Montgomery Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Backgrounder
Located in Saskatoon, Montgomery Place is an excellent example of a Veterans’ Land Act subdivision and illustrates the early benefits provided by the Veterans Charter. Under this charter, veterans of the Second World War, and later the Korean War, received a wide range of benefits. The charter’s main goal was to provide veterans with the means to become financially independent after their return to civilian life and it included assistance that allowed them to purchase a home with only a small down payment.
Montgomery Place began development in 1945 on 230 acres of rural land in Cory County as a residential subdivision adjacent to the city of Saskatoon. It featured small homes on generous, half-acre (minimum) lots that the veterans were expected to use as gardens to supplement their incomes. The community is heavily treed and very park-like, with gently curving roadways. Other than the perimeter roads, the streets of Montgomery Place do not have sidewalks. All of the streets are named for Canadian wartime commanders, for ships and planes, and for battles in which the Canadian Forces participated, creating a neighbourhood that honours Canada’s military heritage.
From an initial 28 homes, Montgomery Place has grown to encompass approximately 900 residences, two schools, one church, and four parks in a clearly-defined residential subdivision on the southwest edge of the city of Saskatoon. Today, its residents continue to preserve, honour, and celebrate their community history. It is a strong, vibrant, and tightly-knit community, which is very aware of its origins and makes every effort to honour the original inhabitants and their wartime sacrifices. Though not the original intent, Montgomery Place has emerged, over time, as a place of remembrance. The community has erected two memorials, and the annual Remembrance Day ceremonies have come to attract large crowds. Montgomery Place retains many key elements of its original design including layout, set back, street names, green spaces, and recognizable housing plans, which contribute to the “sense of history” of a historic district. Montgomery Place is still home to some of its original residents, including veterans of the Second World War and the Korean War. Many of their children and grandchildren have also made Montgomery Place their home.
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