Shaunavon, Saskatchewan
| Shaunavon | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
 | |
| Nickname(s): Bone Creek Basin, Boomtown, Oasis of the Prairies | |
  Shaunavon | |
| Coordinates: 49°39′04″N 108°24′43″W / 49.651°N 108.412°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| Region | Saskatchewan |
| Census division | 4 |
| Rural Municipality | Grassy Creek |
| Post office established | 1913 |
| Incorporated (Village) | 1913 |
| Incorporated (Town) | 1914 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Sharon J. Dickie |
| • Administrator | Charmaine Bernath |
| • Governing body | Shaunavon Town Council |
| • MP | David L. Anderson |
| • MLA | Wayne Elhard |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.10 km2 (1.97 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 916 m (3,005 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 1,691 |
| • Density | 347.9/km2 (901/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CST |
| Postal code | S0N 2M0 |
| Area code(s) | 306 |
| Highways |
Redcoat Trail Highway 37 Highway 722 |
| Industries |
Agriculture Oil Tourism |
| Website | www.shaunavon.com |
| [1][2][3][4] | |
The town of Shaunavon is situated in southwest Saskatchewan at the junction of Highways 37 and 13. It is 110 kilometres from Swift Current, 163 kilometres from the Alberta border and 74 kilometres from the Montana border.[5] Shaunavon was established in 1913 and settled along a railroad line.
Name origin
The name Shaunavon is believed to be a combination of the names of Lord Shaughnessy and William Cornelius Van Horne, two of the four founders of the Canadian Pacific Railway, although there is inconclusive evidence that suggests otherwise. The most damaging of this evidence is from Mr. F.G. Horsey, the CPR townsite representative in 1913, who said "he was personally in the Calgary office when a wire came through from Lord Shaughnessy declining the honour of having the town named after him, but suggesting that they name it Shaunavon after an area about his home in the old country . . .".[6] However, Shaughnessy was of Irish descent, but was born to dirt poor parents in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Thus, the existence of any kind of an old country estate is highly unlikely, and no such place shows up in Irish place name references. Since CP's files are silent on the subject, the derivation of the town name Shaunavon is likely to remain a mystery.[7]
The town has several nicknames including Bone Creek Basin, Boomtown, and Oasis of the Prairies. The latter name is derived from the park located in the center of town.[5]
The Shaunavon Formation, a stratigraphical unit of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin is named for the town.
History
The boomtown
In 1913, settlers came to the area that would later be known as Shaunavon. Under a deal by the government at the time, land could be purchased throughout the province for as little as $10 a quarter section after building a homestead on the quarter. Within eight hours, 370 lots totaling $210,000 were purchased![5] While this brought settlers to the province, Shaunavon had an attraction that drew them to this region: water.
Water was essential for settlers and the water in the area was considered to be the purest and most plentiful. Within the course of one year, Shaunavon went from being a town of empty lots to a "Booming town" with a population of over 700 people. As a result, the town gained the nickname “Boomtown.” Shaunavon became the first community in Canada to grow from a village to a town in under one year.[5]
In 1914, the Canadian Pacific Railway brought the railroad through the community for the purpose of having access to the water supply for their locomotives. It was another positive sign for the community.
Water Capital of Canada
The royal visit by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom (and Canada) in 1939 brought fame to the community when the water that was used for the royal visit was supplied by the community. The town gained the title “The water capital of Canada.”[citation needed]
The Skating Rink
Another important milestone in the community in the 1960s was the building of the public arena. With very little to do in the winter months, hockey was always a very important part of the community and an indoor facility was greatly needed. The centre included facilities for skating with artificial ice placed over the dirt ground. Later the extension for the curling rink was added to the existing facility and cement was added to the skating rink.
