From Vault to Museum: Moving John Diefenbaker’s Piano Across Saskatchewan

Some moves are positively historical in nature.

For Landon Woodrow, a mover with Two Small Men with Big Hearts, one long-distance job in Saskatchewan stood out not because of its size, but because of what it carried. The assignment was simple on paper: move a piano from a university facility in Saskatoon to a home in Prince Albert. It was only after some digging that Landon realized this was no ordinary instrument.

The piano belonged to John Diefenbaker.

The instrument had been stored in a high-security artifact vault at the University of Saskatchewan, protected like any other nationally significant historical item. Diefenbaker, Canada’s 13th prime minister, was born and raised in Prince Albert, and the piano was being returned to his family home, now preserved as a museum.

“At first, we were just told we were moving a piano from the university to a house in Prince Albert,” Landon said. “Then I looked up the delivery address and realized it was Diefenbaker’s home museum. That’s when it really hit.”

For Landon, who grew up in Saskatoon, the name Diefenbaker was familiar from school, but this job added a tangible weight to that history. The piano itself was estimated to be around 200 years old, making it not only fragile, but irreplaceable.

Despite the significance, the team made a conscious decision not to let the moment overwhelm them.

“We approached it the same way we would any other piano move,” Landon said. “That actually made it easier. If you think too much about the history, it can get daunting.”

Preparation was meticulous. The piano was wrapped in layers, starting with protective blankets, followed by multiple rounds of shrink wrap. Then the process was repeated. By the end, the instrument was double padded and wrapped in several layers to ensure stability and insulation against winter temperatures.

Once secured, the piano was placed on a four-wheeler and carefully transported out to the truck. From there, the team began the drive north to Prince Albert, a trip that typically takes between an hour and a half to two hours depending on the truck and road conditions.

The move took place in the middle of a Saskatchewan winter, when highways can change quickly and potholes pose a serious risk to delicate cargo. For Landon, winter driving is as much about patience as skill.

“When you’re hauling something like that, you slow right down,” he said. “If there’s an obstruction or rough patch, you drop to 80 or even 60 kilometres an hour. You just take your time.”

Pianos, he explained, are actually some of the most secure items to transport when handled properly. Once strapped tightly against the wall of the truck, with nothing around them that can shift, they tend to travel well.

“I can make them 100 percent secure,” he said. “That peace of mind helps.”

Only three movers were involved in the job: Landon, another experienced piano mover, and a third crew member assisting with loading and unloading. Keeping the team small helped maintain control at every step.

When they arrived in Prince Albert, the piano was delivered directly into the dining room of the Diefenbaker home. The museum’s curators were there to receive it, guiding the movers through the historic space where the former prime minister had been born and raised.

Walking through the house added another layer of meaning to the job. The piano was placed near the dining table, positioned as part of the home’s story rather than just an exhibit.

The instrument arrived in the same condition it left Saskatoon.

“It showed up in mint condition,” Landon said. “They were ecstatic.”

As a musician himself, Landon couldn’t help but check one final detail. The piano, despite its age, was still in tune. While no one played it during the delivery, knowing it remained functional made the moment even more striking.

“That was pretty cool,” he said.

The job did spark a deeper curiosity about Diefenbaker and his legacy, even if Landon hasn’t yet had the chance to dive into the history. Still, the experience left its mark.

“It’s one of those moves you don’t forget,” he said. “It was very inherently Canadian.”

For Two Small Men with Big Hearts Moving, the job was a reminder that moving isn’t always about getting from point A to point B. Sometimes it’s about transporting pieces of a country’s story, carefully and quietly, along familiar highways in the middle of winter, making sure history arrives exactly as it should.

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