Moose Jaw facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moose Jaw
City
City of Moose Jaw
City Hall
Nickname(s):  "The Jaw", "Band City", "Little Chicago", "Canada's Most Notorious City"
Moose Jaw Location in Saskatchewan
Country	Canada
Province	Saskatchewan
Area
• Total	46.82 km2 (18.08 sq mi)
Population  (2021)
• Total	33,665
• Density	710.7/km2 (1,841/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Moose Javian
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
Forward sortation area	S6H–S6K
Area code(s)	306 and 639

Moose Jaw is a city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. Moose Jaw is located on the Moose Jaw River in the south-central part of Saskatchewan. It sits right on the Trans-Canada Highway, about 77 kilometers (48 miles) west of Regina. People who live in Moose Jaw are called Moose Javians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Moose Jaw No. 161.

Moose Jaw is an important center for industry. It is also a key railway hub for farm products from the area. CFB Moose Jaw is a special flight training school for NATO pilots. It is also home to the Snowbirds, Canada's famous military air show team. The city also has a casino and a geothermal spa, which uses natural hot mineral water.

Discovering Moose Jaw's Past

Long ago, the Cree and Assiniboine people used the Moose Jaw area as a winter camp. The Missouri Coteau hills protected the valley, bringing warm breezes. The river was easy to cross, and there was plenty of water and game. This made it a great spot for people to settle. The first lasting settlement was made by native fur traders and Métis buffalo hunters. It was at a place called "the turn," now known as Kingsway Park or Kai Gauthier Park.

In 1881, the meeting point of the Moose Jaw River and Thunder Creek was chosen. This spot became a division point for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). The railway was very important for the Confederation of Canada. This location had lots of water, which was needed for steam locomotives. People started settling here in 1882, and Moose Jaw became a city in 1903. Railways were key to the city's early growth. Moose Jaw had both a Canadian Pacific Railway Station and a Canadian National Railway Station. A dam was built on the river in 1883 to ensure a steady water supply.

The name "Moose Jaw" has two main theories. In 1857, a surveyor named John Palliser marked the area on a map as Moose Jaw Bone Creek. One idea is that the name comes from the Plains Cree words moscâstani-sîpiy, meaning "a warm place by the river." This refers to how the Coteau hills protect the river valley. Another Cree word, moscâs, means warm breezes. The second theory is that the part of the Moose Jaw River flowing through the city looks like a moose's jaw.

There is also a fun, but untrue, story. It says that the Earl of Dunmore once fixed his cart with a moose jawbone while traveling here.

Military Presence in Moose Jaw

The area around Moose Jaw has many clear, sunny days. This makes it an excellent place for training pilots. In 1940, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) set up RCAF Station Moose Jaw as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. After World War II, the RCAF stayed and used the base to train pilots during the Cold War. In 1968, the base became CFB Moose Jaw. Today, it is Canada's main military flight training center. It is also the home of the famous 431 (Air Demonstration) Squadron, also known as the "Snowbirds."

The main unit at CFB Moose Jaw is called "15 Wing." In the Royal Canadian Air Force, it is often known as 15 Wing Moose Jaw. The base usually hosts an Armed Forces Day each year, where visitors can learn about the military.

The The Saskatchewan Dragoons is a reserve armored regiment. They have an armory in the northern part of the city.

Royal Visits to Moose Jaw

Many members of the Royal Family have visited Moose Jaw over the years. Edward, Prince of Wales, who owned a ranch in Alberta, visited in 1919, 1924, and 1927. Prince Albert, who later became king and was the father of Queen Elizabeth II, visited in 1926. King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth (later known as Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother) visited during their Royal tour in 1939. Queen Elizabeth II first came to Moose Jaw in 1959 and returned several times after that.

When he was the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward became the Colonel-in-Chief of the Saskatchewan Dragoons of Moose Jaw. He visited Saskatchewan in 2003 and praised the regiment for its "contribution to Canada's proud tradition of citizen-soldiers in the community." This regiment has helped with peacekeeping in places like Cyprus and Bosnia. They have also provided aid during floods and forest fires in the prairies. Prince Edward visited his regiment again in 2006.

Prince Edward also opened the Queen's Jubilee Rose Garden in Moose Jaw during his 2003 visit. Other royal connections include King George School and Prince Arthur Community School, which were named after royal family members. These schools later closed and became Cornerstone Christian School. Also, the South Hill school was once called King Edward Elementary School.

