La Ronge, Saskatchewan

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La Ronge is a town in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, 250 km north of Prince Albert. The town lies on the western shore of Lac La Ronge and is adjacent to Lac La Ronge Provincial Park. The town derives its name from the French indicative "la" and the surname of Johannes von Rönge, a Catholic priest and the co-founder of German Catholicism. He was suspended because of his attacks against the papacy and against venerating the seamless robe of Jesus in Trier. In 1844 he was excommunicated, and lived in England from 1849 to 1861 as a political refugee. The rest of his family and close followers scattered to Canada, the USA and Southern Africa as Protestant Missionaries.

Another theory (the origin of which is unclear), suggests the name is derived from the French word "ronger" meaning "to gnaw", perhaps a reference to the an early explorer's observation of a jagged shoreline, or trees that had been chewed by beavers.

La Ronge began as a fur trading post and meeting place but with the decline of hunting and the the fur market La Ronge has diversified into other areas. Several mining companies, government agencies, and airlines now keep offices in La Ronge and many other businesses have started to support the staff and their families.

La Ronge is surrounded by several first nations communities and has a rich cultural heritage.

The community is also home to the La Ronge Ice Wolves junior "A" hockey team.

[edit] Town statistics

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According to the Canada 2001 Census:

Population:	2,727 (-8.0% from 1996)
Land area:	11.78 km²
Population density:	231.5 people/km²
Median age:	26.6 (males: 26.8, females: 26.5)
Total private dwellings:	1,069
Mean household income:	$44,672