La Loche
Encyclopedia
La Loche is a northern village located in northwestern Saskatchewan
. The second largest community in northern Saskatchewan, it is located on Highway 155
on the eastern shore of Lac La Loche in Canada's boreal forest.
Bordering La Loche to the north and reached via Highway 955
is the Clearwater River Dene Nation with a population of 658 people. Together with the 2348 residents of La Loche, the area holds over twenty five percent of the Dene
speakers of Canada. The Dene Suline language
is spoken by over 90% of the residents.
The northern hamlet of Black Point
lies on the southern shore of the lake and is accessible via the Garson Lake Road Highway 956
. This road ends in Garson Lake
. From there a winter road is built every year to Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Located on the northern end of Lac La Loche is the Methye Portage
or Portage La Loche. At Rendezvous Lake on the 19 kilometer portage the fur brigades would meet every year and exchange trade goods for furs. The furs were then brought down the Churchill River
to York Factory on the Hudson Bay for shipment to England.
This portage to the Clearwater River
was in use for more than a century. It is now part of the Clearwater River Provincial Park and a National Historic Site. The Clearwater River is also a Canadian Heritage River.
Since 1778 the North West Company
and then the Hudson's Bay Company
maintained trading posts on the shores of Lac La Loche. When the HBC trading post in West La Loche burned in the nineteen thirties it was not rebuilt. A trading post had been in West La Loche since the eighteen seventies.
Eventually all the families living there moved to La Loche where the Mission church and another HBC post were located.
The Revillon Freres
had a post at La Loche in 1906. In 1936 the company was purchased by the HBC.
Missionary priests have been coming to La Loche since 1845. In 1860 the separate La Loche Mission of Notre Dame de la Visitation was established. Father Penard o.m.i. (the first resident priest of La Loche from 1895 to 1917) wrote in 1895 that the population of La Loche at the Mission was around 100 people and the population at the fort in west La Loche (six miles from the Portage) was 60 to 70 people. In 1911 he writes that La Loche has 200 people with another 80 to 100 people living in two villages across the lake. He adds that during autumn most residents leave for winter camps to the north to hunt caribou leaving only 60 or 70 people around the lake.
In 1922 Father J.B. Ducharme o.m.i. writes that there are 500 people in the La Loche Mission area. The Mission included other villages such as Bull's House (at the end of the La Loche River), Turnor Lake
, Swan Lake (a large winter camp on Careen Lake) and Garson Lake.
In the 1940's a convent was built for the Grey Nuns
(now a private residence) along with the first hospital and the first school of the village.
In 1953 a new Mission church was constructed. It is still in use today.
The first road (Highway 155) reached La Loche in 1963.
Water/sewer and electricity became available to most homes in 1974. Direct dial telephone came in 1974, television in 1976, a skating arena in 1978 and a new high school in 1979. Highway 955 to the Cluff Lake uranium mine site was completed in 1979. 1979 was also the year the Clearwater River Dene Nation was officially created.
Note: La Loche is one of the only 95 Saskatchewan towns or villages whose population increased from 2001 to 2006.
Sister city Lagoa Formosa
, Brazil
The Dave O'Hara Public Library at Ducharme School offers internet access.
The La Loche Friendship Center organizes many of the festivals that occur every year.
Clearwater River Ministries offers Sunday services and gospel studies.
There is also a K-12 school at Clearwater with an enrollment of 200.
The Gabriel Dumont Institute
offers adult basic education and skills training.
The first school of La Loche was built in 1942. It was called the Community Day School and had an enrollment of 23.
and the La Loche Water Aerodrome
.
Bus service is provided by the STC Saskatchewan Transportation Company
.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. The second largest community in northern Saskatchewan, it is located on Highway 155
Saskatchewan Highway 155
Highway 155 is a highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from Highway 55 near Green Lake until La Loche, where it becomes Highway 955...
on the eastern shore of Lac La Loche in Canada's boreal forest.
