{"id":193,"date":"2018-04-17T04:01:25","date_gmt":"2018-04-17T04:01:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/?post_type=project&#038;p=193"},"modified":"2023-02-13T14:09:30","modified_gmt":"2023-02-13T14:09:30","slug":"chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 6: Fighting the inevitable"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=&#8221;Fighting the inevitable&#8221; header_fullscreen=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; title_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; title_font_size=&#8221;75px&#8221; background_color=&#8221;rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)&#8221; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2018\/04\/s6-header.jpg&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; title_text_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221;]&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_fullwidth_header admin_label=&#8221;big photo caption&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; content_font_size=&#8221;13px&#8221; background_color=&#8221;rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221;]The sign for the town of Meyronne just off of Highway 13 in Saskatchewan.&nbsp;<em>Photo by Matthew Olson<\/em>.&nbsp;<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]Caryl Watts ran her hands slowly over the cover of the book sitting on the table in front of her. Embossed on the cover is the title \u201cMeyronne Memories\u201d \u2013 named after Watts\u2019 hometown.<\/p>\n<p>For Watts, the book isn\u2019t just a connection to her old home, but to her family as well. One of the authors of the 95-page history was Watts\u2019 mother, Helen Day. She and another member of the community, Elizabeth Little, wrote the book together in 1967 as a Canada centennial project.<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<link href='https:\/\/cdn.knightlab.com\/libs\/soundcite\/latest\/css\/player.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text\/css'><script type='text\/javascript' src='https:\/\/cdn.knightlab.com\/libs\/soundcite\/latest\/js\/soundcite.min.js'><\/script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><span class=\"soundcite\" data-id=\"430060476\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"11650\" data-plays=\"1\">\u201cIt just amazes me that she had the foresight or forethought to do something like that,\u201d<\/span> Watts said.[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]Meyronne was built to be a farming community. The original inhabitants came as homesteaders to work the land and open the West to Canada.<\/p>\n<p>The book isn\u2019t long, but it contains intimate details about the origins of Meyronne. According to co-authors Day (Watts\u2019 mother) and Little, the area was not opened to settlers until 1908. And when it first came into being, the town \u201cserved a large area, both to the south and north.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The first blacksmith? His name was Ferris Lawrence. The candy store was owned by Sam Hobinson and his wife. The old area newspaper, the \u201cMeyronne Independent,\u201d was printed by R.E. Johnson. The railway arrived in 1913.<\/p>\n<p>In 1967, when the book was written, approximately&nbsp;180 people lived in the town. Only a handful are left.<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]Sitting in Meyronne\u2019s hall \u2013 one of the most well-kept buildings remaining \u2013 Watts said the book is a point of pride for her family and the rest of those who remain.<\/p>\n<p>The town is much smaller than it once was. The 2016 census puts the population at 35 people, but that includes nearby farmers who still call Meyronne their home. Farming isn\u2019t the same as it was when homesteaders began building the town up more than 100 years ago, but the history contained in \u201cMeyronne Memories\u201d still defines the purpose of those who came first.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think this whole thing was good,\u201d Watts said. \u201cNot just for myself but maybe for my children as well to know that\u2026 this was a thriving community, at one time.\u201d<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2018\/04\/s6-portrait-caryl.jpg&#8221; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; align_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; align_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;||5px|&#8221; always_center_on_mobile=&#8221;on&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; align_phone=&#8221;center&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;photo caption&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]Caryl Watts examines pictures on the wall in Meyronne&#8217;s hall.&nbsp;<em>Photo by Matthew Olson<\/em>.<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_code admin_label=&#8221;Video &#8211; Meyronne Memories&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tlTssk4_0lU?ecver=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2018\/04\/s6-header-2.jpg&#8221; parallax=&#8221;on&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; custom_css_main_element=&#8221;height: 500px; &#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;The farmer&#8217;s life&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; header_font_size=&#8221;40px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The farmer&#8217;s life<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_fullwidth_header admin_label=&#8221;big photo caption&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; content_font_size=&#8221;13px&#8221; background_color=&#8221;rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221;]Farmed fields in the prairie.