Outlook, Saskatchewan

Outlook is a town in west central Saskatchewan, Canada about 80 km south-southwest of Saskatoon. Located along the South Saskatchewan River downstream from Gardiner Dam and the Coteau Creek Hydroelectric Station which is just a short 38 minute journey.

It is located within the Sun West School Division.

Demographics

History

Settlement of the area began in the early 1900s with farmers, immigrants moving into the area looking for farmland. Outlook officially started as a settlement on August 26, 1908 when the Canadian Pacific Railway commenced the auction of lots. Bidding was very competitive and the CPR received $68,000 for only 500 lots.

On November 23, 1908 the citizens of Outlook welcomed the first train which arrived from Moose Jaw. Within the month the CPR was running a tri-weekly train service carrying huge piles of lumber, however the supply of workers and materials was far outweighed by the demand for more buildings. The Outlook CPR Station building was built in 1909 and a year later, on November 1, 1910, Outlook was officially declared a town. In 1912 the Skytrail bridge crossing the South Saskatchewan River was finished, allowing both passenger and commercial traffic to cross the river in the area for the first time without using the ferry.

Major attractions

• Outlook & District Regional Park is situated along the South Saskatchewan River has 50 electrified campsites, an outdoor heated junior size Olympic swimming pool and paddling pool for toddlers, hiking trails and the Riverview Golf Course.
• The Skytrail bridge is an old railway bridge, converted for pedestrian use; it is 3000 feet long and stands 156 ft above the South Saskatchewan River.
• Riverview Golf Club is a 9-hole golf course situated in the Outlook and District Regional Park directly along the riverbank.
• The Canada Saskatchewan Irrigation Diversification Center is located on the outskirts of town. It is a research facility, which tests different crops, diseases, chemicals under dryland and irrigation. The center has many tours during the summer as well as a field day in July.
• The Outlook Recreation Complex has a skating rink, 4-sheet curling rink and a 4-lane bowling alley. Adjacent are five baseball diamonds.
• Outlook railway station building is home to the The Outlook & District Heritage Museum ^[2] and has over 2500 artifacts from the Outlook area. Some of the highlights include:
  • a Caboose that is open to the public to tour through
  • a large arrowhead collection from across Saskatchewan that also includes First Nations' stone tools
  • an old holding cell from the Broderick train station
  • a beautiful polished antique stove
  • a collection of over 400 salt & pepper shakers from around the world collected by a local resident
  • antique hospital equipment donated by the Outlook Union Hospital
  • the original printing press from Outlook Printers
  • the proposed model plan of Gardiner Dam and Lake Diefenbaker
  • original artwork by acclaimed artist and former resident Arthur Evoy
• Outlook Stock Car Association - stock car track, 1/3 mile high banked clay oval track runs 10 or more races a season.
• Outlook has an award-winning recycling program that has been recognized across North America. The Town of Outlook has recycled nearly three million lbs of cardboard as of 2004, and nearly 2 million lbs of newspaper.
• Outlook Airport is located South East of Outlook.'

Climate

Schools and colleges

• Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute - a fully accredited high school offering grades 10, 11 and 12, with residences for 120 students
• Great Plains College Great Plains College Outlook Campus
• Outlook High School - a public school offering grades 6-12 which also houses the Wheatland Library Outlook Branch. Outlook High School is home to the Blues athletics program.
• Outlook Elementary School - a public school offering grades K-5.

Famous residents

• Shay Stephenson - ice hockey player
• Logan Stephenson - ice hockey player
• Bob Stephenson - former player for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Things to do

Outlook offers many activities of all kinds for tourists and locals alike. The Jim Kook Arena is home to many sports programs throughout the year, including the Outlook Minor Sports program, the Outlook Ice Hawks senior hockey team, curling, and other sports tournaments throughout the year. The facility also features a bowling alley and indoor archery range. The Outlook & District Regional Park has a junior Olympic sized pool as well as a paddling pool with swimming lessons throughout the summer, as well as branches of the Trans-Canada Trail with link up with the SkyTrail walking bridge. Located in the park is the Outlook Regional Golf Course, a 9 hole course on the banks of the picturesque South Saskatchewan River. Outlook's arts program includes the Equinox Theatre group, who in conjunction with LCBI Drama put up productions throughout the year with "Beauty and the Beast" being the 2009 production. As well there are many local painters, artists, photographers, and writers who help contribute to the growing arts community. The Outlook and District Community Arts Council recently opened a beautiful art gallery in the Town Office Building. It showcases artist's displays from around Saskatchewan, including local artists and craftsmen such as the late Marilyn Rafoss. Danielson Provincial Park is 50 km south on Highway 219 and Highway 44. The park offers camping, swimming, boating and fishing, as well access to Gardiner Dam.

References

External links

• Municipal Affairs - Outlook, Saskatchewan
• Town of Outlook website
• Danielson Provincial Park
• [1] Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan