Lumsden, Saskatchewan

Lumsden is a town in the Qu'Appelle Valley in south central Saskatchewan, Canada, 31 km northwest of Regina. The town functions as both a farming community and an unofficial suburb of Regina. It is surrounded by the rural municipality of Lumsden No. 189. Lumsden has a vibrant artistic community.

History

Lumsden was named for Canadian Pacific Railway Chief Engineer, Hugh D. Lumsden, in 1881. The community was chosen by Harrowsmith Magazine in 2003 as the "prettiest" town in the province.

A huge flood was starting at Lumsden on April 18, 1904.Citation | title =This day in History | work =The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan | Details | publisher =CANADIAN PLAINS RESEARCH CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF REGINA | date =2006
url =http://esask.uregina.ca/themelist.html?themeID=8859F649-BCD4-8C82-14FD15C63BA16E51 | accessdate =2007-12-29 ]

Community Events

Sage Hill Writing School

Every summer writers from around Canada gather at Lumsden's retreat centre for creating writing workshops put on by Sage Hill Writing Experience.

Centennial

In May 2005, Lumsden hosted Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh at the Lumsden Sports Centre. Hundreds of guests were entertained by Marny Duncan-Cary, the Lumsden Community Choir, the Riel Reelers, and the Lumsden & District Band and Jazz Ensemble. The event was held in celebration of both the town and the province's centenaries, and was the only engagement of Canada's Queen outside urban centres on that visit to Saskatchewan.

"Main Article: Monarchy in Saskatchewan"

The luncheon menu for The Queen's visit included a cold plate of coloured peppers, smoked turkey, La Ronge wild rice salad in a purple radiccho cup, Saskatchewan shaved roast beef, Wynyard breast of chicken, Canadian cheeses, Craven style tomatoes and cucumbers, Homestead pickles and olives; breads, white chocolate cheesecake with Saskatoon mousse, white merlot rosé, coffee and tea.

Official town centennial celebrations were held in March 2005.

Statistical Details

Canada_CP_2001|pop=1,581|popDelta=+3.3%|landArea=3.37
popDensity=469.6|medianAge=38.0|medianAgeM=36.4|medianAgeF=39.4
privateDwell=577|medianHHIncome=53,622

Sports History

In 2006, the Lumsden Arena became the site of the second edition of the Western Women's Hockey League championship, between the Calgary Oval X-Treme and the Minnesota Whitecaps. [http://www.westernwomenshockeyleague.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?leagueID=3639&clientID=1754&page=12402] . The town frequently hosts games for the Saskatchewan Prairie Ice, now of the Western Women's Hockey League.

Famous People

Edith Fowke - Canadian folklorist; born on April 30, 1913 in Lumsden.

References

External links

* [http://www.lumsden.ca/ Home page of the town and rural municipality of Lumsden]
* [http://library.usask.ca/spcoll/postcardsquappelle/ftquappelle.html University of Saskatchewan Library: postcard views of the Qu'Appelle Valley at the turn of the 20th century]

Local Businesses

* [http://www.schandreestates.com/ Schandre Estates - A beautiful new subdivision overlooking Lumsden and the Qu'Appelle Valley.]