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 Lloydminster,
Saskatchewan and Alberta
by Jerry W. Bird
Seeing Double? Yes
Virginia, there is a Lloydminster, Sask., and a
Lloydminster, Alberta living peacefully side by
side. That used to cause a kaffuffle when daylight
saving time rolled around, and begs the question,
"How did this prairie community end up in two
separate provinces? Sitting astride the 4th
Meridian as part of the Old Northwest Territories,
the village was split in two when Alberta and
Saskatchewan joined Canada in 1905. This phenomena
led to duplication of various municipal functions.
In 1958, upon receiving its official charter, the
City of Lloydminster became the 10th city in both
provinces. "Bordering on Greatness" is the catchy
theme of a souvenir history book written for this
July's Lloydminster's Centennial Jubilee.
Lloydminster was established when over 2,000 Barr
Colonists arrived from England, led by the Reverend
Lloyd. Their journey from the old country to the
Canadian prairies of 1903 is a fascinating story
all by itself. In old English the word "minster",
stand for the "mother church," hence the composite
name. Local attractions include the Barr Colony
Heritage Cultural Centre, the OTS Heavy Oil Science
Centre and Fuchs Wildlife Display of taxidermy.
Outdoor amenities abound at Sandy Beach Regional
Park. By the way, the Lloydminster Golf and Country
club is ranked high in both provinces. Nearby
communities on the Trans Canada Yellowhead Highway
include:
RM of
Paynton
A few minutes west of the
historic Battlefords, is the Rural Municipality of
Paynton, soon to celebrate its centennial.
Following the Northwest Rebellion , a modern
settlement took root. Looking back in time, the
first mail box in Payton was installed in 1903; the
first was opened in 1904, and the railway arrived
in 1905, bringing settlers, tradesmen and
entrepreneurs from afar, giving birth to what is
now an active rural community.
Maidstone
Located in the Rural
Municipality of Eldon, the Town of Maidstone was
founded after the railroad was constructed, and
currently has a population of close to
1,000.
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