in HOME Fall 2023 issue), Jenna tackled the majority of the renovation with her own two hands—from the panel mouldings, to the Murphy bed, to the millwork and inset window seat. The renovation took eight weeks to complete, or, “50 long, hard days—over 600
hours of time invested,” she says. The biggest challenge was building the cabinets. It was her first foray into custom built-ins, and “it was a lesson that Rome wasn’t built in a day,” she says. The drawers under the window bench were her biggest struggle. “Only one of the seven went in
SASKATOON HOME WINTER 2023 |
7
without a hitch” on the first attempt, she says. She took a brief hiatus from the drawers to take on the window seat cushion and the faux beams. Built from scratch with finished pine, Jenna beat the wood with an axe to give it the aged look she was after. A Helping Hand
Before
Jenna’s goal for the front room was to “make the space feel like a retreat in our home, where you could go read in the window, take a quick nap, or play games with the family.”
8 | WINTER 2023 SASKATOON HOME
The project gave Jenna the opportunity to “let go of control a bit” and let her youngest child get involved
while her other kids were in school. Her youngest was three years old at the time, and Jenna helped her safely use the drill and paint the panel moulding once it had been affixed to the walls. “Instead of letting her watch TV for a few hours, I let her observe me as I built the built-ins,” says Jenna. “She played hide and seek in the cabinets once I had them attached to the walls.” Having never built a
A striking black and white image Jenna captured during a trip to Venice hangs above the tufted sofa.
Murphy bed, Jenna says it was the project she was most intimidated by at the outset. She purchased the hardware kit from Lee Valley, which came with a complete cut-list for various bed sizes, and detailed assembly instructions. She was able to customize the exterior paneling— choosing to design a white K-style millwork pattern that seamlessly blends with the adjacent built-in drawers. “I recommend having an
extra hand when lifting it into place and attaching it to the wall,” says Jenna. Otherwise, it’s a project she thinks most homeowners could tackle on their own if they have access to a drill, circular saw, jigsaw and a few hand tools. La Dolce Vita The striking black and white photo mounted above the sofa is another personal touch. In 2012, Jenna won a trip anywhere in the world. She and husband
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Brock chose Venice as their destination. Having been a professional photographer for 11 years, she snapped the dramatic shot of several gondolas lined up along the canal. “This will forever be my favourite picture,” says Jenna. “You get the boats, you get the annoying pigeons, the church, the stone work.” She had the photo printed on canvas and built the frame herself, from leftover scraps of wood from past projects. Today, the room is multipurpose, says Jenna. It’s used as a home office when someone needs a quiet space for a video call, and as a room to gather and play games. Jenna’s daughters like to build forts in the room, and family dog Mylo “has claimed the window bench as his, as he watches over the house between naps in the sun.” Fortunately, the window seat is a cosy perch Mylo is often willing to share. “Still to this day, the window bench is my favourite thing about this room,” Jenna says. “Watching for the girls to come home from school, as well as watching them sit and enjoy a good read while soaking in the sun (if Mylo will allow), brings me so much joy. It’s a place for conversation post-school and late into the evenings.”
Julie Barnes
This is the second in a series featuring Jenna’s DIY transformations. Watch for Jenna’s next project in the Spring 2024 issue of HOME.
10 | WINTER 2023 SASKATOON HOME
Before A Murphy bed, opposite the window bench, offers an extra space for hosting overnight guests.
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ALL THERE IN BLACK AND WHITE Bold But Not Cold When it was time for the Jacobsons to leave their beloved Willowgrove home, one that had been a comfortable place to raise their two girls, Jordana got to thinking. She and husband Perry considered
major renovations but when they found a location in Corman Park’s Greenbryre southeast of Saskatoon, it was a done deal. And Jordana’s ‘want list’ started to grow, along with the square footage.
Go Big “It seems a little superficial to have closets at the top of my list.” Jordana laughs. “But I had taken over my husband’s closet and part of the basement, and I have lots of shoes. There was a
BY: KARIN MELBERG SCHWIER PHOTOS: D&M IMAGES sign on my shoe closet that read ‘you can never have too many shoes.’ I needed more space!” For the fitness-conscious family, a basement bedroom had turned into a home gym in their Willowgrove
SASKATOON HOME WINTER 2023 | 13
“Modern glam” is a term that fits the new Jacobson build.
Known for their more classic, traditional styles, the contemporary exterior Jordana wanted was a challenge Maison embraced. | WINTER 2023 SASKATOON HOME 14
house. Space was at a premium and functionality was not the best. “I wanted a more glamorous feel, while still suited to our family in this phase of our lives,” says Jordana. “Lots of storage and more efficient use of space was important to us. And we had sort of outgrown our old home. We no longer needed to back onto the school park, and the girls needed more privacy now that they were in their teens.” She had other ideas and a clear sense of what was lacking where they’d lived for 15 years. While she didn’t really intend on making a decision to move so quickly, when she found a lot in late 2020, Greenbryre felt right. “We’d built our home so many years before that I really didn’t know any current builders.” Not the type to settle for a preordained design, Jordana planned to be heavily involved in the creative process. Armed with a trusted recommendation from a friend, she did as any social media savvy business owner would do. She “asked Instagram.” She perused the photo galleries of Maison Design+Build projects and their impressive list of awards. An award-winner herself, including YWCA Women of Distinction in Entrepreneurship, Jordana recently sold Cravings Maternity-BabyKids, a company she built and owned for 18 years. Now a business mentor, she was able to size up Maison quickly to see if values aligned. “It was clear they were a quality builder, and I knew they could take what
Custom wine racks frame the open entryway from the kitchen to the dining area.
