Melfort, Saskatchewan

Melfort (2016 population 5,992) is a city in Saskatchewan, Canada, located approximately 95 km (59 mi) southeast of Prince Albert, 172 km (107 mi) northeast of Saskatoon and 280 km (170 mi) north of Regina.

Melfort
City
City of Melfort
Coat of arms of Melfort
Coat of arms
Motto: 
From Many Builders One Community
Melfort is located in Saskatchewan
Melfort
Melfort
Coordinates: 52°51′23″N 104°36′36″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceSaskatchewan
Rural MunicipalityStar City No. 428
Post office establishedAugust 1, 1892
Incorporated Village1903
Incorporated TownJuly 1, 1907
Incorporated CitySeptember 2, 1980
Government
 • MayorGlenn George
 • MLA MelfortTodd Goudy
 • MP Prince AlbertRandy Hoback
Elevation
[1]
480.10 m (1,575.13 ft)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total5,992
 • Density405.4/km2 (1,050/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−06:00 (CST)
HighwaysHwy 3, CanAm Highway
Hwy 2 CanAm Highway, Sk Hwy 641
WebsiteCity of Melfort
[2][3][4]

Melfort became Saskatchewan's 12th city in 1980. Melfort was formerly called the "City of Northern Lights" due to the frequency with which the aurora borealis appears. However, in 2016, Melfort became "Play Melfort" due to its vast recreation programs and facilities.

The city is bordered by the Rural Municipality of Star City No. 428 and the Rural Municipality of Flett's Springs No. 429. It is also the administrative headquarters of the Peter Chapman First Nation band government.

History

A few kilometres southeast of current location of Melfort settlers established themselves on the banks of Stoney Creek before relocation due to the surveying of the Canadian Northern Railway.[5] Melfort was named to honour Mrs. Reginald Beatty (née Mary Campbell, 1856–1916), wife of one of the early settlers (1884). She was born on the Melfort estate, south of Oban, in Argyllshire, Scotland.[6]

Melfort's first post office was established August 1, 1892, in the provisional district of the North West Territories with Benjamin Rothwell as the first postmaster.[2]

The community became a village on November 4, 1903, and incorporated as a town July 1, 1907. It finally became the twelfth city of Saskatchewan on September 2, 1980.[5][7][8]

Three one-room school houses used the name "Melfort". Melfort School District No. 54, later called Tiger Lily No. 54 17, near Pleasantdale. (Pleasantdale post office was previously named Windgap and was located at Township 41, Range 18 west of the 2nd Meridian). Melfort School District No. 318 was established in 1904 at Clemens, Rural Route 1, Melfort. Melfort School District No. 1037 was the last one-room school house to use this name.[9]

Geography

Melfort is located in the Carrot River valley which is noted for its black loamy soil and productive agricultural lands.[10][11] The drainage region for Melfort is the Lower Saskatchewan - Nelson and the area is characterized by a prairie ecozone.[12] The Tiger Hills Uplands ecozone provides rich soil to grow a diversity of crops.[7][13] Melfort Research Farm is located south of Melfort in the Boreal Shield ecozone and the Churchill drainage basin. The farm's main purpose is to research crops and crop systems for northern prairie black and grey soil zones.[14][15] The Melfort branch of the Canadian Legion has assembled a photographic display of the geographic memorials designated to honour the war dead.[10][16]

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Melfort had a population of 5,955 living in 2,575 of its 2,788 total private dwellings, a change of -0.6% from its 2016 population of 5,992. With a land area of 14.73 km2 (5.69 sq mi), it had a population density of 404.3/km2 (1,047.1/sq mi) in 2021.[17]

Historical populations
YearPop.±%
1906351—    
1910599+70.7%
1916971+62.1%
19965,759+493.1%
20015,559−3.5%
20065,192−6.6%
20115,576+7.4%
20165,992+7.5%
[18][19]
Canada census – Melfort community profile
202120162011
Population5,955 (-0.6% from 2016)5,992 (7.5% from 2011)5,576 (7.4% from 2006)
Land area14.73 km2 (5.69 sq mi)14.78 km2 (5.71 sq mi)14.78 km2 (5.71 sq mi)
Population density404.2/km2 (1,047/sq mi)405.4/km2 (1,050/sq mi)377.3/km2 (977/sq mi)
Median age42.8 (M: 39.6, F: 45.6)43.8 (M: 41.3, F: 45.5)
Private dwellings2,575 (total)  2,691 (total)  2,464 (total) 
Median household income
References: 2021[20] 2016[21] 2011[22] earlier[23][24]

