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The Special Committee on Highway Traffic and Safety, 1965-1966 was appointed on April 15, 1965 during the First Session of the Fifteenth Legislature. It met twenty times, from June 7, 1965 to December 29, 1966. Public hearings were held in Saskatoon in October, 1965 and in Regina in November, 1965. The Committee presented its Final Report on December 31, 1966.

Members of the Special Committee on Highway Traffic and Safety, 1965-1966 were: F. Larochelle, MLA (Shaunavon) (Chairman); E.C. Whelan, MLA (Regina North) (Vice-Chairman); D.V. Heald, MLA (Lumsden); W.S. Howes, MLA (Kerrobert-Kindersley); G.F. Loken, MLA (Rosetown); I.H. MacDougall, MLA (Souris-Estevan); S. Merchant, MLA (Saskatoon City); M.P. Pederson, MLA (Arm River); A. Thibault, MLA (Kinistino); and C.G. Willis, MLA (Melfort-Tisdale).

Staff members for the Committee were: G.W. Sandstrom (Legal Counsel); G. Chamberlin (Secretary); W.R. Anderson (Research); S. Kujawa (Research); and J.M. Crawford (Research).

The Select Committee on Fire Prevention-Protection was appointed on November 7, 1983 during the Second Session of the Twentieth Legislature. It met sixteen times from November 23, 1983 to March 23, 1984, including eight public hearings held in January 1984. As well, the Committee travelled to Gravenhurst and Toronto, Ontario in January 1984 to tour fire training facilities in those jurisdictions. The Committee presented its Final Report on March 23, 1984.

Members of the Select Committee on Fire Prevention-Protection were: Ralph Katzman, MLA (Rosthern) (Chairman); Allen Engel, MLA (Assiniboia-Gravelbourg) (Vice-Chairman); Michael Hopfner, MLA (Cut Knife-Lloydminster); Sherwin Petersen, MLA (Kelvington-Wadena); and Bill Sveinson, MLA (Regina North West).

Staff members for the Committee were: Louis Yanko (Technical Advisor); Les Parker (Technical Advisor); and David Mitchell (Clerk).

The first government-run insurance programs in Saskatchewan were public hail insurance programs created in 1901 and 1912; however these were limited to crop insurance.

Economic conditions in the 1930's and early 1940's had resulted in the failure of many small local insurers. Almost 80% of fire insurance premiums issued between 1934 and 1944 were underwritten by British or other non-Canadian firms. The twenty-two percent of companies that were Canadian were not in Saskatchewan but located primarily in Ontario and Quebec. During the same period, less than half of the premiums paid in by customers were returning in the form of claims paid out. Little of those premiums were remaining in the province either in the form of claims paid or as profit for local business.

In 1944, the only other general government insurance program in Canada was a dormant system in Alberta.

The Saskatchewan Government Insurance Office (SGIO) was established by The Government of Saskatchewan Insurance Act, assented to on November 10, 1944. In January 1945, Oakland W. Valleau, Minister of Social Welfare, was appointed Minister-in-Charge of SGIO.

There were three main reasons for its creation: to retain revenue from insurance premiums within the province; to create new revenue sources in order to provide additional social services to residents; to reduce insurance rates for Saskatchewan residents.

The Insurance Act allowed for the sale by SGIO of policies covering fire, life, automobile and twelve other forms of insurance. Although the act allowed for the sale of life insurance, it was not sold by SGIO.

The office was established in March 10, 1945 and Michael Francis Allure was chosen as the first general manager. He was provided with a staff of 3, a 10 x 12 foot room at the Legislature and a $12,000 loan to start.(1) Allure sold the first policy to Valleau on May 1, 1945. The General Manager served as the Chief Executive Officer of the company.

The company continued to operate out of the Legislative Building until early in 1946 when it moved into the old Canada Life Assurance building on Cornwall Street and 11th Avenue in Regina. It had grown from a staff of four to sixty employees at head office with more than 150 brokers across the province. The SGIO annual report for 1946-1947 states that finding and training sufficient staff was a major challenge due to this rapid expansion.

Although the head office was located in Regina, a policy of decentralization resulted in the opening of branch offices in Prince Albert and Saskatoon in 1946. By December 31, 1947, 110 people were employed at the Head and Branch offices. A branch in North Battleford opened in 1948 followed by branches in Yorkton, Estevan and Swift Current in 1949 and Moose Jaw in 1950. In the 1970's claims branches were also created in Lloydminster, Meadow Lake, Tisdale, Weyburn and Kindersley.

The first SGIO agency was opened in Maple Creek on May 17, 1945. It was started by Oscar Sawby whose only experience at the time consisted of operating a general store. Fifty years later, his family was still operating Blythman Agencies Ltd.

By the end of the first year of business, SGIO had paid back the $12,000 startup loan and showed a surplus of $6388 while providing insurance rates ten percent lower than the competition.

As World War II was coming to a close, the number of motorists and vehicles in Saskatchewan grew at a rapid rate but less than 10% had any form of insurance, leaving accident victims and their families without any form of compensation. This resulted in the creation of The Automobile Accident Insurance Act, 1946. By combining vehicle registration and insurance, the provincial government ensured that all drivers had basic coverage.

In 1949, the Saskatchewan government purchased a 75% share in a joint stock company in the hopes of expanding the business of the SGIO over a larger area to provide a more stable income. The Saskatchewan Guarantee and Fidelity Company Limited (SGFCL) applied to practice insurance in Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia but was denied on the basis that a company owned by one provincial government should not do business in territory of another. Reinsurance agreements with companies in other countries allowed the SGFCL to reduce its financial risk. It was administered by SGIO but as a joint stock company its status as a Crown corporation is historically questionable.

By 1950 SGIO had 215 employees and 675 agents. By 1952, it held about 25% of the general insurance business in the province.

The change in government in resulting from the 1964 election posed a threat to the continuation of SGIO and other Crown corporations. Ross Thatcher expressed a philosophy of encouraging the industrial development of Saskatchewan by private enterprise. SGIO survived but some of its monopoly advantages were removed.

SGFCL was not so lucky. Seen as surviving on monopoly advantages and contracts from SGIO and losing money as well, it was put up for sale. On July 31, 1965, rather than being sold, it was absorbed by SGIO.

Throughout the late 1960's the Liberal government was accused by the opposition of planning to sell SGIO which it denied. In fact, a firm offer to buy the company was received in 1969 but was rejected by the government.

The 1970's marked a return to CCF (now NDP) government. SGIO was handling almost all of the insurance sales in Saskatchewan, partially due to lower pricing and because most of the competition had quit the field. It was a regular practice for insurance companies to have one rate for Alberta and Manitoba and a lower rate for Saskatchewan. Many decided it wasn't worth the trouble.

In 1979, SGIO was re-branded SGI - Saskatchewan Government Insurance but remained SGIO as a legal entity.

Various departments and divisions existed within the Office over its history(2) including as follows:

The Statistical Department existed in 1946. It continued to appear on a 1950 organizational chart but was apparently absorbed by the Accounting Department sometime between 1951 and 1953.

The Claims Department existed in 1946. By August 18, 1948 it had been divided into Claims - General; Claims - Accident; Claims - Collision.

The Accounting Department existed in 1946.

The Agency Department first appeared on October 18, 1946 and continued to show on an August 18, 1948 organizational chart.

The Fire Department existed in 1946. On September 1, 1947, the Fire Department was divided into two departments: Fire Department - Agency and Fire Department - Direct.

On December 1, 1947, the Inspection Department was established to inspect various types of risks and supply data to the Underwriting Department.

The Salvage Division was established in 1947 to provide a sales outlet for used automotive parts salvaged from vehicles which were damaged beyond repair in accidents. Salvage allowed SGIO to recover a portion of losses incurred in auto claims. The Divisional head office was originally located in North Battleford and opened on July 10, 1947. Additional depots were later established in Regina (1961), Saskatoon (1966), Yorkton (1969), and Moose Jaw (1971). The Divisional office was re-located to Saskatoon in September 1966.

The Reinsurance Department was set up in 1950. It was responsible for placement, negotiating and handling Fire and Inland Marine reinsurance as required.

The Personnel Department was formed in 1956.

A Promotion and Advertising Department was created in 1957.

The Multi-Peril Department was established in 1957 to provide all general insurance needs in one package. In 1961 the department was assimilated into various sections of the Fire Underwriting Department.

The Loss Prevention Department was established in 1973. It was previously part of the Property Department.

An Internal Audit department was created in 1976.

The Motor Vehicle Division was established on April 1, 1977, when the driver license and motor vehicle registration delivery system formerly administered by the Department of Finance was transferred to the SGIO.

The Customer Relations Department was established in 1977 to handle consumer complaints and inquiries. It seems to have taken over responsibilities and functions of Public Relations.

The Automobile Experimental Centre was set up in Regina in 1974 to monitor and conduct research into cost-effective automotive repair techniques, train SGIO auto adjusters, assist auto body shops with the application of new repair techniques, and supply data on repair costs and vehicle design.

The Saskatchewan Government Insurance Act, 1980 (C. S-19.1) assented to on April 29, 1980 officially dropped "Office" from the legal title of the company and creating SGI.

At that time, SGI's organizational structure consisted of: Minister in Charge / Chair of Board of Directors; Office of the General Manager / President; Administration Division (Policy services; Administration and Coordination; Administration services); Claims Division; Salvage Operations; Corporate Relations Division; Marketing Division; Systems Planning and Research; Systems Development Motor Vehicle Division; Finance; Legal; Motor Licensing Division; Special Accounts Department; Underwriting (Casualty; Commercial Property; Loss Prevention; Personal and Farm Property).

Footnotes:

1)One source lists the staff as four, but this may have included Allure.

2) Tracking the organizational structure of SGIO is difficult because annual reports consisted primarily of financial information and seldom documented these changes or contained organizational charts.

Samuel John Mugford was born in St. Austell, Cornwall, England in 1867. He was educated in England and worked as a teacher before emigrating to Canada in 1890. Mugford settled in the Saltcoats, North-West Territories (now known as Saskatchewan) district in 1891 and taught in the Graham and Rothbury school districts and in Langenburg. He homesteaded on SW 32-24-32-W1 in the Saltcoats district and continued to farm until his death.

Active in the local community, Mugford helped establish several school districts in the Ukrainian settlements around Wroxton and Calder. He served as a returning officer for several elections and was appointed an official auditor for the Province of Saskatchewan in 1912. He served as an auditor for the Rural Municipalities of Calder and Churchbridge and for various small companies and businesses. Mugford was active in the Saltcoats Grain Growers Association and with the Saltcoats and Rothbury agricultural societies.

Mugford died in Saltcoats in 1934.

Mugford married Mabel Goodday in 1898. The Mugfords had three children: Jim; Amy and Beth.

Mary Ellen McCutchon (nee Moynihan) was born in Cork, Ireland in 1895. She served with the British Women's Army Auxiliary Corps during the First World War. She was married to Noel McCutchon, a Watkins distributor. McCutchon resided in Regina, Saskatchewan for most of her life. She died on December 10, 1987 and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Saskatoon.

Freddie Herbert Robbins was born on July 18, 1919. He received his early training in architecture from the Canadian National Railways' Architect's Office in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He later earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Manitoba. Robbins was granted membership to the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, and to the Saskatchewan Association of Architects in 1954.

Robbins began his professional architectural career as Chief Draftsman with the Canadian National Railways' Architect's Office in Winnipeg. He then held the position of Assistant Architect with the Government of Saskatchewan Department of Public Works in the early-to-mid 1950s. Robbins established a private architectural firm with Edward J. McCudden in the mid 1950s. He later ran his own architectural firm, Robbins Architect Ltd., until his retirement in 1987.

Herb Robbins was married to Gladys Robbins. Together, they operated Ladyrand Ranch east of Regina and enjoyed gardening. Herb Robbins died on December 28, 2004.

The organizational meeting of the Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society Inc. (SHFS) was held on August 17, 1957 in Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan. 25 people were in attendance at the meeting, called by Richard Johnston and Blodwen Davies of the Canadian Folk Music Society. The first regular meeting was held in Regina on November 21, 1957. Everett Baker served as the first president. The SHFS was incorporated as a non-profit corporation on February 28, 1975 under the provisions of The Societies Act.

