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The Basics of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is one of Canada's Prairie Provinces, bordered by Alberta to the west and Manitoba to the east. The province has a population of nearly one million, the largest city, Saskatoon with 230,000 people and the capital city, Regina with 200,000. Saskatchewan is home to many First Nations comminties with Reserve lands scattered throughout the province. Immigrants were historically attracted to Saskatchewan's fertile land. Today it is the province's fast-growing modern economy.

Economy and employment

Saskatchewan is known as Canada's breadbasket, responsible for producing 28 percent of Canada's grain and over 54 percent of Canada's wheat crop. While agriculture is still very important to Saskatchewan's economy, service-based sectors such as finance, insurance and real estate are significant contributors to the economy. The province is also rich in minerals. The unemployment rate in Saskatchewan is below the Canadian average.

Standard of Living

The cost of living in Saskatchewan is quite affordable by Canadian standards; housing costs are among the lowest in Canada and the province's natural resources help to keep energy costs low. Saskatchewan has strong government-provided social programs that make a major contribution to maintaining high standards of living for all residents of the province.

Residential Housing

Sakatchewan is one of the most affordable places in Canada to purchase or rent a home. The average house price in Regina is the lowest average rate of any city in Canada and houses in Saskatoon are also very affordable. Only 64 per cent of Saskatwchewan residents live in Urban centers.

Education

In Canada all citizens and permanent residents under the age of 20 are entitled to attend, free of cost, schooling through the end of secondary school. Saskatchewan provides an education for kindergarten through Grade 12 through its public school system. In addition to the standard program, the provincial education system also offers education in French and in First Nations or Metis languages.

Anchoring the province's post-secondary system are the province's research universities: University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina. The province is also home to the unique First Nations University of Canada. Saskatchewan also offers apprenticeship programs as well as nine regional technical colleges and 50 private vocational schools.

Health Care

Under Canadian Law, all provinces and territories must provide universal, publicly funded health care to all citizens and legal residents of Canada. In other words, most basic health services in Canada are offered at no direct cost to the patient. Saskatchewan was the first province in the country to set up a program for universal, publicly funded health care.

History

Saskatchewan has a rich history dating back through over 5,000 years of First Nations settlement in the region. Today the province has some of the strongest remaining First Nations and Metis communities in Canada. The first Europeans to arrive in present-day Saskatchewan made their way to the province in the late 1600's, and were explorers or fur-traders.

Shortly after Canada became a country with confederation in 1867, immigration to the area which would become the province of Saskatchewan took off. With huge expanses of unsettled territory, the Government of Canada would pass the Dominion Lands Act of 1872, which allowed newcomers to earn title to land if they cleared it and put it into production. The result of this act was a major inflow of newcomers from various locations, especially Eastern Europe. By the time Saskatchewan became a province in 1905, it had become a very multicultural place, where dozens of langauges were spoken.

Culture

As Saskatchewan developed as a rural farming economy, the pioneering spirit remains an important part of the province's culture. As the earlier settlers braved tough conditions and worked hard to clear and farm their land, they banded together to help each other, created a strong spirit of community that continues in the province today. While the province is much more urban than it was in the past and boasts a modern industrial and service economy, this sense of community helps to create the high quality of life that Saskatchewan residents enjoy.

Demographics

Saskatchewan is home to nearly 970,000 people. Over 35 percent of these residents live in rural areas, and nearly half the population lives in its two largest cities, Saskatoon and Regina. Saskatchewan is hoping to increase their steady population growth through immigration.

Some of the most prominent cultural communities are German, Irish, Ukranian, First Nations, Scottish, English, French, Metis, Norwegian and Chinese. A large majority of the population lives in the southern half of the province.

Immigration

Immigration is one of the most important elements in defining Saskatchewan's culture and history, and is expected to account for a large portion of the province's future growth. Saskatchewan is making efforts to increase the level of immigration to the province through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program. Saskatchewan's program identifies skilled workers, farmers, entrepeneurs, international students and individuals from certain occupations in demand and helps to bring to Saskatchewan as Permanent Residents.

Government

Canada's government works on a federal system, with control over certain affairs belonging to the national government in Ottawa, and others under the control of the provincial governments. The province of Saskatchewan has its own democratically-elected parliament (known as the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly).

Saskatchewan has historically been one of Canada's more left-leaning provinces politically, and the social-democrat NDP and its predecessor parties have been in power for much of the last six decades.

Major Cities

Regina

Regina is the capital of Saskatchewan, home to approximately 180,000 people. Along with a strong service-based economy, Regina benefits from industries that capitalize on the rich natural resources that surround the city. The University of Regina, the Regina Research Park is a center for innovation and new technology industries.

With its affordable housing and low cost of living, Regina is a great place to make a new home in Canada. The city boasts representation from many different cultural communities and was named the "Cultural Capital of Canada" in 2004 by Heritage Canada.

Saskatoon

The largest city in Saskatchewan, Saskatoon is home to just over 200,000 people. The vibrant cultural life of Saskatoon supports many popular festivals, especially in the summer.

Saskatoon has transformed itself from a primarily agricultural and mining economy into one that is built around technology and financial services. The city is recognized as a world leader for agricultural biotechnology and is home to the University of Saskatchewan.