Rising insurance costs prompted the formation of Project 2002 – a plan to replace the rink with a more modern facility over the foundation of the old arena. With the new arena conforming to new building codes the price of insurance for the facility would be more affordable. Fundraisers such as the Canadian national women's hockey team visiting the Shaunavon Badgers and Hockey Day in Canada helped to raise funds for the new arena. Originally slated at $2 million, the price for the arena has grown to $6 million.[citation needed]
Great Western Railway
The removal of the Crow Rate, which covered the cost of shipping grain, left farmers having to pay to ship their grains to world markets. It became more economical for grain producers to ship to large terminals along the main line. This brought about the closure and demolition of many wooden grain elevators along the line to Shaunavon. In the late 1990s, the CPR announced its intentions to sell the track leading to the southwest to WestCan Rail, a railway salvage operation. Action was swift. Grain Producers formed a coalition to lobby WestCan Rail. A deal was made that formed the Great Western Railway to run the line as a shortline with the eventual plans to purchase the railway back from WestCan Rail. Meanwhile producers purchased the remaining standing wooden grain elevators in Shaunavon, Admiral, Eastend, Ponteix and Neville.
Today the Great Western Railway is owned by the coalition and continues to operate the shortline to southwest Saskatchewan. The Great Western Railway headquarters are located in Shaunavon.
Climate
| Climate data for Shaunavon | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.5 (58.1) |
19 (66) |
21.1 (70) |
31 (88) |
36 (97) |
39 (102) |
37.5 (99.5) |
38.5 (101.3) |
35.5 (95.9) |
29 (84) |
21.5 (70.7) |
16 (61) |
39 (102) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −5.8 (21.6) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
3.5 (38.3) |
12.5 (54.5) |
18.4 (65.1) |
22.5 (72.5) |
25.8 (78.4) |
25.7 (78.3) |
18.8 (65.8) |
12.3 (54.1) |
1.2 (34.2) |
−4 (25) |
10.8 (51.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −11 (12) |
−6.8 (19.8) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
5.6 (42.1) |
11.2 (52.2) |
15.5 (59.9) |
18.2 (64.8) |
17.6 (63.7) |
11.7 (53.1) |
5.7 (42.3) |
−3.9 (25) |
−9.3 (15.3) |
4.4 (39.9) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −16.2 (2.8) |
−12.1 (10.2) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
4 (39) |
8.5 (47.3) |
10.5 (50.9) |
9.4 (48.9) |
4.5 (40.1) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
−9 (16) |
−14.5 (5.9) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −37.5 (−35.5) |
−38 (−36) |
−31.5 (−24.7) |
−20.5 (−4.9) |
−8.5 (16.7) |
−3 (27) |
2.5 (36.5) |
−2.2 (28) |
−9.5 (14.9) |
−25 (−13) |
−37 (−35) |
−42.2 (−44) |
−42.2 (−44) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 18.8 (0.74) |
12.8 (0.504) |
23.3 (0.917) |
24.9 (0.98) |
57.2 (2.252) |
68.5 (2.697) |
52.4 (2.063) |
36.4 (1.433) |
31.1 (1.224) |
18.4 (0.724) |
16.9 (0.665) |
24 (0.94) |
384.6 (15.142) |
| Source: Environment Canada[8] | |||||||||||||
Arts and culture
The Grand Coteau Heritage Centre is a museum and chapter library with a local art gallery and heritage exhibits on display. It was first formed in August 1931 by members of the Shaunavon Canadian Club. Derivation of the name of Shaunavon's Museum "Grand Coteau" comes from the title "le grand coteau" or grand slope, of the Missouri as applied by the explorer Le Verendrye to the area stretching from Kincaid to Govenlock.[9]
The Plaza Theatre on main street runs both movies and theatrical shows.
