In May of 1948, Highway 9 was in such bad condition due to heavy rains that transportation from Yorkton to the auxiliary hospital at the airport north of town had to be done by plane.

Yorkton Flying Services, located at what was then the municipal airport south of King Street, part of the area now known as Logan Flats, transported doctors, nurses and staff from Yorkton to the auxiliary hospital.

Highway 9 north of Yorkton was impassable to vehicles other than army jeeps and heavy trucks. At the same time Highway 14 (now Highway 16) was blocked by washouts near Tonkin. At that time, the main highway east to Winnipeg went directly east of Yorkton to Tonkin, then straight south for a distance.

Other highways in the area were also impassable due to washouts.

Promoting Yorkton

In May of 1948, the Yorkton Board of Trade (now the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce) embarked on an ambitious advertising campaign by publishing a 24-page booklet advertising the city and district.

Copies of the booklet were sent to Canada House in London England and copies were also sent to the advertising department manager of all manufacturing firms in Canada.

Cigarettes

In an August 1951 newspaper report, an article announced an increase of two cents per pack for cigarettes, which went from 40 cents to 42 cents per pack.

A wholesaler pointed out that on the 40 cent pack, the grower, manufacturer and transporter received 8.73 cents between them. The wholesaler received 2.24 cents, the retailer 3.96 cents and the governments 25.07 cents with Saskatchewan adding an extra one cent for education tax.

It was said the man on the street protested against this increase, vowing to quit buying the ready-made cigarettes and start to roll their own.

Federal Building

In August 1951, Member of Parliament A. C. (Carl) Stewart announced that Yorkton would be getting a new federal building. The building would be constructed on property at the corner of Smith Street and Third Avenue.

Mr. Stewart said a dominion government architect had spent several days in the city, making plans for the new building.

This building now houses the city hall and the city detachment of the RCMP, with the south wing housing post office boxes.

Fairview School

When Fairview School, located at Fifth Avenue South and King Street, was officially opened in 1954, its unique plan was different than the traditional schoolhouse. There were no halls or cloakrooms.

The entrance to the school opened into a centre portion given over to an auditorium with three classes rooms on each side. The principal's office and staff room overlooked the entire floor.

The furnishing and lighting were of the latest design and blackboards were fitted to the size of the pupils. Each room was individually thermostatically controlled, a new concept at the time.

The principal of the new school was Miss Mildred Baldwin, the first woman principal in Yorkton.

This elementary public school was closed in 1998 and the building now houses the offices of the Yorkton public school and the Yorkdale school divisions.