Situated immediately north of the mouth of the Battle River, North Battleford and the greater Battlefords area are a notable stop along the Yellowhead Highway, part of the Trans-Canada system, and serve as a commercial and cultural hub for west- and north-central Saskatchewan. Together, the Battlefords are served by the Yellowhead Highway as well as Highway 4, Highway 26, Highway 29, and Highway 40.
Library Clock as seen from Central ParkA residential street in North Battleford
For thousands of years prior to European settlement, succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples lived in the area. The Battlefords area (including the present city of North Battleford and town of Battleford) was home to several historic indigenous groups, including the Algonquian-speaking Cree and Blackfeet as well as SiouanAssiniboineFirst Nationband governments, who contested for control of local resources.
Early European settlement began as a result of fur trading by French colonists in the late 18th century. The Canadians founded Fort Montaigne d'Aigle (Eagle Hills Fort) [6] nine miles below the confluence of the Saskatchewan and Battle Rivers in 1778.[7] A year later the fort was abandoned following conflict between traders and natives.[citation needed]
Permanent European settlement in the area centred around the town of Battleford, founded 1875 and located on the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. Battleford served as capital of the North-West Territories between 1876 and 1883.[8]
In 1905, the construction of the Canadian Northern Railway main line to Edmonton placed the line on the north side of the North Saskatchewan River. North Battleford, built along the railway line, was incorporated as a village in 1906, as a town in 1907, and as a city (with a population of 5,000) in 1913.[9]
The Assyrians were one of the first settlers of the area in and around North Battleford. The immigrant colony comprised 36 men and a few women from the town of Urmia in northwestern Persia. It was established in 1903 by Dr. Isaac Adams, an Assyrian Presbyterian missionary. In 1907, 40 more settlers arrived. Eventually, due to economic hardships, Dr. Isaac Adams and a few close relatives emigrated to Turlock, California. The descendants of the families who remained in North Battleford have names that are Assyrian in origin. Examples of Assyrian family names include Bakus, Essau, George and Odishaw.[10][11]
Population growth stagnated until the 1940s and then grew to approximately 10,000 by the 1960s.
The city has grown into an administrative centre and service hub for the economic, education, health and social needs of the region.[citation needed]
North Battleford used STV-PR in its city elections from 1920 to 1924.[12]
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, North Battleford had a population of 13,836 living in 5,696 of its 6,346 total private dwellings, a change of -3.3% from its 2016 population of 14,315. With a land area of 33.55 km2 (12.95 sq mi), it had a population density of 412.4/km2 (1,068.1/sq mi) in 2021.[16]
Canada census – North Battleford community profile
References: 2021[17] 2011[18] earlier[19][20]
Ethnicity
In the late 2000s many Ruthenians have emigrated to Canada, concentrating in North Battleford. Most of them came from the same town: Ruski Krstur.[21]
Crime rate
In 2018, Maclean's ranked North Battleford as Canada's most dangerous place for overall crime.[27] The prior year, Maclean's published an article about this, Canada's most dangerous place, North Battleford, is fighting for its future, discussing the safety initiatives planned by the community.[28]
After the article was published, Mayor Ryan Bater said:
The reality is we require the provincial and federal levels of government to take notice of this and align their efforts with ours. This needs to be a partnership. This can't be something the governments do in silos and we need to be working together. If we can do that, then sometime in the future we can see some great results.[29]
City Manager Jim Puffalt added that the per person index may not be accurate because the population data does not consider the numerous transients, estimated at just over 14,000. In his view, the city has roughly 30,000 people at any time. "If you put our rates over 30,000 people we wouldn't be number one [in the Maclean's study]," he said.[29]
In 2023, the City of North Battleford earned its highest position on the Crime Severity Index (CSI) since 1998,[30] with the city challenging the dubious 'Crime Town' moniker.[31]
Climate
North Battleford experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classificationDfb). The average high during the end of July is 24.6 °C (76.3 °F) and the average low is 11.3 °C (52.3 °F).[32] For the middle of January the average high is −12.3 °C (9.9 °F) and the average low is −22.6 °C (−8.7 °F).[33]
The highest temperature ever recorded in North Battleford was 39.5 °C (103.1 °F) on 13 July 2002.[34] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −51.7 °C (−61 °F) on 1 February 1893 and 12 January 1916.[35][36]
View of North Battleford from King Hill showing the Yellowhead Highway leading to Battleford.
Government
North Battleford is represented in the provincial Legislative Assembly by the member for The Battlefords.
The InnovationPlex (formerly North Battleford CUplex),[43][44] which opened in 2013, includes the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts,[45] the Northland Power Curling Centre,[46] the NationsWest Field House,[47] and the Battlefords CO-OP Aquatic Centre.[48]
Infrastructure
In 2001, a problem with the city's water system led to the infection of approximately 6,280 people with cryptosporidiosis; a lawsuit seeking several million dollars in damages was filed in 2003.[49] Between 5,800 and 7,100 people suffered from diarrheal illness, and 1,907 cases of cryptosporidiosis were confirmed. Equipment failures at the city's antiquated water filtration plant following maintenance were found to have caused the outbreak.[50] The provincial and municipal government offered compensation to victims[51] after the lawsuit was approved in 2017.[52]
North Battleford is served by the North Battleford Airport, while the North Battleford/Hamlin Airport is no longer in use. The city also recently added a public transit system, in addition to the book-as-needed "Handi-bus" for people with disabilities.