The Darkhorse Theatre performs two major productions a year, and is well known for producing quality shows. The Darkhorse Theatre uses top of the line production equipment to compliment the set design, wardrobe, and makeup for the major productions. The spring production consists of three pub night performances and the fall production offers six nights of dinner theatre.[5]
Attractions
The Pine Cree Regional Park is located approximately 30 km from Shaunavon. There are 29 campsites located along the creek. The park features amenities such as barbecues, playgrounds, ball diamonds, and bridges. The Pine Cree Regional Park is truly a rustic get-a-way, as the entire park is non-electrical.[5]
Showarama occurs in the spring showcasing merchants in and around the community, I love Shaunavon Day and the Parade of Lights take place each winter, and Boomtown Days and the Pro-Rodeo occur during the summer. The Shaunavon Rodeo Grounds serve as the backdrop for the annual Shaunavon Pro Rodeo. The Shaunavon Rodeo Association has hosted events, both amateur and professional, for over 40 years. The Shaunavon Pro Rodeo is a CPRA sanctioned event and features many professional competitors that follow the rodeo circuit east from the Calgary Stampede. The Rodeo Grounds are located about 6 km west of Shaunavon on Highway #13.[5]
Regional Attractions
- Big Muddy Badlands, a series of badlands in southern Saskatchewan and northern Montana along Big Muddy Creek. They are found in the Big Muddy Valley, a cleft of erosion and sandstone along Big Muddy Creek. The valley is 55 kilometres (34 mi) long, 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) wide and 160 metres (520 ft) deep.[10] The valley was formed when it was part of an ancient glacial meltwater channel that carried great quantities of water southeastward during the last ice age.[11]
- Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, an interprovincial park straddling the southern Alberta-Saskatchewan border, located north-west of Robsart. It is Canada's first and only interprovincial park.
- Cypress Hills Vineyard & Winery, open by appointment only from Christmas until May 14.[12]
- Fort Walsh, is part of the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. As a National Historic Site of Canada the area possesses National Historical Significance. It was established as a North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) fort after and at the location of the Cypress Hills Massacre.
- Grasslands National Park, represents the Prairie Grasslands natural region, protecting one of the nation's few remaining areas of undisturbed dry mixed-grass/shortgrass prairie grassland. The park is located in the WWF-defined Northern short grasslands ecoregion, which spans across much of Southern Saskatchewan, Southern Alberta, and the northern Great Plains states in the USA. The unique landscape and harsh, semi-arid climate provide niches for several specially adapted plants and animals. The park and surrounding area house the country's only black-tailed prairie dog colonies. Other rare and endangered fauna that can be found in the park include the pronghorn, sage grouse, burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk, prairie rattlesnake, black-footed ferret and eastern short-horned lizard. Flora includes blue grama grass, needlegrass, Plains Cottonwood and silver sagebrush.
- The Great Sandhills, is a sand dune rising 50 feet (15 m) above the ground and covering 1,900 square kilometers. Native prairie grass helps keep the sand together. The sand dunes are fringed by small groves of aspen, birch, and willow trees, and by rose bushes, chokecherry and sagebrush. Subjected to strong winds, the dunes are always moving, creating an ever-changing landscape for photographers.[13]
- Robsart Art Works, opens July 1 to August 28, 2010 from 1 to 4 p.m. and by appointment and features Saskatchewan artists featuring photographers of old buildings and towns throughout Saskatchewan.[14]
- T.rex Discovery Centre, a world class facility to house the fossil record of the Eastend area started many years before the discovery of "Scotty" the T.Rex in 1994.[15]
Sports
Shaunavon has many seasonal and year-round venues that help to boost tourism and entertain residents. It also has numerous organizations offering sport, culture, recreational and social opportunities including hockey, soccer, curling, figure skating, karate, fastball and baseball, volleyball, basketball, performing arts, and a variety of dance disciplines.[5]
The service groups include: Shaunavon Kinsmen & Kinettes, Shaunavon Legion & Legion Auxiliary, Shaunavon Elks & Royal Purple, Shawnees, Knights of Columbus, Hometown Club, Senior Citizens and a number of church organizations.[5]
Recreational facilities include: a bowling alley, walking trails, Recreation Complex, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, swimming pool, regional library, playgrounds, fitness gym, golf club, rinks, movie theatre, ball park, skating and curling.[5]
During the summer months, the skating rink serves as a community centre for various events and in the fall and winter is covered with ice again for both skating and curling.
