Yorkton
Template:Short description Template:Distinguish {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Use Canadian English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement
Yorkton is a city located in south-eastern Saskatchewan, Canada. It is about Template:Convert north-west of Winnipeg and Template:Convert south-east of Saskatoon and is the sixth largest city in the province.
Yorkton was founded in 1882 and incorporated as a city in 1928. The city is bordered by the rural municipalities of Orkney to the north, west, and south, and Wallace on the east.
History
In 1882, a group of businessmen and investors formed the York Farmers Colonization Company. Authorized to issue up to $300,000 in debentures and lenient government credit terms on land purchases encouraged company representatives to visit the District of Assiniboia of the North-West Territories with the intent to view some crown land available near the Manitoba border. They were impressed with what they saw and the group purchased portions of six townships near the Little Whitesand River (now Yorkton Creek) for the purpose of settlement and to establish a centre for trade there.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This centre would become known as York Colony.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The company founded the settlers' colony on the banks of the Little Whitesand River where lots were given freely to settlers who purchased land from them. The colony remained at its site until 1889. It was originally located at PT SE 1/4 13-26-4 W2M.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1889, the rail line was extended to the Yorkton area. It was at this time the colony townsite relocated alongside the new rail line.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Geography
Yorkton is located in the aspen parkland ecosystem.<ref name="AtlasSK" /> The terrain is mainly one of agriculture and there is no forestry industry.<ref name="Atlas of Saskatchewan" /> It is also in an area of black calcareous chernozemic soils.<ref name="AtlasSK">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref><ref name="Atlas of Saskatchewan" /> The Yorkton area was located on the edge of an area of a maximum glacial lake.<ref name="Atlas of Saskatchewan" /> The quaternary geology has left the area as a moraine plain consisting of glacial deposits.<ref name="AtlasSK" /> The bedrock geology is the Pembina Member of Vermillion River Formation and Riding Mountain Formation. Yorkton is located in the physiographic region of the Quill Lake-Yorkton Plain region of the Saskatchewan Plains Region.<ref name="Atlas of Saskatchewan">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref>
Climate
Yorkton has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb), with extreme seasonal temperatures. It has warm summers and cold winters, with the average daily temperatures ranging from Template:Convert in January to Template:Convert in July.
The highest temperature ever recorded in Yorkton was Template:Convert on 19 July 1941.<ref name="July 1941">Template:Cite web</ref> The coldest temperature ever recorded was Template:Convert on 20 January 1943.<ref name="Environment Canada Climate Data Chart" />
Extreme weather events
- On the evening of July 1, 2010, Yorkton received a severe thunderstorm warning. Soon after, Yorkton was experiencing pea sized hail, strong winds, lightning, and heavy rain. The rain created a flash flood. Broadway Street received the worst of the flood with local businesses being severely damaged, with one being completely destroyed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The city of Yorkton declared a State of Emergency and the Canadian Red Cross helped out with the victims of the flood.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- On the weekend of June 29, 2014, Yorkton declared a State of Emergency after rain caused flash floods in south-eastern Saskatchewan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Demographics
Template:Historical populations In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Yorkton had a population of Template:Val living in Template:Val of its Template:Val total private dwellings, a change of Template:Percentage from its 2016 population of Template:Val. With a land area of Template:Convert, it had a population density of Template:Pop density in 2021.<ref name=2021census>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Canada census
Ethnicity
The first settlers to the Yorkton colony were English from Eastern Ontario and Great Britain. Template:Convert west were Scottish settlers at the settlement of Orkney.<ref name="tourism" /> A significant number of residents are also descended from immigrants from Ukraine who came in the early 20th century.
