Katepwa, Saskatchewan
Encyclopedia
The Resort Village of Katepwa operates as the centre of the District of Katepwa, which includes many of the cottages that can be found along Katepwa Lake in the Qu’Appelle Valley. The Resort Village is home to a Hotel and Restaurant, cottages and log cabins to rent, and a general store just off the beach, complete with a café, ice cream, and gas and propane. The adjacent beach and Provincial Park at Katepwa Point feature a playground and a boat launch, great for all sorts of water activities and sports, summer and winter.
s and their meltwater
sculpted the landscape. The valley was further changed by erosion
and sediment
. This sediment is also responsible for forming what was once one long lake into the four lakes present in this group today: Pasqua, Echo, Mission, and Katepwa.
Native peoples could have been living in this area as early as eleven thousand years ago, after the glacier retreated. When white settlers reached the area, Assiniboine and Cree
were the two most prominent groups living there. Predating the settlers were Catholic missions as early as 1865, the first being led by Father Taché and the second led the following year by Father Lebret, for whom the present town at the north end of Lake Katepwa is named. By 1880 there was a Metis settlement at the south end of the lake. The first settlers arrived and began farming the land soon after. Churches and schools were well established by 1890.
In 1898, Arthur Osment moved his brick factory from Indian Head
to Lebret, but it was not successful, and sold to Clem Peltier who moved it to the end of the lake. The factory was closed by 1908 due to competition.
Soon, activities began happening on the lake, such as picnic
s, boating
, and fishing
. A summer resort was soon added to the lake. Skating
became a popular winter pastime, as well as ice fishing
. A type of net called a jigger which would be placed through a hole in the ice and checked for fish every two days or so. Some commercial fishing took place on Lake Katepwa in the early 70s.
in the townsite. Another subdivision, Who Calls Beach, was surveyed in 1911, followed by Lakeview Beach in 1913, Idylwyld in 1919, and Como Park in 1921 (incorporated with Sandy Beach in 1980). Dundurn Park predates the syndicate and the other subdivisions.
Soon after the syndicate was formed, the summer resort grew to include the hotel, dining room, tea room that also served as a sort of general store
, a dance hall
, a boat rental, and an 18-hole golf course
. The Hotel was operated by the Grant family until 1934. In 1940, Jack Obleman and Wally Wirth took over the Katepwa Hotel when the previous owner, Mr. Arlet, died after running the Hotel for a year. Mr. Obleman ran the hotel while Mr. Wirth went overseas in World War II
, and Mr. Wirth and his wife, Lillian, ran the Hotel until 1955, at which point they sold it to Allan Robinson from Indian Head. The hotel burned down in May 1977 and was quickly rebuilt, opening July 1 that same year.
In 1912, Adelaide Hemstreet opened the Sunset Inn Tea Room. In 1913 she built a number of simply furnished cabins which she rented to guests. She expanded the land in 1914 and built a kitchen and screened-in veranda. Guests were fed in the tea room, which became exclusive and gave the Inn a very good reputation. Al Chaffee bought the Sunset Inn in 1939 and added a confectionery
store and improved the kitchen. He added electric light
s to the cabins, the store, the inn, and the dining room, as well as a telephone.
The business was sold in 1946 to W.J. (Bill) Oliver, who expanded the store considerably, increased the number of cabins, modernised the cabins, including electric refrigerator
s and flush toilet
s. His wife, Mae, ran the dining room, which offered formal Sunday turkey dinner
s, and his son, Dwight, helped out as well. Bert Miles bought the store from Bill in 1962, but sold it to Dwight Oliver in 1968. Jay and Bonnie Haaland ran the store from 1970 to 1973, followed by Pete and Frankie Law from 1974 to 1976. Dwight Oliver’s children, Bryan and Barbie, ran the business in 1977. The Laws bought the store in 1978 and continued to run the business until 1982, when it was sold to Maureen Barth.
