Jim Scarrow speaks to diners on how volunteers helped shape the City of Prince Albert at a Chamber of Commerce sponsored lunch. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Community

Former mayor reminisces on Prince Albert’s past

Nov 22, 2023 | 4:38 PM

Former mayor Jim Scarrow talked about how life has changed in the city since the days when local leaders decided to put $1.5 million of municipal money to help build the La Colle Falls Hydroelectric Dam.

From that $4 million ($130 million in modern money) boondoggle that was never operational, the city has evolved into a community that builds and volunteers, said Scarrow.

“If we had only spent that $4 million on bridges, P.A. would be the city of bridges and Saskatoon would be the city of bridge,” he said at a lunch sponsored by the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce.

It took the city 50 years to pay off the $1.5 million it contributed, with the last payment in 1965.

Scarrow was talking about turning points in the city’s history and said that soldiers returning home after the Second World War also changed the face of the community.

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They wanted facilities and services and were willing to lend their time and energy to making sure it happened.

That was changed local swimming pool facilities from being a roped off area in the river to the Frank Dunn and Kinsmen pools and soon, the Aquatics Centre under construction on the south side of town.

In 2006, despite the closure of the pulp mill and the loss of 1,000 jobs, the community still managed to raise $5 million to help build the Alfred Jenkins Field House.

That led Scarrow to point out local philanthropist Malcolm Jenkins in the audience, calling him a force of nature.

“When he contributes, you get his money but you also get Malcolm – unstoppable,” he said.

In addition to serving several terms as mayor until losing to current Mayor Greg Dionne in 2012, Scarrow is a part of the Prince Albert Community Foundation.

In the near future, volunteer efforts will focus on projects such as raising money for the Ronald McDonald House to be built next to the hospital and furnishings for the hospital expansion.

Another major project that will likely need volunteer efforts is a 5,000 seat arena to meet WHL requirements for the Prince Albert Raiders.

Scarrow spoke over lunch at the Coronet Hotel.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com