| Major ethnic groups in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ethnic group<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Population | Percent |
| Ukrainian | 4,805 | Template:Percentage |
| English | 3,870 | Template:Percentage |
| German | 3,540 | Template:Percentage |
| Scottish | 2,185 | Template:Percentage |
| First Nations/Métis | 2,055 | Template:Percentage |
| Irish | 1,610 | Template:Percentage |
| Polish | 1,405 | Template:Percentage |
| Scandinavian | 1,350 | Template:Percentage |
| French | 1,060 | Template:Percentage |
| Filipino | 1,030 | Template:Percentage |
| Total respondent population | 15,925 | 100% |
Attractions
The Yorkton Gallagher Centre is an entertainment complex constructed in 1977 by the civic government and the Yorkton Exhibition Association. The centre includes an arena, curling rink, conference rooms and an indoor swimming pool.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Until 2005, the facility was called the Parkland Agriplex. In the early 1900s an older Agriplex building was located on the fair grounds adjacent to the Gallagher Centre.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Yorkton is home to a branch of the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum, which houses a number of exhibits depicting pioneer life in the town and on the surrounding prairie. The museum includes an early pioneer log home and an extensive outdoor exhibit of agricultural machinery, including early tractors and steam engines.<ref name="tourism">Template:Cite web</ref>
Located on several buildings in downtown Yorkton are murals depicting historic personalities.
Historic sites
Template:See also A number of heritage buildings are located within the city. Yorkton Tower Theatre is a single screen movie theatre built in the 1950s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Army Navy and Air Force Veterans Building, Dulmage Farmstead, Hudson's Bay Company Store, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Yorkton Armoury, Yorkton Court House, 29 Myrtle Avenue, 81 Second Avenue North, Old Land Titles Building<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Yorkton Organic Milling Ltd are also listed historic places.
Yorkton Film Festival
Template:Main Film Festivals have been an enduring part of life in Yorkton since the projector spun to life in October 1947. At that time the Yorkton International Documentary Film Festival was born. The international component was dropped in 1977, deciding to focus on Canadian short film instead. The festival renamed itself the Yorkton Short Film Festival also in 1977. In 2009 it became the Yorkton Film Festival.<ref name="The Yorkton Film Festival">Template:Cite web</ref>
Sports
The city of Yorkton hosted the 1999 Royal Bank Cup (Junior "A" ice hockey National Championship), the 2006 World Junior A Challenge (an international Junior "A" ice hockey tournament) and the 2009 Canada Cup of Curling.
Teams
The Yorkton Terriers are a team in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The Yorkton Rawtec Maulers are a Midget AAA ice hockey team and they are a member of the SMAAAHL. The teams play their games in the 2,300 seat Westland Arena in the Yorkton Gallagher Centre<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Yorkton Cardinals were a baseball team playing in the Western Canadian Baseball League.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Yorkton Bulldogs are a retired box lacrosse team formed in 2003. They are a member of the Prairie Gold Lacrosse League.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Government
Municipal
The current mayor as of 2024 is Aaron Kienle. He is serving with councillors Dustin Brears, Stephanie Ortynsky, Quinn Haider, Randy Goulden, Greg Litvanyi, and Darcy Zaharia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Provincial
The city is located in the Provincial Electoral District of Yorkton.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This riding is served in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan by Saskatchewan Party MLA Greg Ottenbreit.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Federal
The federal constituency of Yorkton—Melville<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is represented in the House of Commons of Canada by Cathay Wagantall of the Conservative Party of Canada.
From 1968 to 1993, Yorkton was represented federally by New Democratic Party MP Lorne Nystrom who at his first election win was the youngest person to be elected to the Canadian Parliament.
Infrastructure
Health care
Yorkton established its first hospital in 1902, and this was followed by a maternity care home which lasted a couple of decades.<ref name="AtlasSK" /> The original hospital was converted into a residential apartment, which in 2014 suffered a large fire which engulfed the entire building.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The current hospital, the Yorkton Regional Health Centre, is located on Bradbrooke Drive and is part of the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
Transportation
Air
During the Second World War an airport was built Template:Convert north of Yorkton for the Royal Canadian Air Force's No. 11 Service Flying Training School. It is now operated as the Yorkton Municipal Airport Template:Airport codes.<ref name="CFS">Template:CFS</ref><ref name="move">Aircraft Movement Statistics: Airports Without Air Traffic Control Towers (TP 577) Template:Webarchive Movements from Statistics Canada.</ref>
Roads
Yorkton is located at the intersection of Hwy 52, Hwy 10, Hwy 9 and The Yellowhead which is part of the Trans-Canada Highway<ref name="People Places">Template:Cite book</ref>
Rail
Yorkton is served by Canadian National Railway (JCT Yorkton Sub, Sk. (CN)) branch line and Canadian Pacific Railway (Yorkton IMS, Sk (CPRS)) mainline track.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Transit
Yorkton Transit runs two routes, covering the majority of the city.
