Staff Photo By: Darcie Thom

Bernard Steele presents a cheque of $5,000.00 to Don Carter and Doug Pusch of the Windthorst Fire Department.

Staff Photo By: Darcie Thom

Back Row: Sharon Bucsis (Business Account Manager), Gerry Wilson (Past Staff), Don Bates (Past Staff), Karla Jabusch (Account Manager), Brian Schreiner (Account Manager), Dalene Uhrich (Past Staff), Rosalind Schneider (Past Staff).

Front Row: Don Morris (RVP), Bernard Steele (Branch Manager), Wanda Morrison (Customer Service Rep.), Loreen Windjack (Past Staff)

Staff Photo By: Darcie Thom

Home Circuit (Left to Right): Susan Lange, Loreen Windjack, Theresa Beresh and Monica Dayman.

By: Darcie Thom

For the past century, the building located at the corner of Railway Avenue and Angus Street has served to the population of residents in Windthorst, originally known as The Union Bank. The building reached final construction and opened their doors on October 8th, 1908 to cater to the banking needs of the people that resided in the Village.

The original building was built as a single-storey, wood-framed structure without the added space of a basement. For almost three decades the building also served as a home to the active Bank Manager who resided at the rear of the building up until changes were made to the interior of the business and a home was purchased as a new residence for the Bank Manager in 1930. This new home became known as the “Banker’s House”.

During the late 1960’s, this wood-framed building, which was deficient for basement space, required an area for safe vault storage and a more efficient way to heat the business. After careful consideration, the bank approved for the construction of a new branch outlet on the existing bank premises. A decision was made to move the original building to the rear of the lot to provide space for the new development and remained open to the public during the construction phases of the new business facility through 1970 to 1971.

The doors to the new Banking Facility opened to the public on February 15, 1971 followed by the demolition of the original Union Bank building. This 37-year-old building remains as the operating and functional Royal Bank, which has served to the many clients from the past and present while continuing to welcome people for the future.

“The client has been the only thing that’s been the same after all these years,” said Bernard Steele, the acting Windthorst Royal Bank Branch Manager.

On Wednesday, October 15th, 2008, the past history was celebrated in the good ol’ fashioned way with food, beverage and singing at the Windthorst Recreation Centre.

People in and around the Community of Windthorst, Bank members, present and former staff and visitors welcomed the celebrations with an eventful evening of finger food, cake and entertainment.

The attending crowd was entertained by Susan Lange, Loreen Windjack, Theresa Beresh and Monica Dayman of Home Circuit, a singing group of women, all who have Windthorst roots.  The group performed a variety of upbeat and spunky songs including ‘You are my sunshine’, ‘Jesus loves me’, ‘Saskatchewan, We Love This Place’ and the Coca-Cola song ‘I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing’ and ‘Catch a Falling Star’ which had the crowd tapping their feet and applauding after every musical performance.

In their celebrations, the Windthorst Royal Bank made a cheque donation of $5,000.00 to the deserved Windthorst Fire Department towards the purchase of a new ’scott airpack’, an item that the fire department is in great need of.

The cutting of the cake ceremony took place not long after the musical treat and donation to the fire department, inviting everyone to have a taste of the sweet dessert.

“RBC is proud to have served Windthorst for 100 years” commented Customer Service Rep. Wanda Morrison and Branch Manager Bernard Steele “we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our clients for their continued loyalty (and) all of our clients that came out to celebrate with us on this 100 year milestone”.