Spiritwood, Saskatchewan
Encyclopedia
Spiritwood is a town in Saskatchewan
, Canada
.
Spiritwood has a population of approximately 1,000 and is regarded as the hub of the geographic area. Total population of the trading area within a 56 km radius is between 6,000 and 7,000. Spiritwood is located 125 km W of Prince Albert
and about 110 km NE of North Battleford at the junction of Highways 3, 24, and 378. All residential streets are paved and there is sewer/water capacity for 1,500 residents to allow for 50% community growth.
Free Wi-Fi,Cellular service and Cable television are available.
Spiritwood Airport (TC LID: CKH7), an uncontrolled public grass strip operated by Town of Spiritwood, is available adjacent to town and less than 2.0 km west (Runway Direction 16/34; Length 2,500 ft // 762 m; Surface TURF).
Leoville Airport (TC LID CJT9), is available 32 km north of Spiritwood, located 2 NM (3.7 km // 2.3 mi) west of Leoville, Saskatchewan. This is a public airport operated by the Village of Leoville with two runways. (Runway Direction 12/30; Length 2,400 ft // 732 m; Surface GRAVEL. Runway Direction 16/34; Length 3,400 ft // 1,036 m; Surface TREATED GRAVEL).
As the largest community in the region, the community functions as the major supply, service, and administrative centre for the trading area population of six to seven thousand including four First Nations communities. Mixed farming predominates and consists primarily of grain production. A Spiritwood company with global connections that focuses on pig genetics, producing breeding stock and commercial swine, has roughly 50 employees. There is some forestry in the region north of Spiritwood. The town has a complete range of recreational facilities and additionally, there are six golf courses in the district, six regional parks, and about 35 lakes, all within an hour’s drive. There is however no public transportation available either to or from Spiritwood, so that with the railway gone and grain elevators closed, all bulk commodities including fertilizers, fuel, grain and livestock are transported by truck.
Once renowned as hometown of the annual Silverbuckle Rodeo, a mid-summer attraction for many years, the grandstands are no more and the grounds overgrown by weeds and brush trees. "SpiritFest" is held annually in August.
Spiritwood Museum is open seasonally throughout the summer months. The museum showcases the community's history, including an exhibition of antique farm tractors all freshly restored and in running condition.
Campground facilities available with 12 sites (electrical hookups and water) are conveniently located within walking distance of the community Tourist Booth and downtown shopping.
Northern Lakes Health Committee (NLHC), an energetic volunteer group (Chair: Tracy Schira-Parker) set up at Spiritwood in May 2010 with directors selected to represent each of the surrounding communities, organized fundraising events to support a physician recruitment initiative through a subcommittee which has successfully recruited two physicians (one fully licenced) to practice family medicine in Spiritwood pending final arrangements.
Since 2006, Spiritwood & District Health Complex was closed "temporarily", leaving the community at large without acute care facilities. Completed in the fall of 2001, this modern $3.6 million facility encompasses approximately 8000 square feet (743.2 m²) of new construction and 4400 square feet (408.8 m²) of renovated space which is linked to the former Spiritwood Hospital and Idylwild Lodge to serve as one integrated facility.
Primary Care Services: Daytime only (Mon-Wed-Thu-Fri from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Tuesdays from 10 AM to 8 PM) Primary Care Services by Nurse Practitioner/Physician and/or other resident and/or visiting professionals, are available by appointment (306-883-4400) at Spiritwood Health Complex, but subject to change due to weather or illness. Laboratory collection and X-rays limited to chest and extremities are available from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (closed from 12 to 12:30 PM).
Shellbrook Hospital which provides an Emergency Department open only from 6 PM Fridays to 8 AM Mondays subject to available physician coverage, is the nearest Emergency Department (ER) to Spiritwood and is located at Shellbrook, Saskatchewan (83 km eastwards on Saskatchewan Highway Route #3).
Victoria Hospital (PAPHR Regional Health Centre) is located at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (125 km eastwards on Saskatchewan Highway Route #3).
Spiritwood Ambulance Care Ltd is a contracted agency serving Spiritwood and district and available 24-hours/day to transport local emergency patients to the nearest available hospital for treatment. This agency also provides training to PAPHR First Responders and offers a variety of classes in First Aid and CPR.
, the hometown of the first postmaster, Rupert J. Dumond. After the railway arrived, settlers of diverse origins poured into the district and many businesses were established.
On October 1, 1935, Spiritwood was incorporated as a village and, by September 1, 1965, the community had grown large enough to attain town status.
This was the scene of the two deaths of RCMP officers in 2006, where after a 12 day manhunt, the suspect surrendered without incident.
