Through the Eyes of Everett Baker

Grand Coteau Heritage and Cultural Centre
Shaunavon, Saskatchewan

"Captured most people there" (excerpted from Everett Baker's diary, July 16, 1958) best describes Everett Baker's passion for Saskatchewan people, places, and events. Through the use of photography, this amateur photographer captured the lives and events of everyday individuals living in Saskatchewan from the late 1930s to the early 1970s. Baker's interests included a variety of subjects, and in particular, the social and natural history of Saskatchewan. He worked diligently on a number of projects to encourage the preservation of Saskatchewan's history. By capturing people and events on film, presenting early slide shows to groups throughout the province, and using his gift for story telling, Mr. Baker created in people young and old an awareness of the importance of this history. In his later years, Mr. Baker donated to the Co-operative College of Canada over 10 000 colour slides that were eventually donated to the Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society. Through this donation, the slides continue to be utilized for research purposes, but also the tradition of slide shows continues! Presentations by the Society continue to draw audiences and inspire viewers. These slides, along with countless others found in many private and public collections, serve as a lasting legacy for the people of Saskatchewan, something that Mr. Baker had intended. This project represents a brief synopsis of the over 11 000 slides found in the collections of both organizations and individuals throughout Saskatchewan.