Saskatchewan

Known as "The World's Bread Basket," Saskatchewan is one of Canada's "Prairie Provinces." Manitoba lies to the east and Alberta to the west. To the north are the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and to the south are the American states of North Dakota and Montana.

Like Alberta, Saskatchewan was established in 1905 from part of the Northwest Territories. The economy is based heavily on agriculture and mining. Other important sectors include technology, biosciences, forestry, fur trapping, and tourism. Tourists come to enjoy the sunshine, scenery, and outdoor activities, as well as cultural attractions such as theater, music festivals, and western rodeos.

General Information

Name: The province of Saskatchewan is named for the Saskatchewan River, whose name is from the Cree word "Kisisskatchewan," meaning "a swiftly flowing river." Nicknames include "Land of Living Skies," reflecting the wide-open landscapes, and "The World's Bread Basket," because of the huge grain harvests.

Provincial Symbols

• Bird: Sharp-tailed grouse
• Flower: Western red lily
• Tree: White birch
• Motto: "Multis E Gentibus Vires" (Latin: "From Many Peoples, Strength")

Capital: Since 1905, the provincial capital has been Regina (Latin: "queen"), nicknamed "the Queen City." Regina was established in 1882 and incorporated in 1903. Princess Louise, wife of Canadian Governor-General Lord Lorne, named the city in honor of her mother, Queen Victoria.

People and Culture

Population: In 2021, Saskatchewan had an estimated population of 1,179,844. Most residents live in the southern half of the province, in the capital Regina (population just over 215,100 in 2016), and Saskatoon, the largest city (estimated population 246,376 in 2016). Other major cities include Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, and Yorkton. The provincial population is a mixture of British and European cultures, along with a large Indigenous population.

Many notable individuals have come from Saskatchewan, including several famous national politicians. These include John Diefenbaker (1895–1979), who served as prime minister from 1959–63, and Ray Hnatyshyn (1934–2002), Canada's governor general from 1990–95. Other notables include astronaut David Williams, who conducted medical research on the Space Shuttle Columbia during a 1998 mission.

Indigenous People: Many different native peoples call Saskatchewan home, including the Cree, Chippewayan, and Dakota (Sioux). The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) encompasses seventy-four First Nation "bands" or organized groups; many of these are organized into ten tribal councils. The Métis Nation of Saskatchewan represents people descended from the intermarriage of aboriginal women and European traders/trappers during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Relations between the First Nations and the provincial government have often been strained, relating to land claims and former efforts to assimilate the aborigines. The Saskatchewan Department of First Nations and Métis Relations currently operates separate funds to promote these groups' economic development.

Saskatchewan's aboriginal peoples enjoy their own system of higher education. The three-campus First Nations University of Canada teaches aboriginal culture and runs training programs for teachers and social workers.

Arts and Entertainment: Saskatchewan has been strongly influenced by "cowboy culture," and, consequently, country music and rodeos are popular. The province also offers more cosmopolitan choices, such as live theater and art galleries. Arts venues include the historic Capitol Theatre in Moose Jaw, now part of the local cultural centre.

Notable Saskatchewan-born entertainers include musicians Joni Mitchell (1943–) and Jack Semple (1957–), actor Leslie Nielsen (1926–2010); and radio/TV personality Art Linkletter (1912–2010). Prominent writers include Sinclair Ross (1908–1996), William Ormond Mitchell (1914–98), and Maria Campbell (1940–).

Sports are an important part of Saskatchewan life; among the most popular are hockey and the official sport of curling. Saskatchewan has produced many curling champions at the national and international levels. Hockey player Gordie Howe, a Saskatchewan native, played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1946–80.

Environment and Geography

Topography: Much of Saskatchewan's 651,900 square kilometers (251,700 square miles) is covered by the southern grasslands; about one-third of the grassland region is farmland. Central Saskatchewan is known as the "parkland" region, home to deciduous trees such as aspen, birch, and poplar. The "Badlands" region lies in the central part of the province.

