Immaculately dressed, wearing a diamond stick pin in his red tie and carrying his gold-headed cane, Frank Brunner would, with great dignity, walk from the Balmoral Hotel where he had a private suite, to the Yorkton Hotel where his dining room standard made him well known across Canada.

He was the epitome of 'mine host' as he greeted the guests each night in the dining room of the Yorkton Hotel until his retirement in 1946.

He prided himself on the of meals served in the dining room, where dinner plates held fresh peas and honey melons in February. Buffalo roast and Winnipeg goldeye were part of the menu. Everything served had to meet the high standard set by Mr. Brunner.

At his suite in the Balmoral Hotel, he entertained practically every political leader of note. Among his guests were McKenzie King, John Bracken, M. J. Coldwell, Jimmy Gardiner, Tom Davis, Bill Patterson, Dr. J. Uhrich, Reg Parker and former Lieutenant Governor Archie McNab.

Hockey greats, exhibition people, visiting judges, mayors from other centres, Board of Trade (now Chamber of Commerce ) receptions--all were hosted by Mr.Brunner.

Mr. Brunner was born near Munich, Germany in 1878. He learned the brewing trade in Germany and came, as a youth, first to Baltimore, Maryland. In September 1896 he came to Canada and took up farming in the Winkler, Manitoba area. In 1898 he took up employment in the hotel at Morden, Man. and then with a hotel in Winnipeg.

Later he moved to Regina, where again he was employed in a hotel. For two years he operated the hotel in Craik, Sask.

In 1906 he returned to Regina and purchased the Victoria Hotel, which he renamed the Regina Hotel.

In June 1918 he moved his family to Yorkton, where he took over the Balmoral Hotel and in 1926, the Yorkton Hotel which he, along with his son, operated until 1946.

Not only was Mr. Brunner well known as a hotelier, he was very much involved in the life of the community.

He was a life member of the Canadian Red Cross, past-president of the Yorkton Board of Trade, a life member of the Knights of Pythias, Deputy Knight of the Knights of Columbus and several times president of the Yorkton Terrier Hockey club. For his many years as treasurer of the Saskatchewan Hotel Keepers Association, he was given a life membership.

He was a devout member of the Roman Catholic Church and was active in the affairs of his parish.

Mr. Brunner died in Winnipeg in late July of 1947. With his passing another part of Yorkton's history came to an end. However old timers still remember 'mine host' and his contribution to Yorkton; contributions both culinary and civic.