Bill Oliver continued to care for the cabins until the last of them was sold in 1978, leaving only the store. After several more changes in ownership, the store was torn down in April 2010.
via the Trans Canada Highway and 120 km south west of Yorkton. The south-facing beach is one of the best swimming spots on the lake, protected from winds and algae blooms.
became subdivisions. The District of Katepwa came into being on August 1, 2004.
The District holds election
s once every three years. Anyone who is an eligible voter in his or her rural municipality is eligible to run for a position on Council. Eligible voters are those who are over eighteen years of age, reside in the District of Katepwa, and own assessable land in the District.
Council is responsible for monitoring public funds, appointing the administration, and acting as the internal control for proper use of the public funds. The administration does most of the financial work along with the council within the municipality.
A large grassy area just behind the beach boasts mature trees, shading numerous picnic spots and a playground. There one can find restrooms, change rooms, and barbecue
s. A boat launch can be found east of the beach with a parking lot behind it. There is one dock with two launching pads. Visitors and residents alike participate in many activities on the lake, such as fishing, water-skiing, wakeboarding
, tubing, sailing, windsurfing
, and many more.
Across the road that runs behind the park is the Village of Katepwa. There one can find Rocco's Beach Store, complete with ice cream and concessions, gas and propane, restaurants, and http://www.katepwabeach.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=22a hotel. Log cabin
s and other cottages are available for renting year-round]. Mini-golf is also available, as well as flea market
s on Sundays.
, walleye
, and northern pike
are all common fish to be caught, summer and winter. In summertime, fishermen can be seen casting their lines off of the western point, next to the beach. Still others take their boats out for hours on end. In the winter, ice shack villages spring up across the ice, criss-crossed with roads of pick-up truck
tire tracks. Record-breaking catches have been recorded on Katepwa Lake for decades.
s, with signs along the way explaining flora and fauna that can be found in the area. The Fort Ellis Trail begins at the end of Lake Katepwa and is a day-long driving trip through to Crooked Lake
. Bird-watching in Skinners Marsh and a visit to the Fort Ellis Historical Site are possible activities along the way.
Construction started in July 1886 with the hauling of stones from nearby fields, to be used for the foundation. The main structure is wood and concrete. The church was not fully completed until after its consecration on August 21, 1887.
Although the church was not completed until 1887, the members of its congregation held Anglican services in local homes and the schoolhouse as early as 1884, and this is considered the year of origin for All Saints’ Anglican Church Katepwe.
The graveyard
beside the church is the final resting place of many original settlers.
Regular services ceased in 1945 and the church was only used in July and August. By the 60s the building was in poor condition, leaning from the pressure of the chimney. The exterior was repaired, followed by a complete refurbishment of the interior by the end of the 70s. Electricity was installed in 1982. Congregation members throughout the years have made maintenance of the church and churchyard possible by various donations and bequests.
Catholic churches in the area have always centered on Lebret. Catholic interment continues there today.
Beginnings
The Qu'Appelle Valley was formed approximately 14,000 years ago as retreating glacierGlacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s and their meltwater
Meltwater
Meltwater is the water released by the melting of snow or ice, including glacial ice and ice shelfs over oceans. Meltwater is often found in the ablation zone of glaciers, where the rate of snow cover is reducing...
sculpted the landscape. The valley was further changed by erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
and sediment
Sediment
Sediment is naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of fluids such as wind, water, or ice, and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particle itself....
. This sediment is also responsible for forming what was once one long lake into the four lakes present in this group today: Pasqua, Echo, Mission, and Katepwa.
Native peoples could have been living in this area as early as eleven thousand years ago, after the glacier retreated. When white settlers reached the area, Assiniboine and Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
were the two most prominent groups living there. Predating the settlers were Catholic missions as early as 1865, the first being led by Father Taché and the second led the following year by Father Lebret, for whom the present town at the north end of Lake Katepwa is named. By 1880 there was a Metis settlement at the south end of the lake. The first settlers arrived and began farming the land soon after. Churches and schools were well established by 1890.