The mandate of the SHFS is to gather, preserve and promote interest in the history and folklore of Saskatchewan. The activities of the SHFS include gathering and preserving stories, poems, reminiscences, songs, photographs, oral histories and biographies, etc; offering motorcoach tours to places of historical interest; marking historical sites and trails; sponsoring performances; providing financial assistance and bursaries for members' historical projects; and presenting awards to individuals and organizations working to raise public awareness of Saskatchewan's history and folklore. Throughout its existence, numerous committees have been established to represent areas of special interest. Folklore magazine, established in 1979, is published quarterly along with a newsletter.

The SHFS is a provincial organization with members at large. Local branches can be established with the approval of the provincial body. The main office of the SHFS is located at 1870 Lorne Street in Regina. The SHFS currently (2012) receives funding from the sale of memberships, publications and other means and from Saskatchewan Lotteries. The SHFS is governed by an executive, including a president, past president, vice-president and treasurer, and administered by staff including the executive director and Folklore editor.

The Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame (SAHF) began as a Saskatchewan Homecoming '71 project. The project was originally proposed by Gary Carlson, executive director of the Saskatchewan Federation of Agriculture. It was incorporated under the Societies Act on June 8, 1972. The founding member organizations were the Saskatchewan Agricultural Graduates Association, the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists, the Saskatchewan Federation of Agriculture, the Saskatchewan Museums Association, the Saskatchewan Section of the National Farmers Union, and the Western Development Museum. The Hall of Fame is located at the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon.

The purpose of the SAHF is "to formally and publicly recognize persons who, in the course of their residence in Saskatchewan, made a significant and outstanding contribution to the welfare and improvement of agriculture, and to a better way of life for the farm family." The Hall of Fame's activities include researching nominees, locating funding, commissioning pencil drawings of inductees, and arranging the induction ceremony. The first induction ceremony was held on July 11, 1972.

The Board consists of a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 25 directors, including both representatives of member organizations and directors-at-large representing the general public. There is also an executive consisting of a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, treasurer, and a chairperson of the induction committee. The organization currently (2012) continues to operate from its office at 2610 Lorne Avenue South in Saskatoon.

The Saskatchewan Historical Society was established in 1936 by individuals interested in preserving Saskatchewan's documentary heritage. The Society was incorporated on May 11, 1936 in accordance with the provisions of The Benevolent Societies Act. The first general meeting was held in Regina on June 22, 1936. The Society's head office was located in Regina, first at the Regina Normal School and then in the McCallum-Hill Building. The Society's primary source of funding was the Government of Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan Historical Society collected and compiled various materials relating to Saskatchewan's history, especially prior to 1882, and made the information available to interested parties. Standing committees were established to deal with specific aspects of Saskatchewan history, including church history; political history; farmers' movements; colonization and immigration; native groups; education; early exploration and the early history of the City of Regina. The Society collected personal papers and pioneer reminiscences; investigated and marked historic sites; corresponded with governments and organizations; answered enquiries and encouraged the establishment of local branches throughout the province.

Membership in the Society was open to honorary and regular members. Officers included a president; first, second and third vice-presidents; and a secretary. The Saskatchewan Historical Society was dissolved on October 5, 1951.

William Henry Richard "Dick" Bird was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England on August 16, 1892. From an early age he developed a keen interest in cinema and still photography. His first cinema film experience occurred in 1905 watching Boer Was footage at the theatre in Leamington. Emigrating at the age of fourteen, Bird came to Vermont to live with an uncle in c.1907. His family later followed, settling in Fort William, Ontario.

Starting his career in Chicago, Illinois, Bird travelled extensively, gaining experience as a freelance cinematographer covering events for various organizations and film companies in the United States, China, Japan, Korea, South America, Mexico, and Canada, shooting newsreels, animated cartoons, travelogues and commercial motion pictures. In 1919, while living in Toronto, Bird was elected first president of the Canadian Professional and Press Photographers Association. Also in 1919, Bird played an instrumental role organizing Local 636 of the Cinematographers and Motion Picture Craftsmen, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Union.