Climate

Melfort experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). The highest temperature ever recorded in Melfort was 41.1 °C (106 °F) on 19 July 1941.[25] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −47.2 °C (−53 °F) on 28 January 1966.[26]

Climate data for Melfort CDA, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1901–present[lower-alpha 1]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8.5
(47.3)		 10.6
(51.1)		 20.0
(68.0)		 32.2
(90.0)		 35.0
(95.0)		 39.0
(102.2)		 41.1
(106.0)		 38.3
(100.9)		 37.2
(99.0)		 32.2
(90.0)		 20.0
(68.0)		 11.1
(52.0)		 41.1
(106.0)
Average high °C (°F) −12.2
(10.0)		 −9.5
(14.9)		 −2.2
(28.0)		 8.2
(46.8)		 17.2
(63.0)		 22.3
(72.1)		 23.6
(74.5)		 23.5
(74.3)		 16.8
(62.2)		 8.3
(46.9)		 −4.3
(24.3)		 −10.9
(12.4)		 6.7
(44.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −17.2
(1.0)		 −14.2
(6.4)		 −6.9
(19.6)		 2.8
(37.0)		 10.7
(51.3)		 15.9
(60.6)		 17.5
(63.5)		 16.8
(62.2)		 10.8
(51.4)		 3.3
(37.9)		 −8.1
(17.4)		 −15.4
(4.3)		 1.3
(34.3)
Average low °C (°F) −22.0
(−7.6)		 −18.8
(−1.8)		 −11.5
(11.3)		 −2.6
(27.3)		 4.1
(39.4)		 9.4
(48.9)		 11.3
(52.3)		 10.0
(50.0)		 4.7
(40.5)		 −1.7
(28.9)		 −11.7
(10.9)		 −19.9
(−3.8)		 −4.1
(24.6)
Record low °C (°F) −47.2
(−53.0)		 −45.6
(−50.1)		 −40.0
(−40.0)		 −35.0
(−31.0)		 −13.3
(8.1)		 −4.4
(24.1)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 −5.6
(21.9)		 −13.9
(7.0)		 −24.4
(−11.9)		 −36.5
(−33.7)		 −44.4
(−47.9)		 −47.2
(−53.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 14.5
(0.57)		 10.2
(0.40)		 17.2
(0.68)		 26.7
(1.05)		 42.9
(1.69)		 54.3
(2.14)		 76.7
(3.02)		 52.4
(2.06)		 38.7
(1.52)		 27.9
(1.10)		 16.5
(0.65)		 17.8
(0.70)		 395.8
(15.58)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.5
(0.02)		 0.3
(0.01)		 1.3
(0.05)		 14.6
(0.57)		 39.8
(1.57)		 54.3
(2.14)		 76.7
(3.02)		 52.4
(2.06)		 34.3
(1.35)		 14.8
(0.58)		 1.5
(0.06)		 0.4
(0.02)		 290.8
(11.45)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 14.3
(5.6)		 10.3
(4.1)		 16.0
(6.3)		 12.2
(4.8)		 3.0
(1.2)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 4.4
(1.7)		 13.2
(5.2)		 15.0
(5.9)		 17.5
(6.9)		 106.0
(41.7)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 87.5 116.7 152.2 203.7 250.4 259.0 281.1 262.2 167.7 137.0 79.4 66.5 2,063.3
Percent possible sunshine 34.4 42.1 41.5 48.8 51.2 51.4 55.5 57.4 44.0 41.5 30.2 27.8 43.8
Source: Environment Canada[26][27]

Economy

The Agriculture Melfort Research Station is centred in Melfort along with many other agriculturally based industries.

The Melfort Research Farm near Melfort was established in 1935 by the Federal Minister of Agriculture.[28] It is one of the three field sites of the Saskatoon Research Centre (SRC). SRC is one of nineteen research branches of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.[29]

Melfort is near a large diamond exploration site. The ongoing diamond exploration by a joint venture between Shore Gold Inc. Newmont Mining Corporation of Canada in the Fort à la Corne district was expected to begin mine construction in 2012.

