Profile: Saskatchewan
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The Canadian Province of Saskatchewan. Photo courtesy of MapGrid - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, WikiMedia Commons.
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NAME
Saskatchewan: this Canadian province originally got its name from the Cree word ᑭᓯᐢᑳᒋᐘᓂ ᓰᐱᐩ (kisiskāciwani-sīpiy), meaning “swiftly flowing river.” This description refers to the fast and dangerous currents of a river that bisects the region and connects it to the neighbouring provinces of Alberta and Manitoba.
One of Saskatchewan’s nicknames can be found in its English slogan: Land of the Living Skies. While this name might appear rather poetic, it accurately depicts the reality of the province. With little nature blocking the view of the sky, this area of Canada has become known for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets, endless azure, colourful dance performances by the aurora borealis, incredible lightning shows, and dynamic storm formations. There is nothing nonliving about this province’s heavens.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Located in the region of Western Canada, Saskatchewan is one of two land-locked provinces. Its land mass roughly measures at 651,900 km², making it more than twice the size of the Philippines. Saskatchewan borders three Canadian regions (Alberta, Northwest Territories, Manitoba) and two American states (Montana, North Dakota). In comparison to other provinces of the country, Saskatchewan is quite small, with an estimated population of 1,225,493 (as of 2024), where nearly 50% of which is distributed between two cities: Saskatoon and Regina. Other notable cities, however less populated, include: Prince Albert, North Battleford, Yorkton, Moose Jaw, and Swift Current, among others.
Flag of Saskatchewan. Photo courtesy of Kooma - Open Clip Art Library, CC0, WikiMedia Commons.
NATURE
The land that Saskatchewan lies on is divided into two principle biomes: boreal forest and prairie; the first of which characterizes the northern half of the province, whereas the latter spreads across the southern half of the province. What is unique about these two ecosystems is the fact that they are each interrupted–seemingly randomly–by arid desert: the Athabasca Sand Dunes (in the north), the Great Sand Hills of Cyprus Hills and the Elbow Sand Hills (in the south); the latter of which features sand dunes as tall as 30 metres (98 feet) high. Each of these deserts were formed by glacial recession from 8,000 to 12,000 years ago and are the most northerly reaching arid deserts in the world, in addition to being Canada’s only.
One would be remiss not to equally comment on Saskatchewan’s general lack of height in terms of topography. The prairies are so flat in its southern region that a common Saskatchewanian joke is that one can never lose one’s dog due to being able to see in the distance for hundreds of kilometres. This acts not only as a humourous quip but also as a beautiful feature of the province, for whenever solar storms flare Canadians get an unobstructed view of their splendour in Saskatchewan.
PLANTS
In addition to the light shows of Saskatchewan’s skies is a diverse range of plant life. Whether a person is strolling through a city neighbourhood or is biking along a country trail, it is common to see several examples of the following species: bleeding hearts, tiger lilies, caraganas, lilac bushes, chokecherries, Saskatoon berries, deciduous trees (silver buffaloberry, paper birch, cottonwood, oak, maple, willow), and coniferous trees (balsam fir, Jack pine, spruce), among a variety of others.
WILDLIFE
While participating in the aforementioned strolls and rides, one can equally see a rich variety of wildlife: magpies, crows, ravens, loons, Canada geese, bats, frogs, salamanders, field mice, prairie dogs, jackrabbits, garter snakes, beavers, coyotes, wolves, cougars, deer, moose, bears, and bison, among much more.
As we have learned throughout this Canadian series (see blog posts “Profile: British Columbia” and “Profile: Alberta”), it is normal to see wild animals in towns and cities. In some seasons certain wildlife makes its presence more obvious than in other times of the year; for example, ticks are particularly rampant from mid-spring to mid-summer, and mosquitoes often travel in cloud-like swarms after rainfall or at nighttime during each of the summer months, making casual walks in a park or field virtually impossible. As such, especially as it pertains to larger creatures, it is important to exercise caution by refraining from dangerous activities, such as feeding wild animals and making sudden movements when among them.
For more information regarding wildlife safety, residents of Saskatchewan can visit the Public Health and Safety section of the province’s government website.
