The Moose Jaw Old Timers Association was organized in 1885. Membership was limited to settlers coming into the district prior to and including December 31, 1885. Wives of Old Timers members were eligible whether or not they were in the district before that date.

The first elected officers were James Campbell, president; G. M. Annable, vice-president; W. C. Sanders, secretary-treasurer; and E. N. Hopkins, A Dalgarno, Tom Bennie, George Might, Hugh Thompson and J. G. Beesley as the managing committee.

Other members and officers mentioned are Fred Jones, Joe Hyland, T. Heath, Herb Rathwell, Gordon Smith, Fred Gilmour, Arthur Wilton Alderman, Mrs. R. L. Slater, Miss Rorison, Mrs. S. E. McClelland, Dan Martin, J. A. Maharg, Richard Wilson, C. Boyle, H. Crozier, L. Gilmour, J. Manahan, E. Powell, E. Pascoe, A. Green, G. Dalrymple, S. McWilliams, E. Dell, G. McKenzie, G. Paul and Joe English.

The Slade Gallery Artists Co-operative was founded on July 1, 1992 by Terry and Jennifer Reynoldson. Ron Bader approached Terry and Jennifer to fill vacant space in his office building at Slade Manor. They decided to create an artists’ co-operative and gallery at this location. The group met bi-monthly and produced a bi-monthly newsletter entitled ‘The Slade Gallery Artbeat’. Their main objective was to promote local art and emerging artists throughout the community. The organization was renamed the Bridge Artist Co-operative in 1995. The organization closed its gallery, Gallery 53, in the fall of 2001 and soon after disassembled.

The Ina Grafton Gage Home was a non-profit facility opened in 1951 by the United Church as a home for elderly women. The structure was originally built and used as a children’s shelter and later used by the General Hospital until the building was bought by the United Church. The purchase was funded by Ina Grafton Gage and the United Church. It was located at 200 Iroquois St. E in Moose Jaw. Although it began as a women’s only facility, it later began accepting men. In September 2011, the home closed after 60 years in operation. The building was redeveloped into a detox centre.

G. Gordon Botting was born December 25, 1910 in Wallaceburg, Ontario. In 1911, his family moved west when his father bought a farm in the Marquis district. In 1921, the family moved to Moose Jaw. In Moose Jaw, Gordon Botting attended King George Public School and Central Collegiate. In 1930, he graduated from the University of Saskatchewan.

Botting began work for the City of Moose Jaw in 1930 as a cost accountant and office manager of the engineering department. He was in this position until 1945 when he accepted the position of internal auditor with war time housing for the federal government. He took over his father’s farm and became a partner in a consulting firm. In 1957, he resumed his work for the City of Moose Jaw and became a city clerk. In 1961, Botting was made a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators of London, England and in 1967 he was given a centennial medal for public service. In 1971, he was chosen as city commissioner. He retired December 31, 1975. Botting was an active member of the Masonic lodge, the Elks, the Rotary Club and the St. Andrew’s United Church. He died June 20, 1976. Botting had a wife, Murleen, and a son, Gerald.

Kathleen McClelland was born April 7, 1907 in Moose Jaw to Samuel “Ernest” Milburn McClelland and Ida (Battell) McClelland. She taught in various rural Saskatchewan schools from 1932-1938 and then in Moose Jaw from 1938-1970. She died in 1988 in Moose Jaw.

Samuel “Ernest” Milburn McClelland was born January 4, 1877 in Moose Jaw. He married Ida Battell on October 4, 1904. Shortly after their wedding, the couple left for a honeymoon in Ontario and stayed in Toronto until 1906. Ernest taught in Moose Jaw until 1917 when he was offered the school inspector position. He worked as a school inspector until 1942. Ernest lived at 160 Ominica St. West from 1907 until his death on July 28, 1961.

Ida (Battell) McClelland was born May 16, 1879 in Wicklow, Wentworth County to Martha Battell Brubaker and Henry Battell. Her family moved west to Moose Jaw on a wagon train in 1882. They were one of the earliest pioneers of the Saskatchewan District. Ida was a homemaker and had three children: Kathleen (1907-1988), Milburn (1909) and Laurella (1912-1993). Laurella was a doctor and worked in preventative medicine in the United States. Ida died March 13, 1966 in Moose Jaw.

