1912 - Data Points by Date/Period

Canora is a town located at the junction of Highways 5 and 9 in east-central Saskatchewan, approximately 50 km north of Yorkton. The town, home to around 2,100 residents, sits on the corners of four rural municipalities, including the RM of Good Lake. Founded in 1905 along the Canadian Northern Railway, now part of Canadian National Railway (CN), it remains a key rail hub with two freight lines and Via Rail passenger service.Canora's rich history began with European settlers, including Doukhobor, Romanians, and Ukrainians in the late 19th century. The first Ukrainian block settlement in Saskatchewan was established in 1897, with 150 families arriving from Western Ukraine. By 1910, Canora had achieved town status with a population of around 400 and established a Chamber of Commerce in 1912. Over time, the community grew steadily, with its population peaking in 1966 at around 2,734. Despite fluctuations, Canora remains culturally vibrant, with 53% of its population either from Ukraine or of Ukrainian descent.The town’s name derives from 'Canadian Northern Railway,' and its history is intertwined with the railway's development. Canora’s historic train station, once central to its growth, now serves as a museum and tourist information center. With a population of 2,092 as of the 2021 Census, Canora remains a small but significant community in the region.

The region’s history is rich with stories of the Indigenous peoples who lived here for thousands of years before settlement, and of the Métis families who operated Red River cart brigades to support the fur trade. More recent narratives come from the immigrants who arrived to start new lives on farms and in towns that developed after the railway was built. Remnants of these early communities can be found in our local museums and art galleries, on building murals, cairns, and even in the ghost structures still visible today.The Town of Cut Knife, established in 1912, was named after the largest hill in the area, visible to the south. According to legend, in the 1840s, the Cree and the Tsuut’ina (then known as the Sarcee) were battling for dominance. A Tsuut’ina chief named Broken Knife was defeated, but his bravery so impressed the Cree that they named the hill in his honor. Over time, Broken Knife became known as Cut Knife in English. This hill was also the site of a battle during the 1885 North-West Resistance, and many of the town’s street names are derived from this event. Today, the hill is also referred to as Broken Knife’s Lookout or Chief Poundmaker Hill.For a deeper exploration of Cut Knife's history, we recommend visiting the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum in Tomahawk Park. The museum, which features a heritage village, themed exhibits, and archives, is a proud member of the Museums Association of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists. These organizations support local museums and archives by providing training and resources for preserving artifacts and archival materials.

The Wasel Holy Ascension Russo Orthodox Church, built in 1901, is located in Wasel, Alberta, about 140 km (87 mi) northeast of Edmonton. The church was founded by immigrants from Bucovina, a region that was then part of Romania and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, similar to those who established the nearby Temple of Saints Peter and Paul in Dickie Bush.While the parish was founded early, it wasn't legally registered until 1912 due to difficulties in meeting government requirements.The church stands in a well-maintained open field in Smoky Lake County, just north of the North Saskatchewan River. To the west, a separate building serves as both a gathering space and a bell tower. Outside the church, there's a cement table and Cross, where water is blessed and other prayers are occasionally offered.Although originally built among small farms, the surrounding land has been transformed into large-scale agricultural operations, and only a few services are held at the church today. Its proximity to the Temple of Saints Peter and Paul in Dickie Bush has also reduced the need for frequent services.The adjacent Holy Ascension Cemetery remains active, with Archpriest Vasyl and Matushka Vasylyna Ostashek, long-serving leaders of the parish, among those buried there. Matushka Lena, born and raised in the parish, was also married here.

The name 'Preeceville' originates from the Preece family, early homesteaders of the current town site.Settlement in the Preeceville region began with fur traders exploring the upper Assiniboine area before 1800. Ranchers later followed trails established by First Nations people and fur traders. The transition from ranching to farming occurred after the township survey in 1900, with further development spurred by the arrival of the Canadian National Railway (CN) in 1912.Located in east-central Saskatchewan, approximately 105 km north of Yorkton, Preeceville is situated at the junction of Highways 9, 47, and 49. It lies in the northern Parkland region, on the southern edge of the timber zone, characterized by gently rolling land ideal for mixed agriculture.Preeceville's population has remained stable since the early 1990s, supporting its role as a self-sufficient community. The town functions as a shopping and service hub for nearly 5,500 residents from surrounding towns and rural municipalities, including Endeavour, Sturgis, and the RMs of Preeceville, Hazel Dell, Clayton, and Buchanan.The climate in Preeceville is moderate, with annual precipitation around 205 mm. The growing season sees its last spring frost in late May and the first fall frost in early September. July and August are the hottest months, with average temperatures ranging from a minimum of 7.5°C to a maximum of 29°C. The town enjoys about 2361 hours of sunshine annually, with July being the sunniest month. Prevailing winds come from the northwest. The climate supports various summer activities such as fishing, swimming, hiking, boating, and ball sports, while winter offers opportunities for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice-fishing, and skating.Preeceville is governed by a council comprised of a mayor and six councilors, elected for four-year terms. Daily administration is managed by an administrator, assisted by an assistant administrator and an office assistant.