Attractions

Within the city of Melfort is the Melfort Golf & Country Club, which hosts an 18-hole grass greens golf course, and the Spruce Haven picnic area.[30] A show ring, grandstand, museum, and exhibition building are all located within the Melfort Exhibition Grounds.[31] The Melfort & District Museum next door showcases pioneering equipment, tools, farm machinery, archival documents as well as early settler's buildings[32][33] Neighbouring points of interest are Fort Carleton, Duck Lake, and Seager Wheeler's Maple Grove Farm.[34]

Sports and recreation

Melfort was home to the 2006 Saskatchewan Winter Games, the 1988 Saskatchewan Summer Games, the 1996 Royal Bank Cup Canadian Junior 'A' Hockey Championships, the 1995 Saskatchewan Men's Curling Pool Tankard finals and the 2002 Saskatchewan women's Scott Tournament of Hearts finals.[35] The Kerry Vickar Centre, a multi purpose sports and leisure facility, opened in the autumn of 2009[36] The previous multi-use facility at that location, the North East Leisure Centre, was taken down to make way for the new Kerry Vickar Centre.[37] Melfort offers countless recreational opportunities for families and friends including swimming, camping, skiing, fishing, and golfing,[38] among other things.

Ice Hockey

Hockey is a key part of Saskatchewan's lifestyle and Melfort is no different. The Melfort Mustangs play in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The Mustangs are well known in Canadian hockey circles in many ways—for instance Marc Habscheid, past coach of Canada's World Junior team, started his coaching career with the Mustangs in 1996.[39] Other notable Mustang alumni include Willie Mitchell of the Los Angeles Kings and Ruslan Fedetenko formerly of the Philadelphia Flyers.[39]

Government

Municipal affairs are handled by the city's mayor, Glenn George and council. City council currently consists of George and six councillors.[40] The Rural Municipality of Flett's Springs No. 429 office is located on McDonald Avenue West in Melfort and provides municipal rural affairs to the small unincorporated areas of Claggett, Ethelton, Ethelton Airport, Flett Springs, Lipsett, McMichael, Melfort Airport, Minto Park, Pathlow, and Taylorside.[41]

Melfort is in the federal electoral district of Prince Albert with their Member of Parliament being Randy Hoback.[42]

Provincially, the area is within the constituency of Melfort with its MLA being Todd Goudy. He was preceded by Rod Gantefoer.[43]

Transportation

Melfort is located at the junction of two primary route highways, Highway 3 and Highway 6 where they meet with secondary Highway 41. Approximately 327 km (203 mi) of Highway 6 contributes to the CanAm Highway between Corinne and Melfort.[44] Approximately 96 km (60 mi) of Highway 3 contribute to the CanAm Highway between Melfort and Prince Albert.[44] Melfort is approximately 174 km (108 mi) northeast of the largest provincial city, Saskatoon along Highway 41 (turning onto Highway 5) and approximately 94 km (58 mi) southeast of Prince Albert via the CanAm Highway.[45][46]

Melfort (Miller Field) Aerodrome (TC LID: CJZ3), is located 2.6 NM (4.8 km; 3.0 mi) west of Melfort.[47]

In 1925, Melfort was listed as a Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) station on the CPR Melfort Subdivision. Melfort is currently a CNR interchange point and railway station on the Tisdale, St. Brieux and Brooksby Subdivisions.[48]

Education

The government's Canada-Saskatchewan Career and Employment Services office was to be combined with Melfort's Comprehensive High School and the Cumberland Regional College. The Melfort and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate provides education to grades 7 to 12 and is a part of the North East School Division No. 200.[49][50][51]

Historically students in Melfort were educated at the Melfort School District Unit 54.[52]

Media
Print

The Melfort Journal, is the local newspaper, as well as providing news feeds to the community.[53]

Radio

Notable people

Further reading
  • Fast, Henry R; Neil, D. A. (1973). "The Melfort-Wakaw region of Saskatchewan". Agriculture Canada (Regina). OL 4591578M. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • "Melfort 1903-2003 : 100 years of history as recorded in the Melfort Journal, Tuesday, July 29, 2003". Melfort Journal / Carrot River Journal.
  • Clancy, R.S. (Ron) (c. 2000). "Melfort Pipe Band, 1935-2000". Carrot River, Sask. : Patches Ventures Ltd. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Ryan, Timothy (1955). "Voices of the past: a history of Melfort and district". Melfort: Melfort and District Golden Jubilee Committee. ASIN B0037UAECO. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Russell, Ralph C. "Melfort District History (and the 44 Trail)". scaa.sk.ca (Overview of the Carrot River Valley with notes about the Beatty homestead, Flett's Spring, the Carrot River Fort, the Prince Albert to the Carrot River crossing trail, trails to neighbouring Indian Reserves. ed.).

References
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  1. Climate data was recorded in the town of Melfort from October 1901 to December 1960 and at the Melfort Canadian Department of Agriculture from January 1961 to present.
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