Saskatoon
The Paris of the Prairies,
Saskatoon, is a city full of treasures. Classy architectural cityscape, lively and busy downtown, and a charming river valley make for a lovely break from the farmland landscape surrounding the city.
In 1882, the Temperance Colonization Society received 21 land sections along the Saskatchewan River and established a ‘dry’ community, nestled away from the liquor trade. The first permanent settlement was established by a group of settlers in the following year. Saskatoon was formally incorporated in 1903, after a town charter was obtained for the west bank of the Saskatchewan River. Saskatoon was transformed into a city with a population of around 4500 residents, including the communities of Nutana, Riverside, and Saskatoon. In 1955, Montgomery Place and a year later, Sutherland were formally included in the town plan of Saskatoon.
At present, the
economy of the city is mainly associated with
oil, potassium, and agriculture. The industry of Saskatoon is fueled by diamond, gold,
uranium, potash, coal, oil and gas, and livestock, together with spin off industries. The city houses the corporate headquarters of global giants: Cameco, the largest uranium processing publicly traded company in the world, and PotashCorp, the largest potash producer worldwide. Almost two thirds of the global potash reserves are found in the region of Saskatoon. In 2010, the city has been among the leading in Canada in view of economic stability and health. Over the past year, employment in Saskatoon grew up by 3.5 percent, while sources of new
job openings have been: the public administration, accommodation and leisure services, professional, technical, and scientific services, forestry,
education, and health services. These substantial gains offset against considerable weaknesses in other sectors of the city’s economy such as: business and management services, information services, and manufacturing.
The largest city in the province of
Saskatchewan has a resident population of approximately 202,000 citizens. The youth population of the city (persons under the age of 15) accounts for 17.7 percent of the inhabitants while the average age of the resident population is at 35.5 years. The majority of First Nations residents are of Dakota, Cree, Assiniboine, Dene, and Saulteaux cultural background.
The city of Saskatoon is situated in the Aspen parkland biome, characterized by comparatively flat topography. South Saskatchewan River divides the city into east and west sides while its territory is organized into Suburban Development Areas. The climate of the region is humid continental, with cold winters and warm summers. The average temperature for July is 18°C while the median daily temperature for January is at -17°C. The climate in Saskatoon is comparatively dry, with summer being the wettest season.
The city offers diverse entertainment options, both night life venues and cultural and historic landmarks. Bud’s is a cozy club offering old fashioned rock and roll, blues, and pleasing atmosphere. Persephone Theatre features musicals, drama, comedy, and Canadiana in an inviting atmosphere. In view of festivals and events, Saskatoon is a host of numerous theatrical performances, concerts, and various live events. Among the festivals taking place in the city are the Jazz Festival, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Festival, Saskatoon Folkfest, Fringe Theatre Festival, and Canada Remembers Airshow.