La Loche facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Loche
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Northern village
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The 1918 summer gathering in La Loche
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 La Loche
Location in Saskatchewan
La Loche
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| District | Northern Saskatchewan Administration District |
| Census division | 18 |
| HBC post | 1810 |
| Mission founded | 1860 |
| Post office established | 1926 |
| Named for | Burbot |
| Area | |
| • Total | 15.59 km2 (6.02 sq mi) |
| Population
(2016)
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| • Total | 2,827 |
| • Density | 181.3/km2 (470/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (CST) |
| Postal code |
S0M 1G0
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| Area code(s) | 306 |
| Highways |    Hwy 155 / Hwy 955 / Hwy 956 |
La Loche is a village in northwest Saskatchewan, Canada. It sits at the end of Highway 155. The village is on the eastern shore of Lac La Loche. This area is part of Canada's boreal forest. In 2016, La Loche had a population of 2,827 people. It is located within the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District.
Just north of La Loche is the Clearwater River Dene Nation (CRDN). You can reach it by Highway 955. About 822 people live there. Together, La Loche and CRDN have a population of 3,649. This means about 30 percent of all Denesuline speakers in Canada live here. The Denesuline language is spoken by 89% of the people in La Loche.
The small community of Black Point is on the southern shore of the lake. You can get there using Highway 956, which is also called the Garson Lake Road. This road goes all the way to Garson Lake. From Garson Lake, a special winter road is built each year to Fort McMurray, Alberta.
At the northern end of Lac La Loche is the Methye Portage. A "portage" is a path where people carry boats and goods between two waterways. This portage connects Lac La Loche to the Clearwater River. It was used for over 100 years during the North American fur trade. Fur brigades, like the Portage La Loche Brigade from Fort Garry, came from the south. Other brigades from the Athabasca and Mackenzie rivers came from the north.
These groups would meet every year at Rendezvous Lake on the 19-kilometer portage. They would trade goods for furs. The furs were then sent to York Factory on the Hudson Bay. From there, they were shipped to England. Today, the Methye Portage is part of the Clearwater River Provincial Park. It is also a National Historic Site. The Clearwater River is also a Canadian Heritage River.
Contents
History of La Loche
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Fur trading posts were built on Lac La Loche soon after Peter Pond traveled through the Methye Portage in 1778. Maps show that the North West Company had four posts here between 1780 and 1819. The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) had three posts starting in 1819.
An archaeologist named Don Steer mapped seven of these posts in 1972. North West Company posts were on a large piece of land called 'Big Point' (around 1789-91). Another was on the southwest side of the lake (1819–21). The Hudson's Bay Company built a post at the start of the portage in 1810.
From the 1820s to the 1880s, there were storage depots at both ends of the portage. In 1857, a permanent trading post was built at the south end of the Portage. This post moved to nearby West La Loche in the 1870s. It was destroyed by fire in 1936. The HBC then moved its post across the lake to La Loche. They bought the buildings from Revillon Frères. The HBC stayed there until they sold their northern stores in 1987. The Revillon Frères post had been in La Loche since 1906.
Missionary priests began coming to La Loche in 1845. In 1860, the La Loche Mission of Notre Dame de la Visitation was officially started. Father Jean-Marie Pénard O.M.I. was the first priest to live in La Loche, from 1895 to 1917. In 1895, he wrote that about 100 people lived at the Mission. Another 60 to 70 people lived at the fort in West La Loche. In 1911, he said La Loche had 200 people. Another 80 to 100 people lived in two communities across the lake. He also noted that in the autumn of 1911, most people left for winter hunting camps up north. Only 60 or 70 people stayed around the lake.
In 1922, Father Jean-Baptiste Ducharme O.M.I. wrote that about 500 people lived in the La Loche Mission area. This area included other communities like Bull's House, Turnor Lake, Descharme Lake, and Garson Lake.
In the 1940s, a building was constructed for the Grey Nuns. This building is now a private home. It also housed the community's first hospital and first school. In 1953, a new Roman Catholic Mission church was built. This church is still used today.
The first road, Highway 155, reached La Loche in 1963. Most homes got water, sewer, and electricity in 1974. Direct dial telephone service started in 1974. Television came in 1976, and a skating arena in 1978. In 1979, a new high school opened. Highway 955 to the Cluff Lake uranium mine site was finished. Also, the Clearwater River Dene Nation was officially created that year.
Early Settlement Details
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In 1820, George Back visited Lac La Loche House. He was traveling with Franklin's Coppermine expedition of 1819–1822. Back described the Hudson's Bay Company trading post. He said it was made of logs piled up with mud and moss filling the gaps. It had one wall that separated the master's room from the men's room. The master's room had half a roof. Some windows made of parchment let in light.
He wrote that the North West Company post was a square, flat-roofed hut. It was only seven feet high. It was not protected from wind or weather. Inside, the master, men, women, children, dogs, and sleds were all packed together.
Back also gave an early sign that people lived permanently around Lac La Loche. On his trip back in 1822, he wrote in his journal: "We touched at the houses on the borders of the lake and embarked a man in each canoe." This shows there were homes around the lake.
