Arcola, Saskatchewan

Town of Arcola
Nickname(s): Heritage Town
Location of Arcola in Saskatchewan
Coordinates:
Country Canada
Province Saskatchewan
Region Saskatchewan
Census division 1
Rural Municipality Brock
Post office Founded N/A
Incorporated (Village) N/A
Incorporated (Town) N/A
Government
 • Mayor Jim Workman
 • Town Manager Glenda Hislop
 • Governing body Arcola Town Council
Area
 • Total 2.59 km2 (1 sq mi)
Population (2006)
 • Total 504
 • Density 194.6/km2 (504/sq mi)
 • National Population Rank (Out of 5,008) 3,006th
Time zone CST
Postal code S0C 0G0
Area code(s) 306
Highways
Waterways

Arcola is a town in southeast Saskatchewan, Canada, approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) north and 40 kilometres (25 mi) east of Estevan.

Contents

Demographics

History

In 2003 Arcola proudly celebrated its 100th anniversary, marking the fact that it predates the province by two years. Arcola is known as Saskatchewan's "Heritage Town" due to its many historical brick and wood frame structures.

Settlers in the area originally built a community known as Clare, located two miles northeast of where Arcola exists today, but almost all the buildings of Clare were moved when the CPR announced in the early part of 1900 that the railroad would run south of town. Arcola was the "end point" of the southern branch line running west from Souris, Manitoba for four years, during which time it became an important hub for westward migration. At one point it was one of the 11 largest towns in what is now the province of Saskatchewan, but was then known as Assiniboia. With flourishing settlement and economic growth, many thought Arcola would achieve city status. It was during this heyday and using bricks made in the town's own brick plant that many of today's heritage homes and buildings were erected.

Education

Arcola has one school that covers Kindergarten through grade 12 in the School Division. Enrollment for all grades is around 200.

Attractions

Today, the town is home to three antique shops, an art gallery, the Southeast Saskatchewan Photo Museum, a full range of stores and services, a hospital, doctor's office, a K-12 school and pottery studio, as well as full service restaurants, a laundromat and a motel. Following the destruction by fire of the skating and curling rinks in 2001, the area residents banded together to rebuild the rinks next to the Prairie Place Hall, to create a multi-use community facility comparable to that in most cities. A fair and rodeo, town wide garage sale day, Robbie Burns' Night, Co-Op Equity Days, a Skidoo Poker Derby and Canada Day Celebrations are among the town's regular events.

Notable people

Arcola served as the location for the Allan King film feature of W.O. Mitchell's "Who Has Seen The Wind". The town has the distinction as well of being the place where Canadian author James Sinclair Ross wrote his seminal 1941 novel As For Me and My House. Ken Sluzalo, known better by his stage name Kenny Wade is a local celebrity. He is a famous recording artist who has recorded in Nashville. Wade does live performances on the Pheasant Rump Indian Reservation, located west of Arcola, every Tuesday night.

See also

References

  1. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. 2009-02-24. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/index.cfm?Lang=E. Retrieved 2009-02-24. 

External links