Swift Current, the sixth-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada, is a vibrant community with a rich history and a variety of attractions. Located along the Trans Canada Highway, it is 177 kilometres west of Moose Jaw and 223 kilometres east of Medicine Hat, Alberta. As of 2021, Swift Current has a population of 16,750, marking a growth of 0.9% from the 2016 census.
Swift Current's history is deeply intertwined with the Swift Current Creek, which originates at Cypress Hills and traverses 160 kilometres of prairie before emptying into the South Saskatchewan River at Lake Diefenbaker. The creek was a camp for First Nations for centuries, and its name comes from the Cree word Kisiskâciwan, meaning "it flows swiftly".
The settlement of Swift Current was established in 1883, following the survey of a railway line to Swift Current Creek. The early economy was largely based on serving the new railway buildings and employees, and a significant ranching operation known as the "76" ranches. Swift Current was incorporated as a city on January 15, 1914, with Frank E. West as the first mayor.
During World War II, Swift Current served as a training site for pilots under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The training school constructed east of Swift Current hosted over one thousand servicemen until its closure in March 1944. Today, the facility is maintained as the Swift Current Airport.
Swift Current is home to Saskatchewan's oldest operating theatre, the Lyric Theatre. Built in 1912, the theatre is a crown jewel of Swift Current's historical downtown buildings. Other notable landmarks include the EI Wood Building, the city's tallest commercial building, and the Imperial Hotel, the longest-running business in Swift Current.
The Swift Current railway station, designated a historic railway station in 1991, and the Court House, also a designated historical building, are other significant landmarks. Swift Current is located at the start of the historic Swift Current-Battleford Trail, the remnants of which can still be seen today at the Battleford Trail Ruts Heritage Site.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Swift Current had a population of 16,750 living in 7,214 of its 7,891 total private dwellings, a change of 0.9% from its 2016 population of 16,604. With a land area of 29.3 km2, it had a population density of 571.7/km2 in 2021.
Swift Current experiences a humid continental climate that does not fall far from being classified as semi-arid. Winters are long, dry, and cold, while summers are short, warm, and relatively wet. The highest temperature ever recorded in Swift Current was 41.7 °C on 12 July 1886. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −47.8 °C on 16 February 1936.
Swift Transit provides transit service in the city of Swift Current. The Saskatchewan Abilities Council provides both bus and paratransit to Swift Current and Yorkton. Service began in April 2015, replacing the Swift Current Tele-Bus.
The city is home to the Swift Current Museum, the Art Gallery of Swift Current, the Lyric Theatre, and the Swift Current Library. The city also hosts the Windscape Kite Festival, the largest festival of its kind in Western Canada. In 2016, Swift Current became the first city in Saskatchewan to install a permanent rainbow crosswalk.
Swift Current is home to the Swift Current Broncos, a hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The city also hosts the Swift Current 57's, a baseball team that plays in the Western Canadian Baseball League. Other sports institutions in the city include the Speedy Creek Racing Club, Chinook Golf Course, and Elmwood Golf Course. Lake Diefenbaker and Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park, located 50 km north of the city, offer recreational activities like fishing, swimming, boating, camping, and hiking.
