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 16 kilometres (10 mi) west of Prince Albert National Park. Delaronde Lake is accessed east of the town. Big River is approximately 132 kilometres (82 mi) from Prince Albert.

Big River
Town
Motto: 
Gateway to the North
Big River is located in Saskatchewan
Big River
Big River
Location of Big River in Saskatchewan
Big River is located in Canada
Big River
Big River
Big River (Canada)
Coordinates: 53.837°N 107.035°W / 53.837; -107.035
CountryCanada
ProvinceSaskatchewan
Census divisionNo. 16
Rural MunicipalityBig River
Post office founded1910
Government
 • MayorDave Krawetz
 • AdministratorNoreen Olsen
 • MLA Saskatchewan RiversNadine Wilson
 • MP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill RiverGary Vidal
Area
 • Total2.51 km2 (0.97 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total700
 • Density255.0/km2 (660/sq mi)
Time zoneCentral Standard Time
Postal code
S0J 0E0
Area code306
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 opened in Big River.[6] It incorporated in 1921.[7]

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Big River had a population of 666 living in 296 of its 340 total private dwellings, a change of -4.9% from its 2016 population of 700. With a land area of 2.68 km2 (1.03 sq mi), it had a population density of 248.5/km2 (643.6/sq mi) in 2021.[8]

Canada census – Big River community profile
20212011
Population666 (-4.9% from 2016)639 (-12.2% from 2006)
Land area2.68 km2 (1.03 sq mi)2.51 km2 (0.97 sq mi)
Population density248.1/km2 (643/sq mi)255.0/km2 (660/sq mi)
Median age40.4 (M: 38.0, F: 45.2)40.9 (M: 38.4, F: 42.0)
Private dwellings340 (total)  296 (occupied)307 (total) 
Median household income$63,600
References: 2021[9] 2011[10] earlier[11][12]

Big River Regional Park

Big River Regional Park (53.8379°N 107.0239°W / 53.8379; -107.0239)[13] is a regional park located in the town of Big River that is divided into two sections. At the western end of Main Street, on the eastern shore of Cowan Lake, is Cowan Lake Campground. It has 16 campsites, lake and beach access, modern washrooms/showers, a camp kitchen, a boat launch, a fish cleaning station, and a children's playground. The other campground is located on the north side of town and is called the Community Centre Campground. It has 49 individual campsites as well as group camping, washrooms/showers, ball diamonds, laundry, horseshoe pits, and a playground.[14][15]

Kitty-corner to the Community Centre Campground is the 9-hole Big River Golf Course. It was built in 1971 and is a 2,935-yard, par 35 grass green course. It has a licensed clubhouse and pro shop.[16][17]

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.

Notable people
  • Métis film producer and director Wil Campbell[18] 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.
  • Barry Pederson, former NHL player
  • Jim Neilson, former NHL player

See also

References
  1. "2016 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  2. National Archives, Archivia Net. "Post Offices and Postmasters". Archived from the original on 6 October 2006. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  3. Government of Saskatchewan, MRD Home. "Municipal Directory System". Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  4. Commissioner of Canada Elections, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada (2005). "Elections Canada On-line". Archived from the original on 21 April 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  5. "Timber Trails (A History of Big River)". Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  6. "Library and Archives Canada-Post Offices and Postmasters". Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  7. Hamilton, William (1978). The Macmillan Book of Canadian Place Names. Toronto: Macmillan. p. 249. ISBN 0-7715-9754-1.
  8. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Saskatchewan". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  9. "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  10. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  11. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. 20 August 2019.
  12. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. 18 July 2021.
  13. "Big River Regional Park". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  14. "Big River". Regional Parks of Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Regional Parks. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  15. "Big River Regional Park". Tourism Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  16. "Big River Golf Course | Tourism Saskatchewan".
  17. "Big River Golf Course".
  18. "Dreamspeakers Film Festival-Walk of Honour". Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2012.

53.837°N 107.035°W / 53.837; -107.035

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