Gull Lake 2035: At the Crossroads of Community and Opportunity
- Gull Lake Events
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Part One: The Vision—Shaping Our Future Together
This is the first in a series exploring Gull Lake’s future. Part One looks at where we’ve come from, what we’ve built together, and the choices that lie ahead. I’ve chosen 2035 as a planning horizon—far enough to think big, close enough to act now.
Every generation of Gull Lake—from our early founders to today — has faced a choice: to adapt or to fade. We’ve always chosen to adapt.
From our century‑old Lyceum Theatre—rebuilt twice and still central to community life — to the Recreation Complex, Autumn House, and Little Green on the Prairie Park, our story has always been about values and resilience.
Around 2010, when I was mayor, an investor came to town and bought up many of our vacant lots. At the time, we had more than a few. When I asked him why, his answer was simple: our crossroads location—which he saw as a great opportunity for community growth.
Although he eventually returned many of the lots, he built six duplexes that filled six empty lots. In the years that followed, more lots were developed, the council worked on marketing the Centennial Subdivision, and we increased Gull Lake’s online visibility. Today, many of those once‑vacant lots are full, and the Centennial Subdivision is nearly built out.
The old saying “build it and they will come” doesn’t hold true anymore.
Our own history shows something better: when we create space and opportunity—and match it with vision and intention—Gull Lake moves forward.
We’ve seen this truth play out time and again:
Housing & Growth
Centennial Subdivision—new lots were opened, marketed with persistence, and eventually filled with homes.
Investor Duplexes—six new units built on once‑vacant land.
Community Spaces
Recreation Complex—a facility built to serve all ages, now a hub of recreation and community pride.
Autumn House—not a new build, but a sustained and supported facility that allows families to keep loved ones close.
Little Green on the Prairie Park—open land transformed into a gathering place that reflects our values.
Downtown Revitalization
Old Pharmacy Building—now being restored by the Gull Lake Property Development Cooperative, turning a historic space into new opportunities for business and community life.
Former Funeral Home—taken into town possession, repaired with the help of the Economic Development Committee and Town Council, and transformed into a thriving independent bookstore when Yellow Canary Books & Stationery purchased the property.
Museum Visitor Centre—added by the Economic Development and Tourism Committee, expanding the Museum’s role to welcome visitors, share local stories, and promote businesses and attractions in Gull Lake and the surrounding area.
Elks Hall Restoration—revitalizing Gull Lake’s only downtown hall, preserving a legacy gathering space and strengthening the heart of our community.
Wong Guy Shoe Shop—exterior restoration is underway on this downtown heritage building, with more work ahead to preserve its character and unlock future potential.
Digital Presence
Invest Gull Lake—a platform that markets our strengths and signals to investors that we are ready for growth.
And we are not starting from scratch. Council supports and employs a part‑time Economic Development Officer, and together with the Economic Development Committee, they have already accomplished a great deal. The newly formed Gull Lake Property Development Cooperative is actively working on a plan to raise funds to restore the old drugstore, with the goal of bringing more business and vitality to downtown Gull Lake.
These successes prove something important: Gull Lake grows when we act with vision. The question now is how we carry that momentum into 2035.
Looking toward 2035, I believe Gull Lake’s future depends on three essentials:
Grow Space—at least one new subdivision, with housing that reflects community needs.
Secure Water Plant—As the water plant nears the end of its life expectancy. Council has supported a multi‑year modernization plan, including the replacement of aging valves across the network, and has joined discussions on a potential regional water project with SaskWater, Hazlet, and Cabri. The goal is clear—to secure a safe, sustainable, and reliable water supply that can support both today’s needs and tomorrow’s growth.
Create opportunity—for families, businesses, and organizations, while preserving the qualities that make Gull Lake unique.
Population growth will be part of that story—perhaps 100 to 150 new residents over the next decade—but numbers alone aren’t the measure of success. What matters is whether we can grow sustainably, without losing the qualities that make Gull Lake special.
Sustainability, for towns like Gull Lake, means keeping our local economy strong, our recreation programs active, and our facilities supported. These things don’t run on sentiment alone — they require people. Some population growth isn’t just helpful; it’s necessary to keep what we’ve built running well into the future.
We’re already seeing the effects of rural decline. Our school population today is substantially smaller than when I was in school — a shift that ripples through every corner of community life. Fewer students means fewer families, fewer volunteers, fewer participants in local sports and recreation. It affects businesses, service clubs, and even the rhythm of our seasonal events.
Family farms once anchored this ecosystem, supporting everything from hardware stores to hockey teams. As they disappear, so too does the stability they offered. That’s why growth and sustainability must go hand in hand—not just to expand, but to endure.
I know this from experience: a vision only succeeds when it belongs to the whole community. A council or committee can champion ideas, but no single group or individual can achieve lasting success alone. It takes input, participation, and ownership from residents, businesses, and organizations working together. That is how vision becomes reality. The next step is ours to take—together.
Blake Campbell
Gull Lake Events
What do you see as Gull Lake’s greatest opportunity for 2035? Share your thoughts — this vision belongs to all of us.
Part One of the Gull Lake 2035 series. Part Two will explore the next steps in turning vision into action.
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