Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is a province in Western Canada. It is bordered to the west by Alberta, to the north by the Northwest Territories, to the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and to the south by the United States (Montana and North Dakota). Saskatchewan and neighbouring Alberta are the only landlocked provinces in Canada.

In 2025, Saskatchewan's population was estimated at 1,266,234. Nearly 10% of Saskatchewan's total area of 651,900 square kilometres (251,700 sq mi) is fresh water, mostly rivers, reservoirs, and lakes. Saskatchewanians live primarily in the southern prairie half of the province, while the northern half is mostly forested and sparsely populated. Roughly half live in Saskatchewan's two largest cities; Regina (the province's capital city) and Saskatoon (the province's largest city).

Saskatchewan has been inhabited for thousands of years by Indigenous peoples. Europeans first explored any part of the province in 1690 and first settled in the area in 1774. It became a province in 1905, carved out from the vast North-West Territories. Saskatchewan's economy is based on agriculture, mining, and energy. Presently, Saskatchewan is governed by the Saskatchewan Party, led by Premier Scott Moe.

Etymology

The name "Saskatchewan" comes from the Saskatchewan River. In the Cree language, the river is called kisiskāciwani-sīpiy, which means "swift flowing river." Explorer Anthony Henday wrote the name as Keiskatchewan. The modern name, Saskatchewan, was officially used in 1882 when part of the area became a district of the North-West Territories.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Saskatchewan

See also: List of regions of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is a province in Canada that has no natural borders, like rivers or oceans. Instead, its borders follow lines of longitude and latitude, making it look like a four-sided shape. It is bordered by Alberta to the west, the Northwest Territories to the north, Nunavut to the northeast, Manitoba to the east, and the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota to the south. Along with Alberta, Saskatchewan is one of only two provinces in Canada that does not touch water.

Most people live in the southern part of Saskatchewan. The province has two main natural areas: forests in the north and grassy lands called prairies in the south. Between these areas is a mix of forest and grass called an aspen parkland. Northern Saskatchewan has large forests, except for sandy areas like the Lake Athabasca Sand Dunes, the biggest active sand dunes in the world north of 58 degrees. Southern Saskatchewan also has sandy areas known as the Great Sand Hills. The highest point in the province is in the Cypress Hills, and the lowest point is at the shore of Lake Athabasca.

Climate

Saskatchewan gets lots of sunshine and has warm summers and very cold winters. Because it is far from large bodies of water, the climate can change quickly. Summers can be hot, sometimes above 38°C (100°F), while winters are often very cold, with temperatures sometimes below -17°C (1°F) for many days. Warm winds called chinook winds can bring milder weather during winter.

Saskatchewan experiences many thunderstorms and tornadoes each year. The hottest temperature ever recorded in the province was 45°C (113°F) in Midale and Yellow Grass in July 1937. The coldest temperature recorded was -56.7°C (-70.1°F) in Prince Albert in February 1893.

Climate change

Main article: Climate change in Saskatchewan

Climate change is affecting Saskatchewan. Researchers have noticed that forests in the north are losing some of their plants, likely because of droughts linked to warmer temperatures. The government has created plans to help reduce carbon emissions to fight these changes.

History

Main article: History of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan has been home to many groups of Indigenous people, such as the Sarcee, Niitsitapi, Atsina, Cree, Saulteaux, Assiniboine (Nakoda), and Sioux.

The first European known to enter Saskatchewan was Henry Kelsey from England in 1690. He traveled up the Saskatchewan River hoping to trade fur with the local Indigenous people. Early French explorers and traders built Fort La Jonquière and Fort de la Corne in 1751 and 1753. The first permanent European settlement was a post set up by the Hudson's Bay Company at Cumberland House in 1774, led by Samuel Hearne. The southern part of Saskatchewan was once part of Spanish Louisiana from 1762 until 1802.

19th century

In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase moved part of what is now Alberta and Saskatchewan from France to the United States. In 1818, the U.S. gave the area back to Britain. Most of what is now Saskatchewan was part of Rupert's Land and controlled by the Hudson's Bay Company.

In the late 1850s and early 1860s, explorers like John Palliser and Henry Youle Hind traveled through the prairie region.

In 1870, Canada took over the Hudson's Bay Company's lands and created the North-West Territories. Canada also made agreements called treaties with the Indigenous people living there.

In 1876, after winning a battle in the United States, Lakota Chief Sitting Bull led many of his people to Wood Mountain. Later, they created the Wood Mountain Reserve in 1914.

The North-West Mounted Police set up several forts across Saskatchewan.

Many Métis people moved to areas north of present-day Saskatoon after troubles in Manitoba in 1870. In 1885, they led by Louis Riel started the North-West Rebellion and set up a temporary government. They lost to Canadian forces. Riel was tried and faced serious consequences.

