American family visits Saskatchewan city bearing their name

After more than 120 years, Scott Warman’s family travelled from across the U.S. for a reunion in the Sask. city that bears their name. Laura Woodward reports.

Pictures of Warman road signs quickly filled Scott Warman’s phone.

“It’s so cool,” he said, laughing.

The city of Warman was named after his great-grandfather, Cy Warman.

He was an American journalist and poet known for writing about life along the railroad.

In 1905, the community of Diamond was renamed Warman in his honour.

More than 120 years later, his family travelled from across the United States for a reunion in the Saskatchewan city that bears their name.

“It’s surreal pulling into a place where our name is on the highway and everywhere,” said Kirsten Warman Powers, Cy Warman’s great-granddaughter.

• Download the CTV News app to get breaking news alerts sent to your device

With the Warman family in attendance at city hall, Mayor Gary Philipchuk proclaimed May 29 as Cy Warman Heritage Day.

The trip was organized by Christine Warman, whose late husband Donald was one of Cy Warman’s grandsons.

“I think I just felt very badly that Donald never got here before he passed away. I really didn’t want the kids to miss out on that,” she said.

“I wanted everybody to come together and just be able to experience this, and have memories that are going to last a lifetime.”

It was the family’s first time visiting Saskatchewan — and the first chance to see the city they’ve spent their lives hearing about.