Whitewood, Saskatchewan

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Whitewood
Whitewood Station
Town
Main Street, Whitewood, 1913
Main Street, Whitewood, 1913
Whitewood is located in Saskatchewan
Whitewood
Whitewood
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country Canada
Province Saskatchewan
Census division Division No. 5, Saskatchewan
Post office founded 1883-11-09
Incorporated Town 1892
Named for White Poplar (Populus alba) White wood tree
Government
 • Mayor Doug Armstrong
 • Governing body Whitewood Town Council
 • Member of legislative assembly Don Toth
 • Member of Parliament Ed Komarnicki
Area
 • Total 3.04 km2 (1.17 sq mi)
Elevation 598.30 m (1,962.93 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 950
 • Density 312.0/km2 (808/sq mi)
Time zone CST (UTC) (UTC-6)
Postal code S0G 5C0
Area code(s) 306
List of Saskatchewan provincial highways Sk Hwy 1, Sk Hwy 9
Website www.townofwhitewood.ca
[2][3][4]

Whitewood is a town in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is located approximately 175 kilometres (109 mi) east of Regina on the Trans-Canada Highway Sk Hwy 1. It is situated at the crossroads of two major highways systems – the Trans-Canada, which runs east and west, and Sk Hwy 9, which runs north and south from the US border to Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan. Located midway between Brandon, Manitoba and Regina, Whitewood was and continues to be an ideal place to stop and rest.[5]

It is administrative headquarters of the Chachacas and Ochapowace Cree First Nation band governments.

History

Cattle, horses, and sheep were all rounded up for market day in Whitewood, 1901

Where Whitewood now stands was once grasslands, travelled only by nomadic First Nations people, white traders, trappers and buffalo hunters. Native plants and wildlife thrived in perfect balance. The people who followed the trails between the Valley of the Qu'Appelle and the Pipestone Creek left no more permanent marks on the landscape than the tracks of their Red River carts.

Before the settlement of the west, Whitewood began as a crossing of trails between the Qu'Appelle Valley to the north and the Moose Mountains to the south. The Hudson's Bay Company trading post was established about the fall of 1891 to approximately the spring of 1906.[6]:34, 35

With the settlement of the west and the coming of the Trans-Continental railway, Whitewood quickly grew into a thriving community. The CPR naming was derived from the White Poplar (Populus alba), a deciduous tree with white bark, which was plentiful in the area.[7]

By 1882, the town of Whitewood, Provisional District of Assiniboia, North-West Territories was a major stop on the Canadian Pacific Railway. The town grew steadily from that time and was incorporated as a town in 1892.[5] An interesting note is that while the Town Seal has "Incorporated 1893" on it the actual incorporation took place on December 30, 1892.

Geography

Three metre snow drifts lined the sidewalks in Whitewood, 1904

Whitewood is located in the north eastern section of the topographical area named Wood Hills to the north of Moose Mountain and south of the Qu'Appelle River.[6]:90, 91 Whitewood is situated in the Melville Plain of the Aspen Parkland ecoregion.[6]:160

Burrows, Clayridge, Forest Farm, St. Luke, and St. Hubert Mission are small unincorporated areas near Whitewood. The Ochapowace (Ochapowage) Indian Reserve is nearby.[8]

Climate

Whitewood has a humid continental climate, with extreme seasonal temperatures. It has warm summers and cold winters, with the average daily temperatures ranging from −16.5 °C (2.3 °F) in January to 18.2 °C (64.8 °F) in July. Annually, temperatures exceed 30 °C (86 °F) on an average in late July Typically, summer lasts from late June until late August, and the humidity is seldom uncomfortably high. Winter lasts from November to March, and varies greatly in length and severity. Spring and autumn are both short and highly variable. On July 5, 1937 an extreme high of 41.1 °C (106.0 °F) was recorded, and on January 12, 1916, a record low of −45.6 °C (−50.1 °F).[9]

Climate data for Weyburn
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 9.5
(49.1)		 12.2
(54)		 20.6
(69.1)		 32.2
(90)		 37.8
(100)		 40.6
(105.1)		 41.1
(106)		 38
(100)		 36.7
(98.1)		 29.5
(85.1)		 22.5
(72.5)		 13
(55)		 41.1
(106)
Average high °C (°F) −11
(12)		 −7.1
(19.2)		 −0.9
(30.4)		 9.4
(48.9)		 17.6
(63.7)		 22
(72)		 24.7
(76.5)		 23.7
(74.7)		 17.5
(63.5)		 10.3
(50.5)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 −8.6
(16.5)		 8
(46)
Daily mean °C (°F) −16.5
(2.3)		 −12.3
(9.9)		 −6.1
(21)		 3.5
(38.3)		 11
(52)		 15.6
(60.1)		 18.2
(64.8)		 16.9
(62.4)		 11.2
(52.2)		 4.6
(40.3)		 −5.7
(21.7)		 −13.5
(7.7)		 2.3
(36.1)
Average low °C (°F) −21.9
(−7.4)		 −17.4
(0.7)		 −11.1
(12)		 −2.4
(27.7)		 4.4
(39.9)		 9.3
(48.7)		 11.6
(52.9)		 10.1
(50.2)		 4.9
(40.8)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 −10.3
(13.5)		 −18.4
(−1.1)		 −3.5
(25.7)
Record low °C (°F) −45.6
(−50.1)		 −44.4
(−47.9)		 −44.4
(−47.9)		 −27.8
(−18)		 −13
(9)		 −4.4
(24.1)		 0
(32)		 −3
(27)		 −12.8
(9)		 −25.6
(−14.1)		 −37
(−35)		 −41
(−42)		 −45.6
(−50.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 26
(1.02)		 19.5
(0.768)		 29.1
(1.146)		 26.8
(1.055)		 55
(2.17)		 80.8
(3.181)		 72.3
(2.846)		 68.9
(2.713)		 51.8
(2.039)		 28.3
(1.114)		 21.4
(0.843)		 26.8
(1.055)		 506.6
(19.945)
Source: Environment Canada[10]