CLIMATE
Due to Saskatchewan’s distant positioning from large bodies of water (oceans, seas), in addition to its large land mass, the province sees a diverse climate, which includes a sub-arctic region in its north, a humid continental region in its centre and east, and pockets of semi-arid to arid steppes in its southwest. As such, its temperatures vary greatly and depend on region: winter numbers average between -17 C and -45 C (with wind chill), whereas summer numbers see a scorching range between +25 C to +38 C (not including Humidex). Interestingly, the coldest temperature ever recorded was -56.7 C (not including wind chill) in 1893 and the hottest temperature was +45 C (Humidex not considered) in 1937. Despite winter extremes, sunlight does not often leave the land, as Saskatchewan sees the most annual sunshine than any other Canadian province or territory.
NATURAL DISASTERS
Given Saskatchewan’s climate, there are many natural disasters that have the potential of occurring in the province, each depending on the season and region.
In a typical winter, a number of whiteouts and blizzards, often causing extreme cold and snowed-in property, can sometimes be experienced throughout the province. When summer hits, so does tornado season. Due to Saskatchewan’s flat land and frequent high winds, the province sees the highest number of tornadoes per year (12-18 on average) when compared to other Canadian regions. While some of these storms may be weak, others have been known to become violent. In addition to tornadoes, there is also potential for severe thunderstorms, windstorms, sandstorms, dust devils, hailstorms, droughts, and, like all Canadian regions, wildfires.
CITY LIVING
Life in Saskatchewan is not all about potential disaster, however. In fact, it is a province of much peace and liveliness.
As previously mentioned, a large number of Saskatchewanians live in one of two cities: Saskatoon and Regina.
Saskatoon is the largest city of the province. As such, it has gained quite the reputation, awarding it many nicknames: Hub City (for being an economic centre of Saskatchewan); Bridge City (for having more than seven bridges over one river, the South Saskatchewan River); and the Paris of the Prairies (coined by musician Bob Dylan when he was describing the art scene and beauty of the city); among others. In addition to these monikers, Saskatoon is well known for having the highest number of restaurants per capita in the country, making for some great food tours. Interestingly, the city, itself, is named after food, as “Saskatoon” comes from the Cree word, “misâskwatômina,” which refers to a deep purple berry found abundantly in the area.
Photos of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan courtesy of Allice Hunter via WikiMedia Commons- File:Downtown Saskatoon 2018.jpgFile:Bessborough_Hotel.jpgFile:Thorvaldson_Building_(227959623).jpgFile:Broadway Bridge 2014 (13339588703).jpgFile:Saskatoon_Riverbank_2_(256137215).jpg, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Regina, though it is smaller in population compared to Saskatoon, is the capital city of the province. It is also a commercial centre for the region. However, among Canadian residents, it is arguably more famously known as the home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the province’s official football team of the CFL (Canadian Football League). While sports such as hockey and curling are particularly popular in Canada, football is especially popular in Saskatchewan. In fact, it is not only the Roughriders football team that is well known in the province but the fans of the Roughriders, themselves. Deemed as one of the most loyal and “quirky” football fan bases in the country, it is not uncommon to see in the stands a select number of Roughrider fans wearing hollowed-out watermelons on their heads with green and white paint covering their faces and/or bodies.
Apart from sports, Regina is also known for its interactive science museum, many summer festivals, and its quaint beach town of Regina Beach, SK.
Photos of Regina, Saskatchewan courtesy of Allice Hunter via Wikimedia Commons - Reginadowntown.pngBuildings in Downtown Regina as seen from Victoria Park.jpgSaskatchewan legislative building.jpgPrince Edward Building.jpgJohn Archer Library, University of Regina.jpgRoyalSaskMuseum Front.jpg, CC BY-SA 4.0
TOURISM
While there are a myriad of activities to do in Saskatchewan’s principle cities, there is equally a cornucopia of tourist attractions sprinkled across the province: the Tunnels of Moose Jaw, a historical underground railroad system used to ensconce Chinese slaves escaping from the law, for people to run rum to the United States during the American Prohibition, and to hide illegal makeshift casinos and brothels from mainstream society; the Athabasca Sand Dunes and the Great Sand Hills of Cyprus Hills, two of Saskatchewan’s largest arid deserts; the Big Muddy Badlands, a region of great Indigenous history dating back to the ice age, which includes unique stone formations such as Castle Butte; Wanuskewin Heritage Park, an archeological site that tells of 6000+ years of First Nations culture and history; Manitou Beach, also known as the Dead Sea of Canada for its salinity and 10% higher degree of gravity; the Crooked Bush, an isolated bluff of inexplicably–though quite conspiratorially–contorted aspen trees; the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, which details Ukraine’s instrinsic connection to Canada, in addition to a variety of other historical and cultural Ukraine-focused exhibitions; and the Western Development Museum, a life-sized artificial town that depicts early life in Saskatchewan; among much else.