In the summer months an outdoor recreation swimming pool is available and a 9-hole golf course is also open. Camping is available at the Shawnee Campground adjacent to Memorial Park in the heart of the town.
Shaunavon hosted CBC's Fifth Annual Hockey Day in Canada on February 21, 2004.
Demographics
| ||||||||||||||||
Infrastructure
Transportation
Highways 37 and 13 connect to Shaunavon.
Shaunavon is served by the Shaunavon Airport. Shaunavon's airport has a regulation asphalt, lighted runway, 3,000 feet (910 m) in length. The airport has LWIS weather system as well as a global positioning system to assist pilots to their destinations.[5]
A Courtesy Car is operated by volunteers Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The Saskatchewan Transportation Company provides inter-city passenger and express parcel service to the community.[18]
Education
- Shaunavon High School (grades 8 - 12)
- Shaunavon Public School (grades K - 7)
- Christ the King School (grades K - 7)
- Cypress Hills College
Media
- Southwest Boomtown Bargain Finder
- Shaunavon Standard
Radio
- CJSN 1490 Radio - Shaunavon has a 1000 Watt station that simucasts CKSW radio, with local inserts and a half hour of local programming daily.
Famous residents
- Dwain Lingenfelter - former deputy premier of Saskatchewan, former leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
- Wade Regehr - neurobiology professor[19]
- Arnold Tremere - Executive Director Government Official (Canadian International Grains Institute)[20]
- Rhett Warrener - NHL Player, Calgary Flames
- Hayley Wickenheiser - member of Canada's women's hockey team
- Braydon Coburn - NHL Player, Philadelphia Flyers
- Ann Eriksson - author and biologist
See also
References
- ↑ National Archives, Archivia Net, Post Offices and Postmasters
- ↑ Government of Saskatchewan, MRD Home, Municipal Directory System (– Scholar search)
- ↑ Canadian Textiles Institute. (2005), CTI Determine your provincial constituency
- ↑ Commissioner of Canada Elections, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada (2005), Elections Canada On-line
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 http://www.saskbiz.ca/communityprofiles/CommunityProfile.Asp?CommunityID=330
- ↑ E.T. Russell, ed. (1975). What's In a Name?. Saskatoon: Western Producer Prairie Books. ISBN 0-919306-39-X.
- ↑ Barry, Bill (1998) People Places: The Dictionary of Saskatchewan Place Names, p. 327, Regina, Sask: People Places Publishing Ltd., ISBN 1-894022-19-X
- ↑ Environment Canada - Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 22 December 2010
- ↑ http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/PM.cgi?LM=MuseumFlash&LANG=English&scope=Museum&Referer=Museum&mark=Search&start=1&AP=M_E_display&Featured=1&Page=ABEDI.html
- ↑ Yanko, Dave. "The Badlands". Virtual Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
- ↑ Harel, Claude-Jean (2006). "Big Muddy Valley". Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. Great Plains Research Center. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
- ↑ Cypress Hills Vineyard & Winery
- ↑ Great Sandhills
- ↑ Robsart Art Works
- ↑ T.rex Discovery Centre
- ↑ "2011 Community Profiles". Canada 2011 Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
- ↑ STC Network Map
- ↑ http://neuro.med.harvard.edu/faculty/regehr.html
- ↑ "Gone but not forgotten - Tremere". Home arrow Obituaries - Medicine Hat arrow TREMERE. gonebutnotforgotten.ca. 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
External links
 |
Carmichael | Gull Lake | Simmie | |
| Dollard |  |
Admiral | ||
| ||||
 | ||||
| Eastend | Climax | Val Marie |
Coordinates: 49°39′04″N 108°24′43″W / 49.651°N 108.412°W