THE CANADIAN PRESS
MEADOW LAKE, Sask. - A growing population even during a recession has led to the creation of a new city in Saskatchewan - the first in nearly a decade.
Premier Brad Wall announced Monday that the town of Meadow Lake, which traces its history back to a Hudson's Bay trading post, will officially become a city in November.
"I think it's psychological not just for Meadow Lake, but for the province that in the midst of these economic times we're still growing," Wall told The Canadian Press in a telephone interview. "Meadow Lake is growing and the mood here is positive."
"I've talked to a number of business people who are certainly still happy with the economic activity in the area."
Wall says growth is being driven by agriculture, energy exploration and the potential of oilsands development.
Meadow Lake was incorporated as a village in 1931 and became a town in 1936.
In Saskatchewan, a community must have a population of 5,000 or more to get city status. Meadow Lake fell just short of that number in the 2006 census, but there's been a lot of growth over the last three years.
"The health-card numbers tell us there are about over 6,500," said Wall.
Meadow Lake, nearly 300 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon, will be the northern-most city in the province.
Mayor Darwin Obrigewitsch said the new status won't change much in the community.
"Fiscally it means nothing. Our costs stay the same. Our contributions stay the same. The monies we get from government stays the same," he said. "The biggest thing is moving forward in our province, which in my mind is moving forward in Western Canada."
"We are a growing community and we are the hub for economic development for the northwest corner."
Obrigewitsch said there's been development in Meadow Lake even through the economic downturn. He pointed to four businesses building new offices this year on the main street.
"We want to keep running with that momentum."
Saskatchewan grew by 3,282 in the first quarter of 2009, bringing the population to 1,027,092 - the highest level since July 1, 1988, according to figures released in June by Statistics Canada.
The last Saskatchewan town to be declared a city was Humboldt in 2000. The addition of Meadow Lake means there will be 14 cities in the province.
