Saskatoon Club

Description of the Historic Place

The Saskatoon Club is a two storey brick building built in 1911. Located in the heart of the City’s downtown, the building has seen many changes to both its interior and exterior over the years, but has managed to retain some of its original charm.

This historic place, located at 417 21st Street East, is listed under Bylaw No. 6770 (Holding Bylaw). This Bylaw provides short-term protection of the building from demolition by providing for a 60 day holding period in the event a demolition permit is received. Within that 60 day period heritage designation is considered by City Council.

Heritage Value

The heritage value of the Saskatoon Club lies in its significance as a landmark in the Saskatoon Community. In 1903, a group of elite businessmen founded the Saskatoon Board of Trade which, by 1908, had become the major publicity vehicle for promoting Saskatoon and representing the interests of Saskatoon businessmen. By 1906, these same men were expressing the need for a more socially-oriented organization, one with appropriate facilities for entertaining visitors to the city and where local business and professional men could meet in the evenings for social relaxation. Several prominent individuals began to solicit support for what was tentatively named "The Saskatchewan Club."  For reasons unknown, this plan failed to materialize.  The Saskatoon Club however was formed in 1907, and included founding members James Clinskill, a shop owner; H. B. Proudfoot, a surveyor and civil engineer; and J. C. Drinkle, a real estate broker.

The Saskatoon Club led a peripatetic existence for its first few years.  It moved into a property on Spadina Crescent just south of 20th Street; then to the MacBeth Block at 109 2nd Avenue South; and finally into its permanent home on 21st Street in 1912. The building at 417 21st Street East was designed by Thompson, Daniel and Colthurst, and was largely modeled after a typical plush British gentlemen's club. The Saskatoon Club became a meeting place for many Saskatoon citizens and visitors, and during prohibition it was a welcome oasis. The Club provides affiliation with 31 other clubs throughout Canada, 12 in the United States, as well as 5 other international clubs.

The original building was constructed of solid brick, and featured a decorative cut stone trim with a large front porch. The main floor consisted of a foyer, lobby, main hall, smoking room, and dining room that could seat fifty people.  The wine room, steward's room, kitchen and pantry were also on the main floor. The upper floor housed a large library, a private dining room, another wine room, two card rooms, a spacious bridge room and a cloakroom. In the basement were two large billiard rooms, each with two tables.

The physical building has been enlarged, remodeled and changed many times over the years. Despite these changes, the Saskatoon Club has always retained its unmistakable aura and opulence of an elite men's club.   

Source: City of Saskatoon Built Heritage Database

Character Defining Elements

• Key elements which contribute to the heritage value of this historic resource include:
• Its brick façade, arched windows, decorative verandah with white pillars, pediment, and dentils; and
• Those elements that reflect the building's historical significance, including its prominent location in the Central Business District, along with the club’s name and symbol on the verandah’s canopy.