&nbsp;<em>Photo by Matthew Olson<\/em>.&nbsp;<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2018\/04\/s6-portrait-glen.jpg&#8221; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; align_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; align_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;||5px|&#8221; always_center_on_mobile=&#8221;on&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; align_phone=&#8221;center&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;photo caption&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]Glen Wright has lived in Meyronne his entire life.&nbsp;<em>Photo by Matthew Olson<\/em>.<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]Meyronne was built by farmers and those that are left point to changes in farming for why the town has been reduced to how it is now.<\/p>\n<p>Glen Wright was born and raised in Meyronne. For 80 years he\u2019s called the town home, and he\u2019s seen the town rise and fall. Calling it a \u201cmixed farming community\u201d of both cattle and crops, Wright said the town has been slowing down since the 1930s.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the 20s, there was a family (that) lived on every quarter of land in the south here,\u201d Wright said.<\/p>\n<p>Wright\u2019s name is noted in \u201cMeyronne Memories\u201d as the man who helped sell water door-to-door, since \u201ca good well seems hard to find.\u201d<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]Meyronne lies on the edge of the Palliser Triangle, the arid, sandy land that covers a huge portion of Saskatchewan\u2019s south and west. When the drought of the \u201cDirty 30s\u201d hit the prairies, the already sub-par farmland became even more difficult to manage. As Wright puts it, the land looked like paradise, but produced very little.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was very easy land to work\u2026 but they didn\u2019t know it would blow away,\u201d Wright said. \u201cPretty well everybody had to move out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meyronne\u2019s decline might have begun way back in the 30s, but it\u2019s farming today that has driven a stake into its heart. Both Wright and Watts said that farming has become much more efficient \u2013 too efficient.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBigger farms, less people,\u201d Wright said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m not sure it\u2019s for the best.\u201d<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_css_main_element=&#8221;height: 600px;&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2018\/04\/s6-farming.jpg&#8221; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; align_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; align_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;||5px|&#8221; always_center_on_mobile=&#8221;on&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; align_phone=&#8221;center&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;photo caption&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Abandoned farm equipment on the outskirts of Meyronne.&nbsp;<em>Photo by Matthew Olson<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]Farming in Saskatchewan has been following a steady trend for decades: as the size of a farm increases, the number of farmers decreases. As technology has improved and it takes less manpower to effectively work an acre of land, the agriculture sector hasn\u2019t needed the numbers that it\u2019s enjoyed in the past.<\/p>\n<p>This trend is evident in the Statistics Canada 2016 Census of Agriculture. It shows the number of farm operations dropped to 34,523, the lowest it\u2019s ever been. But the average farm size increased to 1,784 acres, the largest it\u2019s ever been. And the amount of cropland rose to 40.5 million acres, the biggest it\u2019s ever been.<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_code admin_label=&#8221;Graph &#8211; area vs number&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<center><\/p>\n<div class='tableauPlaceholder' id='viz1523938025886' style='position: relative'><noscript><a href='#'><img alt='Dashboard 1 ' src='https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/static\/images\/Fa\/FarmsizeandnumberoffarmersCanada\/Dashboard1\/1_rss.png' style='border: none' \/><\/a><\/noscript><object class='tableauViz' style='display:none;'><param name='host_url' value='https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2F' \/><param name='embed_code_version' value='3' \/><param name='site_root' value='' \/><param name='name' value='FarmsizeandnumberoffarmersCanada\/Dashboard1' \/><param name='tabs' value='no' \/><param name='toolbar' value='yes' \/><param name='static_image' value='https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/static\/images\/Fa\/FarmsizeandnumberoffarmersCanada\/Dashboard1\/1.png' \/><param name='animate_transition' value='yes' \/><param name='display_static_image' value='yes' \/><param name='display_spinner' value='yes' \/><param name='display_overlay' value='yes' \/><param name='display_count' value='yes' \/><param name='filter' value='publish=yes' \/><\/object><\/div>\n<p> <script type='text\/javascript'> var divElement = document.getElementById('viz1523938025886'); var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName('object')[0]; if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 800 ) { vizElement.style.width='840px';vizElement.style.height='727px';} else if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 500 ) { vizElement.style.width='840px';vizElement.style.height='727px';} else { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height='694px';} var scriptElement = document.createElement('script'); scriptElement.src = 'https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/javascripts\/api\/viz_v1.js'; vizElement.