Yorkton, Saskatchewan
Encyclopedia


Yorkton is a city located in southeastern Saskatchewan
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...

, near the Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...

 border. Founded and incorporated in 1882 by a group of settlers from Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

, it has grown to 15,038 residents as of the 2006 census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...

. The city is bordered by the Rural Municipality of Orkney No. 244
Orkney No. 244, Saskatchewan
This article is about the rural municipality in Canada. For other places with the same name, see Orkney Orkney No. 244, Saskatchewan, is a rural municipality of 1,702 rural residents in the southeastern part of Saskatchewan, Canada. The RM was incorporated January 1, 1913...

 and the Rural Municipality of Wallace No. 243
Wallace No. 243, Saskatchewan
Wallace No. 243 is a rural municipality of 901 residents in the east-central part of Saskatchewan, Canada. The RM was incorporated December 11, 1911...

.

The Yorkton Film Festival has been held there every year since 1947.

History

A group of settlers from York County, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

, established the York City settlement in 1882. They had been recruited by the York Farmers Colonization Company and originally founded York Colony on the banks of the small Whitesand river about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of the site of the modern city. York City remained here until 1893. Yorkton has expanded, and the original settlement was approximately located where Yorkton airport is now located.

The York Farmers Colonization Company, with Ontario Member of Parliament N. Clark Wallace as president, and a capital shareholders' investment of CA$
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...

300,000 was incorporated May 12, 1882. ($300,000 then is equivalent to $ in present day terms.) Earlier in the year, a group of Toronto businessmen had met to discuss a plan to invest in the opening of lands for homesteading in Western Canada, specifically in the newly created Provisional Assiniboia, North West Territories
Territorial evolution of Canada
The federation of Canada was created in 1867 when three colonies of British North America were united. One of these colonies split into two new provinces, three other colonies joined later...

.

Geography

Yorkton is located in the aspen parkland
Aspen parkland
Aspen parkland refers to a very large area of transitional biome between prairie and boreal forest in two sections; the Peace River Country of northwestern Alberta crossing the border into British Columbia, and a much larger area stretching from central Alberta, all across central Saskatchewan to...

 ecosystem. The terrain is mainly one of agriculture and there is no forestry industry. It is also in an area of black calcareous chernozem
Chernozem
Chernozem , also known as "black land" or "black earth", is a black-coloured soil containing a high percentage of humus 7% to 15%, and high percentages of phosphoric acids, phosphorus and ammonia...

ic soils. The Yorkton area was located on the edge of an area of a maximum glacial lake. The quaternary geology has left the area as a moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...

 plain consisting of glacial deposits. The bedrock geology is the pembina member of Vermillion River Formation
Vermillion River Formation
The Vermillion River Formation is a geological formation in Manitoba, Canada whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.-Vertebrate paleofauna:-References:...

 and Riding Mountain Formation. Yorkton is located in the physiographic region of the Quill Lake-Yorkton Plain region of the Saskatchewan Plains Region.

Climate

Yorkton has a humid continental climate
Humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....

 (Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...

 Dfb), with extreme seasonal temperatures. It has warm summers and cold winters, with the average daily temperatures ranging from -17.9 C in January to 17.8 °C (64 °F) in July. Typically, summer lasts from late June until late August, and the humidity is seldom uncomfortably high. Winter lasts from November to March, and varies greatly in length and severity from year to year. Spring and autumn are both short and highly variable.

Climate

July 2010 Yorkton flood

On July 1, 2010, Yorkton celebrated Canada Day
Canada Day
Canada Day , formerly Dominion Day , is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act , which united three British colonies into a single country, called Canada, within the British Empire...

 before receiving a severe thunderstorm warning
Severe thunderstorm warning
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when trained storm spotters or a Doppler weather radar indicate a strong thunderstorm is producing dangerously large hail or high winds, capable of causing significant damage. In the United States, it does not account for lightning or flooding...

