Saskatchewan
Discover Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a Canadian province in the Prairies. While the southern third of the province is a prairie known for its flat fields of wheat, the northern two-thirds is covered in the boreal forest of the Canadian Shield, with most of Saskatchewan's 100,000 lakes. The fresh air and open sky are other distinctive features of the prairie. There is little light pollution, and therefore stargazing is wonderful. Despite Saskatchewan's reputation for its prairie geography, there is a surprising variety of landscapes, including the hills and lakes in the north, a lake with water that is denser than the Dead Sea, and the North and South Saskatchewan rivers.
What to Experience in Saskatchewan
Taste of Saskatchewan...
Pemmican and bannock are a few of the historical foods of the Cree First Nation Indigenous peoples. Bannock is easy to prepare and combine with local berries, the dough can be cooked over the open fire suspended on willow stick, and tastes similar to biscuits. Early settlers survived by learning from the First Nations which flora and fauna of the land were edible and how to prepare. Thereafter, the land was tilled, and agricultural practices and trading economies allowed each ethnic group to plant and cultivate the foods necessary for the recipes of their home land. Each ethnic group has brought their unique flavour and recipes to Saskatchewan, and these are celebrated today in folk festivals across the province. Saskatoon berries (also known as serviceberries, or juneberries) are used in saskatoon berry pie, jam, wines, cider, beers, and sugar-infused berries similar to dried cranberries used for cereals, trail mix, and snack foods. Great Western Brewing operates the old Molson brewhouse in Saskatoon. They produce beers ranging from extra-gravity malt liquor to mid grade amber and pale ales. There is a provincial law basically giving anyone that operates a "brewpub" automatic off-sales privileges. Because of this, many bars have started extract-based "brewpubs" in order to acquire their off-sales licence. These beers are very poor quality compared to beers made from true ingredients. In small towns, locals prefer cheap beer and rye whiskey.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Saskatchewan into what it is today.
Saskatchewan has been populated by various Indigenous peoples of North America, including members of the Sarcee, Niitsitapi, Atsina, Cree, Saulteaux, Assiniboine (Nakoda), Lakota and Sioux. The first known European entered in 1690, and travelled up the Saskatchewan River in hopes of trading fur with the region's indigenous peoples. The first permanent European settlement was a Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) post at Cumberland House, founded in 1774. From 1670 to 1870, most of Saskatchewan formed a part of Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory, owned by the HBC. In 1870, Canada acquired the HBC territories and established the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP, later the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) in 1873 to police the territory. The NWMP set up several posts and forts across Saskatchewan. The Crown also entered into a series of numbered treaties with the Indigenous peoples of the area, now called the First Nations. Since the late 20th century, land losses and inequities as a result of those treaties have been subject to negotiation for settlement between the First Nations in Saskatchewan and the governments. The Métis people, the descendants of relationships between Indigenous women and French or Scottish traders, had not been signatories to a treaty. Many of them had moved to the area north of present-day Saskatoon. In the early 1880s, the Canadian government refused to hear the Métis' grievances, which stemmed from land-use issues....
Climate
Saskatchewan receives more hours of sunshine than any other Canadian province. The province lies far from any significant body of water and has a northerly latitude, giving it a warm summer in the central and most of the eastern parts of the province; drying off to a semi-arid steppe climate in the southwestern part of the province. Drought can affect agricultural areas during long periods with little or no precipitation at all. The northern parts of Saskatchewan – from about La Ronge northward – have a shorter summer season. Summers can get very hot, sometimes above 38 °C (100 °F) during the day, and with humidity decreasing from northeast to southwest. Warm southern winds blow from the plains and intermontane regions of the Western United States during much of July and August, very cool or hot but changeable air masses often occur during spring and in September.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsMost visitors to Saskatchewan arrive either by automobile or via one of its two major airports, the John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE) in Saskatoon or Regina International Airport (YQR). Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) runs across the southern portion of the province (including Regina and Moose Jaw), connecting Saskatchewan to Alberta and Manitoba. Similarly, Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) bisects the central part of the province, running through Saskatoon and North Battleford. There are a number of U.S.-Canada border crossings in the south, on the highways running between the two countries. The Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is in the extreme southwest corner of the province, sharing a border with Alberta's half of the park. Historical Fort Walsh and the highest point in the province can be found in the Cypress Hills. Be sure to check out historical sites relating to the settlement of the west and the North West Rebellion of 1885....
Regions
Explore AreasDespite Saskatchewan's reputation for its prairie geography, there is a surprising variety of landscapes, including the hills and lakes in the north, a lake with water that is denser than the Dead Sea…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is in the extreme southwest corner of the province, sharing a border with Alberta's half of the park. Historical Fort Walsh and the highest point in the province can be found in the Cypress Hills. Be sure to check out historical sites relating to the settlement of the west and the North West Rebellion of 1885. Fort Carlton, Batoche, and Duck Lake are within distance of Saskatoon for a day trip. Moose Jaw is home to the tunnels which run underneath the city. These tunnels are part of Moose Jaw's mob history which earned it the nickname "Little Chicago". Saskatchewan is also the home of the RCMP Academy, Depot Division (commonly known as "Depot"; pronounced /ˈdɛpoʊ/, not /ˈdiːpoʊ/) that has been providing police training to Royal Canadian Mounted Police "cadets" since its establishment in 1885. The facility is in the west part of Regina, Saskatchewan, near the airport, and consists of several buildings.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Saskatchewan is generally a safe place to visit and most people are generally friendly. Some parts of the larger cities, such as Saskatoon, Regina, and Prince Albert, have seedier areas that should be avoided at night. Most tourists have no need to be in those parts of town anyway. Winters can be extremely cold, and when combined with heavy snowfall and wind, blizzards can make driving dangerous. Many of Saskatchewan's highways have been poorly maintained, and when combined with icy pavement or heavy traffic, they can be dangerous for inexperienced or inattentive drivers. Many rural roads are unpaved, so drivers unfamiliar with gravel roads should take their time. Saskatchewan, unlike the rest of Canada, does not participate in Daylight Savings Time. (The Lloydminster area is an exception, as the town is divided by the province's border with Alberta.