THE OLDEST CHURCH : Holy Trinity Anglican Church at Stanley Mission is the oldest church in Western Canada. The church was built between 1854 and 1860 and is still providing religious services. This unique building is on the north bank of the Churchill River and can be reached by boat. (LINKS - information ; pamphlet pdf file )
SAND DUNES IN SASKATCHEWAN -- Normally you would expect to see sand dunes in the desert, but there are sand dunes in Saskatchewan! In northwest Saskatchewan there are dune fields stretching for about 100 km along the south shore of Lake Athabasca. The dune fields are one of the most northerly in the world. The Athabasca Sand Dunes have 10 plants that grow nowhere else in the world. Travel by air is required to get to the park. In southwestern Saskatchewan there are the Great Sand Hills with dunes up to 25 metres high.
Great Sand Hills
photo credit:Tourism Saskatchewan
from Digital Saskatchewan collection, 2006LINKS:
Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park
MAN-MADE WONDER - One of the seven man-made wonders of Saskatchewan (designated by
the University of Saskatchewan) is Danceland
at Manitou Beach. The
historic dance hall was built in 1928. The
hall is famous for the original dance floor made of maple. The floor
is suspended on a cushion of horsehair.
The FIRST Ukrainian Governor General of Canada was Ray Hnatyshyn. He was born and raised in Saskatoon.
The FIRST female Governor General of Canada was Jeanne Sauvé. She was from Prud'homme.
The
world's largest tomahawk can be seen at Cut Knife, which was
the scene of an 1885 battle between the native peoples and the mounties.
The Tomahawk was built as a symbol of unity and friendship between the First Nations and the white population in this area.
sites featuring more roadside attractions in Saskatchewan -
Cypress Hills
courtesy of
Sask.Environment
PET BEAVERS - A man named
Grey Owl shared his home with his pet beavers, who
built their lodge inside his cabin. He even called his cabin "Beaver Lodge"
and named the beavers Jelly Roll and Rawhide. Grey Owl lived in Prince Albert National Park. The cabin can be reached by hiking trails or by canoe.
DINOSAURS IN SASKATCHEWAN -- In 1994 near the town of
Eastend the skeleton of Scotty, a Tyrannosaurus Rex, was found.
The remains were 65 million years old. The skeleton is not complete.
Some of the bones are missing. There have been several fossils found
in the Eastend area.
The first bird sanctuary in North America was established in 1887 at Last Mountain Lake in Saskatchewan and now forms the
Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area.
HEALING WATERS : There is a lake in Saskatchewan where it is impossible to sink.
Lake Manitou near Watrous is so rich in minerals, that people float.
It is said that the lake is three times saltier than the Dead Sea, making it impossible for a person to sink.
Early settlers took home barrels of the "healing" water.
The Plains Indians used to bring their sick to Lake Manitou
( Lake of the Good Spirit ) so they could be healed.
OLDER THAN THE PYRAMIDS - A place with findings that are older than the Great Pyramids of Egypt
is right here in Saskatchewan at Wanuskewin Heritage Park (5 km north of Saskatoon). The findings date back more than 8000 years.
The site contains tipi rings, stone cairns, a medicine wheel and
many more findings that give us a picture of what life was like on
the Great Plains a very long time ago .
Wanuskewin Heritage Park
MYSTERY ROCKS
by permission from Saskatchewan Interactive
LONGEST PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE : The SkyTrail Bridge in Outlook is the longest pedestrian bridge in Canada. It is part of the Trans Canada Trail. The bridge spans over 914 metres (3,000 feet) and is over 45 metres (over 150 feet) above the South Saskatchewan River, providing a spectacular view.
A LAKE MONSTER? - There are stories over the past 40 years about an unusual creature that lives in
Turtle Lake. People have given many different descriptions of
The Turtle Lake Monster .
The
Willow Bunch Giant ( Edouard Beaupre) was normal size
when he was born, but grew to a height of 2.51 meters ( over 8 feet tall ).
A large hailstone fell near Cedoux in southern Sask. during a storm in August
of 1973. It was the largest hailstone in Canada. It weighed 290 grams ( almost
two-thirds of a pound) and measured about the size of a grapefruit. 
TUNNELS BENEATH THE STREETS - In the late 1800s Moose Jaw was
the centre for smugglers and gangsters. The tunnels were built under
the downtown streets to connect buildings together and to serve as
hideouts for illegal activity. (drugs, gambling, etc.)
The Big Muddy ( near Big Beaver ) in south-central Sask. was
the only Canadian stop on the Outlaw Trail. The Outlaw Trail
(which ran from Canada to Mexico) was used by Butch Cassidy
and his gang, and by cattle and horse thieves. The Big Muddy Badlands had deep
coulees and caves which were perfect places for the outlaws to hideout.
Saskatchewan is the only province in Canada where the people do not
have to change their clocks when there is a time change. The province stays on Central
Standard Time all year round. 
PRIME MINISTERS - Prince Albert is the only constituency in Canada that has been represented by three prime ministers - William Lyon Mackenzie King, John Diefenbaker and Sir Wilfred Laurier.
A LIGHTHOUSE IN SASKATCHEWAN !! The only lighthouse in Saskatchewan
is at the north end of the town of Cochin. It was built on the top of
Pirot Hill overlooking Jackfish Lake. The lighthouse is 11.5 metres
tall ( 38 ft). You have to climb 153 steps to reach the top where you
get a great view of Cochin and Jackfish lakes. The rotating beacon (light) can be seen for miles. The lighthouse
was built as a tourist attraction .
The "World's First Curling Museum" is located in Weyburn, SK. Don and Elva Turner's collection features over 18,000 curling pins and other curling memorabilia - crests, books, photos, brooms, curling stones, clothing, etc.
. 
ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS -
Have you ever seen a moose that's nearly 10 metres high (32 ft.)
and weighs 9000 kg? (10 tons) Now that's a big moose !
Mac the Moose
stands by the Trans Canada Highway in Moose Jaw. ( photo )
Big Things in Saskatchewan
Large Canadian Roadside Attractions - Saskatchewan 
SASKATCHEWAN INDEX
2003
updated January 2017
jgiannet@hotmail.com