. Unexpectedly, Yorkton was overcast, after having a high tempetured clear sky. Soon after, Yorkton was having pea sized hail, strong winds, lightning and heavy rain.
The rain created a flash flood
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...

. Broadway got the worst of the flood, McDonald's
McDonald's Canada
McDonald's Restaurants of Canada, Ltd. is the Canadian branch of the popular fast-food restaurant chain McDonald's. One of Canada's largest fast-food restaurant chains, the franchise sells food items including hamburgers, chicken, french fries and soft drinks all across the country...

 and Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen, often abbreviated DQ, is a chain of soft serve and fast food restaurants owned by International Dairy Queen, Inc, who also owns Orange Julius and Karmelkorn. The name "Dairy Queen" is taken from the name of their soft serve product, which the company refers to as "Dairy Queen" or...

 were damaged, but Dairy Queen got the worst of the city. The City of Yorkton declared a State of Emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...

 on the flood. The Canadian Red Cross
Canadian Red Cross
The Canadian Red Cross Society is a Canadian humanitarian charitable organization and one of 186 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies....

 helped out with the victims of the flood.
As of October 2011, McDonald's has been completely rebuilt, and Dairy Queen was opened on October 14, 2011, a year after the flood.

Demographics

Census Population
1901 700
1911 2,309
1921 5,151
1931 5,027
1941 5,586
1951 7,074
1961 9,995
1971 13,430
1981 15,339
1991 15,315
2001 15,107
2006 15,038

Historically the first settlers to the area at the Yorkton colony were English from Eastern Ontario and Great Britain. 6 miles (9.7 km) west were Scottish settlers at the settlement of Orkney
Orkney, Saskatchewan
Orkney is a hamlet in Val Marie No. 17, Saskatchewan, Canada. The population was 13 at the 2001 Canada Census.-Demographics:-Education:...

.

Government

The city of Yorkton has a mayor as the highest ranking government official. The city also elects aldermen or councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...

s to form the municipal council. Currently the mayor is James Wilson, and is serving with councillors Larry Pearen, Chris Wyatt, Bob Maloney, Les Arenelien, Richard Okrainec, and Ross Fisher.

Provincially Yorkton is within the constituency of Yorkton served by their Member of legislative assembly
Member of Legislative Assembly
A Member of Legislative Assembly, or MLA, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to the Legislature of a State in the Indian system of government...

, the honourable Mr. Greg Ottenbreit
Greg Ottenbreit
Greg Ottenbreit is a Canadian politician. He was elected to represent the electoral district of Yorkton in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan in the 2007 election...

.

Yorkton is represented in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...

 by Garry Breitkreuz
Garry Breitkreuz
Garry W. Breitkreuz is a Canadian politician. He is currently the Conservative Party of Canada member of the Canadian House of Commons from Yorkton—Melville....

 of the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...

. From 1968 to 1993, it was represented by Lorne Nystrom
Lorne Nystrom
Lorne Edmund Nystrom, PC a Canadian politician, was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1993 when he lost his reelection bid. He returned to parliament in 1997 and served until 2004...

 of the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...

.

Infrastructure

Yorkton established its first hospital in 1902, and this was followed by a maternity care home which lasted a couple of decades. The hospital is now a residential apartment.

Transportation

Yorkton is strategically located on a network of highways; The Yellowhead
Saskatchewan Highway 16
Highway 16 is a provincial paved highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is the Saskatchewan section of the Yellowhead Highway, and also the Trans-Canada Highway Yellowhead section. The main purpose of this highway is to connect Saskatchewan with Canadian cities such as Edmonton and...

 Trans Canada Highway Hwy 52
Saskatchewan Highway 52
Highway 52 is a highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from Highway 15 to Highway 10 in Yorkton near Pleasant Heights. Highway 52 is about 71 km long....

, Hwy 10
Saskatchewan Highway 10
Highway 10 is a provincial paved undivided highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from Highway 1 near Balgonie until it transitions into PTH 5 at the Manitoba border. Highway 10 is about 228 km long....