Much of northern Saskatchewan lies in the Canadian Shield, an area scraped flat by glaciers during the last ice age. Other parts of the north are "boreal" forest, a region of mostly coniferous trees. Some hilly regions do exist—the province's highest point is Cypress Hills, located 1,392 meters (4,566 feet) above sea level.

Major river systems in the Hudson Bay watershed include the North and South Saskatchewan, the Assiniboine, and the Churchill. Large lakes include the freshwater Lake Athabasca and Reindeer Lake, and artificial Lake Diefenbaker.

National Parks: Saskatchewan has two national parks and ten national historic sites, as well as around forty provincial parks. Prince Albert National Park, located in the north, includes coniferous forest and contains a wildlife preserve. Grasslands National Park is home to rare prairie grasses and dinosaur fossils.

Chief Sitting Bull of the Dakota tribe lived there briefly in 1876, while seeking refuge from the US Army after his victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

National historic sites include Batoche, site of the 1885 battle in the Métis' North-West Rebellion; Fort Battleford and Fort Walsh, built by the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) in the nineteenth century; and the Motherwell Homestead, an 1880s farm built by politician William Richard Motherwell (1860–1943).

Natural Resources: Saskatchewan is rich in natural resources, particularly farmland, forests, wild game, and mineral wealth. The province was once known as the “World's Bread Basket" because of the productivity of its grain fields. Northern Saskatchewan is largely covered by forests, much of them coniferous, which are rich sources of timber and wood products.

Mineral resources include sylvite (potash), an important fertilizer and the province's official mineral. Other industrial minerals include bentonite, sodium sulphate, and salt. Saskatchewan is one of the world's largest producers of uranium and also has large deposits of copper, zinc, lead, and nickel, as well as gold and iron. Diamonds were discovered in the late 1980s.

Saskatchewan is also a leading producer of petroleum and natural gas.

Plants and Animals: Many species of flora and fauna make their home in Saskatchewan. Wildflowers, such as the western red lily, the provincial official flower, grow thickly in meadows and woodlands. In the grasslands grow grass varieties such as needle-and-thread grass, a type of bunchgrass. The "parkland" region in southcentral Saskatchewan is home to many deciduous species of trees, including the poplar, birch, and aspen. The northern "boreal" forests are largely coniferous, but also grow softwoods such as the white birch and jack pine.

One of the most common bird varieties is the sharp-tailed grouse, a game bird that serves as the province's official bird. Other species include the pelican, the Canada goose, the common loon, the prairie falcon, the raven, and the western grebe.

Common fish species include several kinds of trout, lake sturgeon, carp, and northern pike.

Fur-trapping is no longer a major economic activity, but one can still find many fur-bearing species, including muskrat, beaver, and raccoon. Larger mammals include large game animals such as the bison, moose, and elk.

Climate: Saskatchewan has four distinct seasons, with cold winters and sometimes hot summers. Temperatures can be somewhat extreme, because the province is so far inland and shielded by the Rockies from moderating ocean currents. Hot, dry "Chinook" winds blow down from the mountains and affect temperature as well. Summer temperatures, especially in the south, can reach as high as 35 degrees Celsius (around 95 degrees Fahrenheit).

There are four climactic regions: the prairie, in the south, where most of the population lives; the boreal plain in southcentral Saskatchewan; the boreal shield, in northcentral Saskatchewan; and the taiga shield, a tundra region in the far north. Saskatchewan receives more sunshine than any other part of Canada

Economy

(Unless otherwise noted, all monetary amounts are given in Canadian dollars.)

In the frontier era, fur-trapping was the major economic activity in what is now Saskatchewan. Today, the province has a heavily agricultural economy, with activity focusing on farming wheat and other grains, and cattle-ranching. The province's related agricultural industries include agricultural biotechnology, meatpacking, food and beverage processing, and the manufacturing of agricultural equipment.

