| King George | |
|---|---|
| — City of Saskatoon neighborhood — | |
| King George School | |
| King George location map | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| City | Saskatoon |
| Suburban Development Area | Core Neighbourhoods |
| Neighbourhood | King George |
| Surveyed | 1907 |
| Construction | 1907-1960 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal (Ward 2) |
| • Administrative body | Saskatoon City Council |
| • Councillor | Pat Lorje |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.83 km2 (0.3 sq mi) |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 1,885 |
| • Average Income | $36,345 |
| Time zone | UTC (UTC-6) |
| Website | King George Community Association |
King George is an older inner city neighbourhood located near the center of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It consists mostly of low-density, single detached dwellings. As of 2006, the area is home to 1,885 residents. The neighbourhood is considered a lower-income area, with an average family income of $36,345, an average dwelling value of $103,677 and a home ownership rate of 67.2%.[1]
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A buffalo kill site was found in the King George area, documenting its history back 6000 years.[2] In modern times, the neighborhood was surveyed in 1907 and originally named Riverview. After the arrival of the Barr Colonists in 1903, the land now referred to as Victoria Park (named after Queen Victoria) was sold to settler and entrepreneur, Frank Butler. Shortly thereafter, the land was subdivided and housing constructed despite an earlier plan that identified the riverbank be reserved for public use. When the City of Saskatoon acquired the land for recreational park purposes, all of the Butler subdivision (with the exception of the gardener's residence) was removed.
In 1911, the Public School Board decided to relocate Prince of Wales School to the present site of King George School at 721 Avenue K South. In 1912 the name of the school was changed to honour King George V. Around 1929 the neighborhood was renamed to incorporate the name of the new public school, and the boundary was redrawn to include the west portion of Spadina Crescent, along Victoria Park.[3] The new boundaries also enclosed an area called Andrews Addition, identified on a 1913 map of registered subdivisions.[4]
Saskatoon's Municipal Swimming Pool (now Riversdale Pool) on Avenue H in Victoria Park opened on July 15, 1925, replacing the "swimming hole" cordoned off at the river's edge. Filtration and chlorination systems were primitive, and the pool was quickly dubbed the "Avenue Itch" pool. Despite having "its own peculiar smell, which was obvious for blocks", the pool was hugely popular with the people of Saskatoon.[5] During the Great Depression, admission was "five cents if you had it, free if you didn't".[6]
The housing stock in King George was mostly built before 1960, with a slight majority being constructed prior to World War II.[1] In 1980, the Saskatoon Public School Board designated King George as an Interagency Community School, being one of the first in the province to receive that designation.[3]
King George has struggled in its recent history, with a sizeable portion of the population living below the poverty line. The social ills that accompany poverty - substance abuse, violent crime and dilapidated housing - have often cast the area in a negative light.[7] The municipal government and community groups are working to improve the neighbourhood and the lives of its residents.[8]
King George exists within the federal electoral district of Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar. It is currently represented by Carol Skelton of the Conservative Party of Canada, first elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2004 and 2006.
Provincially, the area overlaps two constituencies. The west part is within the constituency of Saskatoon Riversdale. It is currently represented by Lorne Calvert of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party (NDP), first elected in a 2001 by-election, and re-elected in 2003 and 2007. Previously, Calvert had been the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Moose Jaw South since 1986. The east part lies within the constituency of Saskatoon Centre. It is currently represented by David Forbes of the NDP, first elected in a 2001 by-election, and re-elected in 2003 and 2007.
In Saskatoon's non-partisan municipal politics, King George lies within ward 2. It is currently represented by Councillor Pat Lorje. She first elected in 1979, and was re-elected in 1982, 1985, and 1988. Lorje then moved into provincial politics; she ran for the NDP and was elected in 1991, and re-elected in 1995 and 1999. She left politics in 2003 and moved to San Francisco with her husband. She returned to Saskatoon after a couple of years, and was again elected as Ward 2 councillor in 2006.
| King George School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 721 Avenue K South Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7M 2E7, |
|
| Information | |
| School type | Elementary Public |
| Opened | 1913 |
| School board | Saskatoon Public School Division |
| Principal | Bob Shmon |
| Vice principal | Jackie Wigham-Stinson |
| Grades | Kindergarten to Grade 8 |
| Age range | 5 to 12 |
| Language | English |
The King George Community and School Association was created to promote a positive image of the neighbourhood and assist in the development of the cultural, educational, recreational, and social well-being of residents.
Only a few businesses are located in King George, on Avenue P and Avenue H. 16 home-based businesses are based in the neighbourhood.[1]
King George is served by Saskatoon Transit bus route #3.
King George is located within the Core Neighbourhoods Suburban Development Area. It is bounded by 11th Street to the south, Avenue P to the west and the South Saskatchewan River to the east. The northern boundary starts at South Saskatchewan River and follows west down 17th Street; it then runs down the easement between Avenues M and N until 16th Street; finally, it follows 16th Street to Avenue P. Roads are laid out in a grid fashion; streets run east-west, avenues run north-south.
| West Industrial | Riversdale | Riversdale | ||
| West Industrial | South Saskatchewan River Nutana |
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| King George | ||||
| Holiday Park | Holiday Park | South Saskatchewan River Buena Vista |