Celebrating 100 Years
Timeline: Saskatoon Centennial
1882
The Nielson Lake Temperance Colonization Company chooses Saskatoon as a settlement location.
1883
The Nielson Lake Temperance Colonization Company arrives by train in Moose Jaw. They walk the rest of the way to Saskatoon.
1884
On August 9th, Saskatoon published its first newspaper, “The Sentinel”. The newspaper was hand written every two weeks. Only three issues of the paper were actually printed.
1902
The Saskatoon “Phenix” newspaper is published.
1903
Saskatoon opens it’s first City Hall building on the corner of 21st and 3rd. It was a small, two-room wooden building located next to the fire hall.
1906
On May 26th, Nutana, Riversdale, and Saskatoon merge to become the city of Saskatoon.
1906
James Clinkskill becomes the first mayor of Saskatoon. His term of office lasted one year.
1907
St. Paul’s Hospital is opened in Dr. John H.C. Willoughby’s house. Willoughby first served as a physician during the Riel Rebellion. He was also one of the first settlers to Saskatoon.
1908
The Canadian Pacific Railway bridge is officially opened. The Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge now stands where the CPR Bridge is today.
1908
On June 7th, the “City of Medicine Hat” steamer gets caught up against one of the traffic bridge piers and sinks. It’s the best known “marine disaster” that has ever happened in Saskatoon.
1909
On April 7th, Saskatoon is chosen as the site of the University of Saskatchewan. The first building on campus, the College Building, is both a provincial and federal heritage site.
1912
Winnipeg artist George M. Gladwin wins the city’s coat-of-arms contest. He is awarded a 50-dollar prize. The coat-of-arms is then adopted by the city in 1913.
1913
The Municipal Railway began operating on January 1st. In it’s first year, the railway carried more than 3.4 million passengers.
1918
Hugh V. Cairns is awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery on November 1st. Cairns was part of the 45th Battalion, Saskatchewan Regiment, and was also an avid rugby player.
1919
The Saskatoon Light Infantry, 105th Fusiliers, are the first group to arrive home from WWI. They arrived home on March 24th.
1925
The Sanatorium was officially opened on April 15th. It was used for people who suffered from tuberculosis. The last patient was discharged in 1978 and the building has since been demolished.
1928
Saskatoon’s Ethel Catherwood wins the gold medal in high jump at the Amsterdam Olympics.
1929
The Saskatoon Airport becomes licensed on June 1st. The name was changed to John G. Diefenbaker airport in 1993.
1929
The Cenotaph is unveiled at 21st and 2nd Street as a memorial for those who served in WWI. It was moved during the night to City Hall in August 1956.
1935
The Bessborough hotel is opened. Horace Stovin was the hotel’s first guest. He registered on December 10th of 1935. It is also referred to as the “Castle on the River” because of its architecture and location.
1937
On October 30th, the New York Rangers and New York Americans play a sold out exhibition game at the Saskatoon Arena.
1945
On October 3rd, the Saskatoon Light Infantry, North Saskatchewan Regiment, return home from WWII.
1947
Marjorie Walker becomes Saskatoon’s first female city councilor on December 10th.
1949
University of Saskatchewan engineering professor A.L.C. Atkinson is asked to redesign the Saskatoon coat-of-arms. Atkinson’s design was adopted because the old version had details that were unable to be described in heraldic language. It was approved by the city in 1949 and is still used today.
1956
The current City Hall was built. In 1983, a new wing was added to the building.
1957
John G. Diefenbaker becomes Prime Minister of Canada.
1964
On October 16th, the Mendel Art Gallery opens. It is known as one of the best examples of Modernist architecture in the province and houses over 5000 works of art. The founder of the gallery, Frederick Salomon Mendel, fled Nazi Europe and also founded Intercontinental Packers Limited.
1964
The Saskatoon Blades become a hockey team. They were originally used as a farm team for the L.A. Blades. In 1966 they joined the Western Hockey League.
1968
The Saskatoon Centennial Auditorium opened its doors on April 1st.
1971
From February 13-22nd, the Canada Winter games were held in Saskatoon.
1973
Saskatoon City Police hire Joanne Balient as their first female recruit. She has since retired from the force.
1979
The Meewasin Valley Authority is established. It is used for the conservation of natural and cultural heritage resources in the South Saskatchewan Valley.
1982
The Century Saskatoon Capsule is unveiled by Princess Anne. The capsule is filled with historical data and memorabilia from both individuals and organizations and is buried on the riverbank near the Bessborough hotel.
1988
Saskatchewan Place opens. The name was changed to Credit Union Center in October 2004.
1989
From August 13-19th, Saskatoon hosted the Jeux Canada Games.
1989
On December 14th, Saskatoon’s Ray Hnatyshn is appointed Governor General of Canada.
1991
Saskatoon’s Roy Romanow becomes Premier of Saskatchewan.
1998
Saskatoon’s Catriona LeMay Doan wins the 500-meter speed skating title at the Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Doan would go on to win the 500-meter race again at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
2004
The Canadian Light Source Synchrotron opened in October. It is used for viewing the microstructure of materials. The synchrotron in Saskatoon is the only one in Canada.
2006
On May 26, Saskatoon Celebrates 100 years!
