Saskatoon's hidden war museum preserves history and honors veterans

Tucked away in the basement of the Nutana Legion in Saskatoon lies a hidden gem: the Saskatoon Museum of Military Artifacts (SMMA). Since 1926, the legion has served as a gathering place for veterans, but the museum offers a deeper dive into the historical contributions of Canadians, particularly those from Saskatchewan.

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So, people come here, they will see what their Saskatoon is, their Saskatchewan, their Canadian forefathers actually did.

Visitors on Thursdays and Saturdays can explore a rich collection of Canadian military artifacts spanning from World War I and World War II to the more recent conflict in Afghanistan. For those seeking a more comprehensive understanding, live tours can be booked, providing detailed insights into the service of men and women who represented their country.

Kevin Hicks, the museum's project manager and a veteran himself, explained that the museum originated from a collection of donated artifacts. As the collection grew, larger displays necessitated a move to the basement. "So, people come here, they will see what their Saskatoon is, their Saskatchewan, their Canadian forefathers actually did," Hicks stated.

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I’m determined to make sure that their names, their faces, are not forgotten.

The SMMA also functions as a memorial, honoring those who sacrificed their lives for Canada's freedom. Hicks is dedicated to ensuring their memory endures. He shared a poignant story about a mother of a fallen soldier whose tears were genuine upon visiting the museum. Each artifact tells a unique story, some recounting harrowing historical moments. One particularly moving exhibit, 'A Father's Letter,' details a father's correspondence with his son's commanding officer during World War I, revealing profound loss and a desperate search for final words.

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We’ve had a mother of one of the fallen come here, and the tears from her were genuine.

Curator and archivist Vaughn Teasdale meticulously researches each donated item, helping families connect with their own histories. "We do feature stories about Saskatoon people here. You never know if they come here. They might just turn up something on a past relative of theirs," Teasdale said. The museum offers a unique experience for those interested in Canadian history, with the added charm of potentially meeting Hicks's service dog, Ollie.

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He says thanks for the letter and the money you sent. It was two pounds back pay. And he said, for letting me know that my son had been killed, I didn’t know. And then he says, could you contact the stretcher bearers and see if my son said anything before he died? Only I lost my other son last year. And we have no sons left.