European settlements

Government policies, the Canadian Pacific Railway, and companies encouraged people to move to Canada. Laws in 1872 let settlers claim land to build homes. In 1901, there were 19,200 families, but by 1916, this number grew to 150,300 families. Women played key roles on the prairies, caring for families and helping farms survive.

20th century

On September 1, 1905, Saskatchewan became a province, officially starting on September 4. Many people moved there, and the population grew quickly. Newcomers came from places like Ukraine, the U.S., Germany, and Scandinavia.

Saskatchewan made many changes, like buying telephone lines and helping build railways. The province supported farmers and created groups to help with grain and livestock.

During World War I, Saskatchewan showed strong support for the war, which helped the economy grow. The province gave women the right to vote in 1916 and decided to stop the sale of alcohol the same year.

Since the late 20th century, First Nations have worked to address past unfair treatments, especially about land. Governments have worked with them on land claims and settlements.

21st century

In June 2021, a site was found at the former Marieval Indian Residential School, part of the Canadian Indian residential school system.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Saskatchewan

Ethnicity

According to the 2011 Canadian census, the largest ethnic group in Saskatchewan is German (28.6%), followed by English (24.9%), Scottish (18.9%), Canadian (18.8%), Irish (15.5%), Ukrainian (13.5%), French (Fransaskois) (12.2%), First Nations (12.1%), Norwegian (6.9%), and Polish (5.8%).

Language

As of the 2021 Canadian census, the ten most spoken languages in the province included English (1,094,785 or 99.24%), French (52,065 or 4.72%), Tagalog (36,125 or 3.27%), Cree (24,850 or 2.25%), Hindi (15,745 or 1.43%), Punjabi (13,310 or 1.21%), German (11,815 or 1.07%), Mandarin (11,590 or 1.05%), Spanish (11,185 or 1.01%), and Ukrainian (10,795 or 0.98%). The question on knowledge of languages allows for multiple responses.

Religion

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Saskatchewan included:

• Christianity (621,250 persons or 56.3%)
  • Catholics at 265,530 persons, Lutherans at 46,980 persons, and Anglicans at 36,415 persons.
• Irreligion (403,960 persons or 36.6%)
• Islam (25,455 persons or 2.3%)
• Indigenous Spirituality (16,300 persons or 1.5%)
• Hinduism (14,150 persons or 1.3%)
• Sikhism (9,040 persons or 0.8%)
• Buddhism (4,410 persons or 0.4%)
• Judaism (1,105 persons or 0.1%)
• Other (7,540 persons or 0.7%)

Economy

Main article: Economy of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan has a rich history tied to agriculture, especially growing wheat, which is featured on the province’s flag. Today, the economy has grown to include many areas beyond farming. In 2018, farming, forestry, fishing, and hunting made up only 8.9% of the province’s total income. Saskatchewan grows a lot of Canada’s grain and is now the biggest producer of canola, even more than wheat. The province also grows other crops like flax, rye, oats, peas, lentils, and barley. It is also the world’s largest exporter of mustard seed.

Besides farming, mining is very important. Saskatchewan is the world’s biggest exporter of potash and uranium. The province also produces oil and natural gas, with only Alberta producing more oil. Major companies such as Nutrien, Federated Cooperatives Ltd., and Cameco are based here.

Education

Main article: Education in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan has many public schools for children, run by twenty-seven different school groups. Most of these schools teach in English, but one group teaches in French. Besides these schools, there are also colleges and universities where older students can learn.

Long ago, the first lessons in this area happened inside families of First Nations people and early traders. Only a few small schools existed at that time. Later, more schools were built, and communities wanted schools like the ones they came from. Simple buildings such as log cabins were used for schools, churches, and meetings.

During a time of growth in the 1920s, farms did well, which helped fund better schools. Books, training for teachers, and plans for school buildings made education more organized. Speaking English in schools helped communities work together and trade easily. By the late 1940s, there were about 5,000 small school districts.

After World War II, many small schools closed, and larger schools were built in towns and cities. This made it easier for students to travel to school with buses or family cars. Farms changed, too, with bigger machines allowing farmers to grow more crops. Recently, there have been ideas to let schools compete for students to improve education in rural areas.

Healthcare

Saskatchewan's Ministry of Health helps guide health policies, sets standards, and gives money to health services across the province. The health system in Saskatchewan works like a single-payer system, meaning one organization pays for most medical care. Doctors work independently but send their bills to a public insurance plan, so patients do not pay directly for medical care.

In 1944, a party called the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation began leading the province. They worked hard to create universal health coverage, meaning everyone could get medical care, and they were the first in Canada to do this. Some doctors did not agree at first, but after a short time, the new system was accepted and later used across all of Canada.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan has the same kind of government as other Canadian provinces. It has a lieutenant-governor, who represents the King in Right of Saskatchewan, a premier, and a single group of lawmakers called a legislature.

