A local Swift Current resident is on a mission to raise awareness about a unique aspect of the city's history.

Joey Donnelly has created a Facebook page about Billy Buffalo, a famous play structure in the city that was created by artist Russell Yuristy in 1977 as Donnelly explains.

"The local art gallery commissioned Russ to create a buffalo. So in 1977 that buffalo arrived in Swift Current along with a National Film Board camera crew and they captured a historic moment when Billy Buffalo became one of the favorite citizens of the community."

A few months after being built, Billy was destroyed by arsonists in the late hours of November 2nd. He was doused with gasoline and destroyed within hours. 

Donnelly says that Yuristy compassionately thought about the youth that destroyed him and felt bad for the children that loved Billy and so he decided to build another structure in concrete which survived until 2007 when it was demolished by city park crews due to disrepair. 

Donnelly provides some history on the structure and how the name was chosen.

"The community selected the buffalo and it was later school children that named him Billy and really cherished this image of the buffalo. In fact, after he was destroyed in November of 1977 the grade six children at Ashley Park School created a replica of Billy the Buffalo and dubbed him junior."

Donnelly adds that there is still a Billy Buffalo park located in town on 11th Ave NE, however, he would like to see a third structure of Billy be created and he believes there is potential for reconciliation with a project like that with indigenous people, raising awareness about the environment and the wonderful bison herd located at Grasslands National Park and he believes the project would also serve as a way to build the spirit of the community during the pandemic.

Those interested in learning more about Billy Buffalo or who have stories to contribute can find Donnelly's Facebook page by searching "Billy Buffalo".

Donnelly hopes to reach out to Yuristy and interview him and ask him his ideas about a third Billy Buffalo.