About Us
The Saskatoon Club was formed in 1907, by our city’s pioneers of industry and commerce, in the same tradition as the historic clubs throughout Canada and abroad that remain our affiliates.
Much has changed in the past 100 years. The Saskatoon Club today has a growing membership that reflects the diverse and dynamic progress of our city and province.
Other things have not changed. The Club is still “the place to be” for those at the vanguard of Saskatoon’s development in all sectors. It remains proudly owned and controlled by its members, who elect a volunteer board of directors at our Annual General Meeting. All profits from operations are re-invested in the Club to increase benefits to members. The extensive renovations throughout our building since 2005 exemplify our commitment to outstanding service and amenities – the “ROI” of membership in The Saskatoon Club.
7:00 A.M. - 10:00 P.M. Monday through Friday
12:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. Saturday
Closed Sundays and Holidays
Barr Lounge hours:
11:00 A.M. - 10:00 P.M. Monday through Thursday
11:00 A.M. - 11:00 P.M. Friday and Saturday
Staff Directory
Whether you are entertaining, meeting with business associates or just relaxing, The Saskatoon Club Staff is committed to service excellence to ensure your visit here a great success. We want the Saskatoon Club to be your first choice for social and business entertaining.
Please feel free to contact any one of The Saskatoon Club Staff should you require further information or with any special requests you may have. Our main telephone line is 306-652-1780.
We look forward to serving you.
| Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Darren Toews | General Manager | |
| Denise Lautner | Food and Beverage Manager | |
| Sandy McNiven | Office Manager | |
| Edith Duppereault | Accountant |
Board of Directors:
President - Ian McNaughton
Past president - Ray Penner
Vice President - Bryan Hnatiw
Treasurer - Tom McClocklin
Directors - Tom Gardiner, Vic Dubois, Jeret Bode, Brent Banda, Marian Hoffos, Scott McDonald
PHONE: 306-652-1780
FAX: 306-652-7622)
E-Mail: Board of Directors
Our 100th Year – 2007 marks the centennial of the Saskatoon Club and 100 years of service to the city’s Business, Professional and Community leaders. We are proud to have been a part of this great city’s development from the beginning and look forward to sharing in its exciting prospects for the second one hundred years. Join us in celebrating during one of our Centennial events.
A Brief History of the Club
In the early years of this century, Saskatoon possessed an extraordinarily dynamic business elite. In 1903, these men 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”, a joint-stock operation where early subscribers would become charter members. It was intended that the funds thus raised would be used to construct and furnish club premises at an estimated cost of $5000.00
For reasons unknown, this plan failed to materialize. Within a few weeks of each other, in the spring of 1907, two rival men’s clubs were formed: firstly, The Elks Club, then The Saskatoon Club. A year later the Elks attempted to organize an amalgamation but were repudiated.
The notice of application for the incorporation of The Saskatoon Club appeared in the March 1, 1907 edition of the Phoenix. An article on April 9th announced that since the bill passed in the legislature and the club was established as a chartered institution, a meeting would be held the next day to organize and to select a building site. There appears to have been some delay because the front-page article in the May 9 Phoenix reported that the organizing meeting was held the previous evening with about twenty men in attendance. Officers elected at that meeting were: Kenneth Ashworth, President; J.F. Cairns, Vice-President; J.N. Lenon, Secretary-Treasurer; and J.A. McRae, Auditor. The Executive Committee consisted of W.C. Sutherland, Fred Engen, F. S. Cahill, H.L. Jordan and James Straton.
The Saskatoon Club led a peripatetic existence for its first few years. In July 1907, it moved into a property on Spadina Crescent just south of 20th Street. The premises were decorated and furnished with deep-pile carpets, oriental Wilton Rugs and furniture of fumed oak and brown leather.