Mining (oil and gas) is another major industry. The province is one of Canada's largest producers of oil and natural gas, as well as a major international supplier of potash (an industrial mineral used for fertilizer). In 2020, mining and petroleum was the largest sector of the province's economy, making up more than 25 percent of Saskatchewan's GDP.

Saskatchewan is also one of the world's largest producers of uranium. Tourism, fur-trapping, forestry, and fishing are also important. Forestry generates almost $1.2 billion per year.

The province's gross domestic product was $77.2 billion in 2020. Manufacturing has become increasingly important. The manufacturing sector did approximately $1.1 billion in sales in 2020.

Coal and natural gas are the province's major sources of power, though hydroelectric power is becoming more prominent. Natural gas is primarily used for home heating.

Tourism: Tourism is an important part of Saskatchewan's economy, with visitors from the United States, other parts of Canada, and around the world. Many visitors come to enjoy the province's cultural festivals, museums, and performing arts, as well as outdoor sports. The "Musical Ride" of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, involving fancy riding, is a colorful and popular event.

Agriculture: Despite the growing importance of other sectors, Saskatchewan remains strongly agricultural. Farmland covers almost half the land area, or approximately 65.7 million acres out of 140.9 million total acres. In 2016, Saskatchewan's agriculture exports—about $14.4 billion—represented 23 percent of Canada's overall agriculture exports of $62.6 billion.

Cereals are among the most important crops, especially wheat, barley, oats, and rye. Other agricultural sectors are horticulture, growing forage, cattle-ranching, and beekeeping. The raising of specialty crops such as herbs, spices, and buckwheat has become increasingly important. Wild rice is a popular crop in the north.

Transportation: There are around 250,000 kilometers (155,000 miles) of roads in Saskatchewan. The provincial highway department is using gravel to resurface many thin membrane surface (TMS) roads, in order to allow truck traffic. There are over 1,300 kilometers (807 miles) of railroads, carrying cargo and passengers.

Air travel is another important mode of transportation. The province has two international airports (Regina and Saskatoon), as well as numerous small, regional airports.

Government and History

Government: Saskatchewan is governed by a single-house legislature known as the Legislative Assembly. The premier is chosen from the majority party. Premier Roy Romanow resigned in 2001 due to public dislike of his economic austerity measures. He was succeeded by Premier Lorne Calvert, a United Church of Canada minister and member of the leftist New Democratic Party (NDP). Calvert and his government were reelected in 2003. Premier Brad Wall took office in 2007, followed by Premier Scott Moe in 2018.

The lieutenant governor, the provincial head of state, serves as the Queen's personal representative in Saskatchewan. The position is appointed by the Canadian prime minister. Lieutenant Governor Tom Molloy took office in 2018. After Molloy's death from pancreatic cancer the following year, Russ Mirasty was appointed to the position of lieutenant governor.

The right-wing Saskatchewan Party—formed from a merger of the provincial Progressive Conservatives ("Tories") and members of the former Saskatchewan Liberal Party—is the other major party in Saskatchewan politics. The Tories ruled Saskatchewan from 1982–91, but lost power due to corruption scandals involving Premier Grant Devine and his cabinet.

History: Prior to the arrival of European explorers, Saskatchewan was inhabited for centuries by various First Nation peoples. These peoples belonged to three main language groups: the Athabaskan, the Algonquian, and the Dakota (Sioux).

The first European to visit the region was fur trader Henry Kelsey of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), who explored the Saskatchewan River in 1690. There was no permanent White settlement, however, until 1774, when the HBC built the Cumberland House trading post. The HBC claimed this vast territory under the name Rupert's Land (after an early HBC director, Prince Rupert of the Rhine), but discouraged European settlement for fear that it would hurt the fur trade. In the late 1860s, the company sold Rupert's Land to the new Dominion of Canada, which reorganized it as the Northwest Territories.

In 1873, the Dominion Government established the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) to maintain law and order there. Regina served as NWMP headquarters from 1882–1920, when the force was merged with the Dominion Police to create the present Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Regina remains the location of the RCMP national training academy.

