THE RAVINE ECOLOGICAL PRESERVE
Sign at entrance of The Ravine Ecological Preserve and Arboretum Viewing Platform at Entrance
THE RAVINE ECOLOGICAL PRESERVE
This park, known widely throughout Yorkton and Area as the Ravine Ecological Preserve is the result of several parties, committed to the conservation of nature. These groups have strived to preserve the harmony shared by the multitude of diverse species and ecosystems within the Ravine.
Working in co-operation with the City of Yorkton, the Ravine Ecological Preserve Sub-commission, operating as the steering committee has engaged services from: Rotary Club of Yorkton, Shell Canada, The Yorkton & District Natural History Society, The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, The Saskatchewan Conservation Officers Association, The Yorkton Heritage Commission, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and many other individuals.
The Preserve invites you to take the time to experience the arboretum and trail and to relax and enjoy this fine natural facility.
Look and Listen, feel the texture, smell the fragrance and taste the air. Remember, leave only footprints as your testimonial and help preserve further this endowment for future generations.
The start of this trail lies 100 meters to the North West …..Enjoy!
WATERFOWL COMMON TO THE YORKTON AREA
Courtesy Ducks Unlimited Canada Listed on Entrance Sign
· MALLARD
· PINTAIL
· NORTHERN SHOVELER
· BLUE-WINGED TEAL
· AMERICAN WIGEON
· CANVASBACK
· RUDDY DUCK
· REDHEAD
· GADWALL
· GREEN-WINGED TEAL
· CINNAMON TEAL
· LESSER SCAUP
· WOOD DUCK
· COMMON GOLDENEYE
· RED-NECKED DUCK
· BUFFLEHEAD
· TUNDRA SWAN
· COMMON MERGANSER
· HOODED MERGANSER
· CANADA GOOSE
· SNOW GOOSE
Arboretum and Historical Signs: "George Arthur Dulmage " and "The Land" inscriptions below.
GEORGE ARTHUR DULMAGE
FARMER AUCTIONEER ENTREPRENEUR FAMILY MAN POLITICIAN INVENTOR MANUFACTURER GOOD NEIGHBOUR
FROM AN ONTARIO FARMING BACKGROUND, 17 YEAR OLD GEORGE CAME WEST IN 1901 ON A HARVEST EXCURSION TRAIN. AT NINETTE, MANITOBA, HE ENGAGED IN CATTLE BUYING AND AUCTIONEERING. WHEN HE MOVED TO YORKTON IN 1908, HE CONTINUED IN THIS WORK WHILE ALSO FARMING. GEORGE MARRIED HARRIETT McPHEE IN 1916. IN 1924, WITH THEIR CHILDREN, JAMES AND RUTH, THEY MOVED TO MELFORT.
THE DULMAGE FAMILY RETURNED TO YORKTON IN 1929 AND ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES ON THIS FARMSTEAD. GEORGE STILL A CATTLE BUYER AND AUCTIONEER BUILT A LOG STACKWALL HOUSE. A DAIRY CATTLE AND HOG BARN, A CATTLE SHIPPING BARN, A CHICKEN RAISING COOP, A SECOND COOP, A SHOP AND A HOUSE FOR THE HIRED MAN.
DURING WORLD WAR II, HE RAISED HOGS ON HIS FARM FOR A WAR EFFORT PROGRAM CALLED “BACON FOR BRITAIN”. THE MEAT WAS PROCESSED HERE AND SHIPPED TO ENGLAND.
IN THOSE YEARS, GEORGE FOUND TIME TO SERVE AS COUNCILLOR AND THEN REEVE FOR THE RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF ORKNEY.
EVER THE ENTREPRENEUR, GEORGE AT AGE 75 FOUNDED THE DULTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY. HE DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED A GRAIN BLOWER, A BALE LIFTER, A PULL SCOOP AND LADDERS.
THIS FARM SITE WAS A PLACE OF RENDEZ-VOUS FOR SKATING PARTIES AND PICNICS. PEOPLE WERE WELCOMED TO CUT ICE BLOCKS, CUT DOWN TREES FOR FIREWOOD AND DRAW WATER FROM THE FLOWING SPRING.
IN 1963, GEORGE AND HARRIET RETIRED TO KELOWAN, B.C. HE DIED IN FEBRUARY 1966 AND WAS BURIED IN VICTORIA, B.C.
THE LAND
THE LAKE – PART OF THE ASSINIBOINE RIVER BASIN
ASSINIBOINE, CREE AND SAULTEAUX ONCE OCCUPIED THIS WOODLAND PLAIN. DURING THE 1700s AND 1800s, EXPLORERS, VOYAGEURS, TRADERS. HUNTERS AND SURVEYING PARTIES ENTERED THE REGION WHICH WAS KNOWN AS THE NORTHWEST.
WITH THE OPENING OF LAND SETTLEMENT IN 1882, SOME TORONTO BUSINESSMEN FOUNDED YORK FARMERS’ COLONIZATION COMPANY, PURCHASING TOWNSHIPS IN THE PROVISIONAL DISTRICT OF ASSINIBOIA. THIS PORTION OF A QUARTER, SW ¼ OF THE W ½ SECTION 3, TOWNSHIP 26, RANGE 4, WEST OF THE SECOND MERIDIAN WAS A PART OF THE COMPANY’S LAND.
THE ORIGINAL TITLE WAS GRANTED TO THE COMPANY BY THE DOMINION OF CANADA ON MARCH 15, 1888. A MR. LARMER FIRST RENTED THE LAND, FOLLOWED BY DOBKO AND STUPAK, WHO HAD AN AGREEMENT FOR SALE. THEY CUT WOOD, SELLING ABOUT 70 CORDS IN YORKTON.
AFTER DOBKO DIED, GEORGE DULMAGE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR SALE IN 1929, AND SET UP HIS FARMING OPERATION. HE HIRED A NEIGHBOUR, FRANK VIDOMSKY, TO BREAK THE SOIL WITH AN OLIVER 3 DISC PLOUGH, WHICH IS ON DISPLAY AT THESE GROUNDS.
TWO WINNIPEG LAWYERS, E.H. BENNEST AND W. S. McEWEN HAD ACQUIRED THE QUARTER ON JUNE 24, 1946. IT WAS ONE OF THE LAST HOLDINGS OF THE YORK FARMERS’ COLONIZATION COMPANY. THE LAND WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO GEORGE DULMAGE ON JANUARY 27, 1948.
NORMAN ROEBUCK PURCHASED THE PROPERTY ON DECEMBER 3, 1963. IN JUNE 1967, THE CITY OF YORKTON BOUGHT AND ANNEXED THE LAND TO THE CITY LIMITS AND DEMOLISHED THE BUILDINGS. THE AREA BECAME A LAND FILL SITE.
VOLUNTEERS MET IN 1982 AND BEGAN TO TRANSFORM THIS AREA IN A NATURAL PARK AND HERITAGE SITE.
PLEASE READ RELATED ARTICLES
Warren Hjertaas and the Ravine Ecological Preserve - Kathy Morrell (Special article written for this website.)
HJERTAAS REFLECTS ON FATHER'S LEGACY by Calvin Daniels, staff writer at Yorkton This Week
Additional Photos of Yorkton's Ravine Ecological Preserve
All photos on these two pages by John Sawkey