was in my head, get it into plans and make my home unlike any other. They were definitely not a spec builder, and I was confident they would make this work.” Jordana laughs. “Sometimes I wish I were more low maintenance, but I know what I want.”
Building a Partnership Jilaire Soucy Wagner co-owns Maison, founded in 2000, with husband Andrew. As the company’s creative director, she knew from the first contact that Jordana’s project would be client-driven. Their first meeting was on Zoom due
to covid distancing. “She described all the things she was looking for, what she would bring along and what to improve from her current home. She had very high-level preferences on aesthetics,” recalls Jilaire. “We took all that feedback and created a completely SASKATOON HOME WINTER 2023 | 15
“I’ve always had a thing for black and white,” says Jordana. Some people feel too much white is cold, but with gold accents and wood elements, a warm balance is achieved.
16 | WINTER 2023 SASKATOON HOME
unique floorplan. We ended up with a few tweaks, but the flow, functionality, right sized rooms, and storage were very close to that initial plan. Setting up the bones properly from the start is so important.” The design phase began in February of 2021. What normally takes six to eight months, took ten. There were many “out of the ordinary” features for Maison, including the contemporary style exterior. Known for their more classic, traditional styles, fulfilling Jordana’s want list ‘must haves’ was a challenge they embraced. “To take advantage of the construction season once we had firm plans in place, the build started at the end of October,” says Jilaire. “But the design work didn’t stop. Because of the complexity of design and
how involved Jordana was, we were still going over ideas and selections well into construction.” The build took 11 months and the family moved in November 2022. The end result is a contemporary design with a total of 4,675 developed square feet. The two-storey, with a walk-out basement, features four bedrooms, four baths, a full south-facing window wall on all three levels and four-car garage with car lift, and many more lavish features. “I think ‘modern glam’ is a good way to describe it,” says Jilaire. “The exterior is more modern than the interior feels. The casings, the windows are contemporary but the trimwork and detailing is more classic, so it’s a very interesting mixture with a lot of architectural interest.”
Bold, Not Cold “I wanted a home that was a reflection of me and our family. I’ve always had a thing for black and white,” explains Jordana. “I really get a sense of calm in neutral spaces. Some people think a lot of white feels cold, but I find it peaceful. And there’s lot of wood in the flooring and some of the cabinetry, and a lot of brushed gold in the lighting fixtures and hardware, so that brings an element of warmth.” Jilaire notes that while the interiors do feature the black and white combo, an inordinate amount of glazing allows for abundant sunlight and brings the outdoors in. “A lot of connectivity with the outside was really important to Jordana,” says Jilaire. “Lots of sunlight. We were very careful to orient the rooms to get the most
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A butler’s pantry supports easy entertaining.
of the views, the light, the curb appeal. The orientation of the yard and the pool feel like an extension of the living spaces indoors. With a full three-level window wall on the south exterior, the yard is the backdrop to the home.” There’s also a pleasing view of a Greenbrye water feature. Making Good Choices For Jordana and her family, the want list was important but funds were not unlimited. Working through the finishes, materials and fixture selections had to be a thoughtful collaboration between the homeowner and builder. “This is going to be our home for years to come. We won’t be doing this again, and probably our next move will be to downsize,” Jordana says. “So you may want everything, but how do you rein that in? If something is out of reach, you look at how to get the same aesthetic, just a little less elaborate.” Jilaire agrees. “We talk about selections that will achieve the design
18 | WINTER 2023 SASKATOON HOME
Jordana has many favourite elements in her new home, including an abundance of natural light. Another is the wallpaper on the office ceiling. SASKATOON HOME WINTER 2023 | 19
Wood cabinetry adds contrast to the black and white palette.
without sacrificing quality, but will still be affordable. Do we do real hardwood or luxury vinyl plank? Jordana’s floor is laid out in a herringbone pattern which is more expensive to install. We opted to do a less expensive flooring to maintain the design element. We did that with lighting and plumbing, countertop options. Her kitchen countertop is an absolutely stunning luxe premium quartz. So in other rooms, we made simpler choices to fit with the budget.” Lasting Favourites Even after a year, Jordana still finds it hard to name just one or two favourite things. She can tick off a dozen and is still on the main floor. “I love the wallpaper on the ceiling in the office. The wall sconce lighting at the front
entrance. The powder room black crocodile wallpaper.Yes, black! My dining room is so perfect. I love the windows and the view at the back of the house.The butler’s pantry.The mudroom. All the cabinetry and fantastic hidden storage. The custom wine racks. I could go on and on.” As for those ‘pops of colour’ so often touted by interior decorators, Jordana is willing to give a little. An artist friend painted three large abstract panels in black, white and gold to hang on an expanse of white hallway upstairs. “She finally couldn’t stand it and added a couple splashes of pink and lime green,” says Jordana. “I love them and I’m having them framed.” In black. Of course.
