MELFORT — While driving into Melfort from the north, community members will see a new sign – a metal model of a grain elevator welcoming them into the city.
The sign was a collaboration between Melfort Communities in Bloom and the Rotary Club of Melfort, with installation provided by the city.
Peggy George with Melfort Communities in Bloom said the decision to commission the sign was based on recommendations from visiting Communities in Bloom judges.
“We only have one welcome to Melfort sign, and there needs to be more,” George said.
“The city has just always had too many big ticket priorities and it just hasn’t happened, so we thought, ‘Well, maybe we can.’ It doesn’t have to be a million dollar welcome sign, it just needs to be something warm and friendly.”
The piece was crafted by T.W. Enterprises/Worley Hoppers for over $5,000. A total of $3,000 was received from the Sask Lotteries Community Grant, and the Rotary Club of Melfort is providing $3,000.
Any remaining Sask Lotteries funds will go toward another one of the Communities in Bloom project: a nine-foot tall metal tree with flower pots at Memorial Garden.
“We filled it full of bubblegum petunias and when it gets blooming it will just be massive pink petals. It will be very pretty and showy.”
Looking ahead, George said the next project the organization will work on is commissioning several banners throughout the city in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Legion.
Each banner will have a photo of a different veteran with a connection to Melfort. The banners are planned to be installed in October and stay up until the winter holiday season.