Bordering La Loche to the north and reached via Highway 955
Saskatchewan Highway 955
Highway 955 is a highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from Highway 155 near La Loche to Cluff Lake Mine. The highway is approximately 245 km long and is entirely unpaved. The highway carries the name Semchuk Trail...
is the Clearwater River Dene Nation with a population of 658 people. Together with the 2348 residents of La Loche, the area holds over twenty five percent of the Dene
Dene
The Dene are an aboriginal group of First Nations who live in the northern boreal and Arctic regions of Canada. The Dené speak Northern Athabaskan languages. Dene is the common Athabaskan word for "people" . The term "Dene" has two usages...
speakers of Canada. The Dene Suline language
Dene Suline language
Dene Suline or Chipewyan is the language spoken by the Chipewyan people of central Canada. It is a part of the Athabaskan family...
is spoken by over 90% of the residents.
The northern hamlet of Black Point
Black Point, Saskatchewan
Black Point is a community in Saskatchewan. This northern hamlet of about 70 people lies on the southern shore of Lac La Loche close to the village of La Loche . Is is accessible by road by Highway 956 which is off Highway 155....
lies on the southern shore of the lake and is accessible via the Garson Lake Road Highway 956
Saskatchewan Highway 956
Highway 956, also known as the Garson Lake Road, is a highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from the Alberta border until Highway 155. The highway is 44 km long....
. This road ends in Garson Lake
Garson Lake, Saskatchewan
Garson Lake is a hamlet in Saskatchewan. It is located near the Alberta border and can be reached by the Garson Lake Road or Highway 956 off of Highway 155 . A winter road connects it to Fort McMurray , Alberta in the winter months.- History :...
. From there a winter road is built every year to Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Located on the northern end of Lac La Loche is the Methye Portage
Methye Portage
The Methye Portage or Portage La Loche in northwestern Saskatchewan was one of the most important portages in the old fur-trade route across Canada. It connected the Mackenzie River basin to rivers that ran east to the Atlantic. It was reached by Peter Pond in 1778 and abandoned in 1883 when...
or Portage La Loche. At Rendezvous Lake on the 19 kilometer portage the fur brigades would meet every year and exchange trade goods for furs. The furs were then brought down the Churchill River
Churchill River (Hudson Bay)
The Churchill River is a major river in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada. From the head of the Churchill Lake it is 1,609 km long. It was named after John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and governor of the Hudson's Bay Company from 1685 to 1691...
to York Factory on the Hudson Bay for shipment to England.
This portage to the Clearwater River
Clearwater River (Saskatchewan)
Clearwater River is the name of a river in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta.-Course:The Clearwater River totals 295 kilometres in length and rises in northwestern Saskatchewan in the northern forest region of the Precambrian Shield. From its headwaters at Broach Lake it flows...
was in use for more than a century. It is now part of the Clearwater River Provincial Park and a National Historic Site. The Clearwater River is also a Canadian Heritage River.
Since 1778 the North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
and then the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
maintained trading posts on the shores of Lac La Loche. When the HBC trading post in West La Loche burned in the nineteen thirties it was not rebuilt. A trading post had been in West La Loche since the eighteen seventies.
Eventually all the families living there moved to La Loche where the Mission church and another HBC post were located.
The Revillon Freres
Revillon Freres
Révillon Frères was a French fur and luxury goods company, founded in 1723.At the end of the 19th century, Revillon had stores in Paris, London, New York, and Montreal. -Fur trading operation:...
had a post at La Loche in 1906. In 1936 the company was purchased by the HBC.
Missionary priests have been coming to La Loche since 1845. In 1860 the separate La Loche Mission of Notre Dame de la Visitation was established. Father Penard o.m.i. (the first resident priest of La Loche from 1895 to 1917) wrote in 1895 that the population of La Loche at the Mission was around 100 people and the population at the fort in west La Loche (six miles from the Portage) was 60 to 70 people. In 1911 he writes that La Loche has 200 people with another 80 to 100 people living in two villages across the lake. He adds that during autumn most residents leave for winter camps to the north to hunt caribou leaving only 60 or 70 people around the lake.
In 1922 Father J.B. Ducharme o.m.i. writes that there are 500 people in the La Loche Mission area. The Mission included other villages such as Bull's House (at the end of the La Loche River), Turnor Lake
Turnor Lake, Saskatchewan
Turnor Lake is a northern hamlet on the shore of a lake with the same name. It is accessible via Saskatchewan Highway 909, 124 km north-north-east of Île-à-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan. The settlement comprises the Birch Narrows First Nation, which is affiliated with the Meadow Lake Tribal Council...
