World War II
edit==Besides economic growth many residents of Montmartre served in World War II. A number of residents of the town served as well as died.
Michael Dusyk, of Montmartre was killed 27/09/1944 and is buried at Gradara war cemetery Pesaro Italy. He was from a homestead southeast of Montmartre. Dusyk Lake, north east of Uranium City is named in his honor.
Joesph Perron killed 04/10/1944 and is buried at Becklingen War Cemetery near Soltau Germany. Perron Lake Southeast of Fontaine Lake is named in his honor.
Gaetan Perron 04/10/1945 and is buried at Holten Canadian war Cemetery Netherlands. Perron Island in Oliver Lake is named in his honor.
Others killed include Donald Hollowell, Spencer W.Hollowell, Rex Mitchell, Antoine Perron, and Aldon Joesph Rochon.
1945-1960
edit[2] During this time Montmartre, which had been hit hard by drought and the Great Depression began to recover. This was evident in the expansion of many the towns local businesses.
The Montmartre cooperative, which by 1942 boasted around 206 members that same year the cooperative, absorbed a local hardware store. This was as well a big step forward in that it saw the expansion of the Co-op board from six directors to nine.
The Co-op growth continued during this time when in 1945 it acquired a lumber yard, which was open until 1991. The expansion continued in 1948 when the Co-op absorbed a local general store.
In 1952 the Montmartre Cooperative had total sales of $393,845.78; this was despite the fact that the cooperative at this time only had total assets of around $203,946.34.
The local credit union as well grew and prospered during this time. In 1952 the credit union had 492 members and had capital of $301,508.80. Businesses were not the only institutions which saw change during this time period. On November 5 1948 the village bought a private residence and began the process of turning it into a hospital. This was a major step forward for the village as prior patients in need of hospitalization were transported to Regina. The next year, 1949, rate payers from Montmartre, as well as Kendal and Rural Municipality 126 voted in favour of establishing the hospital. As a result of this vote a council of five members was established with legislative powers to govern the hospital. In 1952 the congregation of Filles de la Croix took up charge of the hospital.
1950-52 saw the construction of a St Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Construction of the Cenotaph
edit
In honor of their service the Montmartre Cenotaph was built in 1946, it was officially dedicated on November 11 1946. The Cenotaph was a project undertaken by the Soldiers Welfare Committee, in association with the British Empire Service League. Locals organized the collection of materials and workers for the project.
In 1947 the Montmartre Legion Branch 279 agreed to contribute $25 for upkeep and maintenance. At this time the legion as well bought two wreaths one flag as well as a flag pole. In 1959 the legion installed a permanent flag pole at the site. In 1970 the legion decided to undertake a beatification project. This project saw the white picket fence taken down, and the planting of flowers every spring.
For the 100th Anniversary in July 2009 bright red poppies were set all around the foundation of the cenotaph.
Each year at the annual Remembrance Day ceremony the names on the plaque are read.
- ^ Brown, Sandra (November 17 2015). Montmartre History ofthe Village and RM 126 Vol 1. Montmartre Sk: Montmartre History Book Committee. pp. 259–270. ISBN 978-1-55383-309-3 Vol I.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Bedard, Romeo. History of Montmartre. No Publisher. pp. 79–84.
- ^ Lee Brown, Sandra. Montmartre History of the Village and RM 126 Vol 1. Montmartre Sk: Montmartre History Book Committee. pp. 269–271. ISBN 978-1-55383-309-3.