Demographics

Whitewood residential street in 1912(?)
Historical Population
Year Pop. ±%
1901 359 —    
1906 501 +39.6%
1911 447 −10.8%
1916 446 −0.2%
1996 985 +120.9%
2001 947 −3.9%
2006 869 −8.2%
[11][12][13]

The 2011 Statistics Canada data estimates the town's population at 950 residents.[11] Settlers from many lands came to the area and the multi-national character of the community is seen in the names of the residents to this day. The first Finnish settlement in the west, New Finland is located here, and Hungarians, Swedes, Germans, Poles, Russians, Czechs, English, Scottish and Irish, also made Whitewood their destination in the new world.[14] To quote a prominent writer of that period, and resident of Whitewood John Hawkes, "Whitewood was in the eighties (1880s) the most cosmopolitan point in the west. It came to be a saying that one should know eleven languages to do business in Whitewood."[14] Hawkes penned Saskatchewan and Its People in three volumes.[5][15]

The Whitewood band, including some of the French aristocrats from St. Hubert, previously La Rolanderie, 1904

One of the most unusual and glamorous settlements was that of the French Counts of St Hubert, Saskatchewan. Headed by the educated Dr Rudolph Meyer, this group of Belgian and French aristocrats aimed to build a life on the Canadian prairies in the style of the French nobility in Europe.[5] Annually the Counts booked the Whitewood Commercial Hotel for the Frenchman's Ball. "Many pretty dresses of the style of the late eighties were in evidence, souvenirs perhaps of better days across the sea. The vivacious Frenchwomen of gentle birth and breeding in fashionable décolleté gowns and jeweled neck and arms lent an air of distinction in spite of the incongruity of the crude setting".[16]

Remains of this settlement still exist and many residents of the community are proud of their connection to the Most Romantic Settlement in the West.[17]

Government

Whitewood town hall 1913

The town of Whitewood has a mayor as the highest ranking government official. The town also elects aldermen or councillors to form the municipal council. Currently the mayor is Doug Armstong, and is serving with councillors Gord McEwen, Todd Maki, Lee Aldous, Denise Istace, Tony Saltasuk and Brian Stevenson. The town administrator is Sharon Rodgers.[20]

Provincially, Whitewood is within the constituency of Moosomin served by their Member of legislative assembly, the honourable Don Toth.[21]

Federally, the Souris--Moose Mountain riding is represented by their Member of Parliament, Ed Komarnicki.[22]

As Whitewood has achieved town status, it has its own municipal government, however rural governments nearby are Willowdale No. 153 and Silverwood No. 123.[8]

Economy

Economically, Whitewood is situated in the Yorkton—Melville economic region.[4] Whitewood along with Broadview, Grenfell, Wolseley are all part of the Mainline Regional Economic Development Authority. REDA's stimulate economic growth in the local area as they are familiar with the inherent needs of the community and stimulate business and government investment resulting in job creation, tourism and recreational facilities.[23]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Whitewood Airport (TC LID: CKY2), is located adjacent to Whitewood.[24] Whitewood was established in the late 19th century on the Canadian Pacific Railway Trans-Continental railway. Currently, Whitewood is situated at the crossroads of two major highways systems – the Trans-Canada Highway Sk Hwy 1, which runs east and west, and Sk Hwy 9, which runs north and south from the US border to Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan.

Media

The Whitewood Herald is a weekly newspaper. Publishing since 1892, it is the oldest continuing weekly newspaper in Saskatchewan.[14][25] John Hawkes was the editor of the Whitewood Herald from 1897 to 1900.[14] The current owner and publisher of the Herald is Chris Ashfield, a fourth generation publisher.

Museums and other points of interest

The Broadview Recreation Site is within 19 kilometres (12 mi) of Whitewood, and Spring Fountain Recreation Site is closer at 17 kilometres (11 mi).[8] During Whitewood's centennial year of 1992, they collaborated on the history of the French Counts. The Merchant Bank Heritage Center soon followed which also celebrates the French Count history and displays the welcoming sign "The Most Romantic Settlement in the West."[16]

In the fall of 2002, economic development director Janet Blackstock along with Mayor Malcolm Green aimed to restore the homes built in the late 19th century by the French aristocrats and paint outside murals in Whitewood to re-vitalize the local history. One mural was painted in 2000 showing the town in 1890. The area of Whitewood claims that during the late 19th century, there were more aristocrats here than anywhere else in North America.[26]

Location

 St. Luke, Forest Farm Carnoustie
Percival Burrows
  Whitewood  
St. Hubert Mission Sunnymeade
Pipestone Creek		 Silverwood, Newlands, Benbecula

[27]

Notes

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Environment Canada - Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 27 December 2010
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 24 July 2014 to 0901Z 18 September 2014
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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