Saskatchewan

(Pronunciation: suh · ska · chuh · waan (pronunciations differs between different people)).

Unfurling across the sweeping prairies, the most glorious land known to man rises like the sunset. Like a season that perfects a dish, Saskatchewan is the bread-basket of Canada. An agricultural powerhouse, if one were to visit this place, they’ll find glorious sunrises and sunsets, and some of the darkest panoramic skies in Canada.

Fast Facts:

Capital: Regina (population: 228,920)

Largest city: Saskatoon (population: 273,010)

Population: 1.174 million (as of 2019)

Square area: 651,900 km² (Bigger than Sweden!)

Population density: 1.8 persons per square kilometre (that’s a lot of land!)

Premier: Scott Moe (Saskatchewan party)

Name meaning: The Cree name for the Saskatchewan River was “Kisiskatchewanisipi,” meaning “swift flowing-river” Hence the name “Saskatchewan”.

Language: English, and Cree (Is the second largest spoken language in the province.)

Saskatchewan is home to…

Many purple sand beaches, they are quite a unique phenomenon.

Worlds largest moose! Named Mac the Moose.

One time zone and no daylight savings! Saskatchewan follows the Central Time zone, and it keeps the same time all year round (Lloydminster is the only exception, which follows Mountain Standard Time in the winters).

Potash! Potash is Saskatchewan’s official mineral. They are the world’s largest producer and exporter of potash. Over 95 percent of the potash produced in Saskatchewan is used for fertilizer purposes. And Saskatchewan grows over 54 percent of Canada’s wheat crop.

Poems about Saskatchewan: (Written by Deasun T. Smyth)

Saskatchewan

Winter’s gale of cold, slices through my face.

Blizzards and storms are vying for my embrace.

This land of blue, this land of snow.

This land of somewhere where you don’t want to go.

Though fingers and toes we have few.

And colds that make us go achoo!

It’s still a place that you’ll find.

People who are generous and kind.

Saskatchewan is a land that yields.

Never ending kilos of fields.

It’s a land of blue, a land of snow.

It’s a land of somewhere where you don’t want to go.

Even though we like to complain.

Of withered crops from lack of rain.

We still like to congregate on stool or bench.

Saying “well, at least we’re not French!”

In this land of blue, land of snow.

It’s Saskatchewan, and we won’t go.

The Small Dogs of Saskatchewan

(Poem parody of “les Petits Chiens de Paris”)

Are everywhere.

They sleep on couch arms, they trot behind

The men buying pierogies.

They travel in the back of pickups across the sea of wheat.

They look as snug as a bug in a ratty rug.

Life is fantastic – life is good – they bark (a lot).

Some live on the farm, and some in the city ––

The small dogs of Saskatchewan.

They dip their feet in the slough at the ditch,

They lie spreadeagled against the fire-place at the hearth ––

Warmed, enjoying a hearty rest.

They point at duck that their owners will hunt

And bring them to the butchers of ‘Red Deer’.

They itch at their fleas, they know why

Their master smiles. The small dogs of Saskatchewan ––

They travel in plastic kennels, to the caring vet,

In their one paw, pierogies; in the other a can of pop.

None of them speaks French and all of them – lovely.

They are all so yappy – they gobble doggie biscuits

At midnight. The moon shines in all their eyes (howling).

I hope you enjoyed these poems and a little bit about my home!