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 I
am the Yellowhead.
While the
tumbleweed blow across grassy plains and fields of
golden grain, further north there is water, water,
everywhere. Some claim that 100,000 lakes dot the
face of Saskatchewan. Over
half contain fish - and 90 percent of those have
never been fished. With 68 species hatching every
year, small wonder our forefathers kept a spare
canoe in the driveway. Canada's
breadbasket begins at the Saskatchewan border, as
you enter a land where the highway meets the sky at
all points on the horizon. Just imagine these
plains inhabited by buffalo herds stretching as far
as the eye could see. Another
common sigh on the prairies that's fast
disappearing is the familiar country elevator, so
count yourself lucky to be traveling the Yellowhead
at t his
time, when they are still releatively abundant. If
you have time, stop and see how fascinating the
process of grain storage is. Throughout the
grain-growing regions of North America, the small
country grain elevator is becoming obsolete as
transportation methods and storage needs change.
Many country elevators have been abandoned when the
equipment fails, too much maintenance is required,
or the railroad lease becomes unaffordable. Others
are destroyed when there is a liability threat or
there is a need for a large, modern facility. As
these symbols of an earlier era of prosperity
disappear from the landscape, so does their history
if there is no effort to document and preserve
their records and stories. The establishment of the
Country Grain Elevator Historical Society is one
way this heritage can be preserved.
 Yorkton
Thanks to its strategic location, Yorkton has
become Saskatchewan's third largest trading area,
now serving over 250,000. Founded in 1882 by a
group representing Ontario's York County, the early
settlement, then part of the Northwest Territories,
was relocated several miles to the newly
constructed railway line. This move and the
railway's continuing efforts in promoting Western
Canada prepared the way to a major influx of
settlers from Europe, which added a new vitality to
the growing community and the
province.
The
promise of a homestead in Canada, with fertile
farmland and a place to grow, became the main
attraction for these hardy pioneers, many of whom
came from Ukraine. Most had experience with farming
on similar terrain. Their hard work, dedication and
philosophy of community cooperation and cultural
pride helped Yorkton to prosper and become the
thriving city it is today. Your first important
stop in the Province of Saskatchewan is Yorkton,
with its Western Development Museum.
Further
down the Yellowhead is Big Quill Lake, one
of the hundred thousand we mentioned.
 Foam
Lake
From the highway you would never guess that the
Town of Foam Lake is a bustling hive of activity.
There are so many little gems like Foam Lake along
the Trans Canada Yellowhead and unless you take a
few minutes to explore.... you may never experience
these wonderful jewels. Community Centre.This
facility has been completely built by volunteers
and is state of the art construction with floating
hardwood floor surface for sports or as Ray
mentioned..."it's great for dancing on"
Wynyard
ction
Lanigan
and Watrous
. A side trip from Lanigan leads to Watrous and
Lake Manitou, (Lake of Good Spirit), whose mineral
waters rank with Europe's great spas. After 18
holes at Manitou Beach Club, a plunge will set you
up for dinner.
Humboldt
ction
 Saskatoon
A 'Toon' with a Berry Named After it.
"Saskatoon"
is derived from 'mis-sask-quah-toomina', the Cree
Indian name for a local indigenous berry. The
Saskatoon area has been inhabited for some 6,000
years; however, it was not until the summer of 1883
that the first settlers began to arrive and
subsequently in 1903 that the town charter was
obtained. Today it is Saskatchewan's largest city
and major univesity centre.
The
Ukrainian Museum of Canada salutes an ethnic group
whose names appear in cities, hamlets and hockey
rinks throughout the west. A center of scientific
research, Wanuskewin Heritage Park has an on-site
archaeological lab, diggings and trails devoted to
the Plains Indians cultural legacy.
An
hour north of here at Batoche is a sadder legacy --
one of civil unrest. A
Gattling gun, military installations, and grave
sites, give testament to the last armed conflict on
Canadian soil. An audio visual show at Batoche
National Historic Site, north of the city, relives
the days during the 1880s Northwest Rebellion, when
Louis Reil's Metis faced off against the British
Empire.
Side
trip: Prince Albert National Park and Waskesui Lake
 The
Battlefords
Hollywood's
Mountie movies pale compared to the real McCoy.
Fort Battleford National Historic Site is an
example. Here on the Battle River, Chief
Poundmaker's Cree ransacked Battleford, then
Capital of the Northwest Territories, sending 400
settlers scurrying to the fort's sanctuary, and
Colonel Otter's force off in hot pursuit.
Government House,the stockade, and several original
buildings remain. North
Battleford and nearby Fort Battleford National
Historic Site are steeped in plains history. Here
on the Battle River, Chief Poundmaker's Cree
ransacked Battleford, then Capital of the Northwest
Territories, sending 400 settlers scurrying to the
fort's sanctuary, and Colonel Otter's force off in
hot pursuit. Government House,the stockade, and
several original buildings remain.
 Lloydminster
Yes Virginia, there is a Lloydminster, Sask, and a
Lloydminster, Alberta living peacefully, side by
side. That causes a kaffuffle when daylight saving
time rolls around. The town's Antique Museum honors
England's Barr Colonists
Continued:
Alberta
Footnotes
 Throughout
the grain-growing regions of North America, the
small country grain elevator is becoming obsolete
as transportation methods and storage needs change.
Many country elevators have been abandoned when the
equipment fails, too much maintenance is required,
or the railroad lease becomes unaffordable. Others
are destroyed when there is a liability threat or
there is a need for a large, modern facility. As
these symbols of an earlier era of prosperity
disappear from the landscape, so does their history
if there is no effort to document and preserve
their records and stories. The establishment of the
Country Grain Elevator Historical Society is
one way this heritage can be preserved. Throughout
the grain-growing regions of North America, the
small country grain elevator is becoming obsolete
as transportation methods and storage needs change.
Many country elevators have been abandoned when the
equipment fails, too much maintenance is required,
or the railroad lease becomes unaffordable. Others
are destroyed when there is a liability threat or
there is a need for a large, modern
facility.
As these symbols
of an earlier era of prosperity disappear from the
landscape, so does their history if there is no
effort to document and preserve their records and
stories. The establishment of the Country Grain
Elevator Historical Society is one way this
heritage can be preserved. http://www.country-grain-elevator-historical-society.org/about.html
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