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With the completion of the mortgage payments, the Knox Metropolitan United Church could celebrate, and a ceremony was conducted. Two of the congregation's oldest members, Mrs. Robert Martin and Robert Sinton were given the task of burning the mortgage, signaling the end of the church's commitment to the financial burden left behind by the tornado.

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Wreckage in the rail yards of central Regina after the tornado.
1912
Regina, Saskatchewan

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The Province of Saskatchewan found itself committed to the tornado's financial legacy for many years. Premier Scott's quick action of giving $500,000 to aid the people of Regina left the federal government with the impression that their help was no longer needed.

In his book "Regina's Terrible Tornado", Frank W. Anderson recounts the final resolution of the tornado's financial legacy:

"To fulfill its pledge to the people of Regina, the Province borrowed the $500,000 from the Bank of Commerce, which in turn tapped money sources in Britain. The city then mortgaged $2,000,000 in property as security to the province for the loan. By a series of debentures, Regina was able to pay off the last installment of the loan on November 11th, 1922 - but not without several times coming close to having its mortgages foreclosed!

The provincial government, however, did not immediately repay its loan to the Bank of Commerce, but used the money for other purposes.

It was not until 1946 that Provincial Treasurer, C.M. Fines, began nibbling away at this dead horse which was cluttering up the Legislature's books - and drawing interest as regularly as clockwork. Even then, it was not until December 31st, 1958 - 46 ½ years after the tragedy - that Mr. Fines was able to repay the last of the half-million loan."

Long after the storm was gone, and after the streets of Regina regained the appearance of normalcy, the tornado left financial aftershocks that continued for almost half a century.

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Text written by Jaymie Koroluk
Regina Plains Museum