Government House in Battleford, Saskatchewan served as the seat for the government of the Northwest Territories between 1878 and 1883 (the area that now makes up Saskatchewan was part of the Northwest Territories until the province was created in 1905).
Originally a two-storey Carpenter Gothic wood structure designed by architect Thomas S. Scott, it was altered with Mansard roof that gave the building a third floor and expanded into a 3 floor complex.
The building was constructed in 1877 but used for a short time for government administration centre. From 1883 to 1984 several institutions call the building their home: [1]
The site was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1973. [2]
The structure was destroyed by fire in 2003. [3] Today only parts of the buildings foundation and the chimney remains.
52°42′41″N108°18′31″W / 52.7113°N 108.3085°W
The North-West Rebellion, also known as the North-West Resistance, was an armed resistance movement by the Métis under Louis Riel and an associated uprising by Cree and Assiniboine of the District of Saskatchewan, North-West Territories, against the Canadian government. Many Métis felt that Canada was not protecting their rights, their land, and their survival as a distinct people. Fighting broke out in late March, and the conflict ended in June. About 91 people were killed in the fighting that occurred that spring before the conflict ended with the capture of Batoche in May 1885.
Battleford is a town located across the North Saskatchewan River from the City of North Battleford, in Saskatchewan, Canada.
North Battleford is a city in west-central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is the seventh largest city in the province and is directly across the North Saskatchewan River from the Town of Battleford. Together, the two communities are known as "The Battlefords". North Battleford borders the Rural Municipality of North Battleford No. 437, as well as the North Battleford Crown Colony.
Swift Current is the sixth-largest city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is situated along the Trans Canada Highway 177 kilometres (110 mi) west of Moose Jaw, and 223 kilometres (139 mi) east of Medicine Hat, Alberta. As of 2024, Swift Current has an estimated population of 18,430, a growth of 1.32% from the 2016 census population of 16,604. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Swift Current No. 137.
The District of Saskatchewan was a regional administrative district of Canada's North-West Territories. It was formed in 1882 was later enlarged then abolished with the creation of the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta in 1905. Much of the area was incorporated into the province of Saskatchewan. The western part became part of Alberta, and the eastern part is now part of Manitoba.
Fort Battleford was the sixth North-West Mounted Police fort to be established in the North-West Territories of Canada, and played a central role in the events of the North-West Rebellion of 1885. It was here Chief Poundmaker was arrested, and where six Cree and two Stoney men were hanged for murders committed in the Frog Lake Massacre and the Looting of Battleford. In reference to the hanging, Prime Minister John A. Macdonald said in a letter that "the executions... ought to convince the Red Man that the White Man governs."
The history of Northwest Territories capital cities begins with the purchase of the Territories by Canada from the Hudson's Bay Company in 1869, and includes a varied and often difficult evolution. Northwest Territories is unique amongst the other provinces and territories of Canada in that it has had seven capital cities in its history. The territory has changed the seat of government for numerous reasons, including civil conflict, development of infrastructure, and a history of significant revisions to its territorial boundaries.
Fort Livingstone was founded as an outpost in North-West Territories, Canada. The outpost briefly served as the capital city for the North-West Territories government for the years of 1874 to 1876 until it moved to Battleford, Saskatchewan, and headquarters for the North-West Mounted Police for the same period, until they moved their headquarters to Fort Macleod, Alberta.
Government House in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, is the official office of the lieutenant governor of Saskatchewan. It was first constructed as a residence for the lieutenant governor of the North-West Territories, whose territorial headquarters were in Regina. When the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta were created out of the Territories in 1905, Regina became the capital of Saskatchewan and Government House became the official residence of the lieutenant governor of Saskatchewan. It was vacated in 1944 and then returned to official ceremonial use in 1984.
The Northwest Territories Legislative Building is the home of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The territory's legislature has used many permanent and temporary facilities throughout its history. The most recent structure was built in 1993 and commenced usage in 1994, being officially opened that year by Canada's monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Designed by Ferguson Simek Clark/Pin Matthews, in association with Matsuzaki Wright Architects Inc, the building is two stories tall and contains two round halls: the Great Hall and the Caucus Room. The grounds, overlooking Frame Lake, were laid out by Cornelia Oberlander.
The Sweetgrass First Nation is a Cree First Nation reserve in Cut Knife, Saskatchewan, Canada. Their territory is located 35 kilometers west of Battleford. The reserve was established when Chief Sweetgrass signed Treaty 6 on September 9, 1876, with the Fort Pitt Indians. Chief Sweetgrass was killed six months after signing Treaty 6, after which Sweetgrass's son, Apseenes, succeeded him. Apseenes was unsuccessful in leading the band so chiefdom was handed over to Wah-wee-kah-oo-tah-mah-hote after he signed Treaty 6 in 1876 at Fort Carlton. Wah-wee-kah-oo-tah-mah-hote served as chief between 1876 and 1883 but was deposed and Apseenes took over chiefdom.
The Western Development Museum is a network of four museums in Saskatchewan, Canada preserving and recording the social and economic development of the province. The museum has branches in Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Saskatoon and Yorkton. Respectively, each branch focuses on a different theme: transportation, agriculture, economy, and people. The museum is affiliated with the Canadian Museums Association, the Canadian Heritage Information Network, and Virtual Museum of Canada.
Division No. 12 is one of the eighteen census divisions in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, as defined by Statistics Canada. It is located in the west-central part of the province. The most populous community in this division is Battleford.
Battleford Court House is the facility located in Battleford to provide a public forum used by the Saskatchewan legal system to adjudicate disputes and dispense civil, labour, administrative and criminal justice under its laws.
Highway 40 is a provincial highway in the north-west portion of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan connecting Alberta to Highway 3, four kilometres (2.5 mi) west of Shellbrook, Saskatchewan. Areas of this highway between the Alberta border and North Battleford are called the Poundmaker Trail. Pitikwahanapiwiyin, commonly known as Poundmaker, was a Plains Cree chief known as a peacemaker and defender of his people. The main feature along this highway is access between North Battleford and near Prince Albert. This is a primary Saskatchewan highway maintained by the provincial government. All of this highway is paved.
Turtleford is a town in the Rural Municipality of Mervin No. 499, in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Turtleford is located on Highway 26 near the intersection / concurrency with Highway 3 and Highway 303. The nearest cities are North Battleford and Lloydminster. The Turtlelake River runs through Turtleford, and nearby are Brightsand Lake and Turtle Lake.
Rugby Chapel is a municipal historic site which is part of the University of Saskatchewan. The U of S is the largest education institution in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The University of Saskatchewan location next to the South Saskatchewan River was across from the city centre of Saskatoon. In 1879, the Rt. Rev. John McLean started a schooling system in Prince Albert which was renamed the University of Saskatchewan in 1883. In 1909, when the University of Saskatchewan was established in Saskatoon, Emmanuel College moved its college buildings to Saskatoon. The Institute for stained glass in Canada has documented the stained glass at Rugby Chapel.
Onésime Dorval was the first certified teacher in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. She was a "talented painter and innovative woodworker", and became the "best known and most respected French-language teacher" in settlements throughout the northern plains of Saskatchewan.
The Battleford Industrial School was a Canadian Indian residential school for First Nations children in Battleford, Northwest Territories from 1883-1914. It was the first residential school operated by the Government of Canada with the aim of assimilating Indigenous people into the society of the settlers.