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February 2009 Blogs
Saskatchewan
MY CANADA, February 2009, by Jen Serdetchnaia
Saskatchewan
Do you think Saskatchewan is simply ‘Canada’s breadbasket’ of endless golden wheat fields, as many seem to feel? You may be surprised after reading this article, how much more it really is!
Take a Look Back
Novelist Wallace Stegner, who grew up in the east end community of Saskatchewan’s Cypress Hills, wrote: “Desolate? Forbidding? There was never a country that in its good moments was more beautiful. Even in drought or dust storm or blizzard it is the reverse of monotonous, once you have submitted to it with all the senses.” Stegner attempted to capture the heart of Saskatchewan with his words.
European settlers arrived in Saskatchewan throughout the 1800s, first taking advantage of the superior farmland and later of the convenience provided by the Canadian Pacific Railway, which ...
First Nations People
The First Nations and their people are at the heart of Saskatchewan. You’ll find many opportunities in Saskatchewan to discover the impact the First Nations made on the province. Be sure to visit the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum hosting a collection of eleven different buildings of First Nations artifacts. Explore the site and even discover a trout pond and the World’s Largest Tomahawk, a traditional North American axe.
The Capital
Welcome to Regina, Saskatch-ewan, Canada’s sunniest capital city! Hundreds of years ago huge herds of buffalo were hunted there for food and clothing. The Cree Natives held the belief that buffalo collect other buffalo’s bones, and so left piles of them behind. They actually made an impressive wall six feet tall by 40 feet in diameter, composed totally of buffalo bones! Thus, Regina was known as the “Pile of Bones”. Today, Regina is a thriving urban centre with a population of over 190,000 with plenty of attractions.
Attractions
We have Regina to thank for every one of our world-famous Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers. Saskatchewan’s capital is home to the only RCMP training academy where it prepares over 1,000 new members of the force each year.
“People here are so nice and it’s just a wonderful place to be. It’s not a big city but it’s not small—it’s just right,” said Chelsea, a born and raised Saskatchewan girl.
More than the Plains
So when you think Saskatchewan, you imagine flat land, the Great Plains, right? Although a great part of Saskatchewan is definitely flat, keep in mind that the north part of the province is home to boreal and mixed woods forests splayed over rolling hills. Northern Saskatchewan is ideal for camping, hiking, biking and wildlife viewing. Not interested in that kind of adventure? Try fishing! Saskatchewan encloses over 100,000 different lakes and rivers so you have a good shot at reeling in a record-breaking rainbow trout or northern pike. And if you think fishing is cruel, you’ll be happy to know that Saskatchewan fishing lodges practice catch-and-release methods to maintain their fishing resources.
Cool Discoveries
Are you up for an adventure? Take a trip out to the remote Athabasca Sand Dunes Wilderness Provincial Park. Get ready to see incredible sand dunes with pebbled surfaces and sand-blasted formations that are as tall as apartment buildings! Most interestingly, observe the traces of First Nations life from about 8,000 years ago.
Chelsea said that the must-discover attractions are the Tunnels of Moose Jaw, the campgrounds at Prince Albert and up and coming local bands that have yet to achieve nationwide fame. The Tunnels of Moose Jaw are found underneath the tourist city of Moose Jaw. These tunnels were used both for Chinese immigrants and bootleggers in Saskatchewan’s history. Currently you can enjoy an interactive tour featuring either topic.
While you’re there, take a moment from your travels to check out the six-foot reproduction of Canada’s 125th Anniversary coin which was produced by the Royal Canadian Mint and designed by local artist Rita Swanson in honour of Canada’s 125th birthday.
Chelsea tells us that, “Tourists can do so many things they don’t know about here!” Saskatchewan is quite the place to discover.
Capital: Regina
Motto: “From many peoples, strength.”
Flower: Prairie Lily
Population: 1,000,000
Languages: English, French
Industry: agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing, oil and petroleum, and tourism.
Climate: moderate, four seasons, -25 to +25 C
Geography: prairies, bordered by Manitoba, Alberta, NWT, and the United States.