, and Hwy 9, the Saskota Flyway
Saskatchewan Highway 9
Highway 9, Highway 9 is a provincial paved undivided highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from North Dakota Highway 8 at the US border near Port of Northgate until it transitions into Provincial Road 283 at the Manitoba border...

.

Yorkton was located on the Minnedosa, Manitoba
Minnedosa, Manitoba
Minnedosa is a town in the southwestern part of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Situated 50 kilometres north of Brandon, Manitoba on the Little Saskatchewan River, the name means "flowing water" in Sioux. The population of Minnedosa reported in the 2006 Statistics Canada Census was 2,474...

, Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....

, Edmonton, Alberta section of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...

. The track travelled from northwest to southeast through Insinger
Insinger, Saskatchewan
Insinger, Saskatchewan is an unincorporated area in the rural municipality of Insinger No. 275, Saskatchewan, in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Insinger is located on Saskatchewan Highway 16, the Yellowhead in south eastern Saskatchewan. Lawrie post office first opened in 1898 at the...

, Theodore
Theodore, Saskatchewan
-Area statistics: *Lat 51° 57' 00" N*Long 105° 39' 00" W*Dominion Land Survey Sec.15, Twp.28, R.7, W2.*Time zone UTC-6-Location: -See also:*List of communities in Saskatchewan...

, Springside
Springside, Saskatchewan
Springside is a town in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located northwest of the city of Yorkton.-Demographics:-Education:Springside has one school that covers Kindergarten through grade 8 in the Good Spirit School Division. Enrollment for 2008 is 95 students...

, Orcadia, to Yorkton, and continued through Rokeby, Clonmel, Saltcoats
Saltcoats, Saskatchewan
Saltcoats is a small town in East Central Saskatchewan near the Manitoba border in Canada. The town's population is around 500. The town was built in the late 19th century, and its economy was driven by the railway...

 and Bredenbury
Bredenbury, Saskatchewan
Bredenbury is a town, in the rural municipality of Saltcoats, No. 213, in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Bredenbury is located on Highway 16 in eastern Saskatchewan. The population of Bredenbury is 329. The main industries in the area are farming as well as potash mining near Esterhazy...

. It is at Bredenbury, that travellers experienced a time change, and set their watches one hour earlier going west along the line in the early twentieth century.

Yorkton was also located on the Melfort
Melfort, Saskatchewan
Melfort is a small Canadian city in Saskatchewan, approximately southeast of Prince Albert, northwest of Saskatoon and north of Regina.According to The World Gazetteer, its population as of 2004 was 5,400...

, Tisdale
Tisdale, Saskatchewan
-Geography:5 major parks are located within the town.Some regional and provincial parks near Tisdale are:*Kipabiskau Regional Park is located in the Barrier Valley nearby.*Greenwater Lake Provincial Park is the largest neighboring park....

, Canora
Canora, Saskatchewan
Canora is a town located at the junction of highways No. 5 and 9 in east-central Saskatchewan, north of the city of Yorkton. Centrally located on the corners of four adjacent rural municipalities, the community is home to approximately 2,400 residents and draws upon a substantial trading area...

 Kamsack Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....

s line. The track traveled from south west to north east through Melville
Melville
-In Australia:*Melville, Western Australia - the suburb*City of Melville, Western Australia - the local government authority*Melville Island, Northern Territory in Australia-In Canada:*Melville, Saskatchewan*Melville, Ontario*Melville Peninsula, Nunavut...

, to Yorkton and continuing to Mehana, Ebenezer
Ebenezer, Saskatchewan
Ebenezer is a Canadian village in the province of Saskatchewan, with an estimated population in 2006 of 139. It is located 18 km north of the city of Yorkton, on Highway 9 in the Rural Municipality of Orkney No. 244...