Settlement
In 1898, Arthur Osment moved his brick factory from Indian Head
Indian Head, Saskatchewan
Indian Head is a town in southeast Saskatchewan, Canada, east of Regina. The town is directly north of the Trans-Canada Highway. The town is known for its federally-operated Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration experimental farm and tree nursery that produces seedlings for shelter...
to Lebret, but it was not successful, and sold to Clem Peltier who moved it to the end of the lake. The factory was closed by 1908 due to competition.
Soon, activities began happening on the lake, such as picnic
Picnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
s, boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
, and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
. A summer resort was soon added to the lake. Skating
Skating
Skating may refer to:*Freestyle slalom skating*Ice skating and various sub-forms:**Figure skating**Speed skating**Tour skating*Inline skating and sub-forms:**Aggressive inline skating**Inline speed skating*Road skating*Roller skating...
became a popular winter pastime, as well as ice fishing
Ice fishing
Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice anglers may sit on the stool in the open on a frozen lake, or in a heated cabin on the ice, some with bunks and amenities.-Locations:It is a popular pastime...
. A type of net called a jigger which would be placed through a hole in the ice and checked for fish every two days or so. Some commercial fishing took place on Lake Katepwa in the early 70s.
The Resort Village
By 1914, the Katepwa Beach Syndicate was formed, subdividing the land where the Village of Katepwa now stands. The street names in use as early as 1911 are still in use today, such as Qu’Appelle Avenue and Cypress Street. The syndicate set up laws concerning the sale of property and sanitationSanitation
Sanitation is the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of wastes. Hazards can be either physical, microbiological, biological or chemical agents of disease. Wastes that can cause health problems are human and animal feces, solid wastes, domestic...
in the townsite. Another subdivision, Who Calls Beach, was surveyed in 1911, followed by Lakeview Beach in 1913, Idylwyld in 1919, and Como Park in 1921 (incorporated with Sandy Beach in 1980). Dundurn Park predates the syndicate and the other subdivisions.
Soon after the syndicate was formed, the summer resort grew to include the hotel, dining room, tea room that also served as a sort of general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
, a dance hall
Dance hall
Dance hall in its general meaning is a hall for dancing. From the earliest years of the twentieth century until the early 1960s, the dance hall was the popular forerunner of the discothèque or nightclub...
, a boat rental, and an 18-hole golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
. The Hotel was operated by the Grant family until 1934. In 1940, Jack Obleman and Wally Wirth took over the Katepwa Hotel when the previous owner, Mr. Arlet, died after running the Hotel for a year. Mr. Obleman ran the hotel while Mr. Wirth went overseas in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and Mr. Wirth and his wife, Lillian, ran the Hotel until 1955, at which point they sold it to Allan Robinson from Indian Head. The hotel burned down in May 1977 and was quickly rebuilt, opening July 1 that same year.
In 1912, Adelaide Hemstreet opened the Sunset Inn Tea Room. In 1913 she built a number of simply furnished cabins which she rented to guests. She expanded the land in 1914 and built a kitchen and screened-in veranda. Guests were fed in the tea room, which became exclusive and gave the Inn a very good reputation. Al Chaffee bought the Sunset Inn in 1939 and added a confectionery
Confectionery
Confectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well...
store and improved the kitchen. He added electric light
Electric light
Electric lights are a convenient and economic form of artificial lighting which provide increased comfort, safety and efficiency. Most electric lighting is powered by centrally-generated electric power, but lighting may also be powered by mobile or standby electric generators or battery systems...
s to the cabins, the store, the inn, and the dining room, as well as a telephone.