Local media
Newspaper
BattlefordsNOW.com is an online local news site focusing on what's happening "right NOW" in the Battlefords and surrounding area.[citation needed]
The local newspaper is the Battlefords' News-Optimist.[53] It is published weekly on Thursdays and has circulation in the surrounding area.
Feed The Artist Magazine[54] is a local non-profit periodical print and online publication that features the work of primarily local artists, photographers, and writers.
Radio
Three local radio stations serve the area: CJNB, CJCQ-FM ("Q98"), and CJHD-FM ("93.3 Beach Radio[55]"). Some Saskatoon radio stations can also be received.[citation needed]
Television
The Battlefords were served by CFQC-TV-2 channel 6, an analogue repeater of CTV station CFQC-DT Saskatoon. That repeater ended all analog broadcasting transmissions in 2021, and there are no plans for converting it to digital television.[56][57]
^Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
^Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
^Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
^Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
^Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.
^Rain, snow, days with rain, and days with snow from 1981-2010 normals
^Climate data was recorded in the city of Battleford from November 1879 to March 1942, and at North Battleford Airport from March 1942 to present.
References
^"2011 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
^National Archives, Archivia Net. "Post Offices and Postmasters". Retrieved 6 December 2013.
^Government of Saskatchewan, MRD Home. "Municipal Directory System". Retrieved 6 December 2013.
^geodepot.statcan.ca
^The Battlefords Provincial Park
^Voorhis, Ernest (1930). "Historic Forts of the French Regime and of the English Fur Trading Companies". Historic Forts of the French Regime and of the English Fur Trading Companies. Govt. of Canada. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
^"atlas.nrcan.gc.ca". Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
^"esask.uregina.ca". Archived from the original on 31 December 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
^"esask.uregina.ca". Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
^Ishaya, Arian. "Migration and Settlement". Multicultural Canada. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
^Higgs, Jennifer. "Presby-assyrians". Presbyterian Record. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
^Bowler and Grofman, Elections in Australia, Ireland and Malta, p. 206
^christianity-guide.com Archived 2008-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
^"North Battleford Public Library". Retrieved 7 December 2013.
^"Canadian National Railways Station". Retrieved 7 December 2013.
^"Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Saskatchewan". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
^"2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
^"2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
^"2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. 20 August 2019.
^"2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. 18 July 2021.
^"Battlefords ride immigration wave". The StarPhoenix. CanWest. 28 April 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 October 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 October 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 November 2015). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (20 August 2019). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2 July 2019). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
^"Canada's Most Dangerous Places 2018". Maclean's. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^"Canada's most dangerous place, North Battleford, is fighting for its future - Macleans.ca".
^ a b"Officials react to article calling North Battleford 'Canada's most dangerous city'".
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (29 July 2013). "Crime severity index and weighted clearance rates, police services in Saskatchewan". www150.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
^"Battlefords RCMP and city challenge accuracy of 'Crime Town' label". SaskToday.ca. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
^"Climate Data Almanac for July 31". Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
^"Climate Data Almanac for January 10". Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
^"January 1916". Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
^"Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010". Environment and Climate Change Canada. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
^"Daily Data Report for September 2022". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
^"Western Development Museum - North Battleford". Wdm.ca. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^Leslee Newman, WDM Curatorial Centre. "WDM's iconic elevator needs help". Battlefords News-Optimist. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
^Brown, Angela. "City approves Access Communications' proposal for naming rights to North Battleford Civic Centre". battlefordsNOW. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
^"North Battleford Civic Centre". Retrieved 8 March 2014.
^"NEWS RELEASE - MAY 24, 2013 (NORTH BATTLEFORD CELEBRATES NEW COMPLEX)". Retrieved 8 March 2014.
^"Barr-Ryder Architecture (The Credit Union Cuplex)". Retrieved 8 March 2014.
^"Dekker Centre for the performing arts (The Credit Union Cuplex)". Retrieved 8 March 2014.
^"The Battlefords News-Optimist (Northland Power Curling Centre officially open by John Cairns)". Retrieved 8 March 2014.
^"The Battlefords News-Optimist (NationsWEST Field House now open by John Cairns)". Retrieved 8 March 2014.
^"Barr-Ryder Architecture (BATTLEFORDS CO-OP AQUATIC CENTRE)". Retrieved 8 March 2014.
^"Waterborn cryptosporidosis outbreak, North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Spring 2001". Canada Communicable Disease Report. 27–22. Public Health Agency of Canada. 15 November 2001. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
^"WATERBORNE CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS OUTBREAK, NORTH BATTLEFORD, SASKATCHEWAN, SPRING 2001" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2005. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
^"Province, city to compensate North Battleford, Sask., tainted water victims". CBC News. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
^"Class action approved for North Battleford tainted water victims". CBC News. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
^Battlefords' News Optimist
^Feed The Artist Magazine
^Staff, battlefordsNOW. "CJHD transitions to endless summers as 93.3 BEACH RADIO". battlefordsNOW. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
^"CRTC Decision 2019-268". 30 July 2019.
^"No more analog signal for CTV Saskatoon in NB".
External links
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