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BY: JULIE BARNES PHOTOS: LILLIAN LANE
TIMELESS CLASSIC A New Family Home with Old-World Charm Timeless. That’s the word that kept coming up again and again when Ashleigh and David were in the midst of designing their new home. “We really like that kind of old-world style,” says Ashleigh. “If we could have, this entire home would have been made of old stone to
make it look like it’s been here forever.” Despite not being rendered in stone, it’s safe to say the couple achieved the timeless, classic aesthetic they were aiming for. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the openconcept kitchen, dining and
living area, tucked away at the back of the house.The original floor plan had the living space at the front, says Ashleigh. “I love that we flipped it to the back so we can enjoy our backyard as it’s growing. We have privacy back here—and it feels like we’ve got our own little cocoon.”
The over-grouted living room fireplace is one of the couple’s favourite features. It was inspired by similar masonry frequently found in old European buildings, and in L’oncle Antoine, a pub Ashleigh and David visited in Quebec City. “All the walls (in the pub) are overSASKATOON HOME WINTER 2023 | 23
The couple’s goal for the kitchen and dining area was to make the space family friendly. “We are very big on —as much as possible—sitting down for suppers, and having conversations with our kids,” says Ashleigh.
24 | WINTER 2023 SASKATOON HOME
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grouted and it looks like it’s been there since the 1800s,” says Ashleigh. The goal for the adjacent kitchen was to make it family-friendly. “I have a massive extended family, and we wanted it make it multifunctional,” says Ashleigh. The couple’s three kids use the island for homework, and there’s plenty of space for gatherings with their extended family and friends. Striking a Balance A floor-to-ceiling built-in hutch was another old-world touch that helps balance the more contemporary features in the kitchen. Made of rough sawn walnut, Ashleigh says they spent a lot of time designing it with Majestic Cabinets. “We just love the wood textures blended with the white cabinetry. It’s so us.”
An elegant arched oak door leads to the perfectly organized pantry, with shelves stocked with staples and Ina Garten cookbooks. It’s a pantry of which the Barefoot Contessa herself would approve. Beyond the walk-through pantry is a half-bath with a bespoke touch. Pointing out the vanity, Ashleigh says, “it’s like an old 1900s washstand that we repurposed and got the tiniest little oval sink we could find.” During the home’s construction, Ashleigh would frequently scour Facebook Marketplace for furniture she could breathe new life into. Several used and vintage finds, from nightstands to dressers, were sourced, stripped and refinished. “Brand new just doesn’t seem to have the same charm,” Ashleigh says.
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After Ashleigh’s mother saw the completed pantry.
An arched doorway in the entry leads to David’s dark and moody office.
The caning detail on the living room armchairs gives them a vintage look that Ashleigh appreciates. The coffee table once belonged to her mom, and was restained to complement other wood tones in the home.
26 | WINTER 2023 SASKATOON HOME
The over-grouted fireplace was one of the key design elements Ashleigh wanted to incorporate into her family’s new home.
The family hired Lexis Homes as their builder. During a preliminary meeting, the couple was asked how involved they wanted to be in the finishing selection process. Ashleigh recalls, “Lexis asked us, ‘Do you want to go to every supplier and touch all the things, or do you want us to bring you three options to consider?’ I’m like, ‘let’s go touch it all,’” she says with a laugh. Everything in its Place Julie Tenaschuk, Lexis’ designer who worked closely with the couple, says her favourite feature of the home is the mudroom. “David, Ashleigh and the kids are very tidy, so they went for a beautiful, light-filled space without the fear of mess being on display—definitely a risk not every family would take on
and I love that they went for it.” A few slim cabinets in the mudroom provide storage for the family’s outdoor gear. Adjacent to the attached garage, it’s the sole space for jackets and shoes. Guests are often taken aback when they learn that the home has no front closet. “I don’t think this would work for everybody, but I’m extremely organized and I’m a wild purger,” says Ashleigh. “I don’t want the kids to have 20 pairs of shoes—they get five.” Having the mudroom off the garage allows for a clean, streamlined front entry, and frees up a wall for family photos. Just inside the front entry is David’s home office. A moody slate colour, even the baseboards are painted out for a cohesive, cosy vibe. Having it located on
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Ashleigh purchased her throw pillows from a Regina-based small business called Curated Pillow Co. “These are identical to the ones you see all over the place (by well-known designers),” but they cost a fraction of the price, says Ashleigh.
the main floor was a priority, as David works from home full time. The office in their previous home was located in the basement. When they were drafting the plans, David says it was all about, “how can we be smart with the home’s overall square footage, so I can have natural daylight?”
rethinking existing pieces. One example are the bedside table lamps. Originally an amber glass base that felt outdated, Ashleigh found a local business owner (@ShoppebyKateWatson) who painted them to look like stone, and added new shades.
