Big River, Saskatchewan

Big River
Town
Motto: Gateway to the North
Big River Big River Location of Big River in Saskatchewan
Coordinates: 53°50′13″N 107°02′06″W / 53.837°N 107.035°W
Country	Canada
Province	Saskatchewan
Region	Saskatchewan
Census division	No. 16
Rural Municipality	Big River
Post office founded	1910
Government
• Mayor	Robert Buckingham
• Administrator	Noreen Olsen
• MLA Saskatchewan Rivers	Nadine Wilson
• MP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River	Georgina Jolibois
Area
• Total	2.51 km^2 (0.97 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
• Total	639
• Density	255.0/km^2 (660/sq mi)
Time zone	Central Standard Time
Postal code	S0J 0E0
Area code(s)	306
Highways	Highway 55
Website	http://www.bigriver.ca/
[2][3][4]

Big River is a town located on the southern end of Cowan Lake in north central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is just north of Saskatchewan's extensive grain belt on Highway 55 (part of the inter-provincial Northern Woods and Water Route) and about sixteen kilometres west of Prince Albert National Park. Delaronde Lake is accessed east of the town. Big River is approximately 132 kilometres to Prince Albert.

Except for some land cleared for farming and a few natural meadows, the town is surrounded by the northern boreal forest.

History

Big River began as a company town created as a base for the lumber industry at the turn of the 20th century. Commercial fishing also played a major role in the town in the early years.^[5] In 1910 a post office was opened in Big River.^[6]

Demographics

Canada census – Big River, Saskatchewan community profile
	2011	2006
Population:	639 (-12.2% from 2006)	728 (-1.8% from 2001)
Land area:	2.51 km^2 (0.97 sq mi)	2.11 km^2 (0.81 sq mi)
Population density:	255.0/km^2 (660/sq mi)	345.5/km^2 (895/sq mi)
Median age:	40.9 (M: 38.4, F: 42.0)	37.2 (M: 34.7, F: 39.9)
Total private dwellings:	307	362
Median household income:
References: 2011[7] 2006[8]

Notable people

Métis film producer and director Wil Campbell^[9] was born here. He helped establish the first video program for Aboriginal people with Alberta Native Communications in 1968 and founded the Dreamspeakers Festival Society and the National Film Board's Native Studio.

Former NHL forward Barry Pederson was born here.

Education

There are two schools in the community. Big River Public High School (Grade 7 to 12) & TD Michel Public School (Pre-K to Grade 6). They are part of the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division #119 out of Prince Albert.

See also

• List of communities in Saskatchewan
• List of towns in Saskatchewan
• Big River Airport

References

1. "2011 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
2. National Archives, Archivia Net. "Post Offices and Postmasters". Archived from the original on 2006-10-06. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
3. Government of Saskatchewan, MRD Home. "Municipal Directory System". Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
4. Commissioner of Canada Elections, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada (2005). "Elections Canada On-line". Archived from the original on 2007-04-21. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
5. "Timber Trails (A History of Big River)". Retrieved 2012-11-02.
6. "Library and Archives Canada-Post Offices and Postmasters". Retrieved 2012-11-02.
7. "2011 Community Profiles". Canada 2011 Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-17.
8. "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011.
9. "Dreamspeakers Film Festival-Walk of Honour". Retrieved 2012-11-02.

External links

• Big River Community Web Site

Coordinates: 53°50′13″N 107°02′06″W / 53.837°N 107.035°W