Looking back - 1966: Provost Signs recognized as a rapidly expanding business

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Published on Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Neepawa Press Archives. Oct 28, 1966: Barney Provost expands his sign business.

By Cecil Pittman

Neepawa Press

Week of October 26, 2016

80 years ago, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 1936

It has been suggested to the Press that an employment agency be established in Neepawa. Many times there are odd jobs to be done around a home and when men or women are wanted for a few days, it is often difficult to obtain one when needed because of lack of contact with those who are available for such work.

An additional service to poultry raisers in the Neepawa area and other points of Manitoba will be in effect next spring, as the new hatchery for turkey poults, under construction at the local Swift Plant, gets underway. This hatchery, one of the very few in the province, will fill a great need in this line.

Built on the west side of the present chick hatchery, the new building will measure 40 by 60 feet and will be separated from the present hatchery by a feed storage room. It is planned that about 60,000 turkeys will be hatched the first season.

Starting here in 1933, the Swifts have made steady progress during the past few years, employing an average of 27 persons full-time. During the poultry season, somewhere around 50 are employed. In addition to the other services supplied, the company, under the management of Mr. M.R. Baker, hatched 205,000 chicks last season.

60 years ago, Thursday, Oct. 25, 1956

The Town of Neepawa was awarded honourable mention in the Manitoba Good Roads Association annual beautification competition (beautification of towns, class four) it was announced Monday night at a special meeting of council.

Winner of the Shea-Drewery trophy, awarded to the most beautiful town in Manitoba and won by Neepawa in 1954, was won by Dauphin this year. Neepawa will not be eligible for this major trophy until next year, since a town, after winning the trophy, must wait two years before it can qualify again.

50 years ago, Friday, Oct. 28, 1966

Barney Provost, owner and manager of Provost Signs Ltd., is building a rapidly expanding business which serves a widespread area in this province, as well as other points in western Canada. 

Mr. Provost has the only sign building plant in Manitoba, outside the city of Winnipeg, with the capability to produce molded plastic signs.

Based in Neepawa, the local industry affects a much larger area throughout the province. It has produced signs, as well as those which grace almost every business place in Neepawa, which have been shipped to practically every major business centre in this province and as far afield as Vancouver.

40 years ago, Thursday, Oct. 28, 1976

The Neepawa and District United Way Campaign has reached the $8,000 mark.

The campaign is just beginning to really roll, and campaign chairman Earl Murray said that in most cases, response has been excellent. He said that this year, the rural campaign, under chairman Lloyd Sirett, has been “exceptionally well organized.”

Mr. Sirett has set the rural campaign’s goal at one-third of the campaign’s overall goal of $22,500.

The residential campaign is also nicely getting started by the newly-formed Neepawa Kinsmen Club, who has offered the services of 20 volunteers.

30 years ago, Thursday, Oct. 23, 1986

Getting payment of unapproved costs at Neepawa’s hospital is proving to be about as difficult as getting a final reservation date for the hospital’s construction.

According to Neepawa and District Memorial Hospital administrator Eugene Dutchak, unapproved costs are nothing new. By inflation, they tend to grow larger every year. This year, unapproved costs at the hospital are about double what they were last year.

What is new is the difficulty in getting them paid.

Dutchak said that for the fiscal year 1984-1985, a levy of $12,450 of unapproved cost was made against the hospital.

He said this isn’t fair to call the cost a deficit, because they are legitimate and they are always paid.

The costs are there because of board indemnity and interest, two things not recognized by the Manitoba Health Services Commission.

20 years ago, Monday, Oct. 22, 1996

A former Wellwood-area farmer, known as a shrewd investor by his family, has willed a sizeable chunk of his estate to the Neepawa Hospital.

Beautiful Plains Health Service administrator, Eric Gustafson, said although the estate has yet to be settled, Jim Sayward’s will may put $1-million dollars into the hospital’s bank account.

10 years ago, Monday, Oct. 23, 2006

An official ribbon cutting ceremony was held last Monday to mark the completion of Arden’s new lagoon – the first step to bringing sewer and water to the RM of Lansdowne.

Reeve Arnie Suski, who is not seeking reelection, said the project will count as one of his proudest legacies.

“I’m pleased what we (as a council) have accomplished,” Suski said, although he admitted not everyone is on board with the project.