The town of Sturgis, located in Saskatchewan, offers a glimpse into the history of rural life, with its roots dating back to the early 20th century. Officially incorporated as a village in 1912 and later as a town in 1950, Sturgis grew from a modest settlement into a thriving agricultural community. Early settlers, including Jack Shewfelt, are believed to have arrived in the area around 1895. The discovery of artifacts such as arrowheads suggests that Indigenous peoples used the area long before European settlers arrived.The town’s development was closely tied to the railway, with tracks reaching the area by 1911. The local post office, named after Sturgis, South Dakota, played a key role in the town's identity, and by 1912, a number of businesses had been established, including general stores and blacksmith shops.During the 1930s, Sturgis faced challenges due to economic hardship but continued to grow, particularly in the 1940s and 1950s, when it became the largest cattle shipping center in eastern Saskatchewan. Agricultural activities have always been the cornerstone of the local economy, with farming and livestock playing a significant role in the region's prosperity.Today, Sturgis remains a close-knit community, supported by a range of organizations and businesses. Historical landmarks, such as the original Sturgis Post Office, continue to reflect the town's long-standing connection to its pioneering past.

Veregin is a special service area located in Saskatchewan, Canada, about 50 kilometres northeast of Yorkton and 10 kilometres west of Kamsack. It was incorporated as a village in 1912 and named after Veregin Station, which was originally built in 1908. Interestingly, the name was misspelled by the railroad when it established Veregin Siding in 1904, a name intended to honor Peter V. Verigin, the Doukhobor leader. Veregin owes its existence to the Doukhobors, whose 1899 block settlement, known as the South Doukhobor Colony, happened to include the site that would become the village, and to the Canadian Northern Railway, whose line between Kamsack and Canora crossed the Doukhobor reserve in 1904. This location was chosen for the railway station, which served as a hub for the Doukhobor community.The village began to develop around the train station, and Peter Verigin moved his residence and headquarters there from Otradnoye in 1904. By 1910, Veregin had become an important Doukhobor settlement, hosting the annual meetings of the Doukhobor Community. It became the headquarters for the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB) when it was legally incorporated in 1917, although most CCUB members had already relocated to British Columbia. The headquarters remained in Veregin until 1931, when it was moved to British Columbia. After the CCUB went bankrupt in 1937–38, the community's facilities were either sold or destroyed.In 1980, Verigin's mansion, built in 1917, was restored, and in 2006 it, along with a few other Doukhobor buildings, was designated a National Historic Site of Canada under the name 'Doukhobors at Veregin.' However, two major fires in January 2004 threatened the village's viability. As a result, Veregin's status as a village was dissolved on December 31, 2006, and it was absorbed into the surrounding Rural Municipality of Sliding Hills No. 273 as a special service area.According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Veregin had a population of 47 living in 28 of its 43 total private dwellings, representing a 4.4% increase from its 2016 population of 45. With a land area of 1.46 square kilometres, it had a population density of 32.2 people per square kilometre in 2021.

Fort Pelly was a Hudson's Bay Company fur trading post in Saskatchewan, Canada, named after Sir John Pelly, the company's governor. The current village of Pelly is located about 8 miles north of the fort's original site.Before Fort Pelly, there was Fort Hibernia in the vicinity. The original Fort Pelly was established in 1824 at the northeast elbow of the Assiniboine River, near a key portage between the Assiniboine and Swan Rivers. It was the administrative center for the Hudson's Bay Company's Swan River District. The fort included a dwelling house, Indian house, staff houses, a store, and stables, all within a square palisade. The first chief trader was Alan McDonell. The fort traded with Cree and Salteaux Natives and employed people from these communities. After being destroyed by fire in 1842, it was rebuilt by chief trader Cuthbert Cumming. Thomas McKay, who later became the first mayor of Prince Albert, was born there in 1849.In 1856, Fort Pelly was relocated about a quarter mile southeast to avoid flooding. The original site remained in use until at least 1859. By 1870, the Hudson's Bay Company ceded its lands to Canada, retaining its posts. The fort was on block 17 of the Fort Pelly Reserve until Fort Ellice took over as district headquarters around 1871. The arrival of the Canadian Northern Railway in 1909, 6 miles north of Fort Pelly, led to a decline in trade, and the fort was abandoned in June 1912.Excavations by the Saskatchewan Museum of Natural History in 1971 and 1972 uncovered all known buildings and recovered 7,000 artifacts. The site of the first Fort Pelly was designated a Historic Site by Saskatchewan in 1986 and is managed by Saskatchewan Parks Service. The site of the second fort was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1953 and is maintained by the Fort Pelly Historical Society.