, Swan Lake (a large winter camp on Careen Lake) and Garson Lake.
In the 1940's a convent was built for the Grey Nuns
Grey Nuns
The Order of Sisters of Charity of Montreal, formerly called The Order of Sisters of Charity of the Hôpital Général of Montreal and more commonly known as the Grey Nuns of Montreal, is a Canadian order of Roman Catholic religious sisters...
(now a private residence) along with the first hospital and the first school of the village.
In 1953 a new Mission church was constructed. It is still in use today.
The first road (Highway 155) reached La Loche in 1963.
Water/sewer and electricity became available to most homes in 1974. Direct dial telephone came in 1974, television in 1976, a skating arena in 1978 and a new high school in 1979. Highway 955 to the Cluff Lake uranium mine site was completed in 1979. 1979 was also the year the Clearwater River Dene Nation was officially created.
Town statistics
| North: Cluff Lake | ||
| West: Fort McMurray Fort McMurray, Alberta Fort McMurray is an urban service area in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in Alberta, Canada. It was previously incorporated as a city on September 1, 1980. It became an urban service area when it amalgamated with Improvement District No. 143 on April 1, 1995 to create the Municipality... |
La Loche | East: La Ronge La Ronge, Saskatchewan La Ronge is a community of about 2,700 people in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, 250 km north of Prince Albert. There are an additional 2,000 people living in the Lac La Ronge First Nation bordering the town, and another 1,000 people living in the neighbouring community of Air Ronge... |
| South: Buffalo Narrows Buffalo Narrows, Saskatchewan Buffalo Narrows is a northern village in Northern Saskatchewan. Buffalo Narrows was founded in the early 20th century as a trapping, mink ranching and fishing settlement by Scandinavian traders. It is now a community of about 1300 people. Tourism and resource extraction are its main economic... |
Note: La Loche is one of the only 95 Saskatchewan towns or villages whose population increased from 2001 to 2006.
Sister city Lagoa Formosa
Lagoa Formosa
Lagoa Formosa is a Brazilian municipality located in the northwest of the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2007 was 16,521 people living in a total area of 844 km². The city belongs to the mesoregion of Triângulo Mineiro e Alto Paranaíba and to the microregion of Patos de Minas...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
Recreation
The Robbie Fontaine Memorial Arena Complex houses a skating rink, a meeting hall, the local radio station CHPN-FM, activity rooms and offices.The Dave O'Hara Public Library at Ducharme School offers internet access.
The La Loche Friendship Center organizes many of the festivals that occur every year.
Churches
Our Lady of the Visitation Roman Catholic Church has regular services (10:30 a.m. on Sundays) and is part of the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas .Clearwater River Ministries offers Sunday services and gospel studies.
Education
La Loche Community School consists of two buildings (The Ducharme Building and the Dene Building). The Ducharme Building offers the Pre-K to 6 program while the Dene Building delivers the 7 to 12 program. The school has an enrollment of over 900 students. The school is a provincial school and is part of Northern Lights School Division #113.There is also a K-12 school at Clearwater with an enrollment of 200.
The Gabriel Dumont Institute
Gabriel Dumont Institute
The Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research is a post-secondary educational institution in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is administered by and services the Métis population of Saskatchewan...
offers adult basic education and skills training.
The first school of La Loche was built in 1942. It was called the Community Day School and had an enrollment of 23.
Transportation
Air services are provided by the La Loche AirportLa Loche Airport
La Loche Airport, , is located southeast of La Loche, Saskatchewan, Canada....
and the La Loche Water Aerodrome
La Loche Water Aerodrome
La Loche Water Aerodrome, , is located adjacent to La Loche, Saskatchewan, Canada....
.
Bus service is provided by the STC Saskatchewan Transportation Company
Saskatchewan Transportation Company
The Saskatchewan Transportation Company is a Crown Corporation of the Government of Saskatchewan, created in 1946 by an Order in Council....
.