Rella (Brubaker) Hunter was born February 8, 1895 to Martha Battell Brubaker and John Henry Brubaker. She was Ida (Battell) McClelland’s half-sister and Kathleen McClelland’s aunt. She married Harold B. Hunter and taught at the Alexandra Public School in Moose Jaw until her retirement in 1941. She lived in Vancouver until 1961, when she returned to Moose Jaw. Rella died September 28, 1966.

Henry and Martha Battell lived together in Moose Jaw. Henry, and their daughter Bertha, were both struck by lightning and killed. Martha remarried John Henry Brubaker. She died September 2, 1903.

Samuel McClelland was born January 12, 1833 in Ireland. He travelled to Peterborough, Ontario when he was about 15 to be with his sisters. He worked as a blacksmith. McClelland married Mary Milburn on April 1, 1856. Mary (Milburn) McClelland was born June 20, 1835. The couple moved to Bobcaygeon and by 1860s had opened a blacksmith shop and general store. They are considered one of the founders of Methodism in Bobcaygeon. They had nine children, seven daughters and two sons, the youngest being Samuel “Ernest” Milburn McClelland. Samuel McClelland died on November 21, 1920.

Laurie Drackett was born on November 20, 1899 in Milton, County of Kent, England to Albert Freeman Drackett and Olive Edith (Stewart-Trevelyan) Drackett. He had one brother Victor. The family came to Canada in 1905, and homesteaded in Thomson’s Lake and City View districts. Later they started Drackett’s Auction Rooms in Moose Jaw. Laurie took over the business in 1923 and called it Laurie Drackett Agencies and Auctioneers.
Laurie was auctioneering at the age of 16. He also farmed in the Archive district. Laurie was an accomplished sportsman and an awarded professional wrestler. He also was a life member of the Moose Jaw Elks Lodge.

Laurie married Eileen Allward and they had two sons, Gordon and Murray. Eileen passed away in 1956.

Laurie Drackett died in February, 1971 at the age of 71. He was survived by his second wife Hazel, his children, and 12 grandchildren.

The Orange Benevolent Society of Saskatchewan was founded in 1923 by the Grand Orange Lodge of Saskatchewan, now the Grand Orange Lodge of Western Canada. This organization supports the Oranges Homes, which are facilities that care for children whose parents can no longer look after them. Their main facility is located in Indian Head, Saskatchewan. This location was purposed at a meeting in Moose Jaw. The organization has expanded and now operates Orange Estates, low-income rental homes for seniors. The organization is funded solely on contributions by the public and a large part of their fundraising is the sale of calendars. Mrs. E. M. Spence of Moose Jaw prepared the first calendar in 1944.

On April 2, 1889, J. N. McDonald began publishing a weekly newspaper entitled the Moose Jaw Times. In 1904, the paper changed from a weekly paper to a semi-weekly paper. After the discontinuation of the Times Morning Herald during the 1920s, the paper became the Moose Jaw Times Herald. The newspaper changed hands many times – shortly after its first publication it was sold to Hamilton Lang, in 1894 it was sold to Walter Scott, in 1945 it was sold to J. E Slaight and then to Roy Thomas, in 1995 it was sold to Hollinger Newspapers, then to CanWest in 2000, and finally in 2002 to the Transcontinental Media Group.

Pioneer Village is a low income senior citizen centre in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. It opened with 64 units in September 1966. An additional 60 units were added to Pioneer Village in 1977. The village is divided into Pioneer Lodge and Pioneer Housing. Pioneer Lodge offers 24 hour nursing care to short and long term residents. Pioneer Housing offers low income seniors affordable housing with single or married units.

C.F. Ewer came to the new town of Moose Jaw in the spring of 1883 with the intent of starting a newspaper. The North-West Land Company provided a free corner lot as an incentive to the first paper established. The printing press arrived two days before the first edition was scheduled to run. The first edition of the Moosejaw News was published May 4, 1883.

Dr. J.E. Wells LL.D. had arrived in Moose Jaw from Toronto? shortly after Ewer, also with the intent of starting a newspaper. Ewer did not seem to have enough capital to continue while his new paper established itself. Rather than attempting to compete with limited resources, Ewer sold the paper and press.

The next edition of the paper had an editorial stating that Wells, “late of Rapid City”, was taking over the paper along with a Mr. Powell who were listed as editors and proprietors.
In October 1884, H.N. Morphy took over the paper but by February 1885, the Moosejaw News was bankrupt.

There was no local newspaper until the Moose Jaw Times began publishing in April 1889.
Another newspaper was published under the banner The Moose Jaw News ca. 1922-1923, possibly through Quality Press, located at High St. East. It does not seem to have any relationship to the original Moosejaw News.

The origins of the Moose Jaw Board of Trade are unclear but the first edition of the “Moose Jaw News” on May 4, 1883 makes reference to a “Billiard and pool hall in the ‘Board of Trade Rooms’”.
The earliest minutes refer to a meeting on October 1, 1888 to organize the Moose Jaw Board of Trade. It does not seem to exist as an legal entity prior to this date. Among the members at this time were prominent names such as Ross, Fysh, Annable and Hopkins with J.H. Ross named acting chair and A.N. Hopkins named acting secretary until they are incorporated.
Their activities included the promotion of the City to outside interests and the formation of committees to address issues of local infrastructure - e.g. Railroad, Bridge and Reservoir.
In 1927, a Young Men’s Section of the Board was formed. Among their activities was the publication of “The Optimeter”, a newsletter touting the accomplishments and bright future of Moose Jaw.
Some reference materials state that the Moose Jaw Chamber of Commerce was the successor to the Board of Trade in the first decade of the 1900's but the Board was very active for some time later. The 1945 Henderson Directory lists G.S. O’Shaughnessy as the commissioner for the Board of Trade at 18 High Street East. The 1946 Henderson lists the Chamber of Commerce at this address with the same individual as the commissioner for that group. This would seem to be the approximate date of succession.

The Moose Jaw Natural History Society was formed in 1957 by Rosalind Taylor. John Walker was the first president, Rosalind Taylor was vice-president and program convener, Muriel Walker was secretary-treasurer, and Kay Rankin was in charge of publicity. The first field trip was held on April 28, 1957. In the spring of 1958 it was decided at a meeting to set up a proper organization with a full executive and a fee charged to cover expenses, and to include the Saskatchewan Provincial membership and the Blue Jay Magazine (a journal of natural history and conservation for Saskatchewan and adjacent regions published by the Saskatchewan Natural History Society). At the November 15, 1958 meeting, a constitution was adopted, a full slate of officers was elected and the first membership fees were collected. By 1967 membership increased from 9 charter members to 125.
The purpose of the Society is to provide enjoyment and education for its members on topics such as birds, animals, plants, fossils and Indian relics, and to provide funds for worthwhile projects that help in the preservation of natural history.
The Society was active in many activities and presentations, especially those to encourage interest in nature and conservation among the young people. Members went on many early morning field trips. One of the aims of the Society is to conduct at least six field trips a year. They offered bird watching courses and flower identification classes. One popular annual event is the Christmas Bird Count. The purpose is to observe and accurately name as many species of birds as possible in one day during the Christmas holidays (Dec. 21st - Jan.1st.). In Moose Jaw the event is usually held on Dec. 26th or 27th.
In 1993 the name of the Society changed to Nature Moose Jaw and the Provincial body to Nature Saskatchewan. The aims and activities of the organization remain unchanged.

The Starr's Point Temperance Society was based in the Starr Point School District #357, and the R.M. of South Qu'Appelle No. 157. In May 1896 president of the society, Mr. Bray reported 37 names in the pledge book. Regular monthly meetings were held at which time "the pledge" was circulated. The pledge was a promise to abstain from the use of all intoxicating liquors and tobacco. The programme of each meeting consisted of hymn singing, readings, recitations, debates, and sometimes guest speakers. Occasionally special concerts were held.