Wakaw

{{Infobox settlement

| official_name = Town of Wakaw

| native_name =

| other_name =

| settlement_type = Town

| image_skyline = Wakaw Saskatchewan Elevators 2010.jpg

| imagesize =

| image_caption = Elevator Road (2009)

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| map_caption = Location of Wakaw, Saskatchewan

| image_map1 =

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| map_caption1 =

| pushpin_map = Saskatchewan#Canada

| pushpin_label_position =

| pushpin_mapsize =

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Wakaw in Saskatchewan

| coordinates = {{coord|52|38|38|N|105|44|6|W|region:CA-SK|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = Canada

| subdivision_type1 = Province

| subdivision_type2 = Region

| subdivision_type3 = Census division

| subdivision_type4 = Rural Municipality

| subdivision_name1 = Saskatchewan

| subdivision_name2 =

| subdivision_name3 = No. 15

| subdivision_name4 = Hoodoo No. 401
Fish Creek No. 402

| established_title = Post office Founded

| established_date = May 1, 1905

| established_title2 = Village Incorporated

| established_date2 = December 26, 1911

| established_title3 = Town Incorporated

| established_date3 = August 1, 1953

| government_footnotes =

| government_type =

| leader_title = Mayor

| leader_name = Michael Markowski

| leader_title1 = Administrator

| leader_name1 = Melissa Dieno

| unit_pref =

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| area_total_sq_mi =

| area_land_km2 = 3.12

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| population_total = 985

| population_as_of = 2011

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| postal_code_type = Postal code

| postal_code = S0K 4P0

| area_code = 306

| unemployment_rate =

| website = [https://wakaw.ca/ Wakaw]

| footnotes = {{Citation

| last =National Archives

| first =Archivia Net

| title =Post Offices and Postmasters

| url =http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/post-offices/001001-100.01-e.php

| access-date = 2013-12-01}}{{Cite web

| last =Government of Saskatchewan

| first =MRD Home

| title = Municipal Directory System

| url =http://www.mds.gov.sk.ca/apps/Pub/MDS/welcome.aspx

| access-date = 2013-12-01}}

| city_logo =

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| leader_title2 = Governing body

| leader_name2 = Wakaw Town Council

| leader_title3 = Chad Parenteau

| leader_name3 =

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| timezone = CST

| utc_offset =

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| blank_name =

| blank_info =

| blank1_name = Highways

| blank1_info = {{jct|state=SK|Hwy|2}}
{{jct|state=SK|Hwy|41}}
{{jct|state=SK|Hwy|312}}

}}

Wakaw, Saskatchewan, is a town {{convert|90|km}} northeast of Saskatoon and {{convert|66|km}} south of Prince Albert. It is about halfway between the two cities and is served by Highway 2, Highway 41, and Highway 312. Wakaw is in hilly partially forested country east of the South Saskatchewan River. The area is part of the aspen parkland biome.

Wakaw is a Cree word meaning "crooked". The name was taken from nearby Wakaw Lake and applied to the town.

History

{{stack|File:Dief shack.jpg|File:4 Photos from Canada from Roger Puta (27480781006).jpg}}

The area was peopled primarily by settlers of Eastern European origin. The town was home to Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and his first wife Edna Brower. Diefenbaker opened his first law office in Wakaw from 1919 to 1925.

Wakaw was founded on December 26, 1911 after 21 residents petitioned the Department of Municipal Affairs, asking for the incorporation of the Village of Wakaw. It was located on Section 30, Township 42, Range 26, west of the 2nd Meridian, land donated to the town by Anthony Goller who immigrated to Canada in 1902. When the railroad was built the town was moved to its present location. On August 1, 1953 Wakaw was incorporated as a town.

The community recognized its 100th anniversary by holding Centennial Celebrations on July 21 to 31, 2011.Wakaw Recorder

There are about 800 cabins at nearby Wakaw Lake, some of which are occupied year round.{{cite web

|url = http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/wakaw.html

|title = Wakaw

|work = Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan

|publisher = Canadian Plains Research Center, University of Regina

|year = 2006

|access-date=2013-02-13}}

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Wakaw had a population of {{val|978|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|421|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|496|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:978-922}}|922|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|922|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|3.09|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|978|3.09|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000203&geocode=A000247 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Saskatchewan | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=April 1, 2022}}

{{canada_census

|2011_population=985

|2011_pop_delta=+14.0

|2011_land_area=3.12

|2011_pop_density=315.9

|2011_pop_rank=

|2011_median_age=49.5

|2011_median_age_m=48.2

|2011_median_age_f=51.1

|2011_total_pvt_dwell=473

|2011_total_pvt_dwell_usual=437

|2011_mean_hh_income=

|2011_access_date=2012-12-22

|2006_population=864

|2006_pop_delta=-2.3

|2006_land_area=3.12

|2006_pop_density=277.1

|2006_pop_rank=

|2006_median_age=54.4

|2006_median_age_m=49.5

|2006_median_age_f=59.5

|2006_total_pvt_dwell=460

|2006_total_pvt_dwell_usual=418

|2006_mean_hh_income=26,451

|2006_access_date=2012-12-22

}}

Amenities

Businesses in Wakaw include grocery stores, a pharmacy, restaurants, insurance agencies, and six places of worship. Outside of town limits, at the conjunction of Highway 2 and Highway 41, there are two gas stations and restaurants.

The town's school, Wakaw School, teaches students from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve.

Image:Wakaw Saskatchewan Business District 2010.jpg

Notable people

Dave Balon - professional ice hockey player and coach
Harvey Cenaiko - former Solicitor General of Alberta and policeman
Tom Courchene - economist and professor; Officer of the Order of Canada
John Diefenbaker - 13th Prime Minister of Canada
James Latos - professional ice hockey player for the New York Rangers and coach
Nancy Martin - Canadian curler
Dave Michayluk - professional ice hockey player for the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins
Linden Vey - professional ice hockey player for the ZSC Lions organization in the National League (NL); Olympic bronze medalist PyeongChang 2018