Description of Historic Place

The Warden’s Headquarters/Visitor Centre is situated in the Government Reserve Area of Waskesiu, Prince Albert National Park. Constructed in a Tudor rustic style employing fieldstone, horizontal logs, wood shingles, and half timbering, the symmetrical building features a projecting central bay flanking windows and a gable-roofed porch. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Warden’s Headquarters/Visitor Centre is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value:
The Warden’s Headquarters/Visitor Centre is associated with the early history of Prince Albert National Park and the Waskesui townsite area and is of significance in the development of the community as a major resort destination.

Architectural Value
The Warden’s Headquarters/Visitor Centre building demonstrates a very good aesthetic design and is one of the better examples of the distinctive and picturesque Tudor rustic style utilized by the Park’s Architectural Division. The multi-paned window units contrast with the rough indigenous materials. The use of log walls, stucco and ‘half-timbering’ contribute to the rustic character of the building, which exhibits good functional qualities and very good craftsmanship and materials.

Environmental Value:
The Warden’s Headquarters/Visitor Centre maintains an unchanged relationship with its site, reinforces the rustic character of the cottage subdivision, and is a familiar landmark to residents and visitors.

Sources:
Buildings, Prince Albert National Park, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 85-063

Warden’s Headquarters/Visitor Centre, Prince Albert National Park, Waskesui Saskatchewan, Heritage Character Statement 85-063.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Warden’s Headquarters/ Visitor Centre should be respected, for example:

Its very good Tudor rustic, picturesque aesthetic, good functional design and very good quality craftsmanship and materials, for example:

-The rectangular single storey massing with hipped-roof.
-The exposed roof rafters and tails, and the distinctive front porch with peeled logs in unusual patterns for supports, trims and brackets
-The symmetrical arrangement of the multi-pane casement windows, panelled doors and screens, and the diamond pane casement near the chimney breast.
-The use of local materials, natural in colour and rough in texture, particularly the horizontal peeled log walls with extended corners, and the large fieldstone chimney.
-The functional interior configuration.

The manner in which the Warden’s Headquarters maintains an unchanged relationship to its site, reinforces the present rustic character of its natural park setting and is a familiar local landmark, as evidenced by:

-Its ongoing relationship to its landscaped grounds surrounded by mature trees.
-Its picturesque form, materials and details, which contribute to the rustic character of the cottage subdivision setting within Waskesui townsite.
-Its high level of traffic owing to its use as a visitor centre, that makes it known to visitors and townspeople.