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....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Spiritwood has a population of approximately 1,000 and is regarded as the hub of the geographic area. Total population of the trading area within a 56 km radius is between 6,000 and 7,000. Spiritwood is located 125 km W of Prince Albert
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert is the third-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is situated in the centre of the province on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. The city is known as the "Gateway to the North" because it is the last major centre along the route to the resources of northern Saskatchewan...
and about 110 km NE of North Battleford at the junction of Highways 3, 24, and 378. All residential streets are paved and there is sewer/water capacity for 1,500 residents to allow for 50% community growth.
Free Wi-Fi,Cellular service and Cable television are available.
Spiritwood Airport (TC LID: CKH7), an uncontrolled public grass strip operated by Town of Spiritwood, is available adjacent to town and less than 2.0 km west (Runway Direction 16/34; Length 2,500 ft // 762 m; Surface TURF).
Leoville Airport (TC LID CJT9), is available 32 km north of Spiritwood, located 2 NM (3.7 km // 2.3 mi) west of Leoville, Saskatchewan. This is a public airport operated by the Village of Leoville with two runways. (Runway Direction 12/30; Length 2,400 ft // 732 m; Surface GRAVEL. Runway Direction 16/34; Length 3,400 ft // 1,036 m; Surface TREATED GRAVEL).
As the largest community in the region, the community functions as the major supply, service, and administrative centre for the trading area population of six to seven thousand including four First Nations communities. Mixed farming predominates and consists primarily of grain production. A Spiritwood company with global connections that focuses on pig genetics, producing breeding stock and commercial swine, has roughly 50 employees. There is some forestry in the region north of Spiritwood. The town has a complete range of recreational facilities and additionally, there are six golf courses in the district, six regional parks, and about 35 lakes, all within an hour’s drive. There is however no public transportation available either to or from Spiritwood, so that with the railway gone and grain elevators closed, all bulk commodities including fertilizers, fuel, grain and livestock are transported by truck.
Once renowned as hometown of the annual Silverbuckle Rodeo, a mid-summer attraction for many years, the grandstands are no more and the grounds overgrown by weeds and brush trees. "SpiritFest" is held annually in August.
Spiritwood Museum is open seasonally throughout the summer months. The museum showcases the community's history, including an exhibition of antique farm tractors all freshly restored and in running condition.
Campground facilities available with 12 sites (electrical hookups and water) are conveniently located within walking distance of the community Tourist Booth and downtown shopping.
Northern Lakes Health Committee (NLHC), an energetic volunteer group (Chair: Tracy Schira-Parker) set up at Spiritwood in May 2010 with directors selected to represent each of the surrounding communities, organized fundraising events to support a physician recruitment initiative through a subcommittee which has successfully recruited two physicians (one fully licenced) to practice family medicine in Spiritwood pending final arrangements.
Since 2006, Spiritwood & District Health Complex was closed "temporarily", leaving the community at large without acute care facilities. Completed in the fall of 2001, this modern $3.6 million facility encompasses approximately 8000 square feet (743.2 m²) of new construction and 4400 square feet (408.8 m²) of renovated space which is linked to the former Spiritwood Hospital and Idylwild Lodge to serve as one integrated facility.
Primary Care Services: Daytime only (Mon-Wed-Thu-Fri from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Tuesdays from 10 AM to 8 PM) Primary Care Services by Nurse Practitioner/Physician and/or other resident and/or visiting professionals, are available by appointment (306-883-4400) at Spiritwood Health Complex, but subject to change due to weather or illness. Laboratory collection and X-rays limited to chest and extremities are available from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (closed from 12 to 12:30 PM).
Shellbrook Hospital which provides an Emergency Department open only from 6 PM Fridays to 8 AM Mondays subject to available physician coverage, is the nearest Emergency Department (ER) to Spiritwood and is located at Shellbrook, Saskatchewan (83 km eastwards on Saskatchewan Highway Route #3).
Victoria Hospital (PAPHR Regional Health Centre) is located at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (125 km eastwards on Saskatchewan Highway Route #3).
Spiritwood Ambulance Care Ltd is a contracted agency serving Spiritwood and district and available 24-hours/day to transport local emergency patients to the nearest available hospital for treatment. This agency also provides training to PAPHR First Responders and offers a variety of classes in First Aid and CPR.
History
The district began to be settled around 1911–12; however, growth in the area was slow until the coming of the railway in the late 1920s. The first settlers primarily engaged in ranching. The Spiritwood post office, which had been established in 1923, was named after Spiritwood Lake, North DakotaSpiritwood Lake, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 72 people, 31 households, and 23 families residing in the city. The population density was 66.5 people per square mile . There were 63 housing units at an average density of 58.2 per square mile...
, the hometown of the first postmaster, Rupert J. Dumond. After the railway arrived, settlers of diverse origins poured into the district and many businesses were established.
On October 1, 1935, Spiritwood was incorporated as a village and, by September 1, 1965, the community had grown large enough to attain town status.
This was the scene of the two deaths of RCMP officers in 2006, where after a 12 day manhunt, the suspect surrendered without incident.