By 1909, the club had moved to the MacBeth Block at 109 – 2nd Avenue South where it remained until its permanent home was ready in 1912. The Club purchased land on 21st Street for $5000.00 in February 1911 and commissioned the local firm of Thomson, Daniel and Colthurst to design the building. All three architects had trained in England and the influence of the traditional English men’s club could be clearly seen in the design and furnishings of The Saskatoon Club. Although their partnership lasted only a short period from 1911 to 1914, these three men designed a number of important buildings in Saskatoon including St. John's and St. James Anglican churches, the Y.W.C.A., the Helgerson Block (now McLean Block), the Saskatoon Tent and Mattress Company’s plant, Central Chambers, the Barry Hotel and residences for The Saskatoon Club founders James Clinkskill (426 Spadina Avenue) and L.M. Bidwell (201 Saskatchewan Crescent as well as the Knox Rectory on 4th Avenue North.
Built of solid brick with red facing and elaborately trimmed with cut stone, it stood two stories high and had a full basement. The original building was thirty-five feet five inches wide and forty-eight feet six inches long. The large front porch led into a vestibule beyond which was the lobby and then the main hall. To the left was a smoking room and to the right a room in which to entertain visitors. The large dining room could seat fifty people. The wine room, a steward’s room, kitchen and pantry were also on the main floor. An eight-foot deep verandah extended across the back of the building. The upper floor housed a large library, a private dining room, other private rooms, another wine room, two card rooms, a spacious bridge room and a cloakroom. There was access to a balcony over the verandah at the rear. In the basement there were two large billiard rooms, each with two tables. These rooms could be made into one by opening the folding doors.
In the past forty years, a number of alterations and additions have been made to the Club to accommodate the changing needs of the membership. In 1957, H.J. Tubby & Sons were contracted for $12,000.00 worth of interior alterations and repairs. In 1965, the same contractors extended the existing dumbwaiter to the second floor, installed a crop ceiling in one room and improved access between the room and the bar. They also made the two private dining rooms larger by removing the wall between them and the bar room and replacing it with folding doors further out into the bar room area.
In 1971, H.J. Tubby & Sons tackled the exterior of the building with P.J. Cullingworth as architect. The existing red brick was cleaned and painted, the coping and cornice painted white. False quoins were marked out in the façade and also painted white. Woodwork on the windows and doors were painted black and the vertical boarding at the rear painted red to match the brickwork. In the forecourt, the planters remained, but the lawn was removed and replaced with concrete. In the basement, the “Pub Room” was redecorated, including the installation of copper sheathing on the fireplace, the ceiling in the Director’s/Poker Room was replaced, staff toilets removed and replaced by a “Cocktail Corner”.
In 1979, John Holliday-Scott Architects designed a major addition to the west side of the building, costing $450,000.00. The old main dining room was also opened up completely to the new addition with the removal of its west wall, considerably enlarging the dining area. The remainder of the main floor of the addition was taken up by four private dining rooms (Salons A,B,C and D) and the Library. In the basement of the addition a handball and squash court with a viewing area, an exercise area, whirlpool, sauna, and men’s and women’s locker rooms were installed. On the main floor of the old building, the cloakroom was moved from the west to the east side of the entrance way. The general contractor and job supervisor for the major undertaking was Bob Beavis, a member of the Club’s Board of Directors at the time. His considerable time and experience during this project was done on a complimentary basis.
In 1986, the rear verandah was demolished and a $120,000.00 addition was made to the rear elevation of the original building designed by A.L. Trepple & Associates with the Beavis Brothers as the contractors. This two-story addition considerably extended the kitchen area of the building on the main floor. Some of the old columns from the old verandah were used in the renovation of Barrister House at 321 6th Avenue North. In the fall of 1999, a handicap elevator was installed at the expense of $75,000.00 to provide full access for members and guests to all three floors of the Club.
In 2004, extensive work was done to the interior of the club to have a more modern feel while still maintaining the aspects of a private business club. The office on the second floor was changed to a small boardroom and windows in the President’s room were opened up after years of being hidden. The main floor offices were moved to house all office staff and an overall update was done to all rooms. The athletic facility was improved upon with an expansion of the cardio area and men’s locker room. In the summer of 2005 the planters in the front courtyard were removed and new concrete and cinderblock were installed. A wrought iron fence finished the look. In the spring of 2006 the last room was renovated and renamed “The Barr”. The billiard table that was brought over from England still maintains it home on the lower floor.
Although the building has seen many changes, it has always retained the unmistakable aura and opulence of an elite business club.