All Above Board
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Another priority for the new build was to have enough space on the second floor for four bedrooms, so none of the kids would be relegated to the basement. That required being thoughtful in how they shared the space, says Ashleigh. “Originally our (ensuite) bathroom was bigger, but we realized we didn’t need the bathtub to be in this sprawling space, so we just pulled from there, to give the space to the kids’ rooms and bathroom.” The principal bedroom is layered with soft, tactile elements—from the upholstered headboard, to the textured waffle throw blanket and the boucle and linen throw pillows.
Graceful arches continue into the ensuite, as a gently curving wall envelops the vanity. One day, Ashleigh hopes to cover this inset space with more overgrouted stonework, similar to the fireplace downstairs, “so it looks like we’re in this little cave,” she says. “We’ll get there. My dad is very handy so I know he can assist with that.” They’ve been settled in their home for over a year now, after making the move from a house just one block away. Ashleigh says she thought it would be painful to drive by the old place. “All my kids had their first steps there and we had great neighbours on either side. But it just feels like this has been our home the entire time—like we’ve never lived anywhere else but here.”
Updating the Outdated An arched wall envelops the bathroom vanity in the ensuite. One day, Ashleigh would like to install stonework in this niche “so it looks like we’re in this little cave.”
28 | WINTER 2023 SASKATOON HOME
There are also more customized touches here, thanks to Ashleigh’s expert eye, and gift for reusing and
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Home for tHe Holidays - at Crossmount -
One expects winters on the prairie to include some cold days, but prairie people do not let the weather stop them from enjoying time outdoors!
LIVE AT CROSSMOUNT
VISIT CROSSMOUNT
Crossmount is a 55+ aging-in-place community and agri-tourism destination 5 km south of Saskatoon on Lorne Avenue (Highway 219). Nestled into 480 acres of natural prairies this community has much to offer by way of amenities.
Open to the public, our agri-tourism area called THe GLeN, has a natural pond available for skating once the temperatures are suitable. We also have cross country ski trails with varying distances, all starting from THe GLeN parking lot.
Our aging-in-place community is comprised of five sizes of independent homes all built with safety in mind so you can stay in your home as you age, even if your health needs change. Lifebridge at Crossmount health clinic is onsite with weekly clinic hours open to Crossmount residents and the public. We take care of the maintenance, snow removal, landscaping, and garbage/recycling pickup so you can enjoy daily adventures without the chores.
In our Arts Barn you can enjoy a delicious meal or snack at the Pine & Thistle Kitchen + Bar and our cidery is a wonderful place to watch your kids or grandkids skate while trying a cider handcrafted on site.
For information about our independent homes or to book a personal tour, please email info@crossmount.ca or phone 306-374-9890. You can also learn more about Crossmount and our amenities through our website at www.crossmount.ca.
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Before heading home, you can stop by the Market Box Boutique and Cheese Production Facility where you will find unique prairie made products and a variety of cheeses also handcrafted on site.
Avalon Shopping Centre, 1962. Photo: City of Saskatoon Archives - W.E. Graham Collection
HOMEtown Reflections THOSE FABULOUS SIXTIES, PART I –
BY: JEFF O’BRIEN
A CITY IN TRANSITION In 1961, the Soviets put a man in space. In 1969, the Americans put one on the moon. The years between were frantic, and for Saskatoon, a small prairie city with metropolitan ambitions, it was time to start making those ambitions come true. A Time of Growth and Change Saskatoon grew enormously in the years after the Second World War. This continued into the 1960s. The population went from 43,000 in 1945 to 95,000 in 1960,
then increased by nearly as much again in the 1960s, hitting 131,000 by the end of the decade. This sparked a residential construction boom that saw Saskatoon expand outward for the first time since before the First World War. In the 1950s, much of that growth had been east past Clarence Avenue. That eastward expansion continued in the 1960s as for the first time we grew past Preston. Work began in new, suburban neighbourhoods
like Brevoort Park, Eastview and College Park, along with southern extensions of 1950s neighbourhoods like Avalon, Adelaide and Holliston. Sutherland, absorbed when the city limits were extended in 1956, was also growing in the 1960s. But the city also pushed west, filling in the sparsely built areas along the fringes then growing out to the old city limits at Avenue W and beyond. We got new neighbourhoods there in the 1960s, too, like Westview
and Massey Place, along with plans for Confederation and Fairhaven. There was also considerable industrial and commercial growth. We built new industrial areas around 42nd Street, and out by the airport on land that had once been an air force training base, as well as in the south, where the Canadian National Railway (the CNR) “South Saskatoon” railway yards had been. Much of this industrial growth was driven by expansions in SASKATOON HOME WINTER 2023 | 31
mining, particularly potash. To help capitalize on this, the city created an Industrial Development Office in 1960, which worked both to attract new industry, and to support existing ones. Getting Around Two of the biggest issues facing Saskatoon in the early 1960s were urban sprawl and the automobile. Here, as elsewhere, the number of cars on the road skyrocketed after the war. This was both a blessing and a curse. It meant that Saskatoon, formerly a very compact city, could spread out. Bigger houses, bigger lots. Room to park the car, and the convenience of owning an automobile. But these new neighbourhoods took up a lot of space, and for people living there, the automobile soon became a necessity.