The Métis people resented the increasing White settlement, as well as the Dominion's efforts to force them onto reservations. Métis leader Louis Riel led the 1885 North-West Rebellion, with the goal of establishing an independent Métis nation. The federal government crushed the rebellion and executed Riel. The North-West Rebellion failed, though the Métis put up strong resistance. Riel was executed, though many Canadians still consider him a hero.

Settlement began increasing in the 1870s and 1880s, with Canada's promise of free land, as well as the completion of the transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway in the early 1880s. The increasing population led the Dominion Government to establish Saskatchewan as one of four districts within the Northwest Territories, to improve administration. Saskatchewan became a province in September 1905, through the passage of the Saskatchewan Act. (The Alberta Act passed the same day, granting provincial status to neighboring Alberta.)

The province prospered in the early twentieth century, thanks to immigration and the prosperous agricultural and cattle-ranching sectors, as well the presence of the RCMP and the railroad. Saskatchewan experienced an economic boom during World War I, due to the increased need for foodstuffs, but was hit hard by the post-war decline and by the influenza epidemic of 1918–20, which killed over five thousand people in the province.

Saskatchewan was severely hurt by the Great Depression, due to the drop in farm prices. In 1944, the socialist Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) won the provincial elections, and Baptist minister Tommy Douglas became premier. He governed Saskatchewan until 1961, instituting many social-welfare policies and becoming known as the "Father of Medicare," for his establishment of a pioneering program in universal hospital care. Douglas left the premiership in 1961 to become the first leader of the CCF's successor, the federal New Democratic Party (NDP). The NDP dominated provincial politics for much of the post–World War II era, but faced strong opposition from the center-right Saskatchewan Liberal Party.

A declining economy in the 1980s led to the election of the Progressive Conservatives, or "Tories," who promoted budget-cutting and free enterprise. The scandals of Tory Premier Grant Devine's government (1982–91) led to a resurgence of the New Democrats, who controlled Saskatchewan politics until the Saskatchewan Party took power in 2007.

The electric utility company SaskPower serves as the principle source of power in Saskatchewan. In 2014, SaskPower's Boundary Dam Power Station became the first in the world to successfully use carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. The company also works with natural gas, hydroelectric power, wind power, and solar power.

Trivia

• Saskatchewan's borders are entirely human-made, and have not changed much since the province was merely a district within the Northwest Territories.
• In 2005, Saskatchewan celebrated its 100th anniversary as a province.
• Late Saskatchewan Premier Tommy Douglas, who governed the province from 1944–61, was the maternal grandfather of actor Kiefer Sutherland, the son of Canadian actors Shirley Douglas and Donald Sutherland.
• In 2017, Hollywood director James Cameron began investing in Verdient Foods in Saskatchewan, the largest pea processing plant in North America.

Bibliography

"Economic Overview." Government of Saskatchewan, www.saskatchewan.ca/business/investment-and-economic-development/economic-overview. Accessed 10 Nov. 2021.

Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. Canadian Plains Research Center, 2014. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.

Fee, Margery. "Tourism in Saskatchewan." Canadian Literature 216 (2013): 6–10. Print.

Government of Saskatchewan Website. Government of Saskatchewan, 2014. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.

Massie, Merle. "When You're Not from the Prairie: Place History in the Forest Fringe of Saskatchewan." Journal of Canadian Studies 44.2 (2010): 171–93. Print.

"Population Estimates, Quarterly." Statistics Canada, 8 Nov. 2021, www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710000901. Accessed 10 Nov. 2021.

Saskatchewanderer Blog. Government of Saskatchewan, 2014. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.

"Saskatchewan Fun and Interesting Facts." Tourism Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan, n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

"Saskatchewan [Province]." Census Profile, 2016 Census, Statistics Canada, 24 Apr. 2018, www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm. Accessed 17 Aug. 2018.