Egg Money Statue
A Tribute to Pioneer Women in Saskatchewan
Through the long prairie grass they made their way,
Suffering sickness and misfortune
One foot on the doorstep of defeat
Following dreams of riches and prosperity
They persevered
And for that we are very thankful
- Susan Grant
The Story
Has your mother or gramdmother ever told you about her life as a pioneer, the hardship, isolation, hardwork and lonelines she faced? Honour her here
Life in the prairies was not easy and a way to earn extra money was by raising chickens. Women collected the eggs, assisted by their children, and sold the eggs at the market. The money received from the sale was theirs. The women used the extra income to buy fabric for clothes and small appliances for the household.
Create It
In 2005 during the Saskatoon German Days, which had the motto "Share our Story - Honouring Pioneer Women", it was announced that a sculpture to honour these outstanding women was to be placed in Saskatoon's downtown area. This is your chance to pay tribute to the pioneer women in your family. Help to create this bridge from the past to the present to the future. The platform around the sculpture will contain the names of Saskatchewan pioneer women. For a contribution of $1,500, the name of your mother or grandmother will be added and remembered forever.
The Artist
The bronze Egg Money was designed and created by Shirley and Don Begg of the Studio West Bronze Foundry and Gallery in Cochrane, Alberta. Well known for his highly detailed and lifelike bronze statues, Don has completed more than 60 public monuments for public buildings, schools, libraries, museums, parks, and residential communities across North America, France, and Germany.
The Saskatoon sculpture will be the third and last of its kind. The other two bronzes are located in Cochrane, Alberta and Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, Alberta.
