Grand Hotel Shaunavon

06/02/2026

Since my recent work in the Grand Hotel has led to some more discoveries of items that used to belong to Everett Baker, I decided to do some research into the man.

For those who missed my posts, Everett Baker is renowned for his vivid colour photography of primarily everyday life in SW Saskatchewan. He had an eye for capturing beauty in the mundane, everyday life of the people he lived amongst. He also lived in my hotel, and reminders of him are everywhere.

What is funny is just how similar his and my story is in certain ways. He, like me, was not a local. He was born and raised in Minnesota. He, like me, also settled in Shaunavon in his 40's. He, like me, really tried to learn about the local history.

Like me as well, he seemingly set out to preserve history through his photography, while I work to preserve buildings and artifacts.

We only shared this world together for a brief time. I was born in 1980 while he passed away the following year.. 1981.

Only last year, Baker was named a National Historic Person by the Government of Canada. I wonder if he would be surprised by this honour, or had any idea his photography would be recognized on a national scale?

Everett Baker (1893–1981) National Historic Person https://share.google/4yNq3DAVoWXCVo5b8

06/01/2026

A very wet day today reminded me how glad I am to have a new roof on the Grand Hotel so even the most water damaged areas are bone dry now.

I cleared out the second room in this two-room suite at the back of the hall of the main floor today. These rooms have the most extensive damage - both water and fire - something I'll be working on next.

Everywhere you look, there are remnants of famous photographer Everett Baker, who lived in the hotel when it was converted to apartments.

The back of the door had a note hanging. I wonder how many decades ago it was hung?

05/31/2026

This year I've started from the back of the main floor hallway at the Grand Hotel.

I spent the afternoon stripping the room bare of anything added that wouldn't have been there in 1929. After a short life as a hotel, the Grand was used as an apartment building called Beverly Court. Interestingly, a follower on this page lived in this very two-room suite!

I found a receipt for tv repair in the cabinet on the wall from July 16th, 1969 which is the day Apollo 11 launch. I also found some vintage tins.

05/30/2026

Consider yourself invited!

I plan to have my Grand Hotel Shaunavon Open House on the Sunday of the 2026 Shaunavon Boomtown Days!

I've had people suggest a BBQ, but I want to keep it simple. There will be light refreshments and an opportunity to look around and see the progress of this massive project. There will also be a free garage sale room with everything available to take!

I have decided against a BBQ for two main reasons: I'm just too busy to organize it but also because there are already numerous fun food opportunities around town that I hope people explore and enjoy.

While I will accept donations in a donation box, if you'd like, that is not the purpose of the open house. Donations are not expected and everyone is welcome.

The open house is an opportunity to meet people and show the work and answer questions. Expect a work in progress! I hope to see you there!

05/28/2026

It's ridiculously hot out right now, but the Grand Hotel has remained cool.

I'm shuffling furniture from the back of the hotel to the front as I prepare to do some work there.

I've gone through a very small amount of the vast collection of items remaining in the hotel, including some interesting items from the previous owners long ago. I took a picture of this old photo I found in the same spot it had been taken in front of the hotel many years ago. (Pardon my gross 'working man's hand')

The name tag belonged to well-known SW Saskatchewan photographer Everett Baker, who actually lived in my hotel with his wife.

As long as some of these old buildings survive, so too does the memories of those who were there before.

05/26/2026

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Grand Hotel Shaunavon making headlines across the province today!

I did a live interview on CTV Regina and had radio and internet coverage out of Swift Current today.

Here is the CTV interview and I'll link the Swift Current article separately in the comments.

Kent Karemaker is working to resurrect the Grand Hotel Shaunavon. H...

05/24/2026

It's been a busy transition week for me as I begin wrapping my head around the Grand Hotel Shaunavon for the summer.

Aside from my job, I've been finishing some side projects and doing a bit of media interviews. A few days ago I did an interview with Swift Current Online (I haven't seen it posted yet), and tomorrow morning at 8:35 I'll be interviewed live on CTV by Darrell Romuld!

The first thing I'm doing at the hotel is some spring cleaning. I paid the property taxes last week and purchased some scaffolding which I need to pick up in Swift Current.

I'll be putting out the official invite for my Shaunavon Boomtown Days Open House this week, too! Watch for it!

05/19/2026

Do you live in Regina with room to store a bedroom suite for a bit?

I'm being gifted a bedroom suite, but it needs to go sooner than I can get to Regina. If anyone is able to hang onto it for a bit while I get my ducks in a row, I owe you one!

Picture of cleaned up front door hardware for attention.

05/17/2026

Would anyone in the Regina area be coming my way to Shaunavon? I'm trying to get some furniture home. Picture of my living room for your attention!

05/17/2026

I've been working on the sun porch/veranda of the 1915 Shaunavon house even if the weather has been grey. Most of the glass has been gone over with a razor blade and cleaned, making the windows pop. So many are original wavy glass.

There are a 7 panes of glass in total that need replacing and I'll be doing that shortly. I'll give the floors a good wash for now and a large rattan rug. I'm thinking bright white wicker furniture and some wood stuff too.

I still have some touch ups to do and more hardware to install, but it's getting there. The last picture shows what it looked like when I bought the house. It's entirely original but restored to original.