, Gorlitz
Gorlitz, Saskatchewan
Gorlitz is a hamlet in southeastern Saskatchewan. It is located approximately 27 km north of Yorkton, Saskatchewan and approximately 20 km south of Canora....

, Burgis and Canora
Canora, Saskatchewan
Canora is a town located at the junction of highways No. 5 and 9 in east-central Saskatchewan, north of the city of Yorkton. Centrally located on the corners of four adjacent rural municipalities, the community is home to approximately 2,400 residents and draws upon a substantial trading area...

.

There was another CNR branch line through Yorkton, which travelled between Regina
Regina, 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...

, Melville
Melville
-In Australia:*Melville, Western Australia - the suburb*City of Melville, Western Australia - the local government authority*Melville Island, Northern Territory in Australia-In Canada:*Melville, Saskatchewan*Melville, Ontario*Melville Peninsula, Nunavut...

, The Pas, Manitoba
The Pas, Manitoba
The Pas is a town in Manitoba, Canada, located in Division No. 21, Manitoba in the Northern Region, some 630 kilometres northwest of the provincial capital, Winnipeg, near the border of Saskatchewan. It is sometimes still called Paskoyac by locals as the first trading post was called Fort Paskoyac...

, Swan River
Swan River, Manitoba
-Economy:The economic base of the town lies in agriculture and forestry along with support industries for same.Almost fifty percent of the surrounding area is under cultivation, most of which is seeded to cereal grain, oilseeds, and other specialty crops. Wheat, rye, barley, oats, flax, and canola...

, and Kelvington, Saskatchewan
Kelvington, Saskatchewan
-Area statistics:*Dominion Land Survey Sec.4, Twp.37, R.11, W2*Time zone UTC-6-Location:-External links:****...

. The line traveled from south to north through Melville
Melville
-In Australia:*Melville, Western Australia - the suburb*City of Melville, Western Australia - the local government authority*Melville Island, Northern Territory in Australia-In Canada:*Melville, Saskatchewan*Melville, Ontario*Melville Peninsula, Nunavut...

, Brewer, McKim, Otthon
Otthon, Saskatchewan
Otthon is a hamlet in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Listed as a designated place by Statistics Canada, the hamlet had a population of 56 in the Canada 2006 Census....

, Enfin to Yorkton, and continued on through Young's Siding, Mehan, Ebenezer
Ebenezer, Saskatchewan
Ebenezer is a Canadian village in the province of Saskatchewan, with an estimated population in 2006 of 139. It is located 18 km north of the city of Yorkton, on Highway 9 in the Rural Municipality of Orkney No. 244...

, Gorlitz
Gorlitz, Saskatchewan
Gorlitz is a hamlet in southeastern Saskatchewan. It is located approximately 27 km north of Yorkton, Saskatchewan and approximately 20 km south of Canora....

, Burgis, and Canora
Canora, Saskatchewan
Canora is a town located at the junction of highways No. 5 and 9 in east-central Saskatchewan, north of the city of Yorkton. Centrally located on the corners of four adjacent rural municipalities, the community is home to approximately 2,400 residents and draws upon a substantial trading area...

.

The Neepawa, Manitoba
Neepawa, Manitoba
Neepawa is a town in Manitoba, Canada located on the Yellowhead Highway at the intersection with Highway 5. its population was 3,298. Neepawa was incorporated as a town in 1883. It is located in the Rural Municipality of Langford and bordered to the north by the Rural Municipality of Rosedale....

, Yorkton, Willowbrook, and Parkerview CNR also ran through Yorkton. From south to north the railway stations along the line near Yorkton were Parkerview, Fitzmaurice, Jedburgh, Beaverdale, Willowbrook, Fonehill, to Yorkton, leaving to arrive at Calley, Strudee, Tonkin, Barbour, Barvas, Kessock, Wroxton, Stornoway, Rhein, Hampton, Donwell, Ross Junction, Canora
Canora, Saskatchewan
Canora is a town located at the junction of highways No. 5 and 9 in east-central Saskatchewan, north of the city of Yorkton. Centrally located on the corners of four adjacent rural municipalities, the community is home to approximately 2,400 residents and draws upon a substantial trading area...