The business was sold in 1946 to W.J. (Bill) Oliver, who expanded the store considerably, increased the number of cabins, modernised the cabins, including electric refrigerator
Refrigerator
A refrigerator is a common household appliance that consists of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump that transfers heat from the inside of the fridge to its external environment so that the inside of the fridge is cooled to a temperature below the ambient temperature of the room...
s and flush toilet
Flush toilet
A flush toilet is a toilet that disposes of human waste by using water to flush it through a drainpipe to another location. Flushing mechanisms are found more often on western toilets , but many squat toilets also are made for automated flushing...
s. His wife, Mae, ran the dining room, which offered formal Sunday turkey dinner
Turkey Dinner
Turkey Dinner is the sixth episode of the seventh series of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on Monday the 23 December 1974.-Synopsis:...
s, and his son, Dwight, helped out as well. Bert Miles bought the store from Bill in 1962, but sold it to Dwight Oliver in 1968. Jay and Bonnie Haaland ran the store from 1970 to 1973, followed by Pete and Frankie Law from 1974 to 1976. Dwight Oliver’s children, Bryan and Barbie, ran the business in 1977. The Laws bought the store in 1978 and continued to run the business until 1982, when it was sold to Maureen Barth.
Bill Oliver continued to care for the cabins until the last of them was sold in 1978, leaving only the store. After several more changes in ownership, the store was torn down in April 2010.
Geography
The Resort Village of Katepwa is located approximately 95 km north east of ReginaRegina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
via the Trans Canada Highway and 120 km south west of Yorkton. The south-facing beach is one of the best swimming spots on the lake, protected from winds and algae blooms.
Temperature (Celsius)
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | -16.2 | -12.3 | -5.4 | 4 | 11.4 | 16.1 | 18.4 | 17.5 | 11.4 | 4.6 | -5.4 | -13.3 |
| Average High | -10.8 | -7 | -0.2 | 10.5 | 18.2 | 22.6 | 25 | 24.5 | 17.9 | 10.8 | -0.6 | -8.1 |
| Average Low | -21.5 | -17.5 | -10.6 | -2.4 | 4.5 | 9.7 | 11.7 | 10.5 | 4.8 | -1.7 | -10.1 | -18.5 |
Precipitation
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Rainfall (mm) | 0 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 53 | 79 | 67 | 53 | 40 | 18 | 3 | 1 |
| Monthly Snowfall (cm) | 22 | 18 | 20 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 16 | 29 |
| Monthly Precipitation (mm) | 20 | 16 | 24 | 25 | 56 | 79 | 67 | 53 | 41 | 24 | 17 | 25 |
Government
The village became The Summer Resort Village of Katepwa Beach on August 1, 1957. The first Village Council meeting was held on August 31, 1957. After many years as a summer resort village, areas taken from the rural municipalities of Indian Head, Abernethy, and Qu'AppelleQu'Appelle, Saskatchewan
Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan, is a small village and formerly in ecclesiastical terms a city, with considerable historic significance located on Trans-Canada Highway and the Canadian Pacific Railway mainline, some east of the provincial capital of Regina.Qu'Appelle was for a time the terminus of the...
became subdivisions. The District of Katepwa came into being on August 1, 2004.
The District holds election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
s once every three years. Anyone who is an eligible voter in his or her rural municipality is eligible to run for a position on Council. Eligible voters are those who are over eighteen years of age, reside in the District of Katepwa, and own assessable land in the District.
Council is responsible for monitoring public funds, appointing the administration, and acting as the internal control for proper use of the public funds. The administration does most of the financial work along with the council within the municipality.
The Beach
The beach at Katepwa Point Provincial Park is a perfect swimming spot for cottage-owners and day visitors. Swimming lessons are available for most of the summer, given by certified instructors.A large grassy area just behind the beach boasts mature trees, shading numerous picnic spots and a playground. There one can find restrooms, change rooms, and barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
s. A boat launch can be found east of the beach with a parking lot behind it. There is one dock with two launching pads. Visitors and residents alike participate in many activities on the lake, such as fishing, water-skiing, wakeboarding
Wakeboarding
Wakeboarding is a surface water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snow boarding and surfing techniques....