Nokomis is a town located in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.The area's history began with homesteading opportunities opening in 1904. In 1906, Florence Mary Halstead established a post office on her farm and named it 'Nokomis.' Following the construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, the town requested that the post office be moved into town, which was granted under the condition that the town be renamed Nokomis. Initially located in Henry's Men's Clothing Store, the post office moved to its own building just north of the Times Office the following year.In 1907, the town was named Junction City in hopes of becoming a major urban center in western Canada. That year saw the establishment of the Canadian Bank of Commerce and the Northern Crown Bank, with early residential construction including homes for Norman Townsend and J.I. Jamieson. Ewart's Hall, located above the Northern Crown Bank, hosted the first schoolroom classes with Mabel Dobbyn, who later married K.W. Reikie of the Bank of Commerce, as the first teacher.By 1908, the town had begun to grow with the arrival of lumber, hardware, and carpenters, and plans for a brickyard were considered. The Nokomis Times building was erected on 2nd Avenue by W.C.R. Garrioch. The town was officially renamed Nokomis in the same year. The post office was officially opened in 1909.In 1910, the Carter Land Company began acquiring land in the district. The discovery of a coal seam southeast of Nokomis in 1912 led to the start of two additional mines between 1914 and 1916. By 1918, Hunter Valley Coal Chain (HVCC) had acquired surface and mineral rights to 5,000 acres in the area.Following World War II, returning veterans found work with a new American oil company, ND Oil Seekers. In 1947, the first oil well, known as NOW1, was drilled in the Hatfield Basin, which was known for its sweet crude oil and shallow depth. This discovery made the area attractive to new oil companies. In 1988, the first horizontal well was drilled, setting several records for speed, length, and production.In 1998, the Saskatchewan Provincial Rifle Association purchased land east of Nokomis to reopen an abandoned rifle range, now known as North Star Range, where long-range target shooting is practiced.As of the 2001 census, Nokomis had a population of 436, with a density of 167.3 people per square kilometer.

The Shiloh Baptist Church near Maidstone, Saskatchewan, is a historic site that was once the heart of a community of African American farmers who fled racial segregation in the U.S. and settled in Saskatchewan. The church, built in 1912, served as a central gathering place for nearly 20 families who formed the Shiloh community. It now functions as a museum, preserving the legacy of these early settlers. Among the key figures in this community was Mattie Mayes, who escaped the racism of Oklahoma's Jim Crow laws and became a matriarch and midwife, not just for the black community but for others in the area as well. The official heritage designation of Shiloh Baptist Church is a tribute to the struggles and triumphs of these settlers, recognizing their resilience in the face of harsh winters and racism. The church's designation also helps affirm the deep-rooted history of African Canadians in Saskatchewan, challenging stereotypes and enriching the understanding of what it means to be Canadian.

Blaine Lake is a town in central Saskatchewan, Canada, located 85 km north of Saskatoon, 104 km southwest of Prince Albert, and 104 km east of North Battleford at the junction of Highway 12 and Highway 40. The nearby urban centers include Shellbrook and Rosthern. Often referred to as the 'Gateway to the Northern Lakes,' Blaine Lake is ideally situated for those seeking fishing, hunting, and camping experiences, thanks to its strategic location at a highway junction. The town's name is said to be derived from a surveyor named Blaine who tragically drowned in a nearby lake before the town's establishment in 1911. One of Blaine Lake's historic landmarks is the former CN train station, now home to the Blaine Lake Wapiti Library and a local history museum. The station, built in 1912, two years after the rail line between Prince Albert and North Battleford was constructed, served the community until 1973. Another notable heritage site is the Doukhobor Dugout House, a Provincial Heritage Property located southeast of the town. According to the 2021 Census of Population by Statistics Canada, Blaine Lake had a population of 509 residents living in 250 of its 296 private dwellings, marking a 2% increase from its 2016 population of 499. With a land area of 1.86 km² (0.72 sq mi), the town had a population density of 273.7 people per km² (708.8/sq mi) in 2021. Blaine Lake is well-known as 'The Gateway to the Lakes,' with numerous lakes, campgrounds, golf courses, and tourist attractions located nearby. The community boasts various amenities, including a curling rink, skating rink, grocery store, hardware store, post office, several restaurants, and two gas stations. Other local businesses include a SARCAN recycle depot, an insurance broker, a veterinarian, a metal fabricator, a sign shop, and several construction contractors.

1912 (53)

Other Dates/Periods

11-09-1965

18-05-2018

1808

11-08-1863

19-11-1971

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