A Difficult Time in 2016
On January 22, 2016, a tragic event occurred in La Loche. It was a very sad time for the community.
Population Information
In the 2021 Census, La Loche had a population of 2,514 people. They lived in 724 of the 814 total homes. This was a small increase of 2.9% from its 2016 population of 2,444. The land area of La Loche is 15.47 square kilometers. This means there were about 162.5 people per square kilometer in 2021.
| Canada census – La Loche community profile | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2011 | 2006 | |
| Population: | 2,827 (+8.3% from 2011) | 2,611 (+11.2% from 2006) | 2,348 (9.9% from 2001) |
| Land area: | 15.59 km2 (6.02 sq mi) | 15.59 km2 (6.02 sq mi) | 15.59 km2 (6.02 sq mi) |
| Population density: | 181.3/km2 (470/sq mi) | 167.5/km2 (434/sq mi) | 150.6/km2 (390/sq mi) |
| Median age: | 22.6 (M: 21.6, F: 23.4) | 20.5 (M: 19.0, F: 22.15) | |
| Total private dwellings: | 786 | 700 | 662 |
| Median household income: | $36,011 | ||
| References: 2016 2011 2006 earlier | |||
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1906 | 216 | — |
| 1986 | 1,623 | +651.4% |
| 1991 | 1,691 | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 1,966 | +16.3% |
| 2001 | 2,136 | +8.6% |
| 2006 | 2,348 | +9.9% |
| 2011 | 2,611 | +11.2% |
| 2016 | 2,827 | +8.3% |
The La Loche Population Centre includes two communities right next to each other. Their total population was 3,649 in 2016. These are La Loche (the northern village) with 2,827 people. The other is the Clearwater River Dene Nation with 822 people.
In 2006, 590 registered members of the Clearwater River Dene Nation and other First Nations lived in La Loche. By 2011, this number grew to 680 registered members.
| Aboriginal population, 2011 | ||
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| Population | Percent | |
| Métis | 1,785 | 68% |
| First Nations | 740 | 28.2% |
| Non-Aboriginal identity | 90 | 3.4% |
| Total respondent population | 2625 | 100% |
| Non-official languages spoken, 2011 | ||
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| Population | Percent | |
| Dene | 2,420 | 99.2% |
| Cree | 10 | 0.4% |
| Non-Aboriginal languages | 20 | 0.8% |
| Total respondent population | 2440 | 100% |
| La Loche population by religion, 2011 | ||
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| Population | Percent | |
| Total Christian | 2,565 | 97.5% |
| Catholic | 2,525 | 96% |
| Other Christian | 50 | 1.9% |
| Other religions | 0 | 0% |
| No religious affiliation | 60 | 2.3% |
| Total respondent population | 2630 | 100% |
Fun Things to Do
The La Loche Arena Complex is a big building with lots to offer. It has the Robbie Fontaine Memorial Arena, where people can skate. There's also a meeting hall and rooms for activities. The local radio station, CHPN-FM, has its offices here.
The Dave O'Hara Public Library is at Ducharme School. It offers internet access for everyone.
The La Loche Friendship Centre and the La Loche Sport, Recreation and Culture Board work together. They organize many fun activities and festivals each year. They are also developing a community recreation area. This area now has a skateboard park, a playground for kids, and an outdoor skating rink.
Some popular yearly events include the week-long "Yanessa Days Festival." There's also the "La Loche Long Sun Run" and the Canada Day celebrations.
Places of Worship
Our Lady of the Visitation Roman Catholic Church holds regular services. These are usually at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. This church is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Keewatin–Le Pas.
Clearwater River Ministries also has regular services. Their Sunday service is at 6:00 p.m. They also have bible studies on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.
Learning and Schools
La Loche Community School has two main buildings. The Ducharme Building is for younger students, from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 6. The Dene Building is for older students, from Grade 7 to Grade 12. The school has over 900 students in total. It is a provincial school and is part of the Northern Lights School Division#113. The very first school in La Loche was built in 1941. It was called the Community Day School. In 1942, it had 23 students.
The Clearwater River Dene School is located at Clearwater River. It teaches students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. About 200 students attend this school.
The Gabriel Dumont Institute offers education for adults. They also provide training for different job skills.
Community Services
La Loche has many businesses that serve the people living there. They also serve the mining companies that explore north of the community.
You can travel by air using the La Loche Airport. The La Loche Water Aerodrome is no longer used for planes. The Canada Post office gets mail five times a week.
The La Loche detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) helps keep the community safe. The La Loche Volunteer Fire Department also serves La Loche and nearby areas.
Essential Services
The northern village of La Loche provides important services. These include water and sewer systems. They also handle garbage pick-up, road maintenance, and snow removal. Through CHPN Communications, they offer local radio and cable television. Over 40 TV channels are available.
SaskPower provides electricity to the community. SaskTel offers telephone services, including 911 emergency service. They also provide internet services, including high-speed internet. Methy Construction and Maintenance Corporation is owned by the northern village. This company helps with building homes and businesses. They also do construction work using heavy equipment.
