Arcola, a quaint town nestled in south-east Saskatchewan, Canada, is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Located approximately 60 kilometres north and 40 kilometres east of Estevan, Arcola is easily accessible via Highway 13, Highway 604, and the Arcola Airport.
Arcola's history dates back to the mid-18th century when the Fort Ellice-Wood Mountain Trail was a bustling supply route used by early fur traders, Metis, and First Nations. The trail, which ran through what is now Arcola, was a vital link from the buffalo hunting grounds near Wood Mountain to Fort Ellice.
In 1874, the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) used this trail as part of the March West to deal with the Cypress Hills Massacre. Today, the route taken by the NWMP is commemorated by a series of highways through Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta known as the Red Coat Trail. A plaque on the north side of Arcola commemorates this trail.
Arcola celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2003, two years before the province itself. Known as Saskatchewan's "Heritage Town", Arcola is home to numerous historical brick and wood-frame structures.
The town was once the "end point" of the southern branch line running west from Souris, Manitoba. During this time, it became an important hub for westward migration and was once the 11th largest town in what is now Saskatchewan. Many of Arcola's heritage homes and buildings were erected during this period, using bricks made in the town's own brick plant.
Arcola boasts several heritage properties registered on the Canadian Register of Historic Places. These include:
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Arcola had a population of 636 living in 269 of its 320 total private dwellings. This represented a slight decrease of -3.2% from its 2016 population of 657. With a land area of 3.46 km2, Arcola had a population density of 183.8/km2 in 2021.
Arcola is a vibrant community with a host of annual events, including a fair and rodeo, town-wide garage sale day, Robbie Burns' Night, Co-Op Equity Days, a snowmobile rally, fall supper, and Canada Day Celebrations.
The town is home to an art gallery and the Southeast Saskatchewan Photo Museum. It also offers a full range of stores and services, including three antique shops, a hospital and medical clinic, a K-12 school and pottery studio, full-service restaurants, a laundromat, and a motel.
Following a fire in 2001 that destroyed the skating and curling rinks, the community rallied together to construct a new rink adjoining the Prairie Place Hall. This multi-use community facility, known as Prairie Place Complex, features an ice rink, three-sheet curling, a hall that seats 450 people, and ball diamonds. The Arcola/Kisbey Combines of the senior men's Big 6 Hockey League and the Arcola Threshers of the Saskota Baseball league play at the Prairie Place Complex.
