Paper birch, Saskatchewan's provincial tree Saskatchewan has long been known as the "Bread Basket" of the World" . Its waving golden Wheatfield's, endless sky and diverse natural resources have made it a land of wide open spaces. For immigrants wishing to live in Canada, Saskatchewan, is an ideal location.
It is the middle province of Canada's three prairie provinces. It has an area of 651,900 km² (251,700 mi²) and a population of 985,386 (Saskatchewanians) as of July 1, 2006. Most of its population lives in the southern half of the province. The largest city is Saskatoon with a population of 235,800 (July 1, 2005), followed by the province's capital, Regina (population: 199,000, July 1, 2005). Other major cities (in order of size) include Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Yorkton, Swift Current, and North Battleford. Historically, from 1872 to 1930 immigrants were attracted to Saskatchewan by the Homestead Act which granted a quarter section or 160 acres to homesteaders if they could 'prove' the land in three years. The immigration pattern resulted in ethnic bloc settlements which include: British, French , German, Dutch, Scadinavian and Ukranian.
Ten largest municipalities by population
Municipality 1996 2001 2006
Saskatoon 193,653 196,861 202,340
Regina 180,404 178,225 179,246
Prince Albert 34,777 34,291 34,138
Moose Jaw 32,973 32,131 32,132
Yorkton 15,154 15,107 15,038
Swift Current 14,890 14,821 14,946
North Battleford 14,051 13,692 13,190
Estevan 10,752 10,242 10,084
Weyburn 9,723 9,534 9,433
Corman Park 7,142 8,043 8,349
Geography & Immigration
Northern Saskatchewan is mostly covered by boreal forest except for The Lake Athabasca Sand Dunes, the largest active sand dunes in the world north of 58°, adjacent to the southern shore of Lake Athabasca. Southern Saskatchewan contains another area with sand dunes known as the "Great Sand Hills" covering over 300 square kilometers. The Cypress Hills, located in the southwestern corner of Saskatchewan and Killdeer Badlands (Grasslands National Park) are areas of the province that remained unglaciated during the last glaciation period. The province's highest point, 1,468 metres (4,816') is located in the Cypress Hills. The lowest point, 213 metres (700') is the shore of Lake Athabasca in the far north. The province has nine distinct drainage basins made up of various rivers and watersheds draining into the Arctic Ocean, Hudson Bay, and Gulf of Mexico.
Note that the list does not include Lloydminster, which has a total population of 24,028 but straddles the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. As of 2001, only 8,118 people lived on the Saskatchewan side, which would make it Saskatchewan's 11th largest municipality. All of the listed communities are considered cities by the province, with the exception of Corman Park, which is a rural municipality. Municipalities in the province with a population of 5000 or more receive official city status.
Ethnic origins
Ethnic origin Percent
German 28.6%
English 24.5%
Scottish 17.9%
Irish 14.5%
Ukrainian 12.6%
French 11.4%
First Nations 10.6%
Norwegian 6.3%
Polish 5.3%
Métis 4.2%
Dutch 3.3%
Swedish 3.1%
Immigration Profile
Saskatchewan's booming economy is creating opportunities for employment and investment in all sectors of the province. But our province's most enticing feature is the rich quality of life Saskatchewan residents enjoy.
We have low housing costs and utility rates, which are complemented by the third lowest personal income tax rate in the country. People who move to Saskatchewan claim it is more than just a great place to work - it is an ideal place to call home. Through our provincial nominee program, we can help you through the immigration process so that you can build your future in Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan, Community Partnerships and Settlement Unit works with immigrants, refugees, employers, service providers, and communities to ensure a positive immigration experience for all parties. It designs and delivers programs and services such as language training, literacy training, employment services, and orientation services that assist newcomers in making a transition to work and to life in our communities.
The unit also supports efforts by communities, businesses, and employers to help newcomers make Saskatchewan their home through the development of settlement plans. This project is the latest enhancement to the province's immigration program, which will approve approximately 5,000 new immigrants a year by 2008-09.
Saskatchewan Industry
Percent Sector
17.1 finance, insurance, real estate, leasing
13.0 mining, petroleum
11.9 education, health, social services
11.7 wholesale and retail trade
9.1 transportation, communications, utilities
7.7 manufacturing
6.8 agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting
6.5 business services
5.8 government services
5.0 construction
5.3 other
Economy & Immigration
Saskatchewan's economy is associated with agriculture; however, increasing diversification has meant that now agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting together make up only 6.8% of the province's GDP. Saskatchewan grows 45% of Canada's grain. Wheat is the most familiar crop, and perhaps the one stereotypically associated with the province, but other grains like canola, flax, rye, oats, peas, lentils, canary seed, and barley are also produced. Beef cattle production in the province is only exceeded by Alberta. Mining is also a major industry in the province, with Saskatchewan being the world leader in potash exports. In the northern part of the province, forestry is significant.
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is desined to help business find skilled workers through immigration to Canada, which operates under an agreement with the federal government. It can provide an alternate and quicker means of entry into Canada.
This program allows Saskatchewan to nominate applicants, who qualify under criteria established by the province, to the federal government for landed immigrant status.
The SINP offers:
The ability to select applicants whose skills and abilities best fit the province's needs
Consideration of applications that may not qualify under federal immigration criteria
Application processing times that are faster than other federal immigration classes.
SINP eligibility criteria reflect the specific needs of Saskatchewan's labour market and economy. The SINP currently has seven categories for nomination: Skilled Workers, Family Members, Long Haul Truck Drivers, Health Professions, Entrepreneurs, Foreign Students, and Farmers.
Oil and Natural Gas production is also a very important part of Saskatchewan's economy. Oil and natural gas production is only exceeded by Alberta. Heavy crude is extracted in the Lloydminster-Kerrobert-Kindersley areas. Light crude is found in the Kindersley-Swift Current areas as well as the Weyburn-Estevan fields. Natural gas is found almost entirely in the western part of Saskatchewan, from the Primrose Lake area through Lloydminster, Unity, Kindersley, Leader, and around Maple Creek areas.
Saskatchewan is also the world's most important supplier of uranium, and supplies much of the western world's supplies. The uranium industry is closely regulated by the provincial government which allows the government of Saskatchewan great latitude in setting world uranium prices.
The chart above shows the breakdown of Saskatchewan's economic sectors.
Government
Saskatchewan has the same form of government as the other Canadian provinces with a Lieutenant-Governor (who is the representative of the Crown in Right of Saskatchewan), premier, and a unicameral legislature.
The current premier of Saskatchewan is New Democrat Lorne Calvert, whose government was re-elected in the 2003 election with a slim majority -- the NDP won 30 seats in the 58-seat Legislative Assembly, while the Saskatchewan Party won the remaining 28 seats. Most NDP MLAs represent cities and towns while most SP MLAs represent rural ridings. Partly because of this the NDP's three long stretches as the provincial government have not translated into recent federal success. While both Saskatoon and Regina(Saskatchewan's largest cities) are roughly twice the population of an urban riding in Canada, both are split into multiple ridings that blend them with rural communities.
Education & Immigration
Thorvaldson building University of Saskatchewan Those considering immigration to Saskatchewan can take advantage of their world class post seconday education institutions. Postsecondary education in Saskatchewan is delivered through two publicly funded universities and their federated and affiliated colleges; the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST), with institutes in four locations; eight regional colleges that broker programs offered by the universities and SIAST to communities throughout the province; the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies; the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC); and approximately 50 private vocational schools.
The University of Saskatchewan has one federated college - St. Thomas More College - and seven affiliates - St. Andrew's College, the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Central Pentecostal College, St. Peter's College, the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, Briercrest College, and the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research.
The University of Regina has three federated colleges -- Campion College, Luther College, and First Nations University of Canada (formerly known as the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College) and two affiliates -- the Canadian Theological Seminary/Canadian Bible College and the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research.
Arts and culture
Museums and galleries
Mendel Art Gallery
Museums Association of Saskatchewan
Shurniak Art Gallery
MacKenzie Art Gallery
Royal Saskatchewan Museum
RCMP Academy, Depot Division which includes the RCMP Centennial Museum
Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Center
Artist-Run centres
AKA Gallery
PAVED Arts
The Gallery on Sherbrooke, Wolseley
Artists
Dr William Hobbs Prairie and Railways Painter.
Glen Scrimshaw
Joe Fafard
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