Page 49 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to Canada

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RCMP HERITAGE CENTRE • CHRIS HENDRICKSON PHOTOGRAPHY/TOURISM SASKATCHEWAN
Development Museum is the most prominent
chronicler of Saskatchewan’s early years
(www.wdm.ca). The Hepburn Museum of
Wheat, a half-hour north of Saskatoon, makes
it easy to experience that most iconic prairie
symbol—the traditional wooden grain
elevator. Other key historic markers include
the Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP),
established for three reasons: to protect
Canada’s borders from American encroach-
ment, engage in diplomatic efforts with
Indigenous communities, and maintain order
among settlers and traders. Their formation
gained urgency after the Cypress Hills
massacre, leading to the establishment of Fort
Walsh, a historic site commemorating their
pivotal role in Canadian frontier history
(www.parkscanada.gc.ca/fortwalsh).
Visitors are always awe-struck by the
remarkable rare book collection at the Athol
Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, just
south of Regina. It houses the largest collec-
tion of 13th to 17th century books and
manuscripts in Canada—everything from
original treatises of philosophers and saints
to handwritten decrees by popes and kings.
To really go back in time, over 6,400 years,
head to Wanuskewin Heritage Park in a scenic
valley on Saskatoon’s northern outskirts
(www.wanuskewin.com). It remains
Canada’s longest archaeological dig (over 40
years) of pre-contact occupation sites on the
North American Great Plains. Ancient archae-
ological finds including two bison kill sites
meld with a vibrant present-day Indigenous
culture. Wanuskewin Heritage Park has been
added to Canada’s tentative list for UNESCO
World Heritage Sites.
ENJOYING THE BEST
Given that Saskatchewan is a major food
producer, it is not surprising that folks here
like to eat well. With a cuisine reflecting
local products and the province’s diverse
ethnic makeup, there are more food-centred
events than you can shake a skewer stick at.
Try Mortlach’s Saskatoon Berry Festival
(www.mortlach.ca) or take in the Foodtruck
Wars Street Festival (www.foodtruckwar
syxe.com) where top food trucks from
across Saskatchewan face off in Saskatoon.
Calling Saskatchewan golf-crazy is an
understatement; the number of courses per
capita is among the highest in the country.
Choose from hidden gems in small
communities to famous award-winners such
as Dakota Dunes Golf Links (www.dakota
dunes.ca), Saskatchewan’s #1 Ranked Public
Course according to SCOREGolf. For an
extensive listing, see www.saskgolfer.com.
WHAT’S NEW
Wapaha Sk̄a Oyate: Living Our Culture,
Sharing Our Community at Pion-Era
(WDM Saskatoon) is a new permanent
exhibit on display at the Western Develop-
ment Museum. In collaboration between the
Whitecap Dakota First Nation and WDM,
this exhibit shares both Indigenous and
non-Indigenous perspectives
(www.wdm.ca/exhibits/whitecap).
At Remai Modern, Views from the Blue House:
The Remai Modern Collection is a dazzling
collection of 8,000+ works, including Henri
Masson’s iconic “The Blue House.” For lunch,
enjoy fine views as you dine at the new
restaurant Hearth (www.remaimodern.org).
Experience a unique teepee sleepover at the
Wanuskewin Tipi Village. Relive the stories of
the Northern Plains peoples who came to hunt
bison, gather food and medicines and escape
the winter winds (www.wanuskewin.com).
Join Meewasin conservationist Jamie
McMillan for an adult-only evening of
delicious local food and beverages with a tour
that takes a light-hearted look at the mating
and courtship strategies of the wildlife at
Beaver Creek Conservation Area. Piloted last
season and back by popular demand, it runs
on alternative Thursdays from July 11 through
August 22 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
(www.meewasin.com/naughty-by-nature).
CITY LIGHTS
Regina’s heart is Wascana Centre, one of the
largest urban parks in North America. It is
home to several key attractions including
the Saskatchewan Legislative Building, lined
by an impressive summer flower garden; the
Saskatchewan Science Centre and Kramer
IMAX Theatre; and the Royal Saskatchewan