Idylwyld Freeway construction, 1966. Photo: Local History Room - Saskatoon Public Library - CP-4223-A-4
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One victim of this was public transit. All this suburban sprawl made providing efficient, effective bus service increasingly difficult. That, along with the growing popularity of the automobile, saw per capita ridership on Saskatoon buses drop from 215 per person annually in 1951, to 83 in 1961 and only 60 in 1970. Downtown Traffic Another consequence of all these cars was downtown traffic congestion. In those days, any cross-town trip had to go through downtown. Every truck bound for the North Industrial area had to go through downtown. Every tourist driving through here on their way to somewhere else had to go right through— you guessed it—downtown. During rush hour, traffic downtown slowed to a crawl.
Massey Place development, 1966. Photo: City of Saskatoon Archives - W.E. Graham Collection
Adding to the problem were the railways. Drivers in Saskatoon had to contend with railway tracks snaking through nearly every part of the city. One report identified 28 level crossings in Saskatoon, some of them getting more than 30 trains
a day. And then there were the downtown railway yards between First Avenue and Avenue A, which created a barrier to traffic nearly as effective as the river itself. A 1961 proposal would have seen the city build a spider-web of bridges and
overpasses to take traffic over and through downtown. It came in at an eye-popping $24 million. Even costsharing with other levels of government left Saskatoon on the hook for ten million bucks. Which we did not have. So that was out.
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CN Tower and Midtown Plaza under construction, 1969.
Centennial Auditorium under construction, ca 1967.
Circle Drive east, including the infamous 8th Street traffic circle, 1968. Photos: (top) Local History Room - Saskatoon Public Library - B-11569; (middle) City of Saskatoon Archives - HST-032-006; (bottom) Local History Room - Saskatoon Public Library - CP-68-19-1
A better solution—easier, simpler and much, much cheaper—was move the downtown railway yards out to the edge of town. This what they did. The deal, spearheaded by Mayor Sid Buckwold, was signed on May 6, 1963. Construction of the CNR’s new Chappell Yards facility was completed in the fall of 1964, and on November 16, the very last train ever pulled into the downtown station. It was the end of an era. But it was also a beginning. With the downtown yards gone, the city could finally push 20th and 22nd Streets through from Riversdale, ending the long isolation of Saskatoon’s west side. When 20th Street opened in July of 1966, they held a parade to celebrate. “East is east and west is west, and now the twain have met!” one sign triumphantly declared. The deal with the CNR also gave Saskatoon the railway right-of-way where it enters the city from the south east. Here we built the Idylwyld Freeway, which crosses the river on what’s now the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge at the western edge of downtown. Now, all that northbound and westbound traffic could simply skirt the downtown, rather than drive right through it. Another benefit to the freeway was the easy access to downtown shopping it gave all those folks living in those new suburbs. An important consideration, perhaps, in a time when downtowns across North America were dying. Another major traffic project that got its start in the 1960s was Circle Drive. We’d been talking about building a ring road around
Saskatoon since 1913. But it was Bill Graham, Saskatoon’s first City Planner, who in 1960 drew a line around the city and said, “This is where we’re gonna build it.” Work began in 1962, from Highway 11 up to 8th Street, including the infamous 8th Street Traffic Circle. By 1967, it had reached College Drive on the east, and from Warman Road around to 11th Street West in the north. And there it stopped. Optimistic projections notwithstanding, it would be nearly 50 years before we finally completed the circle. But that’s a story for another day. Re-Imagining Saskatoon With the railway yards gone, there was now a very large chunk of prime, downtown real estate available for development. It was to be a public space. A place for people, and a way to re-invigorate the downtown commercial district. Much of it became home to the sophisticated and lively Midtown Plaza and a new YMCA. But we also got a our long-awaited centre for the performing a rt s , the beautiful Centennial Auditorium, built to celebrate Canada’s centennial year of 1967. It’s hard to imagine Saskatoon without the Centennial, or TCU Place as we call it nowadays, named for its sponsor TCU Financial. But it almost didn’t happen. Soon after work began in the fall of 1965, costs unexpectedly ballooned beyond the city’s ability to pay. “We can’t afford it!” people wailed. Neither the federal nor provincial governments were willing to pony up the needed cash, and there was talk of
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Mendel Art Gallery and Conservatory, 1966.
abandoning it. Finally, John Cairns, the longest-serving member of City Council, pleaded with the others to find a way. “Don’t let us go down in history as the ones that let the auditorium slip through our fingers.” They didn’t. A slimmeddown version was approved with some elements put off for later, and on April 1, 1968, it opened with a sold-out performance of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. Another addition to Sa s k a t o o n’s cultural landscape in the 1960s was the Mendel Art Gallery and Conservatory, which opened in the fall of 1964. Funded in part with a sizable donation from local businessman and arts patron Fred Mendel, the building was the result of an international design competition. The result was a unique and beautiful structure, representing, in the words of Sid Buckwold, “the heart and soul of Saskatoon.” There’s more—far too much to mention here. A new sports and recreation complex in the city’s southwest. Sask Polytech.