ECONOMY
In addition to tourism, there are other industries that more prominently feed Saskatchewan’s economy: agriculture (mustard seed (Saskatchewan is the world’s largest provider), canola, wheat, flax, rye, oats, lentils), mining (potash and uranium (again, Saskatchewan is the world’s largest provider)), oil, natural gas, fishing, and hunting, among others.
Regarding specific professions, those that are most in demand in the province (as of 2024) include: sales associates, mechanics, heavy equipment operators, truck drivers, cooks, food industry servers, software developers, accountants, construction workers, and homecare workers.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Saskatchewan is located within the Ukrainian Belt, an ethnic region within Canada that spans across three and a half provinces and was formed in the late 19th century due to mass migration. As a result, Canada has become the largest Ukrainian diaspora in the world outside of Ukraine. Consequently over the course of 130+ years, Ukrainian culture has held a major influence on local Canadian culture and, therefore, has become embedded in the very fabric of central Canadian identity, regardless of locals’ non-Ukrainian heritage. Similarly, other people groups from Norway, Germany (i.e. Hutterites, Mennonites), and Russia (i.e. Doukhobors) have greatly influenced Saskatchewanian patrimony with their rich customs and traditions.
Evidently, immigration is an essential part to the province’s development. As of today, 12.5% of Saskatchewan is comprised of immigrants (not including holders of citizenship, first generation Canadians, etc.). Within this statistic high concentrations can be seen of individuals from countries such as Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland, Ukraine, Norway, Poland, the Philippines, India, China, and Russia.
Despite this diversity, the official language of Saskatchewan is English. Prominent Indigenous languages in the region include Cree, Saulteaux and Michif, among others. Such tongues are spoken by approximately 17% of the province’s population. Regarding English/French bilingualism, 2021 statistics indicate that 4.7% of the region’s population identify as bilingual in both languages, despite 12.2 % of Saskatchewan’s population coming from Fransaskois communities.
EDUCATION
During the 2021 Census, it was discovered that 58.9% of Saskatchewan’s adult population between the ages of 25 and 64 had completed a post-secondary education program, making it one of the least educated provinces in the country.
Despite that unfortunate statistic, Saskatchewan does have some noteworthy educational institutions: the University of Saskatchewan, known for its innovation in agriculture and bioresources (as well as its campus’ castle-like architecture); Saskatchewan Polytechnic, a college known for its expertise in the trades and nursing industries; the University of Regina, known for its business connections, its concentration on experiential learning, and its French language immersion programming; and the First Nations University of Canada, known for its Indigenous-centric learning approaches; among others.
FOOD
Like almost every Canadian region, it is common to consume a dish from a variety of cultures during a single day. However, due to the previously mentioned influences in Saskatchewanian culture, there are certain foods that tend to be more popular in this province compared to others. Here is a list of some of them:
Bannock
an Indigenous bread widely produced across Canada by multiple First Nations peoples, which is highly flexible in its consumption due to its diverse preparations as a baked, fried or deep-fried good that can be eaten as a savoury dish (sandwich, hamburger bun, biscuit, etc.) or dessert (with jam, rolled in sugar, like a doughnut, etc.)
