The grain elevators in Nanton need your vote.
A project to restore the three iconic structures is one of a dozen finalists in the National Trust for Canada’s Next Great Save competition.
The finalists are vying for $65,000 in cash prizes, including $50,000 to the winner.
Voting is now underway and continues until May 6. Supporters can cast a ballot every day.
The Nanton project will help 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 Next Great Save competition offers prizes of $50,000, $10,000 and $5,000 to advance projects that protect, adapt, renew or improve heritage places from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
The finalists are as follows:
Cape Bear Lighthouse and Marconi Station – Murray Harbour, PE
Cité-des-Hospitalières – Montréal, QC
Greenly Island Houses – Blanc-Sablon, QC
LaSalle Theatre – Kirkland Lake, ON
Mon Keang School – Vancouver, BC
Nanton Grain Elevator – Nanton, AB
Old St. Thomas Church – Moose Factory, ON
Our Lady of Mercy Heritage Church – Aguathuna, NL
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
