Prairieland Park

Infobox_Company
company_name = Saskatoon Prarieland Park Corporation
company_type = Not for profit
foundation = location = 503 Ruth Street West, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
key_people = Vic Dubois - President [http://www.saskatoonex.com/pdf/newsletter_apr08.pdf]
industry = Exhibition Park
num_employees = 75 (Year Round) - 300 (Sessional)
products = Annual Fair and Exhibition Space
homepage = [http://www.saskatoonex.com/ Saskatoon Ex]

Prairieland Park is an events centre in the south-eastern portion of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The park is located in the Exhibition neighborhood of Saskatoon. Each year the park hosts an annual Saskatoon Exhibition called "The Ex". During the remainder of the year most of the park venues are rented out to special events. Some events held are Western Canadian Crop Production Show, Saskathewan indemand trade show, Saskatoon Fall Fair cattle show and sale, Pet Expo, Chuckwagon Racing, and the Prairieland Junior Ag Showcase. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Tourism Saskatoon - Prairieland Park
work =
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.tourismsaskatoon.com/prairielandex/
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-05-12] The park also host Marquis Downs and the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum.

The Agriculture Department is heavily involved in the community host 4H events. [http://www.saskatoonex.com/pdf/Oct07.pdf Oct 07 Newsletter ]

It currently hosts 321 events a year, which attracts 1.6 million people.

The Ex

The Ex is an annual fair that occurs on the site each August. This includes amusment rides, product exhibitions, music, shows and displays. Normally occurring at the same time are chuckwagon races at the Marquis downs facility.

History

In 2008 the park started a major $2.8 Million expansion to build convert|27.000|sqft|m2|sing=on agriculture and equine centre plus an attached convert|45000|sqft|m2|sing=on stabling facility for year-round use. Freeing up the existing Trade Centre facility to be used exclusively for conventions and trade shows. [http://www.saskatoonex.com/pdf/newsletter_jan08.pdf Jan08 Newsletter ] Western Economic Diversification Canada and Saskatchewan Government's Ministry of Municipal Affairs under the Saskatoon Urban Development Agreement (UDA) are investing $2.8 million in the convert|20000|sqft|m2|sing=on building expansion of Prairieland Park's Trade Centre.cite web
last =
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authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Prairieland Park launches $5.6 million expansion
work = Western Economic Diversification Canada
publisher = Government of Canada
date =
url = http://www.wd.gc.ca/77_9953_ENG_ASP.asp
format =
doi =
accessdate =2008-05-13 ]

askatchewan Western Development Museum

In 2007, the Government of Saskatchewan offered a $2 million grant for the province's centennial project Winning the Prairie Gamble initiated by the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum {WDM}.Citation
last =
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last2 =
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title = PROVINCE INCREASES FUNDING OF WESTERN DEVELOPMENT MUSEUM BY $2.8 ...
work = News Release -
publisher = Government of Saskatchewan
date = September 27, 2007
year =
url = http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=7c8b3c12-a5c0-4c10-8816-a760c806592f
accessdate =2008-05-13 .] The Saskatoon Branch of the WDM features a 1910 Boomtown enclosed within the museum itself. As well, the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame is housed here. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Western Development Museum
work =
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.wdm.ca/
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-05-13] The Saskatoon branch of the WDM was originally located on 11th Street on the city's west side, where it hosted an annual festival called "Pion-Era". The Saskatoon WDM relocated to its current site on the Prairieland Park grounds in the early 1970s.

Marquis Downs Race Course

Marquis Downs is a horse race track in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada which features both Thoroughbred and Standardbred horse racing. Principal races are Prairie Lily Stakes, Saskatchewan Derby, and Saskatchewan Futurity. [cite web
last =
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title = Marquis Downs Saskatoon
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url = http://www.marquisdowns.com/
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accessdate =2008-05-13 ] The minimum purse in 2007 was $3,000 and the Heritage races featured a $100,000 purse. [cite web
last = McConachie,
first = Doug
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Horse racing beats the odds at Marquis Downs
work =
publisher = The StarPhoenix
date = Friday, May 25, 2007
url = http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=f34826b5-a4a8-4879-adbc-1aac6af20f55
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-05-13]

Buildings

The facility consists of the following buildings:
* Trade Centre Complex [ [http://www.saskatoonex.com/facility.php Prairieland Park ] ]
** Hall A (37,000 square foot exhibition area)
** Hall B (two convert|16000|sqft|m2|sing=on exhibition areas)
** Hall C (18,000 square foot exhibition spare)
*** Terrace (located above hall C consists of an convert|8000|sqft|m2|sing=on reception room)
** Hall D (50,400 square feet exhibition space)
** Hall E (Opened in December 2006, with convert|58000|sqft|m2 exhibition space)
* Grand Stand
* Western Development Museum Building
* Marquis Downs Building

The Jubilee (Industry and Agriculture) Building was a former exhibition areas that has been demolished in 2006 to make room for Hall E. [ http://www.saskatoonex.com/galleries/Prairieland%20Park%20Building%20Expansion/index.htm Photo Album of Jubilee demolition and Hall E Construction ]

External links

* [http://www.saskatoonex.com/ Official Site]

References