Mortlach, Saskatchewan

Mortlach (2016 population: 261) is a village in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan within the Rural Municipality of Wheatlands No. 163 and Census Division No. 7. The village is located on the Trans Canada Highway about 40 km west of the City of Moose Jaw. Thunder Creek (one of the rivers that flows into Moose Jaw) passes the community to the north where it is joined by Sandy Creek. Mortlach became a village on April 19, 1906 and is one of two towns in Saskatchewan to have been incorporated as a town (April 1, 1913) to then be reverted to village status on January 1, 1949,[5] the other is the village of Alsask.

Mortlach
Village
Village of Mortlach
Mortlach in 2019
Motto(s): 
Meet Me In Mortlach
Location of Mortlach in Saskatchewan
Mortlach, Saskatchewan (Canada)
Coordinates: 50.455°N 106.064°W / 50.455; -106.064
Country Canada
Province Saskatchewan
RegionSouthwest
Census division7
Rural MunicipalityWheatlands No. 163
Post office Founded1905
Incorporated (Village)January 1, 1949
Government
 • TypeMunicipal
 • Governing bodyMortlach Village Council
 • MayorDale Domeij
 • AdministratorEileen Anderson
Area
 • Total2.76 km2 (1.07 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total261
 • Density94.5/km2 (245/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
Postal code
S0H 3E0
Area code(s)306
Highways Hwy 1
RailwaysCanadian Pacific Railway
WebsiteVillage of Mortlach
[1][2][3][4]

Demographics
Population history
(1981–2016)
YearPop.±%
1981293—    
1986311+6.1%
1991296−4.8%
1996276−6.8%
2001241−12.7%
2006254+5.4%
2011289+13.8%
2016261−9.7%
Source: Statistics Canada via Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics[6][7]

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Mortlach recorded a population of 261 living in 108 of its 117 total private dwellings, a -10.7% change from its 2011 population of 289. With a land area of 2.76 km2 (1.07 sq mi), it had a population density of 94.6/km2 (244.9/sq mi) in 2016.[8]

In the 2011 Census of Population, the Village of Mortlach recorded a population of 289, a 13.8% change from its 2006 population of 254. With a land area of 2.76 km2 (1.07 sq mi), it had a population density of 104.7/km2 (271.2/sq mi) in 2011.[9]

History

Mortlach incorporated as a village on January 1, 1949.[10]

Origin of name

While there are several theories about the origin of the name Mortlach such as: it was named after an English Village; it is a Gaelic translation of 'low hills'; and it may be a French term for 'dead lake' or Lac du Mort. The one that is generally accepted is that the Village was named by George Stephen, the first President of the CPR, for his home Parish of Mortlach, Scotland. Other community names such as Parkbeg, Caron and Craigellachie, site of the 'Last Spike', also hail from his home parish. A church in Dufftown in Banffshire, Scotland with origins dating back to 525 AD, bears the Mortlach name.

Homesteading days
1951 map
Historic grain elevators in Mortlach. Former Saskatchewan Wheat Pool on right under demolition.

In 1904, the Canadian Pacific Railway's (CPR) new line became operational and the Village of Mortlach came to life on land originally homesteaded in 1902 by a Khamis Michael, a native of what is today Iraq. By the spring of 1905, many people who had homesteaded the summer before along with new homesteaders began building. The first store, post office, and lumber and coal supply would be owned by Mr. E.B. Tedford. Scribner and Wheeler built the first hotel in 1905 and the first school was built that fall.

One year later, in 1905, Mortlach already had a Board of Trade with a strong business district including two businesses, three general stores, lumber and coal suppliers, post office, livery, hotel, meat market, and an implement and harness dealer. In the fall of 1905 there was a section house but no station until 1906, built along with an elevator. The first Royal Northwest Mounted Police were stationed here in 1905 the same year that the Province of Saskatchewan was created. These were exciting times. The first weekly Mortlach newspaper was printed in Caron and the Methodist Church was also organized that year. The first doctor came to town that year and Mortlach fast became a popular place to stop and visit. 1907 saw many additional businesses grow, more hardware and implements, dry goods, general stores, harness shops, butchers, tinsmith, livery, real estate and insurance, and a hotel with a restaurant.

1907 was also the year of a Small Pox Epidemic so a new house that was being built became an isolation hospital. The Bank of Hamilton opened a branch on Rose Street and Khamis Michael built a rink on Dean Street. The first exhibition was held in that rink on August 4, 1908. Mortlach incorporated as a Village in 1909 with about 700 residents. The Star Theatre was built in 1910 by A.C. Baker. Soon there were many more businesses in this thriving community: a Red and White Store, two restaurants, blacksmith, grocery store, two cobblers, butcher, baker, undertaker, embalmer, flour miller, electric repair shop, Chinese laundry, veterinarian, Beaver Lumber, Imperial Lumber, Bank of Toronto, photo studio, newspaper publisher, livery stable and auto garage, and another implement shop.

Government

The village is governed by a village council composed of a mayor, four councillors and a village Administrator.[11] Municipal elections are held every three years.

Notable people

Attractions

Mortlach has a number of attractions, including a community orchard, churches, parks and restaurants, a library, museum and the local scenery.[12] Music plays a part in Mortlach's culture - from the Mortlach Old Time Fiddlers to the community choir. In July 2009, Mortlach was awarded an Artist In Residence for a year.[13]

Education

Mortlach has one school that covers Kindergarten through grade 12, that supports its academic program with a mix of sports, cultural, and social aspects.

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See also

References
  1. National Archives, Archivia Net, Post Offices and Postmasters, archived from the original on 2012-10-15
  2. Government of Saskatchewan, MRD Home, Municipal Directory System, archived from the original on 2012-08-26
  3. Canadian Textiles Institute. (2005), CTI Determine your provincial constituency, archived from the original on 2007-09-11
  4. Commissioner of Canada Elections, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada (2005), Elections Canada On-line, archived from the original on 2007-04-21
  5. Municipal History - Urban Incorporated Dates
  6. "Saskatchewan Census Population" (PDF). Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  7. "Saskatchewan Census Population". Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  8. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Saskatchewan)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  9. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Saskatchewan)". Statistics Canada. June 3, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  10. "Urban Municipality Incorporations". Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  11. Municipal Affairs Village of Mortlach Retrieved on 2008-01-02
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20090616094616/http://www.mortlach.ca/attractions.html
  13. Mortlach Website

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