During the 1900s, Saskatchewan was known for having leaders who cared deeply about helping people, especially in rural areas. In 1944, Tommy Douglas became the leader and started the first government in North America that openly supported sharing resources fairly. Under his leadership, Saskatchewan was the first province to offer health care for everyone. Today, the main political groups in Saskatchewan are the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party and the Saskatchewan Party. The current leader, or Premier of Saskatchewan, is Scott Moe.

Administrative divisions

See also: List of rural municipalities in Saskatchewan and List of municipalities in Saskatchewan

Below the province, Saskatchewan is divided into different types of local areas, such as cities, towns, villages, and rural areas. These local areas help provide services and support for the people living there.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan has many roads, highways, and other ways to travel, such as airports, ferries, and railways. There are over 25,000 kilometers of highways, with many different types of surfaces like asphalt and gravel. Some special roads, called ice roads, can only be used in winter.

The province also has important railways, with two main passenger trains running through it. Rivers can be used for travel, and there are many bridges and ferry services. Airports in Saskatchewan, like Saskatoon and Regina, are served by several airlines, making it easy to fly to and from the province. The government has helped build new road interchanges to make travel easier and support trade.

Culture

Further information: Culture of Saskatchewan and Tourism in Saskatchewan § Museums

Saskatchewan has many places where you can learn about its history and culture. The Royal Saskatchewan Museum is the main museum of the province. There are also interesting spots like Diefenbaker House, the Evolution of Education Museum, and the T.rex Discovery Centre.

Art

Further information: Culture of Saskatchewan § Visual arts

The province has beautiful art galleries such as the MacKenzie Art Gallery and Remai Modern. There are also places for watching plays and other performances, like the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina and TCU Place in Saskatoon. PAVED Arts, a special space for new kinds of art, is also in Saskatoon.

Music

Further information: Music of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan has many musical groups, including the Regina Symphony Orchestra, the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, and the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra. The Regina Symphony Orchestra performs at the Conexus Arts Centre, and the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra performs at TCU Place.

Literature

Further information: Culture of Saskatchewan § Literature, Culture of Saskatchewan § Theatre, and List of writers from Saskatchewan

One famous writer from Saskatchewan is W. O. Mitchell, who was born in Weyburn. His most popular book is Who Has Seen the Wind, which tells stories about life on the Canadian Prairies. He was also well-known for a radio show called Jake and the Kid, which was broadcast on CBC Radio from 1950 to 1956. The show was about life on the Prairies too.

Sports

Further information: Sport in Saskatchewan

Hockey is very popular in Saskatchewan. Over 500 players from the province have played in the National Hockey League, more than any other Canadian province, U.S. state, or European country. One famous player is Gordie Howe, known as "Mr. Hockey" and considered one of the best players ever. Other well-known players include Keith Allen, Bryan Trottier, and Hayley Wickenheiser, who was the first woman to play full-time professional hockey in a men's league.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are the province's professional Canadian football team and are very popular. They have won five Grey Cup championships. The province also has teams in lacrosse, basketball, and ringette, as well as several junior hockey teams.

Curling is the official sport of Saskatchewan, and the province has a strong history in the sport. Teams from Saskatchewan have won many Canadian and world championships. Sandra Schmirler's team, which won gold at the 1998 Olympics, is considered one of the greatest women's teams in Canada's history.

Symbols

See also: Symbols of Saskatchewan

The flag of Saskatchewan was officially adopted on September 22, 1969. The flag shows the provincial shield in the upper part nearest the pole, with the Prairie lily, the floral emblem, in the other part. The green upper half of the flag represents the northern forest lands, while the golden lower half symbolizes the southern wheat fields and prairies. Many people entered a competition to design the flag, and the winning design was by Anthony Drake, who lived in Hodgeville.

In 2005, Saskatchewan celebrated 100 years. During this time, people voted to choose the province's favorite fish, and the walleye was chosen from six native fish species. Other fish in the vote were the lake sturgeon, lake trout, lake whitefish, northern pike, and yellow perch.

Saskatchewan also has other symbols, like the tartan, licence plates, and the provincial flower. The official tartan was registered in Scotland in 1961 and has seven colours: gold, brown, green, red, yellow, white, and black. The licence plates say "Land of Living Skies". The provincial flower is the western red lily.

Centennial celebrations

In 2005, Saskatchewan celebrated its 100th anniversary. The Royal Canadian Mint made a special five-dollar coin and a 25-cent coin showing Canada's wheat fields. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited Regina, Saskatoon, and Lumsden. Joni Mitchell, who grew up in Saskatchewan, also made an album to honor the province.