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, vizElement); <\/script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/center>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]But the agriculture sector hasn\u2019t required more manpower to succeed. In the <a href=\"http:\/\/strengtheningruralcanada.ca\/file\/Strengthening-Rural-Canada-Fewer-and-Older-Population-and-Demographic-Crossroads-in-Saskatchewan.pdf\">Strengthening Rural Canada report<\/a> analyzing demographics in Saskatchewan, the labour force participation rate and unemployment rate are significantly worse than in urban centers. In areas with fewer than 1,000 people, unemployment was at nearly 20 per cent. In urban areas, that number was reported at just over 10 per cent.<\/p>\n<p>And according to recent reports from Statistics Canada, the total amount of useable cropland has increased steadily since the 1970s even as the number of farm operations has dropped. The largest farming sector in the country is still field crop like wheat and canola, and Saskatchewan accounts for almost 47 per cent of Canada\u2019s entire field crop area.<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_code admin_label=&#8221;Graph &#8211; field crop area in Saskatchewan&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<center><\/p>\n<div class='tableauPlaceholder' id='viz1523938393252' style='position: relative'><noscript><a href='#'><img alt='Dashboard 1 ' src='https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/static\/images\/Fi\/Fieldcropareabyprovince\/Dashboard1\/1_rss.png' style='border: none' \/><\/a><\/noscript><object class='tableauViz' style='display:none;'><param name='host_url' value='https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2F' \/><param name='embed_code_version' value='3' \/><param name='site_root' value='' \/><param name='name' value='Fieldcropareabyprovince\/Dashboard1' \/><param name='tabs' value='no' \/><param name='toolbar' value='yes' \/><param name='static_image' value='https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/static\/images\/Fi\/Fieldcropareabyprovince\/Dashboard1\/1.png' \/><param name='animate_transition' value='yes' \/><param name='display_static_image' value='yes' \/><param name='display_spinner' value='yes' \/><param name='display_overlay' value='yes' \/><param name='display_count' value='yes' \/><param name='filter' value='publish=yes' \/><\/object><\/div>\n<p> <script type='text\/javascript'> var divElement = document.getElementById('viz1523938393252'); var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName('object')[0]; vizElement.style.width='840px';vizElement.style.height='327px'; var scriptElement = document.createElement('script'); scriptElement.src = 'https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/javascripts\/api\/viz_v1.js'; vizElement.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, vizElement); <\/script><\/center>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]Farm towns like Meyronne are fading away, but that isn\u2019t a concern for Saskatchewan\u2019s Ministry of Agriculture. Policy director Jonathan Greuel said the government is \u201cextremely happy\u201d with the current state of farming.<\/p>\n<p>Having fewer farmers \u201cis part of a longer trend occurring here in the province since the early 40s,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have our ups and downs, but the industry is doing well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Greuel also said the waning rural population is not considered a problem from the Ministry of Agriculture\u2019s point of view, and he chalks up the shrinking number of farm operations and increasing size of farms to economic progress.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe industry is becoming more competitive,\u201d he said. \u201cHigher productivity per acre, higher productivity per unit of labour \u2026 I would say that\u2019s part of the economic reality.\u201d<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]A reduced number of farm operations doesn\u2019t appear to have hurt the area on the surface. All along the highway in the summer and stretching for miles to the north and south are golden-green fields of wheat. Combine harvesters \u2013 an underrated feat of modern machinery that has combined a number of farming tasks into one tractor-like vehicle \u2013 cut neat and methodical paths through the sea of gold.<\/p>\n<p>The machinery is one main reason less farmers are required, Wright said. He also said it\u2019s what makes getting into the farming industry prohibitive for prospective planters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday the numbers are so huge and so out of whack,\u201d Wright said. \u201cWhen I was farming you could buy a new tractor &#8230; for $5,000. Today, it&#8217;s $500,000.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;2_3,1_3&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]On the popular Canadian agriculture website <a href=\"https:\/\/www.agriaffaires.ca\/used\/1\/combine-harvesters.html\">Agriaffaires<\/a>, even used combine harvesters are listed with asking prices over $500,000. If a farmer doesn\u2019t have the equipment, keeping up with the advancements in the industry is difficult, Wright said.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of how it happened, Wright said he believes what\u2019s left of Meyronne is fated to fade into the fields like so many other nearby towns.