Kayville Timeline 1980’s

The 1980s were a decade of transition for Saskatchewan, featuring considerable economic difficulties and a significant shift in political ideology from social democracy towards conservative governance, setting the stage for the debates and developments of the 1990s.

The early 1980s saw Saskatchewan, like much of the world, affected by a severe economic recession. The province’s economy, heavily reliant on agriculture and natural resources, was hit hard by falling commodity prices. The oil crisis of the 1980s led to reduced demand and lower prices for oil and gas, while global agricultural markets also experienced downturns, impacting local farmers significantly. These economic conditions led to increased unemployment, fiscal deficits, and social unrest.

Politically, the 1980s in Saskatchewan were defined by a move away from the social democratic policies of the New Democratic Party (NDP) towards the more conservative approach of the Progressive Conservative (PC) party. In 1982, Grant Devine’s PCs came to power promising economic renewal through deregulation, privatization, and tax cuts. This represented a significant ideological shift in the province’s governance.

The Devine government embarked on numerous initiatives aimed at stimulating economic growth, including the expansion of resource extraction projects and the introduction of incentive programs to attract business and investment. However, these initiatives often resulted in large public expenditures and increased provincial debt. By the end of the decade, Saskatchewan faced substantial fiscal challenges, with high levels of debt and ongoing deficits.

Despite economic difficulties, the 1980s also saw continued development in Saskatchewan’s cultural and educational sectors, including the establishment of new cultural institutions and ongoing investment in higher education. The province also began to address issues related to Indigenous rights and land claims more actively, influenced by national trends towards greater recognition of Indigenous sovereignty and self-governance.

Kayville Timeline (1980 – 1989)

1960

• Joe Ursu opened an Imperial Oil bulk station which operated for ten years.¹
• Elie Juravle took over the mechanic’s garage with an Imperial Oil gas station first opened by George Ursu Jr. around 1946.  Elie ran the business for two more years.¹

1961

• aft 1960 Lorenz “Larry” Ritco opens a store in the building on the southeast corner of the main intersection¹

1962

• Elie Juravle sold his mechanic’s garage with an Imperial Oil gas station which he operated for the previous two years to John Scrimbit.  John ran the business for another eight years, eventually opening only on a part-time basis before closing in 1970.¹

1963

1964

1965

• The Hope Lutheran Church holds its last service since being built around 1924-1926.²

1966

1967

1968

1969

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1. “Kayville”, Pages 30-33, Karl R. Jackle, “Prairie Grass to Golden Grain:  RM 70 Ogema & Surrounding Areas” (1982), ISBN 0-919-533-10-8, Ogema and District Historical Society ↩︎
2. Need citation ↩︎