Saskatchewan: Canada’s Prairie Poster Child
Saskatchewan may not hold exclusive rights to prairie landscapes in Canada, since both Alberta and Manitoba have their fair share of grassy flats. But when most people think of fields of golden wheat swaying in the breeze, blue skies and endless horizons, this central province definitely is the Prairies’ poster child.
What many people don’t realize, however, is that Saskatchewan is not defined solely by its agricultural bounty. Not only is the province home to much more varied terrain than you might think, (boreal forest, sand dunes and badlands, for example) it is also home to vibrant, urban centres. Both Saskatoon and Regina offer stellar dining, enviable architecture and funky neighbourhoods that are known for their unique boutiques and leafy residential streets. (Yes, there are actual trees in Saskatchewan – although most of them in the south have been planted.)
With only 1.1 million people in the entire province, half of which are split between its two largest cities, Saskatchewan on the whole definitely feels more rural than urban. In fact, once you get outside of these cities, there are often so few cars on the smaller roads that you might be tempted to wave when you do pass one.
But even in the smallest towns, you may be surprised to discover something amazing, whether it’s a hipster-run restaurant where you would least expect it, a ghostly grain elevator still standing tall, or a boutique-hotel-calibre loft suite built inside an actual grain bin.
READ MORE ARTICLES ON WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN SASKATCHEWAN:
Pierogies and the Prairies: Saskatchewan’s Ukrainian Heritage
It stands like an incongruous sentinel, its onion-shaped domes outlined against the wide blue Saskatchewan skies, farm fields stretching out on all sides of it for almost as far as the eye can see. Yet, as unorthodox as this orthodox Ukrainian church seems standing in the middle of the Canadian prairies, this is not the only church of its kind here. On a recent visit to Saskatchewan, Henk and I made it our mission to photograph some of these historic churches, and in the process we learned more about the rich history of Ukrainians in Saskatchewan.
A Hidden Gem in Saskatchewan: Blackstrap Glamping Resort
What do you get when you combine the beauty of a lakefront provincial park just 20 minutes south of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan with a luxurious overnight experience? You get much more than a campground on a pretty lake – you get a ‘GlampGround’. At least that’s what I would call it, after Henk and I spent a night in one of the geodesic domes at Blackstrap Glamping Resort.
Wanuskewin Heritage Park: Where a Bison is More Than a Bison
“The Elders used to tell us when the bison come back, that’s when there’ll be a good change in our history.” – Cy Standing, Wahpeton Dakota Nation of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
To the Indigenous Peoples of the Great Plains, bison have never been merely a source of sustenance. For as long as there have been People on the grasslands of North America, the bison have represented a part of their Indigenous identity. And a visit to Wanuskewin Heritage Park in Saskatchewan is one of the best ways to learn more.