36 | WINTER 2023 SASKATOON HOME
The new downtown library, 1965.
A new downtown library. New buildings on campus, including a shiny new linear particle accelerator, precursor to the Synchrotron. The list goes on. In the 1950s, we’d shaken off the effects of the Depression and the war. Now, we were aiming for the future. What could it hold in store?
Jeff O’Brien
Next issue: Part 2 – Flower Power comes to the Paris of the Prairies, Spring HOME 2024. Circle Drive Parkway plan, 1960. Photos: (top) City of Saskatoon Archives - W.E. Graham Collection; (middle) Local History Room Saskatoon Public Library - LH 2505; (bottom) City of Saskatoon Archives - W.E. Graham Collection
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BY: MAUREEN HADDOCK
MAUREEN’S KITCHEN Vintage Squares
When a busy season is approaching, I love to make two or three of my favourite squares, slice them with my sharpest knife and keep the best-looking ones to serve to company. Squares are easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time. They keep well in a tin on the counter but can
also be frozen. Squares add colour and flavour to any festive offering. The problem with squares is that they are sometimes difficult to cut evenly. Ragged edges and cracked tops can result when you are trying to cut through nuts or chocolate. As you experiment with
recipes, make notes about the pan preparation that you prefer, and which knife produces the tidiest squares. We enjoy eating the crisp edges and imperfect squares ourselves. Bonus! Pan preparation is key when making squares. I recommend a silicone pan
with folding sides. Once cooled, most squares slide out of this type of pan with ease. Another option is to line a non-silicone pan with parchment paper, leaving enough paper at the top to allow you to lift the baked square to a cutting board.
SASKATOON HOME WINTER 2023 | 39
Whether storing or serving squares, I like to keep various batches separate from each other to stop flavour and ingredient transfer. Keeping things separate also helps you meet the needs of those with serious dietary issues.
To serve squares separately, I like using tiered plates, multiple heights of pedestal dishes or a collection of small trays. I have made Cranberry Squares annually since the mid-seventies. Oatmeal Jam Bars make a divine
lunch box treat as well as a colourful accent for a tray. These and other recipes for squares can be found at www.getabiggerwagon.com. My husband loves Maple Pecan Squares because he is a fan of maple syrup and enjoys the crunch of pecans.
Marshmallow Shortbread Treats are like fluff piled onto shortbread. We are surprised by how much we love this delicate vintage bar. Fortunately, the recipe makes a large batch. Maureen Haddock
Maple Pecan Squares
I found this recipe in a Robin Hood pamphlet printed in the 1960s. The instructions were vague, and although it was delicious, it was difficult to cut and extremely chewy. I decided to try it again with a few modifications. I hope you enjoy my version. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
STEP THREE Topping Instructions continued:
Ingredients for Topping:
Preheat the oven to 450°F.
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup maple syrup
2/3 cup pecan halves
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Beat the eggs until slightly thickened and continue beating while pouring the lukewarm syrup into the eggs. Stir in the softened butter, salt, vanilla, flour and pecans.
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons pre-sifted flour
Spread the filling over the partially baked crust and bake for 10 minutes at 450°F.
1/4 cup brown sugar
Cool completely before lifting the square from the pan using the parchment paper or sliding it from the silicone pan. Cut into 32 squares using a very sharp knife. I often place a washed, plastic ruler on the square to help me make straight lines.
Ingredients for Base: 1 cup pre-sifted, all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter
STEP ONE Preparation of Topping: Combine sugar and maple syrup in a saucepan and simmer on the stovetop for 5 minutes. Remove sugars from heat and cool slightly. While this syrup is cooling, prepare the base. STEP TWO Preparation of Base: Using a pastry cutter or two forks, mix flour, sugar and butter until crumbs form. Press crumbs into an 8” square pan that has been lined with parchment paper in both directions, or use a buttered, silicone pan with folding sides. Place base in the preheated oven and bake for 5 minutes. During the five minutes, continue preparing the filling. 40 | WINTER 2023 SASKATOON HOME
Lower oven temperature to 350°F and continue baking for 20 minutes.
Marshmallow Shortbread Treats This recipe is fun to make and surprisingly delicious. Shortbread Base Ingredients: 3/4 cup butter 1/3 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Marshmallow Layer Ingredients: 2 envelopes (2 tablespoons) unflavoured gelatin 1/2 cup cool water 2 cups granulated sugar 1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries 1/2 cup chopped toasted almonds (see tip below) 1 teaspoon almond flavouring Red food colouring
Method for Shortbread Crust: Cream butter and brown sugar together. Stir in flour until the mixture forms a ball of dough. Press this dough into a 9 by 13-inch pan; using a fork, prick the crust all over. Bake the crust at 325ºF for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
TIP: Choose slivered almonds that are blanched and chop them further. Toast in a 350°F oven for 6 minutes stirring every two minutes. Use caution; they brown quickly.
