At the Business Summit in March, key note speaker Ben Voss, CEO & President of Morris Industries, challenged the businesses of Yorkton to focus on what differentiates Yorkton from cities of similar size.
When we say Yorkton is the place where good things happen, it’s the truth. It’s the hub of east central Saskatchewan. Two railways run through it; four highways lead to it and it has a certified airport. Yorkton is home to the Regional Hospital and a host of medical specialists. Provincial and federal government offices are located here.
Yorkton is a hub for manufacturing and food processing. In recent years, both the Richardson and Louis Dreyfus canola crush plants have expanded their capacity since opening. Grain Millers began an expansion project that will see their capacity nearly double when it’s complete and will add 25 to 30 jobs. Harvest Meats is ramping up its production which will result in the addition of 10 – 12 full time positions over the next 6 months. In the past couple of years, TA Foods has doubled its work force and added the processing of camelina and hemp oil to its line of products. Over the course of the next four months, it will double its capacity in oil production. Leon’s Mfg Company and Ram Industries have been cornerstones of Yorkton’s manufacturing sector for decades.
In the agriculture sector, Parrish & Heimbecker recently built a new Crop Input Centre just north of the city. In the past few years, Morris Industries has invested over $30 million on improving its manufacturing process. It currently exports to 34 countries.
As for construction projects, a large commercial space is in the construction phase on the east side of the city and new restaurants are under construction on both the east and west side.
A number of small businesses have opened over the past couple of years offering a variety of retail and personal services.
Yorkton has 8 elementary schools and 2 high schools. The Parkland College Yorkton campus offers a variety of courses including some 4 year university degree programs and s the home to the Trades & Technology Centre.
In terms of tourism, the Western Development Museum, Godfrey Dean Cultural Centre and Painted Hand Casino are popular with residents and tourists alike. The Yorkton Arts Council’s Stars for Saskatchewan attracts people to Yorkton from all across the Region. The Yorkton Cardinals of the Western Canadian Baseball League, attracts players from all over Canada and the United States as they play summer collegiate baseball. And the Yorkton Terriers have attracted people to Yorkton for years. The Film Festival, Summer Fair and the upcoming PowWow are also large economic drivers in the city.
A safe community, Yorkton hosts a variety of sport, recreation and cultural activities. It’s a beautiful city with parks, hundreds of trees and in the summer, dozens of planters of flowers.
Investors like places where there is optimism and the appearance of prosperity. It’s time to talk about all the positives in Yorkton. Show your pride in Yorkton by sharing all that is good in the city. Yorkton – it’s a place where good things happen!