The skeleton of the La Colle Falls Hydroelectric Dam still stretches one third of the way across the river over 100 years after construction was abandoned. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Local history

Council explores developing La Colle Falls as historical site

May 24, 2020 | 10:00 AM

The City of Prince Albert is looking into potentially developing La Colle Falls as a historical site. Meanwhile, a local R.M. that had hoped to build a park near the location, hopes to be included in future planning for the area.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, councillors voted unanimously to have city administration work with the P.A. Historical Society on a plan for the property.

“It’s not saying that we’re going to invest right away in developing this,” Coun. Dennis Ogrodnick told the meeting. “But this part of our history.”

In the early 1900s, the planned hydroelectric dam at La Colle Falls generated so much excitement that the number of real estate brokers in Prince Albert increased from just 10 in 1908 to 56 in 1913. The city was on the edge of a major economic boom propelled by the promise of a project that would transform it into an industrial powerhouse.

Of course as those familiar with the story know, none of that came to pass. The cost of construction spiraled out of control and by the time the city pulled the plug on the project, it was nearly bankrupt. Prince Albert would labour under the burden of loans from the failed hydroelectric dam for the next fifty years.

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(Prince Albert Historical Soceity)

“I think it’s long overdue that we look at this as a historic site and develop a possible tourist attraction,” Coun. Blake Edwards told the meeting. “It’s beautiful out there and I think there’s a lot of people who don’t know enough about what occurred.”

Council’s current interest in La Colle Falls was spurred by a request from the Rural Municipality of Garden River. The R.M. wanted a piece of nearby city-owned land to use as an access point for a planned riverside park.

While Garden River Reeve Ryan Scragg told paNOW he’s disappointed the city denied their ask, he said Prince Albert’s new project is exciting and he hopes to participate.

“I wish the city would have just come to us and said they were interested in being involved,” Scragg said. “But if they want to take the lead on this and we could somehow play a part, I think that would be great.”

Ultimately, Scragg believes La Colle Falls and the nearby riverbank have a lot of potential.

“It’s a really interesting cool historic area that’s basically been untouched and unvisited for the last 100 years,” he said.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom