North Battleford

History

For thousands of years prior to European settlement, succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples lived in the area. The Battlefords area was home to several historic indigenous groups, including the Algonquian-speaking Cree and Blackfeet as well as Siouan Assiniboine First Nation band governments, who contested for control of local resources.

Early European settlement began as a result of fur trading by French colonists in the late 18th century. The Canadians founded Fort Montaigne d'Aigle (Eagle Hills Fort) nine miles below the confluence of the North Saskatchewan and Battle Rivers in 1778. A year later the fort was abandoned following conflict between traders and natives.

Permanent European settlement in the area centred around the town of Battleford, founded 1875 and located on the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. Battleford served as capital of the North-West Territories between 1876 and 1883.

In 1905, the construction of the Canadian Northern Railway main line to Edmonton placed the line on the north side of the North Saskatchewan River. North Battleford, built along the railway line, was incorporated as a village in 1906, as a town in 1907, and as a city (with a population of 5,000) in 1913.

The Assyrians were one of the first settlers of the area in and around North Battleford. The immigrant colony comprised 36 men and a few women from the town of Urmia in northwestern Persia. It was established in 1903 by Dr. Isaac Adams, an Assyrian Presbyterian missionary. In 1907, 40 more settlers arrived. Eventually, due to economic hardships, Dr. Isaac Adams and a few close relatives emigrated to Turlock, California. The descendants of the families who remained in North Battleford have names that are Assyrian in origin. Examples of Assyrian family names include Bakus, Essau, George and Odishaw.

Population growth stagnated until the 1940s and then grew to approximately 10,000 by the 1960s. The city has grown into an administrative centre and service hub for the economic, education, health and social needs of the region.

North Battleford used STV-PR in its city elections from 1920 to 1924.

The Latter Rain Revival, a Christian movement, started here in 1946–48.

Historic sites

A number of heritage buildings are located within the city. The North Battleford Public Library was built in 1916 with a $15,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation of New York.{{cite web | access-date =2013-12-07}} and the Canadian National Railways Station was built in 1956.{{cite web | access-date =2013-12-07}}

Geography

North Battleford is situated immediately north of the mouth of the Battle River along the North Saskatchewan River. It borders the Rural Municipality of North Battleford No. 437, as well as the North Battleford Crown Colony (census subdivision).

Climate

North Battleford experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). The average high during the end of July is 24.6 C and the average low is 11.3 C. For the middle of January the average high is -12.3 C and the average low is -22.6 C.

The highest temperature ever recorded in North Battleford was 39.5 C on 13 July 2002. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -51.7 C on 1 February 1893 and 12 January 1916.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, North Battleford had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of 33.55 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.

|1911|2,105 |1921|4,108 |1931|5,986 |1941|4,694 |1951|7,473 |1961|11,230 |1971|12,698 |1981|14,030 |1991|14,350 |2001|13,692 |2006|13,190 |2011|13,888 |2016|14,315 |2021|13,836

Ethnicity

In the late 2000s many Ruthenians have emigrated to Canada, concentrating in North Battleford. Most of them came from the same town: Ruski Krstur.{{cite web |access-date = 2010-07-12}}

Crime rate

In 2018, Maclean's ranked North Battleford as Canada's most dangerous place for overall crime. The prior year, Maclean's published an article about this, Canada's most dangerous place, North Battleford, is fighting for its future, discussing the safety initiatives planned by the community.

After the article was published, Mayor Ryan Bater said:

The reality is we require the provincial and federal levels of government to take notice of this and align their efforts with ours. This needs to be a partnership. This can't be something the governments do in silos and we need to be working together. If we can do that, then sometime in the future we can see some great results.

City Manager Jim Puffalt added that the per person index may not be accurate because the population data does not consider the numerous transients, estimated at just over 14,000. In his view, the city has roughly 30,000 people at any time. "If you put our rates over 30,000 people we wouldn't be number one [in the Maclean's study]," he said.

In 2023, North Battleford earned its highest position on the Crime Severity Index (CSI) since 1998, with the city challenging the dubious 'Crime Town' moniker.

Government

North Battleford is represented in the provincial Legislative Assembly by the member for The Battlefords.

It is represented in the House of Commons by the member for Battlefords-Lloydminster.

Attractions

North Battleford is the home of one of four branches of the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum. This branch focuses on the agricultural history of Saskatchewan, including a pioneer village. A prominent feature is the former Saskatchewan Wheat Pool grain elevator No. 889 from Keatley, Saskatchewan. The grain elevator was moved to the museum grounds in 1983.

The city also has the Allen Sapp Gallery, featuring the noted Cree painter.

Finlayson Island Nature Park is on Finlayson Island, adjacent to North Battleford. Access is from the old north Battleford Bridge.

Sports and recreation

The North Battleford Access Communications Centre, a 2,500-seat multi-purpose arena, is home to the Battlefords North Stars ice hockey team of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.{{cite web | access-date =2014-03-08}} It is also home to the North Battleford Kinsmen Indoor Rodeo, held annually in April.

The InnovationPlex (formerly North Battleford CUplex),{{cite web | access-date =2014-03-08}}{{cite web | access-date =2014-03-08}} which opened in 2013, includes the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts,{{cite web | access-date =2014-03-08}} the Northland Power Curling Centre,{{cite web | access-date =2014-03-08}} the NationsWest Field House,{{cite web | access-date =2014-03-08}} and the Battlefords CO-OP Aquatic Centre.{{cite web | access-date =2014-03-08}}

Infrastructure

In 2001, a problem with the city's water system led to the infection of approximately 6,280 people with cryptosporidiosis; a lawsuit seeking several million dollars in damages was filed in 2003.{{cite journal |access-date = 2010-11-01}} Between 5,800 and 7,100 people suffered from diarrheal illness, and 1,907 cases of cryptosporidiosis were confirmed. Equipment failures at the city's antiquated water filtration plant following maintenance were found to have caused the outbreak.{{cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050507162525/http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc/01pdf/cdr2722.pdf |url-status = dead |archive-date = 2005-05-07 |access-date = 2014-03-08

The North Battleford Energy Centre, a natural gas-fired power station owned by Northland Power, has been operational since 2013.

Transportation

North Battleford is served by the North Battleford Airport, while the North Battleford/Hamlin Airport is no longer in use. The city also recently added a public transit system, in addition to the book-as-needed "Handi-bus" for people with disabilities.

Local media

Newspaper

BattlefordsNOW.com is an online local news site focusing on what's happening "right NOW" in the Battlefords and surrounding area.

The local newspaper is the Battlefords' News-Optimist. It is published weekly on Thursdays and has circulation in the surrounding area.

Feed The Artist Magazine is a local non-profit periodical print and online publication that features the work of primarily local artists, photographers, and writers.

Radio

Three local radio stations serve the area: CJNB, CJCQ-FM ("Q98"), and CJHD-FM ("93.3 Beach Radio"). Some Saskatoon radio stations can also be received.

Television

The Battlefords were served by CFQC-TV-2 channel 6, an analogue repeater of CTV station CFQC-DT Saskatoon. That repeater ended all analog broadcasting transmissions in 2021, and there are no plans for converting it to digital television.

Notable people

• Andrew Albers: baseball player
• Lloyd Axworthy: Canadian politician and spokesman
• Wade Belak: former NHL player
• Colby Cave: former NHL player
• Perry J. Dahl: United States Air Force colonel and a World War II flying ace
• Ron Delorme: former NHL player
• Deidra Dionne: Canadian freestyle skier, Olympic medalist
• Lillian Dyck: Neuroscientist, Canadian senator
• Johnny Esaw: former sports' broadcaster, former vice-president of CTV Sports
• Bob Francis: former NHL player, NHL coach
• Emile Francis: former NHL player, coach, and general manager
• Ray Hare: former NFL running back
• Bruce Hoffort: former NHL Goaltender
• Dale Hoganson: former NHL player
• Bill Hunter: hockey coach, owner, and general manager; founder of the Western Hockey League
• Carole James: politician, former leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party, Deputy Premier of British Columbia
• Dave King: NHL coach
• Skip Krake: former NHL centre
• Jody Lehman: former EIHL goalie
• Bernie Lukowich: former NHL player
• Alistair MacLeod: author
• Merlin Malinowski: former NHL right winger
• Rueben Mayes: former NFL player
• Joni Mitchell: musician, artist
• Nancy Nash: Singer and Performer
• Lee Richardson: Canadian politician
• Allen Sapp: Canadian Cree painter
• Corey Schwab: former NHL goalie
• Gregg Sheppard: former NHL forward
• Fiona Lesley Smith: Member of the Canada women's national ice hockey team
• Herbert Sparrow: former Canadian senator
• Len Taylor: former Saskatchewan cabinet minister and federal MP
• Al Tuer: former NHL defenceman
• Jesse Wallin: former NHL defenceman, WJC Gold Medallist, WHL GM/Head Coach
• W. Brett Wilson: Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
• Chase Wouters: AHL centre

Notes

References

References

1. {{SCref. (2021)
2. "North Battleford, Saskatchewan [Population centre] Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". Government of Canada - Statistics Canada.
3. "North Battleford, Saskatchewan [Census agglomeration] Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". Government of Canada - Statistics Canada.
4. [http://www.saskparks.net/Default.aspx?DN=96550d8f-c808-4b9f-beee-4408ef67dfa4 The Battlefords Provincial Park]
5. Voorhis, Ernest. (1930). "Historic Forts of the French Regime and of the English Fur Trading Companies". Govt. of Canada.
6. "atlas.nrcan.gc.ca".
7. "esask.uregina.ca".
8. "esask.uregina.ca".
9. "Migration and Settlement".
10. "Presby-assyrians".
11. Bowler and Grofman, Elections in Australia, Ireland and Malta, p. 206
12. [http://www.christianity-guide.com/christianity/latter_rain_movement.htm christianity-guide.com] {{webarchive. link. (2008-10-07)
13. [http://geodepot.statcan.ca/GeoSearch2006/GeoSearch2006.jsp?resolution=H&lang=E&otherLang=F&census=Yes&DisplayData=Yes&NewImage=yes&layer=csd&IdentName=North%20Battleford%20(CN)&IdentUID=4716027 geodepot.statcan.ca]
14. (31 October 2011). "Climate Data Almanac for July 31". Environment Canada.
15. (31 October 2011). "Climate Data Almanac for January 10". Environment Canada.
16. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2021-10-27). "Census Profile, 2016 Census".
17. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile".
18. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2019-08-20). "2006 Community Profiles".
19. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles".
20. (19 June 2019). "'Absolutely crazy': residents allege rising tension, call for greater enforcement at housing complex". battlefordsNOW.
21. "Canada's Most Dangerous Places 2018". Maclean's.
22. "Canada's most dangerous place, North Battleford, is fighting for its future - Macleans.ca".
23. "Officials react to article calling North Battleford 'Canada's most dangerous city'".
24. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2013-07-29). "Crime severity index and weighted clearance rates, police services in Saskatchewan".
25. (2023-07-28). "Battlefords RCMP and city challenge accuracy of 'Crime Town' label".
26. "Western Development Museum - North Battleford". Wdm.ca.
27. Leslee Newman, WDM Curatorial Centre. "WDM's iconic elevator needs help". Battlefords News-Optimist.
28. "Battlefords Trails". Government of Saskatchewan.
29. Brown, Angela. "City approves Access Communications' proposal for naming rights to North Battleford Civic Centre".
30. (2017-04-26). "Province, city to compensate North Battleford, Sask., tainted water victims". [[CBC News]].
31. (2017-04-13). "Class action approved for North Battleford tainted water victims". [[CBC News]].
32. [http://www.newsoptimist.ca/ Battlefords' News Optimist]
33. [https://archive.today/20130410030535/http://www.feedtheartist.ca/ Feed The Artist Magazine]
34. Staff, battlefordsNOW. "CJHD transitions to endless summers as 93.3 BEACH RADIO".
35. (July 30, 2019). "CRTC Decision 2019-268".
36. "No more analog signal for CTV Saskatoon in NB".
37. "Chase Wouters Stats and News {{!}} NHL.com".