<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<link href='https:\/\/cdn.knightlab.com\/libs\/soundcite\/latest\/css\/player.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text\/css'><script type='text\/javascript' src='https:\/\/cdn.knightlab.com\/libs\/soundcite\/latest\/js\/soundcite.min.js'><\/script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><span class=\"soundcite\" data-id=\"430060677\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"13349\" data-plays=\"1\">\u201cAll there is, is a name sign on the highway \u2026 but there\u2019s not a soul lives in it,\u201d<\/span> Wright said. \u201cBut there was a town there at one time. And eventually, I think this\u2019ll come to the same thing.\u201d[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_testimonial author=&#8221;- Glen Wright&#8221; quote_icon_color=&#8221;#055610&#8243; quote_icon_background_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Wright pull quote&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#055610&#8243; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1>\u201cBut there was a town there at one time. <strong>Eventually, this\u2019ll come to the same thing.<\/strong>\u201d<\/h1>\n<p>[\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2018\/04\/s6-header-3-3.jpg&#8221; parallax=&#8221;on&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; custom_css_main_element=&#8221;height: 500px; &#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Alive in their memory&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; header_font_size=&#8221;40px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Alive in their memory<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_fullwidth_header admin_label=&#8221;big photo caption&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; content_font_size=&#8221;13px&#8221; background_color=&#8221;rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221;]The tracks diverge in a field just outside Meyronne.&nbsp;<em>Photo by Matthew Olson<\/em>.&nbsp;<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]\u201cAt the north end of Main Street is where the public school was,\u201d Caryl Watts says as she walks down the centre of the dilapidated asphalt road, gesturing to a sign obscured by overgrown trees. \u201cAcross the street \u2026 is where the United church was.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As Watts ambles slowly down the only paved road in Meyronne, she points out more from her childhood memories. There were two stores near the south end of town. Across the way from them, the old hotel. Down the street to the west, the school.<\/p>\n<p>None of them are left standing. Meyronne\u2019s Main Street is silent, save for the wind rushing through from the wide prairie expanse visible even from the heart of the village.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a far cry from the pictures on the walls in the town hall, or the stories told in the book written more than 50 years ago.<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=&#8221;209,210,204,203,205,206,207,208,211&#8243; posts_number=&#8221;9&#8243; show_title_and_caption=&#8221;off&#8221; show_pagination=&#8221;off&#8221; zoom_icon_color=&#8221;#2ea3f2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; caption_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; pagination_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; pagination_font_size_tablet=&#8221;51&#8243; pagination_line_height_tablet=&#8221;2&#8243; custom_css_main_element=&#8221;height: 700px;||width: 840px; ||margin: auto;&#8221; custom_css_gallery_item=&#8221;margin: 0 !important;||clear: none !important;||width: 33.33% !important;&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;photo caption&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1em&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">What remains of the town of Meyronne.&nbsp;<em>Photos by Matthew Olson<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;3_4,1_4&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;3_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]There are those in the town who, like Watts and Wright, remember it when it was bustling. Leo Brisebois recalls when there were more houses standing along the road, and a hockey and baseball team for the community to cheer for. Things are different now.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"http:\/\/strengtheningruralcanada.ca\/file\/Strengthening-Rural-Canada-Fewer-and-Older-Population-and-Demographic-Crossroads-in-Saskatchewan.pdf\">a report from the Strengthening Rural Canada initiative<\/a>, the number of young people living in rural areas is declining. The number of people age 19 and under dropped by nine per cent between 2001 and 2011. On the other side, the number of people from 45 to 64 \u2013 the largest age group in rural Saskatchewan \u2013 increased by 22 per cent during that same time.<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;20px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_testimonial author=&#8221;- Leo Brisebois&#8221; quote_icon_color=&#8221;#055610&#8243; quote_icon_background_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;brisebois pull quote 1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#055610&#8243; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1>&#8220;The young people can&#8217;t stay here because <strong>there&#8217;s nothing for them.<\/strong>&#8220;<\/h1>\n<p>[\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_code _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<link href='https:\/\/cdn.knightlab.com\/libs\/soundcite\/latest\/css\/player.