Uranium City, Saskatchewan
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Uranium City is a settlement in northwestern Saskatchewan, Canada. It is on the northern shores of Lake Athabasca near the border of the Northwest Territories. It is located at and 230 m above sea level. The settlement is 450 miles (760 km) northwest of Prince Albert, 450 miles (760 km) northeast of Edmonton and 30 miles (48 km) south of the Northwest Territories-Saskatchewan boundary. For census purposes, it is located within the province's Division No. 18 territory.
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[edit] History
In 1952, the provincial government decided to establish a town to service the mines in the Beaverlodge uranium area by Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited. In 1954 the local newspaper The Uranium Times noted that 52 mines were operating and 12 open pit mines were next to Beaverlodge Lake.[1] Initially, most of the residences in Uranium City were simply tents. With the boom of uranium mining, Uranium City was a thriving town up to the year 1982, with its population approaching the 5,000 threshold required to achieve city status in the province. The closure of the mines in 1983 led to economic collapse, with most residents of the town leaving. It was later designated as a northern settlement with about 300 people remaining. After the closure of the local hospital in the spring of 2003, the population fell further to about 70 people.[citation needed] Currently southerners, Métis and Natives live in and around the city.[2] Its current population is 89 people.
[edit] Transportation
The town has a certified airport (see Uranium City Airport) that features a treated gravel runway of 3930 feet length operated by the Saskatchewan Government Department of Highways & Transportation. The airport is one of the few employers left in the community. Transwest Air still serves Uranium City, with three flights per week from Stony Rapids Airport.[3] Norcanair served the community with scheduled flights until it ceased operations in 2005.[4]
There is no normal road access connecting Uranium City with the rest of Canada. There is provision for a winter road which connects with Fond-du-Lac.[5] Highway 962 provides travel for a short distance within the local area. A significant bridge replacement project on Highway 962 was conducted in 2001 at the Fredette River.[6]
[edit] Communications
Local telephone service is provided by SaskTel and was first available in Uranium City on 30 November 1955.[7] Current telephone numbers for international calling are of the form +1 306 498 xxxx (NPA-NXX: 306-498, CLLI: URCYSK05DS0).[8]
Canada Post continues to deliver mail to the community. The post office is located at the municipal office (Postal Code: S0J 2W0).[9]
Radio broadcasting in the community is provided by:
- 97.9 FM - VF2142 - broadcaster unknown[10]
- 99.9 or 101.1 FM - Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation[11]
- 103.1 FM - VF2240 - broadcaster unknown[10]
- 105.1 FM - CBDH-FM, CBC Radio One, rebroadcasting CBKA-FM La Ronge.[12]
Television service is provided by CBKAT operating on channel 8 at a power of 15 watts. This is a rebroadcaster of CBC Television service from CBKT Regina. Until 2003, the local transmitter's television programming originated from CBC North.[13]
[edit] Education
Education in Uranium City is under the authority of Northern Lights School Division 113, a school district that covers most of northern Saskatchewan.
The only remaining school in Uranium City is Ben McIntyre School, serving classes from kindergarten to Grade 9. As of September 2005, 10 students were enrolled.[14][15]
Secondary education was provided by CANDU High School, named after a nuclear reactor. According to travelers Vincent Chan and Tricia Holopina who visited the city in 2002, locals state that the school was opened in 1980. It closed in 1982 (after only two years of service) and the building has since sustained extensive vandalism.[16][17]
[edit] Notable people
The following people are associated with Uranium City by birth, residence or career:
- Gina Kingsbury, member of gold medal winning Canadian women's ice hockey team at the 2006 Winter Olympics
- Gilbert LaBine, a founder of the Gunnar Mine
- Morningstar Mercredi, author[18]
- James O'Reilly, playwright[19]
- Larry McIntyre, professional hockey player, Toronto Maple Leafs.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Fission Avenue: Uranium City "Beaverlodge"
- ^ Fission Avenue: Uranium City Pg2
- ^ Uranium City Schedule. Transwest Air. Retrieved on 2006-09-02.
- ^ Soaring insurance grounds airline. CBC Saskatchewan. Retrieved on 2006-09-02.
- ^ Winter Highway Conditions. Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.
- ^ Culvert headwall system conquers site constraints at Uranium City. Environmental Science and Engineering (March 2003). Retrieved on 2006-09-01.
- ^ SaskTel history (1950s). Retrieved on 2006-09-02.
- ^ Local Calling Guide. Retrieved on 2006-09-02.
- ^ Canada Post listings as of 2 September 2006.
- ^ a b Saskatchewan - Radio Broadcasting Stations. RadioStationWorld. Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
- ^ Communities List. Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved on 2006-09-04. Frequency information is inconsistent - this source indicates frequency is 101.1 FM but other sources claim 99.9 FM.
- ^ CRTC (2006-08-24). Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-409. Retrieved on 2006-09-02.
- ^ CRTC (2003-06-16). Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2003-186. Retrieved on 2006-09-02.
- ^ 2005-2006 Active List of Saskatchewan Schools (PDF) (2006-01-05). Retrieved on 2006-09-02.,
- ^ Retired teaching couple embark on northern adventure 5-6 (2002-11-20).
- ^ Tricia and Vince's Saskatchewan Trip 2002. Retrieved on 2006-09-02.
- ^ Fission Avenue: Uranium City "Candu High"
- ^ Morningstar Mercredi profile. Coteau Books. Retrieved on 2006-09-03.
- ^ James O'Reilly profile. Playwrights Guild of Canada. Retrieved on 2006-09-03.
[edit] External links
- Friends of Uranium City
- COPA Places To Fly page about the town's airport
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/uraniumcity
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