The historic grain elevators in Nanton received a lot of love, but not quite enough to win a national contest.
A project to restore the three iconic structures was one of a dozen finalists in the National Trust for Canada’s Next Great Save competition.
Online voting took place from April 18 to May 6 as finalists vied for $65,000 in cash prizes, including $50,000 to the winner.
In the end, Our Lady of Mercy Heritage Church in Port au Port West, NL won the grand prize by receiving over 60,000 votes.
The LaSalle Theatre in Kirkland Lake, ON got more than 50,000 votes to win second prize of $10,000, while the Nanton grain elevators finished third with more than 32,000 votes, winning $5,000.
The Nanton project looks to restore the grain elevators and rail lands as a future public gathering space, repurposing the pioneer elevators for cultural and heritage purposes.
Provincially designated as a historic site in 2022, a small group of volunteers has been working to restore and repurpose the site.
In Alberta during the early 1930s, there were over 7,500 grain elevators. Today, that number has dwindled to below 100, with an estimated five to 10 being lost each year.
The other finalists included:
Cape Bear Lighthouse and Marconi Station – Murray Harbour, PE
Cité-des-Hospitalières – Montréal, QC
Greenly Island Houses – Blanc-Sablon, QC
Mon Keang School – Vancouver, BC
Old St. Thomas Church – Moose Factory, ON
Roxy Theatre – Coleman, Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, AB
St. Andrew's Lodge – Qualicum Beach, BC
St. John's Centre for the Arts – Arichat, NS
Welland Central Fire Station – Welland, ON