.

The Yorkton Municipal Airport
Yorkton Municipal Airport
Yorkton Municipal Airport, , is located north of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.-History:During World War II Yorkton Airport was home to No. 23 Elementary Flying Training School and No. 11 Service Flying Training School - both schools being a part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan...

  , is located 2.8 nautical miles (5.2 km) north of Yorkton. During the Second World War, an airport was built north of the city for the RCAF's No. 11 Service Flying Training School, now operated as the Yorkton Municipal Airport
Yorkton Municipal Airport
Yorkton Municipal Airport, , is located north of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.-History:During World War II Yorkton Airport was home to No. 23 Elementary Flying Training School and No. 11 Service Flying Training School - both schools being a part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan...

.

Media

Newspaper
  • The Yorkton News Review, a weekly paper.
  • Yorkton This Week, a weekly paper


Radio
  • CJGX AM 940, Harvard Broadcasting
  • CBK-FM-3 91.7, rebroadcaster for CBK-FM
    CBK-FM
    CBK-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts the programming of the CBC Radio 2 network at 96.9 FM in Regina, Saskatchewan.The station was launched in 1977. Its studios are at the CBC Regina Broadcast Centre, 2440 Broad Street in Regina, along with CBK and CBKT.-Rebroadcasters:-External...

     (CBC Radio 2)
  • CFGW-FM
    CFGW-FM
    CFGW-FM is a Canadian radio station that broadcasts a hot adult contemporary format, at 94.1 FM in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. The station is owned by Harvard Broadcasting, and branded as Fox FM. It has a sister station, CJGX...

     94.1, Harvard Broadcasting
  • CJJC-FM
    CJJC-FM
    CJJC-FM is a Christian music radio station that operates at 100.5 FM in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.Owned by Dennis M. Dyck, the station was licenced in 2005....

     100.5, Dennis Dyck


Television
  • CKOS-TV
    CKOS-TV
    CKOS-TV was a television station in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. In operation from 1958 to 2002 as a private affiliate of CBC Television, it now exists only as a repeater of the network's station in Regina, with the call sign CBKT-6....

    , CBC Television
    CBC Television
    CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...

  • CICC-TV
    CICC-TV
    CICC-TV, channel 10 is a Canadian television station, broadcasting in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. It is an affiliate of CTV Television Network....

    , CTV
    CTV television network
    CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...


Tertiary institutions

  • Parkland College
    Parkland College (Saskatchewan)
    The Parkland College is a post-secondary educational institution in Saskatchewan, Canada.-Vision:Parkland College's Vision is to be the College of choice celebrating quality learning and service...

  • Academy of Learning Career and Business College

High schools

Sacred Heart High School (also known as SHHS or Sacred) was founded by the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, and the school celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 1991.
Dream Builders
Dream Builders
Dream Builders is an alternative education program in the city of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada. Dream Builders is an accredited school that allows students to enroll and work around their lives while maintaining an education. Some students are referred to Dream Builders, while some choose to...

 is an alternative education program offering grades 6 through 12 with a work experience component. Yorkton Regional High School
Yorkton Regional High School
Yorkton Regional High School is located in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.The Regional opened its doors on November 10, 1967...

 (also known as the YRHS or The Regional) opened November 10, 1967 offering grades 9 to 12.

Elementary schools

There are four separate Catholic elementary schools. St. Alphonsus Elementary School provides Kindergarten through Grade 8 St. Mary's Elementary School offers pre-kindergarten classes to grade 8. St. Michael's Elementary School offers both English and French immersion from Kindergarten to grade 8. St. Paul's Elementary School also belongs to the Christ the Teacher Catholic School Division, and provides Kindergarten to Grade 8 classes.

The public elementary schools are also four in total. Columbia Elementary School has an approximate enrolment of 340 students and offers pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8.
Dr. Brass Elementary School is named after the dentist, Dr. David James Brass and offers pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8. M.C. Knoll Elementary School opened in August 1998, and is named after Milton Clifford Knoll. . Yorkdale Central School is also a part of Good Spirit School Division No. 204,

Sports teams

The Yorkton Terriers
Yorkton Terriers
The Yorkton Terriers are a team in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League based out of Yorkton, Saskatchewan. The team plays their home games in the Farrell Agencies Arena which has a seating capacity of 2,300. Their arch rivals are the Melville Millionaires. The team colours are black, orange, and...

 are a team in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Open to North American-born players 20 years of age or younger, the SJHL's 12 teams play in two divisions: the Bauer and Sherwood conferences...

. The team plays their home games in the Farrell Agencies Arena
Farrell Agencies Arena
The Farrell Agencies Arena is a 2,300-seat multi-purpose arena in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. It is home to the Yorkton Terriers, a Junior "A" ice hockey team, as well as the Yorkton Harvest, a member of the SMAAAHL....

 which has a seating capacity of 2,300. Yorkton Harvest
Yorkton Harvest
The Yorkton Harvest are a Midget AAA ice hockey team from Yorkton, Saskatchewan. They are a member of the SMAAAHL. They play their home games at the Farrell Agencies Arena....

 are a Midget AAA ice hockey team and they are a member of the SMAAAHL
SMAAAHL
The Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League is a Midget AAA ice hockey league, with teams based in Saskatchewan, Canada. AAA hockey is the highest level of minor hockey in Canada...

. They play their home games at the Farrell Agencies Arena
Farrell Agencies Arena
The Farrell Agencies Arena is a 2,300-seat multi-purpose arena in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. It is home to the Yorkton Terriers, a Junior "A" ice hockey team, as well as the Yorkton Harvest, a member of the SMAAAHL....

.

Yorkton Cardinals
Yorkton Cardinals
The Yorkton Cardinals are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Yorkton, Saskatchewan playing in the Western Major Baseball League. The Cardinals joined the WMBL in 2002, but there had been franchises under that name playing out of Yorkton since 1950 in various leagues.-External links:*...

 are a baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...

 team playing in the Western Major Baseball League
Western Major Baseball League
The Western Major Baseball League or WMBL is a collegiate summer baseball league. The league can trace its roots back to 1948, as it has gone by many names over the years, including the Alberta-Saskatchewan Baseball league, Western Canadian Baseball League and Saskatchewan Baseball League before...

.

The Yorkton Bulldogs
Yorkton Bulldogs
The Yorkton Bulldogs are a box lacrosse team based out of Yorkton, Saskatchewan. They are a member of the Prairie Gold Lacrosse League.They were founded in 2003...

 are a box lacrosse team formed in 2003. They are a member of the Prairie Gold Lacrosse League
Prairie Gold Lacrosse League
The Prairie Gold Lacrosse League, formally known as the Saskatchewan Major Box Lacrosse League, is a Junior B box lacrosse league in Saskatchewan, Canada.- Teams :As of 2010SeasonJunior DivisionRegina Riot,Regina Rifles,Moose Jaw Mustangs,...

.

The Yorkton Regional Raiders are the Yorkton public High School sports teams. The Sacred Heart Saints is the name for the sports teams of the Separate Sacred Heart High School.

Military

The 64th (Yorkton) Field Battery
64th (Yorkton) Field Battery
The 64th Field Battery, RCA, is a sub-unit of the Canadian Army. It is a reserve artillery battery, currently under command of the 38 Canadian Brigade Group Artillery Tactical Group, and a component of 10th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA.-Lineage:...

, Royal Canadian Artillery is garrisoned at the Yorkton Armouries.

During World War II the Yorkton airport was home to No. 23 Elementary Flying Training School and No. 11 Service Flying Training School - both schools being a part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...

. Among the present users is a Gliding Centre, operated for the Royal Canadian Air Cadets
Royal Canadian Air Cadets
Royal Canadian Air Cadets is a Canadian national youth program for persons aged 12 to 18. It is administered by the Canadian Forces and funded through the Department of National Defence with additional support from the civilian Air Cadet League of Canada...

.

Museums and points of interest

The Yorkton Gallagher centre is an entertainment complex constructed in 1977 by the civic government and the Yorkton Exhibition Association. Up until 2005, the facility was called the Parkland Agriplex and hosted an arena, curling rink, conference rooms and an indoor swimming pool. The Agriplex was built on the fair grounds until they moved in the early twentieth century.
Yorkton Tower Theatre is a single screen movie theatre built in the 1950s.

Yorkton is home to a branch of the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum
Saskatchewan Western Development Museum
The Saskatchewan Western Development Museum is a network of four museums in Saskatchewan, Canada preserving and recording the social and economic development of the province. The museum has branches in Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Saskatoon and Yorkton. Respectively, each branch focuses on a...

, which houses a number of exhibits depicting pioneer life in the town and on the surrounding prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...

. The museum includes an early pioneer log home and an extensive outdoor exhibit of agricultural machinery
Agricultural machinery
Agricultural machinery is machinery used in the operation of an agricultural area or farm.-Hand tools:The first person to turn from the hunting and gathering lifestyle to farming probably did so by using his bare hands, and perhaps some sticks or stones. Tools such as knives, scythes, and wooden...

, including early tractors and steam engines.

Notable Yorktonites

The Right Honourable Brian Dickson
Brian Dickson
Robert George Brian Dickson, , commonly known as Brian Dickson, was appointed Chief Justice of Canada on April 18, 1984. He retired on June 30, 1990 and died October 17, 1998.-Career:...

, born May 25, 1916 in Yorkton, was appointed Chief Justice of Canada
Chief Justice of Canada
The Chief Justice of Canada, like the eight puisne Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, is appointed by the Governor-in-Council . All nine are chosen from either sitting judges or barristers who have at least ten years' standing at the bar of a province or territory...

 on April 18, 1984. The library of the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...

's Faculty of Law
University of Ottawa Law
The University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, sometimes colloquially known as U of O Law, is the law school of the University of Ottawa, located in Ottawa, Ontario. The University of Ottawa Law School is one of Canada's most influential, having produced lawyers throughout French and English Canada...

 is named for him, and contains many of his papers and personal effects.

Honourable Madam Justice Constance Hunt
Constance Hunt
Constance Darlene Hunt is a Canadian lawyer, legal academic, and judge.Born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970 and a Bachelor of Law degree in 1972 from the University of Saskatchewan...

 was born 1951 in Yorkton, attended the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...

 and received her Master of Law degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...

. In 2006, it was reported that she was one of three "short list" candidates to be recommended to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...

 replacing the retired justice, John C. Major
John C. Major
John Charles "Jack" Major, CC, QC is a Canadian jurist and was a puisne justice on the Supreme Court of Canada from 1992 to 2005....

.

E.F. Anthony "Tony" Merchant, Q.C.
Anthony Merchant
E.F. Anthony "Tony" Merchant, Q.C. is a Saskatchewan lawyer and former politician. He represented Regina Wascana in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan as a Liberal member....

 ,born October 19, 1944 in Yorkton is a former politician and Saskatchewan
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....

 lawyer whose law firm had major involvement in the residential school
Canadian residential school system
-History:Founded in the 19th century, the Canadian Indian residential school system was intended to assimilate the children of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada into European-Canadian society...

 lawsuits.

David Rodney born June 27, 1964 is a Yorkton native, and a Canadian
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...

 politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...

. He holds the distinction of being the only Canadian to ascend to the summit of Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...

 twice. He has received many accolades for his philanthropic work and personal accomplishments including the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for community service, a spot on Alberta Venture magazine's list of Alberta's 50 Most Influential People, and the dedication of Rodney Ridge in his hometown, where he holds a spot on the sports hall of fame.

Brent Fedyk
Brent Fedyk
Brent Fedyk is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger. He was drafted in the first round, 8th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft....

, born March 3, 1967 in Yorkton was drafted in the first round, 8th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

 in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft
1985 NHL Entry Draft
The 1985 NHL Entry Draft was the first draft outside of Montreal. The event was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, and attended by 7,000 fans. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the...

.

Jarret Stoll
Jarret Stoll
Jarret Stoll is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League...

 born June 24, 1982, in Melville
Melville, Saskatchewan
Melville is a small Canadian city located in the east-central portion of Saskatchewan. It was declared a city by the province in 1960. The city is north east of the provincial capital of Regina and south west of Yorkton. According to The World Gazetteer, it has a 2004 population of approximately...

 and the family moved to Yorkton when he was 8 years old. In 1997, Stoll helped the Yorkton Bantam AAA Terriers to a Western Canadian Championship. On June 29, 2008, Stoll was traded to the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...

, and on September 5, the Kings signed Stoll to a four year deal worth $14.4 million.

Alvin Law
Alvin Law
Alvin Law is a motivational speaker and former radio broadcaster.Law was born without arms as a consequence of his mother's use of thalidomide while pregnant...

 born 1960 in Yorkton is a motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...

 and former radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...

 broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...

. Law was born without arms as a consequence of his mother's use of the prescription thalidomide
Thalidomide
Thalidomide was introduced as a sedative drug in the late 1950s that was typically used to cure morning sickness. In 1961, it was withdrawn due to teratogenicity and neuropathy. There is now a growing clinical interest in thalidomide, and it is introduced as an immunomodulatory agent used...

 while pregnant.

Nick Stoubis was born April 2, 1972, in Melville
Melville, Saskatchewan
Melville is a small Canadian city located in the east-central portion of Saskatchewan. It was declared a city by the province in 1960. The city is north east of the provincial capital of Regina and south west of Yorkton. According to The World Gazetteer, it has a 2004 population of approximately...

. The family moved to Yorkton when he was nine years old, where he became musically inclined. He toured Canada playing on bills with Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...

, Bachman–Turner Overdrive (B.T.O.), Trooper
Trooper (band)
Trooper is a Juno Award winning Canadian rock band that developed from a group formed by vocalist Ramon McGuire and guitarist Brian Smith in 1975...

, Prism
Prism (band)
Prism is a Canadian rock band originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They were active from 1977 to 1984 and are active again from 1988 to present. The band's sound is a mix of Album-Oriented Rock and pop rock. They have released a total of 13 albums to date...

, Barney Bental, and Lee Aaron
Lee Aaron
Lee Aaron , is a Canadian rock and jazz singer. She had several hits in the 1980s and early 1990s such as "Metal Queen", "Whatcha Do to My Body", and "Sex with Love".- Background :...

. He is a professor musician at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...

 as a part of their Music Faculty.

Matt Zaba
Matt Zaba
Matthew Darrell Zaba is a Canadian professional goaltender for the HC Bolzano of the Italian Serie A.Zaba played for New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. He made his NHL debut on January 23, 2010, replacing Henrik Lundqvist in a game against the Montreal Canadiens.-External links:...

 born 1983 in Yorkton is a goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...

 in the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...

 farm system.

Kendra Domres, born October, 1925 in Yorkton was one of the first people to successfully complete High School from the city. She is now working in downtown Calgary in an Oil and Gas company.

Darrell Pasloski
Darrell Pasloski
Darrell Thomas Pasloski is a territorial politician from the Yukon, Canada, currently serving as leader of the Yukon Party and as Premier of Yukon.-Court case:...

, born 1960 grew up in Yorkton and is now serving as the leader of the Yukon Party and as Premier of Yukon.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK