Wildlife group plans big expansion with $500K gift

Construction expected to begin in spring for enlarged archery, air rifle facilities

It was a jaw-dropping moment at the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation’s recent awards evening.

Before the gathering of about 170 people, president Robert Freberg made a surprise announcement — a half-million dollar donation from him and his longtime friend and business partner Patrick Thompson. It’s half of the $1-million cost to expand the SWF’s building on Lowe Road by about one-third of its present size.

Not even executive director Michael Kincade knew this was coming.

Kincade’s reaction was “just shock.”

To that point, the largest donations were maybe $10,000 or $20,000, he said.

“It was heartwarming,” said project supporter Mike Stensrud. “Big tough hunters standing up there and they’re all teary-eyed.”

The 7,500-square-foot addition will accommodate 16 new lanes for air rifle and archery, and more than double the existing 10 lanes in two indoor ranges which are also used for firearms.

“I saw the growth in our youth programs, both on the air rifle and on the archery, and we were getting squeezed out of capacity here,” Freberg said.

He and Thompson retired in 2016, and were looking to give back. Both have been active sportsmen — Freberg spending almost 40 years with the SWF and Thompson devoting countless hours with the Saskatchewan Falconry Association.

The SWF’s archery program started 18 years ago with 20 kids, Kincade said. There are now more than 100 “and we’re busting at the seams.”

People are lining up to join, and the White Buffalo Youth Lodge has also asked the SWF to help it launch an archery program.

The SWF has school-bus loads coming out to work on crafts, and it hopes to work more with Indigenous groups in such areas as drum making.

It also wants to grow its recently launched junior outdoors program.

“This extra range hall will help us achieve that,” Kincade said.

The new hall will do double duty as extra meeting space, to be used for such events as wildlife art shows, auctions, fundraising dinners and functions for RCMP and conservation officers.

Kincade hopes to break ground in April.

Stensrud, who is president and general manager of Miners Construction, looked after getting the drawings done.

He is now asking the local construction industry to step up with donations in kind, such as labour and materials.

Stensrud previously helped with the SWF’s new $2-million outdoor range, a facility which has drawn notice from across the country.

The expansion is one more boost to a club that counts more than 2,000 members.

Kincade and Freberg say it’s the largest wildlife club in Western Canada, and among the largest in the country.