Education
Tertiary institutions
Parkland College has campuses in Yorkton.
High schools
Sacred Heart High School was founded by the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, and the school celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1991.<ref name="Catholic Schools">Template:Cite web</ref> Yorkton Regional High School opened November 10, 1967 offering grades 9 to 12.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Elementary schools
There are four separate Catholic elementary schools. St. Alphonsus Elementary School provides pre-kindergarten through Grade 8.<ref name="Catholic Schools" /> St. Mary's Elementary School offers pre-kindergarten classes to grade 8.<ref name="Catholic Schools" /> St. Michael's Elementary School offers both English and French immersion from Kindergarten to grade 8.<ref name="Catholic Schools" /> St. Paul's Elementary School also belongs to the Christ the Teacher Catholic School Division, and provides Kindergarten to Grade 8 classes.<ref name="Catholic Schools" />
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dr. Brass Elementary School is named after the dentist, Dr. David James Brass and offers pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> M.C. Knoll Elementary School opened in August 1998, and is named after Milton Clifford Knoll.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Yorkdale Central School is also a part of Good Spirit School Division No. 204 and offers Kindergarten to Grade 8.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Military
The 64th (Yorkton) Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery is garrisoned at the Yorkton Armouries.<ref name="Yorkton Armouries">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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. Among the present users is a Gliding Centre, operated for the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.
The Royal Canadian Air Force Station Yorkton (ADC ID: C-51) was a Long Range Radar (LRR) and Ground Air Transmitter Receiver (GATR) facility of the Pinetree Line. The site was SAGE compatible from day one. The facility which was in use during the Cold War was renamed CFS Yorkton (Canadian Forces Station) in 1967. The station located near Yorkton was operational from 1963 to 1986.
Media
Newspapers
- Weeklies
- The Yorkton News Review (defunct) <ref name="To our readers of the Yorkton News Review">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Yorkton This Week <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Radio
| Frequency | Call sign | Branding | Format | Owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM 540 | CBK (AM) | CBC Radio One | public broadcasting | Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | Clear-channel station broadcasting from Watrous |
| AM 940 | CJGX | GX94 | country music | Harvard Broadcasting | |
| FM 91.7 | CBK-FM-3 | CBC Music | public broadcasting | Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | Rebroadcaster for CBK-FM |
| FM 92.9 | CJLR-FM-5 | MBC Radio | First Nations community radio | Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation | Rebroadcaster for CJLR-FM |
| FM 94.1 | CFGW-FM | Cruz FM | adult hits | Harvard Broadcasting | |
| FM 98.5 | CJJC-FM | 98.5 The Rock | Christian music | Dennis M. Dyck |
<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Television
Cable television services are supplied by Access Communications. Access is a Saskatchewan-owned not-for-profit co-operative established in 1974. It also supplies home phone and Internet service to the community.<ref name="Access communications">Template:Cite web</ref>
SaskTel provides maxTV and maxTV stream services on both DSL and Fiber. SaskTel is a Crown Corporation owned by the provincial government to serve the people of Saskatchewan with telephone, Internet, and TV services. Current internet speeds are up to 50/10 on DSL and up to 1000/500 on fiber. Business is up to 5000/5000 in select markets.
The only terrestrial television station serving Yorkton is CICC-TV channel 10, a CTV affiliate station.
Yorkton was previously served by CKOS-TV channel 5, a private CBC Television outlet; formerly a sister station of CICC, it became an owned-and-operated repeater of CBKT in 2002, before closing down with the rest of CBC's repeater network in 2012.
See also
Notes
References
Further reading
External links
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