Method for Marshmallow Topping: Soften gelatin in the cool water. Place sugar and the warm water in a saucepan. Bring sugar to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Pour the softened gelatin into this hot syrup. Pour the above mixture into a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until very stiff. I use my stand mixer and I recommend doing so. It takes over 10 minutes to reach the right consistency. Add flavouring and red food colouring to create a pale pink result. Stir in red cherries and toasted almonds. I have made this square with green maraschino cherries and green colouring for St. Patrick’s Day. Pour marshmallow over cooled shortbread base. Refrigerate for several hours or until the glossy finish disappears. Cut into 60 bars. Store in a large flat container. This square keeps well for at least three weeks in the fridge, getting more delicious as time goes on. The square also freezes well.
More Recipes Found at:
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THREE EASY HOUSE PLANTS
BY: SARA WILLIAMS
Keeping Your Inside Spaces Green
Beginning in the 17th century, newly discovered plants began arriving in Europe from around the world. Many of these were from the tropics and required both bright light and heat in order to survive through the winter in our temperate climate. Fo rt u n a t e l y, greenhouses (or glass houses as they were called
in England) were available to accommodate them. “House plants” could not have existed prior to the discovery of glass. Although glass was crafted by the Egyptians in the form of small precious pieces of jewelry as early as the 3000s BC, it was the Romans who produced the first window glass—a luxury reserved for
royalty and the very wealthy. The Romans also fashioned early greenhouses, called specularia , using thin sheets of talc and mica for windows, that were heated by stove and flue systems. By the 17th century, glasspanelled orangeries, some heated through the winter by steaming manure piles, were constructed in Europe to
protect newly arrived citrus trees from southern China. In the late 1730s, the greenhouses of the aristocracy were full of newly discovered plants. And by the 1870s, these were filtering to the emerging middle class. Plants that tolerated lower light levels survived, and some, such as the Boston fern, became immensely SASKATOON HOME WINTER 2023 | 43
Carl Thunberg collected the spider plant in South Africa in 1794.
popular. The stage was set. Victorian conservatories were brimming with tropicals. The modern era of the house plant was under way. On a personal level, with a focus predominantly on hardy trees, shrubs and perennials, I’ve had relatively few dealings with house plants. And when questioned about them, I would often reply to the effect of, “I don’t do house plants.” A more accurate response should have been, “I don’t do house plants well.” But some have survived for decades under my benign neglect—more a reflection of their fortitude than my exactitude. By chance, I happened to have created a space in my home that was hospitable for them: a south-facing room with large windows which are shaded by deciduous trees in summer and with venetian blinds that can be closed in the heat of the summer. All do well in hanging pots or on tables. These are the house plants which I would like to share as our Prairie winter approaches.
44 | WINTER 2023 SASKATOON HOME
Browning tips are generally due to insufficient water. Spider plant with tiny white flowers that appear before baby spiders.
Variegated Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum ‘Variegatum’)
Spider plants have adorned our homes for over two centuries, since the early 1800s when the German writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832), widely shared his plants and popularized their use. Along with extremely attractive foliage, these plants are both adaptable and resilient. Part of this stems from the diverse habitats within their native range in South Africa, with varying water availability and soil types. Peoples within its native range have long used it both as a vegetable and medicinally. More recently, a study conducted by NASA concluded that spider plants were effective in removing common air toxins such as
formaldehyde—but it might take up to 70 of them within an average home to do so! Carl Thunberg, the Swedish naturalist, was the first European to collect and name this species in 1794. The soft, cascading, lanceshaped leaves are in tufts of up to 2 ft long and 3/4–1 inch wide. From spring through summer, long, arching, straw-coloured stems emerge from the centre of the rosette of foliage. Small, six-petaled white flowers develop on these. Once the flowers fade, mini plantlets appear, often several to a stem. These are the tiny “spiders” from which the common name is derived. The foliage can descend several feet below the pot. Although the green species (C. comosum) is seldom seen, variegated types are commonly available. The popular C. comosum ‘Variegatum’
Photo: Carlos Fonseca Mata CC-BY-SA 4.0
has dark green leaves with a white stripe down the middle with white margins. The larger Chlorophytum comosum ‘Vittatum’ has lighter mid-green leaves with a broad central white stripe and white stems. Spider plants are tolerant of varying temperature and light levels, but do best in medium to high light. Avoid direct sunlight, especially in the heat of summer, or the leaves will scorch. Plants do best in evenly moist but welldrained soil. Allow the top half-inch to dry out between waterings. If too dry, the leaf
The attractive leaves of the ‘Mandaiana’ grape ivy are shiny, roughly diamond-shaped and in groups of three.
tips may brown (simply cut off the browned tips to improve its appearance). These plants are sensitive to fluoride in tap water, which also causes burnt tips. Spider plants do fine at room temperature (65–80°F), but rapid temperature fluctuations should be avoided. Apply a weak but balanced fertilizer once a month. For potting and repotting, use a standard soil-based mixture which includes organic matter. They should be repotted once their roots have forced the potting mixture upward toward the rim of the pot, after a few years once the plants have matured. The new pot should be only a few inches larger than the original. Spider plants are exceptionally easy to propagate. Once the plantlets have developed
their own roots while still attached to the mother plant, and their leaves are 2–3 inches long, simply cut them off and pot them. If the plantlet roots are small or undeveloped, place them in a jar of water until the roots are about an inch long, and then pot them in a soil-based mix. Or, the entire plant can be divided. Instant gratification, but a lot more work and mess.
