FORGET - It was a devastating day on Dec. 15 for Gayla and Leon Gilbertson when their greatest fear came to life, and their much-loved business, The Happy Nun Café, caught fire in the small village of Forget.
At 6:25 p.m., the Stoughton-Tecumseh Fire Department (STFD) received the call that the business was burning, and upon arrival there were flames and a great deal of smoke.
Southeast Saskatchewan was in the middle of a snowstorm and the roads were treacherous, but this did not stop the 17 members of the STFD from braving the weather to try and save the establishment that was a known landmark, not only in the small town but across Saskatchewan.
The loss has been felt across the provinces and many have reached out in support and with kind words to Gayla and Leon.
“I don’t even know where to start,” Gayla said on the Happy Nun’s Facebook page. “The outpouring of love, stories shared and happiness the Nun brought is overwhelming.”
“To all the people who have become family or friends over the years, we love you and appreciate you so much,” she said.
They are so very thankful to the STFD for working relentlessly in the bitter cold to control the fire and saving her parents’ ashes from the flames.
Gilbertson said, “I am forever grateful to the STFD for the support, determination and willingness to let me continue to be part of the team while we worked to save her.”
Now the time for healing will begin for the couple.
According to Stoughton Fire Chief Pat Slater, they fought diligently for 10 hours, but could not save the historic building. A shell now remains with the café’s sign still hanging and seemingly untouched by the fire.
Slater’s team remained on scene until 4:30 a.m., at which time the temperatures dropped significantly. making it difficult to stay warm. The Gilbertson’s also remained on scene into the wee hours of the morning to return to check for hot spots.
Only the walls and the basic structure remain.
The Happy Nun Café was not only an icon for the people of Forget, but to many across Saskatchewan, and it was part of the family to the Gilbertsons.
Gayla and her husband Leon purchased the Nun five years ago. They felt it was meant to be, as they had their first date at the venue and Gilbertson worked part time at the restaurant.
At the time they purchased it, oil prices were sluggish, and just over two years after they bought it, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
This did not stop the couple from making the Happy Nun Café the place to go to for excellent food and entertainment.
They were known for purchasing locally from farmers and only served top quality food. They also supported local wines from Over the Hills Orchards and Winery in Lumsden and beer from Rebellion Brewing in Regina.
Gayla is a known chef and offered exquisite items on her menu, all made from scratch, and Leon was always tending the bar and making sure the sound and lights were perfect.
The Happy Nun Café held concerts, talent shows a Halloween Bash and many other events, and promoted as many home-grown bands as possible. The business was named the Venue of the Year by the Saskatchewan Country Music Association for three straight years from 2020-2022.
This was not just a building, it held a lot of historical memories for many, and the items lost are irreplaceable.
The old counter from the former Donvil’s General Store in the village had served as the bar, and the tin on the wall behind the bar came from Augey’s Machine Shop. Original mailboxes had adorned the venue as well.
Wainscotting on the back hall and stairs came from the Forget convent classrooms, while the bookshelves were made by a previous owner’s father, Hank Nikel. He also refurbished the floors.
Once a granary, and then changed to a parish hall and then converted to the town hall, it will forever be remembered as the Happy Nun Café, where friends gathered and became family.
The RCMP has said the cause of the fire is not suspicious. Nobody was injured in the blaze.
