The History of Prairie Meadow Place

The original idea to have a place that cares for older people in the community dates back to the early part of the 20th century, being raised at a meeting in the Eigenheim Mennonite Church in March of 1917.   In 1922, a committee was set up to look at the feasibility of establishing a residence, but it took until 1944 at the annual church meeting that a formal Board was established, with Rev. John G. Rempel serving as the first chairman.  Rev. I. P. Friesen generously donated a two story home, and  after some renovations the Rosenort Home for the Aged welcomed its first residents on Sept. 15, 1944.   In 1952 a south wing was added, in 1959 an east wing and due to demand, a north wing was added in 1963.  Also in 1957 the name was changed to the Rosthern Mennonite Home for the Aged.  In 1990. The Saskatchewan Government changed the funding model for high -level care residents and they were all moved to the Mennonite Nursing Home.  The decision was made to renovate to create an assisted living residence changing the facility from 40 rooms to 20 suites. 

In 2013 the Board announced their long anticipated plans to rebuild the entire facility, with assisted living making up the lower level and two floors of privately owned condominiums above. The plan involved building in phases with the final project to include 12 condos on the two upper floors and 29 rooms, 6 doubles and 23 singles in the independent living area.

Demolition of the site and construction of the new building started in the fall of 2013 and was completed in the summer of 2017.  The Board renamed the facility Prairie Meadow Place, hoping it would be more welcoming of the diverse population in the Valley area.  It is now run by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of Rosthern Mennonite Church, Eigenheim Mennonite Church, and Tiefengrund Mennonite Church as well as local community members.  Its vision is to “provide safe and affordable housing for Seniors in the Valley area.”

“A wonderful place for seniors” Canadian Mennonite Article

Aaron and Verna Friesen

In 1944, I.P. Friesen donated his two-storey family home and the land it sat on for a Senior residence, a need identified by the Rosenort Group of Churches which included Rosthern, Eigenheim, Tiefengrund, Horse Lake and Hague Mennonite Churches. The Mennonite Home for the Aged came into existence. The home was expanded and renovated in 1959, 1965, and 1967.

In 2008, plans were developed to replace the aging structure with a more modern facility but the needed finances could not be secured. In 2013, Aaron and Verna Friesen approached the Board at the time and offered a financial donation to kickstart the project into being. Other benefactors joined in as well and in the fall of 2023, construction began on phase 1 of the newly named Prairie Meadow Place, a registered not for profit, charitable organization. The original group of Rosenort Churches has decreased by one with the closing of Horse lake, and then later by two when Hague Mennonite decided to remove itself from the operating Board of Prairie Meadow Place (PMP). The remaining three churches form the majority of the board that currently operates PMP and also helps support the operation of the facility financially. 

In the years following 2013, other phases of construction followed until the project was completed. PMP operates outside of government subsidy and funding and relies on resident income and donations to meet its financial obligations. Things were tight in the years of operations, and the considerable mortgage was a constant cloud hanging over the head of the Board. In December 2020, Aaron and Verna offered to negotiate a payout of the mortgage and as of January 1, 2021, that financial cloud was lifted.

Aason spoke of being very blessed in his life with family and in his farming business ventures. In retirement, he and Verna had a strong desire to give back to their community. This became the vision to provide affordable and comfortable housing for seniors in Rosthern and surrounding areas, and to leave a legacy to be enjoyed by many in the future. Prairie Meadow Place is incredibly appreciative of the support that Aaron and Verna have given and you’ll notice a plaque and statement of gratitude installed in the front foyer to commemorate their vision and legacy. 

Thank you Aaron and Verna.