Virtual Saskatchewan - Saskatchewan Factoids

Bite-size facts about the only province in Canada that's shaped like an isosceles trapezoid:

Saskatchewan operated the first subscriber-based cable movie channel in North America.

While Saskatchewan grows more than half of Canada's wheat, our northern half is forest land that contains most of our 100,000 lakes and rivers.

Saskatchewan covers more than 650,000 square kilometres, or about 250,000 square miles. That's bigger than France, Sweden or Afghanistan!

The first licensed commercial pilot in Canada was Saskatchewan's Roland Groome.

The first Girl Guide Cookies in Canada were baked and sold in our capital city of Regina.

About two-thirds of Saskatchewan's one million people live in urban centres.

There's no Daylight Savings Time in Saskatchewan. We're on Central Standard Time throughout the year.

Saskatchewan is located in the heart of North America, bordered on the east and west respectively by the provinces of Manitoba and Alberta, on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota, and on the north by the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Saskatchewan's provincial animal is the white-tailed deer.

The Athabasca Sand Dunes in the northwest corner of Saskatchewan, the most northerly major sand dunes in the world, are up to 30 metres high (100 feet) and up to 1,500 metres long (a mile) long.

The City of Estevan, in the southeast corner of Saskatchewan, receives more hours of sunshine each year than any other place in Canada.

The first bird sanctuary in North America was established in 1887 at Last Mountain Lake, northwest of Regina. It's now a national wildlife area.

The Cypress Hills, in southwest Saskatchewan, contain the highest point of land between Labrador and the Rocky Mountains.

Saskatchewan's provincial tree is the white birch.

Saskatchewan's provincial mineral is sylvite, commonly known as potash, the cornerstone of modern fertilizer. We're the world's largest producer.

The first automated teller (or banking) machine (ATM or ABM) in North America was set up in Saskatchewan. Naturally, we had the first debit cards and debit card transactions, too.

Saskatchewan's floral emblem is the western red lily.

The Saskatchewan Arts Board was the first arts organization of its kind in North America.

Saskatchewan's bird emblem is the sharp-tailed grouse.

The First Nations University of Canada, in Regina, is the first such accredited First Nations university in North America.

Saskatchewan had the first air ambulance service in North America.

Actor Kiefer Sutherland is the grandson of the late, great Saskatchewan Premier Tommy Douglas.

Artifacts discovered at Wanuskewin Heritage Park are older than the Great Pyramid of Egypt.

Saskatchewan is home to the training centre of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.