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Grand Hotel Shaunavon

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Grand Hotel Shaunavon

Shaunavon's Grand Hotel was built at the height of the Southwest Saskatchewan's boom period in 1929. Check us out on the web at GrandHotelShaunavon.com
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08/02/2026

With skies the same smokey grey as the drywall and cooler temperatures, it was a good day to be inside at the Grand Hotel.

I continued drywalling ceilings.. as usual.. but it won't be too long before this task is done. I estimate I've put up ceiling drywall in over 80 percent of the building now. It's been a priority so I no longer have to clean up pieces of falling plaster.

It's nice that the winds have brought cooler temperatures over the next bit, but unfortunate that smoke came with it. It's an inconvenience for me, but a serious health concern for many with breathing challenges. It's also a constant reminder of dry conditions and the seemingly endless fires that come along with summer.

I've run out of drywall as of this room and with tomorrow being a holiday, I'll have to wait until Tuesday to get another stack delivered. I wish I'd have kept track of how many sheets I've handled now... needless to say - it's a lot.

The last picture shows this same room as it looked when I got the hotel. More to go, but not nearly as horrific as it was.

08/01/2026

*Found Someone! Thanks all!* By chance is anyone heading my way (Shaunavon) through Edmonton? I have 6 dining room chairs I'm trying to get to me!

It's too hot to work today, and I'm working my CCA job today, so not much happening at the hot.

Thankfully, temperatures are expected to drop starting tomorrow so you'll find me drywalling up a storm again!

07/29/2026

I appreciated all the concern from my fall the other day! I was completely uninjured, thankfully. I'm quite robust. I have kept very physically active to my benefit in situations like that. I do keep my phone on me so if ever injured, it's easy to get ahold of someone. I've never broken a bone, and intend to keep it that way!

I was back to work at the Grand the next day and then today again, completely clearing out and 'blank slating' this room in anticipation for restoration. No more falling plaster! You can see how lovely the wood is inside this original wardrobe. All the woodwork with be stripped, eventually.

That lino (two layers) also protected the lovely original old growth fir floors. They, like most of the floors throughout the building, are in fantastic shape.

07/27/2026

I started the day at the Grand Hotel meeting up with the previous owner who I bought it from and a large group of his family who were in town for a wedding. It was nice to hear his praise for my work to this point and I enjoyed the visit.

I got another ceiling drywalled upstairs in the hotel. It makes such a difference even hung rough, plus no more falling plaster.

I took a fall today as I stepped off the ladder, tripping over my drywall lift. My knee hit the wall as I fell, denting it, before I hit the ground on my back. You can see how sweaty I get, as I left an imprint of my body on the ground. Thankfully, I was basically not injured other than my knee being a bit banged up. I'll rest well tonight and hope to not be too sore tomorrow!

07/26/2026

I took a few days away from the hotel after my open house to catch up on other things in my life. The break was fruitful and needed, but I was ready to get back at the Grand Hotel.

Of course, what better place to start than ceiling drywall on the top floor on one of the hottest days of the year? 🥵

With the heat, I did this room at a slower pace than usual with plenty of water and rest.

This is the largest room layout in the Grand Hotel with two bedrooms and a living room in the middle. That sofa was in the hotel when I bought it, and will be put to use again.

The last picture shows the lobby of the Grand. Out the window you can see one of the numerous murals that now adorn the walls of many buildings in Shaunavon. This one is new from the Mural Fest that occurred over Boomtown Days!

07/20/2026

There wasn't a dull moment at this year's Grand Hotel Open House and I thank all of those who came, those who wished me well and to all of YOU who follow my work! I am humbled by the kindness. The place was busy right off the bat and never slowed down. I felt so honoured for the reception.

I moved to Saskatchewan about 4 years ago in very bad shape. My mental health had deteriorated significantly over the past recent years due to numerous circumstances and I felt lost. Depression and anxiety are like quicksand and I could no longer cope.

I am more hopeful now in many ways. In great part that is due to the Grand Hotel and all of the kind relations it has allowed me to make with all of you. Your kindness is so humbling. I am happy to see a future in life again.

I look forward to people seeing work continue day by day as I save this building while it saves me! There's a metaphor in there somewhere. 😉

07/19/2026

Tomorrow is the Annual Grand Hotel Open House! 2 to 4 pm!

There'll be another free garage sale room! Spread the word that there is a large collection of high quality vintage 1980's kids clothes! All free! Pajamas, jeans, shirts, snow clothes.. a bit of everything! Pictured is some of it, but there is much more. I'm hoping to find a home for as much of it as possible!

07/17/2026

When you enter the Grand Hotel, there is a door immediately to your right that leads to what was originally used as a doctor's office before being turned into an apartment.

This area will become the Everett Baker Tea Room - named for Everett Baker who was a well-known and prolific photographer who just happened to live at the Grand Hotel. Baker was recently named as a National Historic Person by the federal government.

The area opens into what will be the main dining room with a separate entrance that leads to the street. There are two additional smaller dining rooms and a bathroom. There is also a kitchen, which will be kept as a prep area for the afternoon tea service as well as daily continental breakfast.

This area will be very luxurious and decked out in over-the-top 1920's Art Deco. Think gleaming wood floors, heavy drapes, velvet, crystal, brass and sets of fine antique wooden dining furniture. Guests can pick from a large selection of tea service patterns and eat inside or go out the back door to the patio with outdoor bistro sets and gardens.

The rooms are pretty well ready for primer other than the kitchen which will be closed in so not in view. I've done a ton of patching and plastering. The floors are also in beautiful shape - old growth fir.

07/15/2026

I have a large private tour at the hotel tomorrow so I spent the afternoon at the Grand Hotel making things presentable in the front of the hotel.

This space will be pretty dramatic one day. It's bright and airy with 10 foot ceilings and if you squint you can see what a nice space it will be.

07/14/2026

Who is Kent? That's a question I'm not sure even I, Kent, know the answer to. I guess we change so much as time goes on, that who we are is an ever-evolving thing. That said, I thought I'd give a bit of backstory on me anyway in advance of my upcoming open house.

I'm born in 1980 and raised in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. I'm a first-generation Canadian, with a Danish mother and Dutch father and I'm the oldest of four kids. I grew up in a rural area with horses up on a mountain in the woods. I graduated high school as Valedictorian and a bunch of honours before setting out into the big world.

After college (the first time.. lots of school for me!), I worked in radio as a news reporter as well as did commercial voice over. I also started working around this time (early 2000's) in film and television. I worked off and on until I moved out here to Saskatchewan in at least 100 films and TV shows. Pictured is me a million years ago in the comedy 'White Chicks' as well as about 10 years ago in a sci-fi TV series called 'The 100'. I did everything from acting (principle and background) to stunts to photo double and stand in. I did it full-time in Vancouver for a number of years. I also used to write scripts and direct/edit independent film.

I get bored easily and have worked numerous other jobs/careers both in BC and also over in Denmark, where I lived in my late 20's and early 30's. While in Europe, I traveled a ton, but have also been fortunate to travel throughout my life including Japan, Thailand and North Africa.

More recently, I worked in public relations and then in media relations for the BC Provincial Government out of Victoria. It's from this that I sprung for the prairie life.

If there's one thing I've realized, it's that money doesn't buy happiness. Some of my best times were when I was broke. I've always felt that way and I hope I always do. I guess that's why buying an abandoned hotel seemed like a good idea ;)

If you're looking for me at the open house, look for the tallest guy in the room.. I'm 6'6"!

Address

37 Third Avenue East
Shaunavon, SK
S0N0W0

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