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A little more than 10 years ago, some shocking news leaked: plans to expand Saskatoon’s Mendel Art Gallery had been abandoned in favour of a new building and location.

The proposed new Art Gallery of Saskatchewan at River Landing was labelled a “travesty” by former Mendel director Terry Graff.

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Benefactor Fred Mendel’s grandson, Chip Mitchell, said the news came as a “complete shock” and called it a “big mistake.”

On April 2, 2009, the City of Saskatoon and the gallery board announced plans for a $55-million facility with construction to start in 2009 and finish by 2012.

You could argue there has been very little good news related to the project in the decade that followed.

Construction did not start until 2013 and the price for the gallery and parkade underneath it may have doubled when the cost is finalized.

Surely the best news came in October, when the Remai Modern marked its first year of operation. The gallery far surpassed its goals for attendance, memberships and revenues.