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text\/css'><script type='text\/javascript' src='https:\/\/cdn.knightlab.com\/libs\/soundcite\/latest\/js\/soundcite.min.js'><\/script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><span class=\"soundcite\" data-id=\"430285890\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"13610\" data-plays=\"1\">\u201cThe young people can\u2019t stay here because there\u2019s nothing for them,\u201d<\/span> Brisebois said.[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]It\u2019s not a new thought. Brisebois himself moved away to Manitoba in order to find work when he was younger. And Watts left Meyronne to get more education in Regina when she was 17.<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=&#8221;Graph &#8211; age demographics&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<center><\/p>\n<div class='tableauPlaceholder' id='viz1523938291497' style='position: relative'><noscript><a href='#'><img alt='Dashboard 2 ' src='https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/static\/images\/Ag\/AgedemographicsinruralSaskatchewan\/Dashboard2\/1_rss.png' style='border: none' \/><\/a><\/noscript><object class='tableauViz' style='display:none;'><param name='host_url' value='https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2F' \/><param name='embed_code_version' value='3' \/><param name='site_root' value='' \/><param name='name' value='AgedemographicsinruralSaskatchewan\/Dashboard2' \/><param name='tabs' value='no' \/><param name='toolbar' value='yes' \/><param name='static_image' value='https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/static\/images\/Ag\/AgedemographicsinruralSaskatchewan\/Dashboard2\/1.png' \/><param name='animate_transition' value='yes' \/><param name='display_static_image' value='yes' \/><param name='display_spinner' value='yes' \/><param name='display_overlay' value='yes' \/><param name='display_count' value='yes' \/><param name='filter' value='publish=yes' \/><\/object><\/div>\n<p> <script type='text\/javascript'> var divElement = document.getElementById('viz1523938291497'); var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName('object')[0]; vizElement.style.width='840px';vizElement.style.height='602px'; var scriptElement = document.createElement('script'); scriptElement.src = 'https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/javascripts\/api\/viz_v1.js'; vizElement.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, vizElement); <\/script><center>[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]The 77-year-old Brisebois was born nearby and lived in Meyronne for most of his youth. He said he returned in 2000 because of his family roots. His family is listed right alongside Watts\u2019 in \u201cMeyronne Memories,\u201d one of the first in the town.<\/p>\n<p>When asked what Saskatchewan would lose as towns like Meyronne vanish from the landscape, Brisebois had a quick answer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a heritage \u2026 people were proud to build stuff, get things to be remembered by,\u201d Brisebois said.<\/p>\n<p>But Brisebois also said he would be one of the last with a bond to the town. There\u2019s not many left who share it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur generation&#8230; is the last generation. Everyone before us is gone,\u201d he said.<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;1_4,3_4&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_testimonial author=&#8221;- Leo Brisebois&#8221; quote_icon_color=&#8221;#055610&#8243; quote_icon_background_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;brisebois pull quote 2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#055610&#8243; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1>&#8220;<strong>Our generation is the last generation.<\/strong> Everyone before us is gone.&#8221;<\/h1>\n<p>[\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;3_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]Some homes are still occupied. The beautifully-kept lots scattered throughout the town are a stark difference from the abandoned properties. Old houses along Main Street are boarded up, paint peeling slowly from the siding. It\u2019s the same with the Catholic church on the outskirts. The few occupied plots of land are scattered around what\u2019s left of the few town blocks. One small cube of a building is still used as a post office for the area.<\/p>\n<p>In \u201cMeyronne Memories,\u201d the introduction says the town was built thanks to \u201cthe brave men and courageous women who came here when the country was new and made of this vast unbroken prairie what it is today.\u201d<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_code _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<link href='https:\/\/cdn.knightlab.com\/libs\/soundcite\/latest\/css\/player.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text\/css'><script type='text\/javascript' src='https:\/\/cdn.knightlab.com\/libs\/soundcite\/latest\/js\/soundcite.min.js'><\/script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><span class=\"soundcite\" data-id=\"430060260\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"44255\" data-plays=\"1\">As Watts reads the passage, she has to fight tears.<\/span> The sense of community might be intact for those who are still around, but the changes have taken their toll. Watts, Wright, and Brisebois will be among the last who remember Meyronne as it once was, instead of what it has become.[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]Meyronne isn\u2019t dead, but it is dying.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s very sad to see all the town like this,\u201d Watts says, wiping tears from her cheeks. \u201cBut I guess it was inevitable that it would happen.