, tubing, sailing, windsurfing
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
, and many more.
Across the road that runs behind the park is the Village of Katepwa. There one can find Rocco's Beach Store, complete with ice cream and concessions, gas and propane, restaurants, and http://www.katepwabeach.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=22a hotel. Log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
s and other cottages are available for renting year-round]. Mini-golf is also available, as well as flea market
Flea market
A flea market or swap meet is a type of bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered. It may be indoors, such as in a warehouse or school gymnasium; or it may be outdoors, such as in a field or under a tent...
s on Sundays.
Fishing
Fishing is a year-round activity on Katepwa Lake. PerchPerch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
, walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
, and northern pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
are all common fish to be caught, summer and winter. In summertime, fishermen can be seen casting their lines off of the western point, next to the beach. Still others take their boats out for hours on end. In the winter, ice shack villages spring up across the ice, criss-crossed with roads of pick-up truck
Pick-Up Truck
"Pick-Up Truck" is a song written and recorded by Belgian acid house musician Praga Khan. It is the third single from Praga's eighth studio album, Soundscraper....
tire tracks. Record-breaking catches have been recorded on Katepwa Lake for decades.
Golfing
The Katepwa Beach Golf Course has its roots in the Syndicate formed in the early 1900s. Early residents carved the first 18-hole course out of the hills shortly after establishing cottages on the lake. In the eighties, use of the golf course had dropped so low that it was put up for sale, but a group of golfers bought the land, to be reserved for a golf course. In the mid-nineties, a new 9-hole course was built, which has gained international renown. The course is unique in that there is no fee to maintain membership; members need only pay for the rounds of golf they play. A simpler 9-hole, family-friendly course is also located in the area.Trails
The Katepwa Nature Trail starts in the park and winds through the nearby couleeCoulee
Coulee is applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley or drainage zone.The word coulee comes from the Canadian French coulée, from French word couler meaning "to flow"....
s, with signs along the way explaining flora and fauna that can be found in the area. The Fort Ellis Trail begins at the end of Lake Katepwa and is a day-long driving trip through to Crooked Lake
Crooked Lake (Saskatchewan)
Crooked Lake is located in the southeastern region of Saskatchewan. It is part of a chain of lakes in the Qu'Appelle Valley. The majority of the south side of the lake is undeveloped and part of the First Nation Reserve...
. Bird-watching in Skinners Marsh and a visit to the Fort Ellis Historical Site are possible activities along the way.
Historical Sites
There are also a variety of landmarks and activities near the Village. The Motherwell Homestead is located approximately 25 km away, near Abernethy, which is also home to the Abernethy Historical Museum. The newly-restored Bell Barn is located in Indian Head, about 25 km south of Katepwa Beach.Churches
The All Saints’ Anglican Church Katepwe was built in 1886 on the southeastern shore of the lake, in a small settlement then known as Lauder’s Town. John Lauder, the owner of the townsite, donated the land.Construction started in July 1886 with the hauling of stones from nearby fields, to be used for the foundation. The main structure is wood and concrete. The church was not fully completed until after its consecration on August 21, 1887.
Although the church was not completed until 1887, the members of its congregation held Anglican services in local homes and the schoolhouse as early as 1884, and this is considered the year of origin for All Saints’ Anglican Church Katepwe.
The graveyard
Graveyard
A graveyard is any place set aside for long-term burial of the dead, with or without monuments such as headstones...
beside the church is the final resting place of many original settlers.
Regular services ceased in 1945 and the church was only used in July and August. By the 60s the building was in poor condition, leaning from the pressure of the chimney. The exterior was repaired, followed by a complete refurbishment of the interior by the end of the 70s. Electricity was installed in 1982. Congregation members throughout the years have made maintenance of the church and churchyard possible by various donations and bequests.
Catholic churches in the area have always centered on Lebret. Catholic interment continues there today.