Wynyard, a charming town nestled in eastern Saskatchewan, Canada, is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Located 132 km west of Yorkton and 190 km east of Saskatoon, Wynyard is a part of the rural municipality of Big Quill No. 308. The town is conveniently situated on the Yellowhead Highway, just south of Big Quill Lake.
The area around Big Quill Lake, where Wynyard is located, was initially settled by people of Icelandic origin. This ethnic block settlement area was known as the Vatnabyggd settlement. The community's life revolved around Sleipnir, a store and post office located at NE 30-22-15 W2, until it was moved into Wynyard in 1908. The first wave of Icelandic settlers was soon followed by Ukrainian, British, Polish, and German settlers, creating a diverse cultural tapestry.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Wynyard had a population of 1,724 living in 808 of its 911 total private dwellings. This represented a change of -4.1% from its 2016 population of 1,798. With a land area of 5.32 km2 (2.05 sq mi), Wynyard had a population density of 324.1/km2 (839.3/sq mi) in 2021.
While the Frank Cameron Museum is closed, there is a fascinating museum downtown on Avenue B. This museum boasts a rich selection of local historical artefacts and pictures, and occasionally hosts special exhibits, such as "wedding dresses through the decades".
Wynyard Regional Park, a local camping site, is located a few kilometres from town. Wynyard is also situated just southeast of Big Quill Lake, the largest saline lake in Canada, and southwest of Little Quill Lake. The Mud Lake Wildlife Refuge, a haven for nature lovers, is just 19 km (12 miles) from town.
For golf enthusiasts, the Wynyard Golf Club offers a 9-hole golf course and hosts events like the Wynyard Hole in One Tournament, Wynyard Ladies Night Golf, and Wynyard Men's Night Golf. The Wynyard Swimming Pool and the Wynyard Stingrays Synchronized Swimming Team are other popular attractions.
Wynyard is home to three designated heritage sites:
Wynyard is a hub of sports and activities, hosting several sports teams such as the Wynyard Blues Mens Fastball Team, the Wynyard Monarchs hockey team of the Long Lake Hockey League (LLHL), and the Wynyard Monarchs of the senior men's Highway Hockey League. The town also hosts various activities and groups like Wynyard Air Cadets, Wynyard Minor Baseball, Wynyard Minor Hockey, Wynyard Fireman's Association, Wynyard Kinettes, Wynyard Kinsmen, Wynyard Legion, Wynyard School of Dance, Wynyard Senior Appreciation Days, Wynyard Senior Centre, and Wynyard Shriners.
Wynyard is located on Saskatchewan Highway 16 and was made a divisional point on the Canadian Pacific Railway. Although it no longer provides passenger service, the Wynyard railway station is a designated historical railway station. The Wynyard/W. B. Needham Field Aerodrome also facilitates transportation in and out of Wynyard and the surrounding area.