In 1921 Dick Bird moved with his family to Regina, Saskatchewan to make documentary, educational and industrial films for the Saskatchewan government. He continued to shoot newsreels for Pathescope. He also founded Bird Films Ltd., a photographic shop, in Regina in 1928. During this time his photography often mirrored his achievements in filmmaking. This included flights of the RAF Forestry Air Fire Patrol in northern Saskatchewan, the opening of the Albert Memorial Bridge in Regina in 1930 and the Regina Riot of 1935. He also filmed the opening broadcast of Saskatchewan's first radio station CKCK in 1922, the first drilling for oil and gas in the province, as well as the visits of various dignitaries, including Edward, Prince of Wales, on his 1919 Canadian tour. In 1922 Bird founded the Canadian Cinema Arts Society. He continued to travel through Europe in the 1930s filming newsreels of the Spanish Civil War and Hitler Youth rallies.

By the 1930's, however, the primary focus of Bird's career had shifted to nature photography and conservation. Elected president of the Regina Natural History Society, he actively promoted public interest in wildlife. In 1937 he began a weekly program on CKCK Radio "Camera Trails". He published The Camera Trailer, a newsletter illustrated with his own photographs for distribution to his radio audience. He also started a nature club for children and encouraged nature field trips throughout rural Saskatchewan. Bird also produced commercial films for the Boy Scouts of Canada and the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool.

Soon after coming to work in Canada following the end of the First World War, Dick Bird had met and married Pansy Myrtle Fern Nix of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Actively supporting her husband's career, Pansy Bird managed and operated Bird Films Ltd. while Dick was travelling on film assignments. Dick and Pansy Bird had three children Gordon, Jeanne (Kaad) and Yvonne (Ellis). Their son died as a child and Pansy died in Mexico in 1937.

Ada Gertrude Bovee was born near Avonlea, Saskatchewan on December 21, 1917 to James and Gertrude (Nelson) Bovee. She was the youngest of six children. The Bovees came to homestead in the Avonlea area from Wisconsin in 1906. Trained in business and an amateur ornithologist, Ada also was active in the local Avonlea Sunday School, Mission Band, choirs and the I.O.D.E. She met Dick Bird in the early 1940s when he was invited to show films to her Canadian Girls in Training (CGIT) church group. Soon after Ada began working for Bird Films photographing birds, animals and flowers. During the Second World War Ada and Dick showed films and slides in many rural towns and villages in the province in support of the "Milk for Britain" campaign.

In December 1946 Dick and Ada Bird were married, marking a long personal and business partnership as cinematographers travelling throughout Canada, the United States and the world producing nature films and conducting winter lecture tours. From 1952 to 1955 they shot film footage for Walt Disney Production's True Life Adventure series. Their lecture audience included Harvard, the National Geographic Society, and the Smithsonian Institute. The Audubon Society sponsored many of their tours. The Birds' still photography taken during the period of the 1940's and 1950's is dominated by wildlife, flora, and natural scenery.

In 1960 Dick and Ada Bird retired from eight years of lecture tours to their property at Buena Vista near Regina Beach, which had been in the Bird family since the early 1940s. They continued to show films in Regina public schools to encourage awareness of conservation among school children, and also were guest speakers at various Canadian Clubs in Eastern Canada. In the 1970s Dick began work on his memoirs and on a history of photography, although ill health prevented the completion of this project. Ada worked from 1969 to 1983 with Muir Barber Ltd. in the hardware and gift business. After Dick's death in 1986, Ada moved into Regina. She continued to be active in many senior and church groups.

Throughout his life, Dick Bird received many honours. He was an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society and a Fellow of the Zoological Society of London. In 1950 he was the second Canadian, after Yousuf Karsh, to become a Fellow of the Photographic Society of America. In that year he also became the first life member of the Saskatchewan Natural History Society. In May 1976 Bird received an honourary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Regina. He was also honoured as Saskatchewan's Pioneer Cinematographer at the International Film Festival in Yorkton in 1979.

Bird Films Ltd. was, since its early years, very much a family business, operated by Dick and Pansy Bird, their daughters, and later their daughters' husbands. The business sold cameras, film and accessories and also had a studio and film lab. Dick Bird remained active in Bird Films into the 1960s. Bird Films continues (2005) to operate as a photography business with a third generation of family management.

Dick Bird died on September 27, 1986. Ada Bird died on October 3, 2003 in Regina.