Grape Ivy (Cissus
rhombifolia, syn. Cissus alata ) Grape ivy, a member of the grape family (Vitaceae), is native to the New World tropics, from the West Indies to Mexico through Bolivia, Venezuela and Guyana. Grown as a house plant since 1881, it is a recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. The common name
arises from the grape-like tendrils with which it climbs. The Greek word Cissus (kissos), meaning ivy, also alludes to its climbing habit, while rhombifolia describes its diamond-shaped foliage. The common name arose from the similarity of its foliage to grape leaves. The two-inch long, diamond-shaped toothed leaflets are carried on short stalks in groups of three. When young, they have a metallic shine due to fine hairs on their upper surface. Once mature, the leaves become a glossy dark green with undersides covered in fine brown hairs. Young plants have erect stems without tendrils, but develop a climbing habit after two or three years. As one writer related, the curly, forked tendrils “twist themselves
The forked tendrils of the grape ivy often end up coiled around the blinds or anything nearby to climb on. Photo: Sara Williams
Photo: Salicyna CC-BY-SA- 4.0
along any support”— including in and out of the venetian blind behind them in my sunroom. Grape ivies grow rapidly, up to two or three feet a year. Under ideal conditions, they may eventually attain a height and spread of six feet and can reach ten feet if trained on a trellis. Easy to grow, they withstand a wide range of conditions and tolerate poor light better than many foliage plants. They prefer good light but not direct sunlight, and do well in average room temperatures.The soil should be kept evenly moist but not overly wet. Although it is sometimes recommended that grape ivies be repotted annually, mine has been in the same 10-inch hanging pot for several years and appears to be flourishing. Potting soil should be soilbased and include peat moss, organic matter and sand. Alternatively, they can be top dressed with fresh potting mixture rather than repotted to a larger size pot. Apply a standard liquid fertilizer according to label instructions while they are actively growing, from early spring to fall. Grape ivies are easily increased during spring and summer by taking stem tip cuttings 3–6 inches long from the top or middle portion of the plant. Remove the lower leaves from the cuttings and dip the cut ends in SASKATOON HOME WINTER 2023 | 45
Close-up of the pinnae of the variety ‘Whitmanii’. Photo: CC-BY-SA-4.0
hormone rooting powder. Root them in a mixture of peat moss and coarse sand in a plastic bag in a warm place with filtered light. Cuttings should root within 6–8 weeks—new growth will indicate that the cuttings have rooted. Varieties worth trying include ‘Ellen Danica’ with larger and almost circular leaflets with strongly lobed edges, and ‘Mandaiana’ with larger, rounder leaflets.
Boston Fern
(Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’) While the origin of many of our house plants remains rather vague, the story of the Boston fern is unique and explicit. In 1894, the company of Robert Craig of Philadelphia sent a box of 100 sword ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata) to a customer in Cambridge, Mass. But one of these plants was distinctly different from the others. Its fronds were more feathery and its growth habit more cascading, with the fronds soon hiding the edge of its container. It was (and is) amazingly easy to grow. In many ways, the Boston fern has come to epitomize the Victorian era. Named Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’ by the Royal
46 | WINTER 2023 SASKATOON HOME
Boston fern in all its glory.
Botanical Society, Boston ferns quickly became the latest fashion in house plants, and supply could not keep up with demand. The genus, of about 30 species, is native throughout the tropics including South America, Africa and Polynesia. Nephrolepis is from the Greek word, nephros, meaning kidney, while lepis means a scale. Together they describe the kidney-shaped indusium, the covering which protects the spores on the underside of the individual leaves or pinnae. Exaltata means very tall, referring to the fronds themselves. And, of course, ‘Bostoniensis’ indicates its place of discovery, Boston. The fronds arise from an upright underground rhizome, the top of which is visible as a short thick stem. The fronds, up to three feet long, are divided into many narrow pinnae or leaflets, growing alternatively on either side of the central rib. On the underside of each pinna are two rows of kidney-shaped brown spore cases, one on each side of the central vein.
Early illustration of a Boston fern.
Boston ferns are shadetolerant and can be grown at room temperature with low to bright light but not direct sunlight. The soil should be evenly moist but not waterlogged. Fertilize them every two weeks while they are actively growing with a balanced fertilizer according to label directions. They grow rapidly and can be repotted every few years in spring using a peat-soil mix once
the roots have filled the pot. They are easily propagated by division. Although the species (Nephrolepis exaltata) is seldom offered for sale, additional varieties are available. ‘Rooseveltii’ has pinnae with wavy edges while ‘Whitmanii’ has very dense, lacy, pale green pinnae.
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