Big River, Saskatchewan

Big River is a town located on the southern end of Cowan Lake in north central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is just north of Saskatchewan's extensive grain belt on Highway 55 (part of the inter-provincial Northern Woods and Water Route) and about sixteen kilometres west of Prince Albert National Park. Delaronde Lake is accessed east of the town. Big River is approximately 132 kilometres to Prince Albert.

Big River
Town
Motto(s): 
Gateway to the North
Big River
Location of Big River in Saskatchewan
Big River
Big River (Canada)
Coordinates: 53.837°N 107.035°W / 53.837; -107.035
CountryCanada
ProvinceSaskatchewan
RegionSaskatchewan
Census divisionNo. 16
Rural MunicipalityBig River
Post office founded1910
Government
 • MayorRobert Buckingham
 • AdministratorNoreen Olsen
 • MLA Saskatchewan RiversNadine Wilson
 • MP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill RiverGeorgina Jolibois
Area
 • Total2.51 km2 (0.97 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total639
 • Density255.0/km2 (660/sq mi)
Time zoneCentral Standard Time
Postal code
S0J 0E0
Area code(s)306
HighwaysHighway 55
Websitehttp://www.bigriver.ca/
[2][3][4]

Except for some land cleared for farming and a few natural meadows, the town is surrounded by the northern boreal forest.

History

Big River began as a company town created as a base for the lumber industry at the turn of the 20th century. Commercial fishing also played a major role in the town in the early years.[5] In 1910 a post office was opened in Big River.[6] It incorporated in 1921.[7]

Demographics
Canada census – Big River, Saskatchewan community profile
2011 2006
Population: 639 (-12.2% from 2006) 728 (-1.8% from 2001)
Land area: 2.51 km2 (0.97 sq mi) 2.11 km2 (0.81 sq mi)
Population density: 255.0/km2 (660/sq mi) 345.5/km2 (895/sq mi)
Median age: 40.9 (M: 38.4, F: 42.0) 37.2 (M: 34.7, F: 39.9)
Total private dwellings: 307 362
Median household income:
References: 2011[8] 2006[9] earlier[10]

Notable people

Métis film producer and director Wil Campbell[11] was born here. He helped establish the first video program for Aboriginal people with Alberta Native Communications in 1968 and founded the Dreamspeakers Festival Society and the National Film Board's Native Studio.

Former 18th overall draft pick of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft, forward Barry Pederson was born here, as well as former NHL defenseman Jim Neilson.

Leon McGilvery. Big River Resident that taught millions of people how to dance in a viral video.

Education

There are two schools in the community. Big River Public High School (Grade 7 to 12) & TD Michel Public School (Pre-K to Grade 6). They are part of the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division #119 out of Prince Albert.

See also

References
  1. "2011 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  2. National Archives, Archivia Net. "Post Offices and Postmasters". Archived from the original on 2006-10-06. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  3. Government of Saskatchewan, MRD Home. "Municipal Directory System". Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  4. Commissioner of Canada Elections, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada (2005). "Elections Canada On-line". Archived from the original on 2007-04-21. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  5. "Timber Trails (A History of Big River)". Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  6. "Library and Archives Canada-Post Offices and Postmasters". Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  7. Hamilton, William (1978). The Macmillan Book of Canadian Place Names. Toronto: Macmillan. p. 249. ISBN 0-7715-9754-1.
  8. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-17.
  9. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011.
  10. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  11. "Dreamspeakers Film Festival-Walk of Honour". Archived from the original on 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2012-11-02.

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