\u201d<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<a href=\"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/chapter-5-no-more-romance\/\">Chapter 5: No more Romance<\/a><br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/chapter-7-empty\/\">Chapter 7: Empty<\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The sign for the town of Meyronne just off of Highway 13 in Saskatchewan.&nbsp;Photo by Matthew Olson.&nbsp; Caryl Watts ran her hands slowly over the cover of the book sitting on the table in front of her. Embossed on the cover is the title \u201cMeyronne Memories\u201d \u2013 named after [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":194,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"project_category":[3],"project_tag":[],"class_list":["post-193","project","type-project","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","project_category-chapter"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Chapter 6: Fighting the inevitable - Prairie Ghosts<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chapter 6: Fighting the inevitable - Prairie Ghosts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The sign for the town of Meyronne just off of Highway 13 in Saskatchewan.&nbsp;Photo by Matthew Olson.&nbsp; Caryl Watts ran her hands slowly over the cover of the book sitting on the table in front of her. Embossed on the cover is the title \u201cMeyronne Memories\u201d \u2013 named after [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Prairie Ghosts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-02-13T14:09:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2018\/04\/s6-header.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"22 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/project\\\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/project\\\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\\\/\",\"name\":\"Chapter 6: Fighting the inevitable - Prairie Ghosts\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/project\\\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/project\\\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/14\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/s6-header.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-04-17T04:01:25+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-02-13T14:09:30+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/project\\\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/project\\\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/project\\\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/14\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/s6-header.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/14\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/s6-header.jpg\",\"width\":\"2000\",\"height\":\"900\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/project\\\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Projects\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/project\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Chapter 6: Fighting the inevitable\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/\",\"name\":\"Prairie Ghosts\",\"description\":\"Just another MRP site\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cusjc.ca\\\/mrp\\\/prairieghosts\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Chapter 6: Fighting the inevitable - Prairie Ghosts","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Chapter 6: Fighting the inevitable - Prairie Ghosts","og_description":"&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The sign for the town of Meyronne just off of Highway 13 in Saskatchewan.&nbsp;Photo by Matthew Olson.&nbsp; Caryl Watts ran her hands slowly over the cover of the book sitting on the table in front of her. Embossed on the cover is the title \u201cMeyronne Memories\u201d \u2013 named after [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\/","og_site_name":"Prairie Ghosts","article_modified_time":"2023-02-13T14:09:30+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":900,"url":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2018\/04\/s6-header.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"22 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\/","url":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\/","name":"Chapter 6: Fighting the inevitable - Prairie Ghosts","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2018\/04\/s6-header.jpg","datePublished":"2018-04-17T04:01:25+00:00","dateModified":"2023-02-13T14:09:30+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2018\/04\/s6-header.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2018\/04\/s6-header.jpg","width":"2000","height":"900"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/chapter-6-fighting-the-inevitable\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Projects","item":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/project\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Chapter 6: Fighting the inevitable"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/#website","url":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/","name":"Prairie Ghosts","description":"Just another MRP site","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/project"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/193\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"project_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project_category?post=193"},{"taxonomy":"project_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/prairieghosts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project_tag?post=193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}