Pemmican
a type of protein snack or dish made from an Indigenous method that combines dried meat (bison, elk, deer, etc.) with berries and suet and are shaped into balls or jerky strips
Saskatoon berries
a small, tart, deep purple berry that is often used in pies, ice cream and frozen yogourt flavours, chocolates, and more
Varenycky (also known as Pierogies/Perogies)
a dumpling common in Post-Soviet cultures, such as those from Ukraine and Poland; savoury flavours in Saskatchewan often include mashed potato with cheddar cheese, onion, bacon, or pork sausage, served boiled and/or fried in butter with garlic and onion, and then topped with a dollop of sour cream and sometimes bacon bits; sweet varieties in the province typically include sour cherries, strawberries, or wild berries, served boiled and/or fried, and can be eaten plain or with a sprinkling of icing sugar, a spoonful of vanilla ice cream, plain yogourt or sour cream
Borscht
another Post-Soviet creation, which is a beet-based soup, served warm, often with a dollop of sour cream
Lefse
originally from Norway, this flatbread is eaten either as a savoury or sweet dish that is typically made from wheat flour and potato
Shishliki
known for its tenderness, this is originally a Doukhobor dish that takes the form of a barbecued meat kebab, with lamb commonly being the protein of choice in Saskatchewan
Wheat Crunch
made famous by Dosch Organic Acres, this is a quick high-protein snack or salad topper made of dried wheat kernels flavoured in a variety of ways: dill pickle, salt and vinegar, Ranch, cinnamon sugar, etc.
Have you ever been to Saskatchewan? What did you think? What surprises you the most about this province? Let me know in the comments below.
To learn about other Canadian regions, take a look at the related articles listed below.
RELATED ARTICLES
Profile: Manitoba
Profile: Ontario
Profile: Quebec
SOURCES
ATTRIBUTION
Magpie photo courtesy of Pierre-Selim - Flickr: Pica pica, CC BY-SA 2.0, WikiMedia Commons
Loon photo courtesy of John Picken from Chicago, USA - LoonUploaded by snowmanradio, CC BY 2.0, WikiMedia Commons
White-Tailed Jackrabbit photo courtesy of Connormah - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.0, WikiMedia Commons
Black-Tailed Prairie Dog photo courtesy of Joe Ravi, CC BY-SA 3.0, WikiMedia Commons
Howling Coyote photo courtesy of USFWS Mountain-Prairie - Howl, Public Domain, WikiMedia Commons
Bison photo courtesy of Jack Dykinga - This image was released by the Agricultural Research Service, the research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, with the ID K5680-1 (next)., Public Domain, WikiMedia Commons
Saskatoon Berries photo courtesy of Ken Eckert - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, WikiMedia Commons
Shishliki photo courtesy of Spacekid - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, WikiMedia Commons
Uncooked Varenyky photo courtesy of Pavlo Boyko @ Flickr
Silver Buffaloberry photo courtesy of SriMesh - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, WikiMedia Commons
Bleeding Hearts photo courtesy of Wuzur - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, WikiMedia Commons
Lilac photo courtesy of Kor!An (Андрей Корзун) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, WikiMedia Commons
Tiger Lily photo courtesy of Tina Dawson on Unsplash
Caragana Tree photo courtesy of Dalgial - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, WikiMedia Commons
Paper Birch Trees photo courtesy of InAweofGod'sCreation - 13. The Fall of Acadia, CC BY 2.0, WikiMedia Commons
Athabasca Sand Dunes photo courtesy of Tourism Saskatchewan
Prairie photo courtesy of Emese Tóth on Unsplash
Northern Lights, Pinehouse Lake photo courtesy of Dre Erwin on Unsplash
Delta Bessborough Hotel, Saskatoon photo courtesy of Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada - Delta Bessborough, Spadina Cres E, Saskatoon (505715), CC BY 2.0, WikiMedia Commons
Edge of Cyprus Sandhills photo courtesy of Drm310 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, WikiMedia Commons
Waskesieu Lake photo courtesy of Paul Gierszewski - Own work, Public Domain, WikiMedia Commons
Castle Butte, Big Muddy Badlands photo courtesy of Tourism Saskatchewan
Dust Devil photo courtesy of NASA - NASA web page & source file, Public Domain, WikiMedia Commons
Blizzard photo courtesy of NOAA Photo Library on Flickr
Wildfire photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture - Flickr: 20130817-FS-UNK-0004, Public Domain, WikiMedia Commons
Potato Lefse photo courtesy of By Jonathunder - Own work, GFDL 1.2, WikiMedia Commons
Deep-Fried Bannock photo courtesy of Bannock Express on Facebook
Borscht photo courtesy of Liz West from Boxborough, MA - borscht served, CC BY 2.0, WikiMedia Commons