After Queen Elizabeth passed away in 2022, a newspaper article noted that she had "visited Moose Jaw more often than she did Manhattan." This showed her dedication as the Queen of Canada.

Moose Jaw's Climate

Moose Jaw has a climate that is a mix between dry and humid. Winters are long, cold, and dry. Summers are short but very warm and somewhat wet. January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of about -12 degrees Celsius (10 degrees Fahrenheit). July is the warmest, with an average of about 19.3 degrees Celsius (66.7 degrees Fahrenheit).

February is the driest month, with only about 11.1 millimeters (0.44 inches) of rain. July is the wettest, bringing about 63.0 millimeters (2.48 inches) of rain. The city gets about 365.3 millimeters (14.38 inches) of precipitation each year.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Moose Jaw was 43.3 degrees Celsius (109.9 degrees Fahrenheit) on July 5, 1937. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -47.8 degrees Celsius (-54.0 degrees Fahrenheit) on February 4, 1907.

Exploring Moose Jaw's Neighbourhoods

Moose Jaw is divided into many different neighborhoods. Here are some of them:

These neighborhoods are grouped into four main community associations: South Hill, East Side, North West, and Sunningdale/VLA/West Park.

How Many People Live in Moose Jaw?

Moose Jaw has seen its population change over the years. In the 2021 Census, the city had a population of 33,665 people. This was a small decrease from its 2016 population of 33,910. The city covers a land area of about 65.81 square kilometers (25.41 square miles).

The table below shows how the population has changed over time:

Diverse Cultures in Moose Jaw

Moose Jaw is home to people from many different backgrounds. The table below shows the main groups living in the city over the years.

Moose Jaw's Economy

Hammond Building (1912)

Mac the Moose, a fiberglass moose statue in Moose Jaw

Moose Jaw is a city of about 33,000 people. It is located where the Trans Canada Highway and Highway 2 meet. You can see a Snowbird aerobatic jet and Mac the Moose (a giant fiberglass moose statue) on Highway 1 at the tourist information center.

The Moose Jaw Trolley Company offers fun tours of the city. Other popular places to visit include the Temple Garden's Mineral Spa, the Tunnels of Moose Jaw, and the History of Transportation Western Development Museum.

The meeting point of the Moose Jaw and Thunder Creek rivers was important for early steam engines, providing a good water source. This made Moose Jaw a key point for the CPR. Today, large concrete grain terminals are replacing the smaller grain elevators that used to be common along the highway. These new terminals are more efficient for handling farm products.

The area around Moose Jaw, called Moose Jaw No. 161, is home to about 1,228 residents. This area also includes the Moose Jaw Canadian Forces Base. Many businesses here deal with meat processing, salt, potash, and making fertilizers and ethanol. They all benefit from easy access to the Trans-Canada Highway for transport.

In 1917, some local people tried to build cars under the name Moose Jaw Standard. They made 25 cars, but no more were produced after that.

Arts and Culture in Moose Jaw

Avro Anson bomber trainer in the city's branch of the WDM museum

Visual Arts

The Moose Jaw Art Guild is a group of local artists. They work to show art, teach about art, and help people appreciate visual arts in the community.

Film

The city was featured in a 1992 documentary film called Moose Jaw: There's a Future in Our Past. It was made by Rick Hancox, who used to live in the city.

Museums

Moose Jaw has one of the four Saskatchewan Western Development Museums. This museum focuses on the history of transportation. It also has a special gallery dedicated to the Snowbirds.

The Sukanen Ship Pioneer Village and Museum is located south of Moose Jaw on Sk Hwy 2. This museum features a ship built by Tom Sukanen, a Finnish homesteader. He hoped to sail home on this ship, which he built near the South Saskatchewan River. The museum also has a typical pioneer village with old tools, tractors, cars, and trucks. Volunteers run the museum.

The Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery is in Crescent Park, right in the middle of downtown. It shares a building with the Moose Jaw Public Library. The art gallery shows art from local artists, traveling exhibits, and pieces from its own collection. The museum also has a heritage gallery that tells stories about local history. They even had an exhibit called "Pandemic Time Capsule." The Museum & Art Gallery also offers classes and events.

2SLGBTQ Culture

In 1978, Anita Bryant visited Moose Jaw. She was part of a campaign against gay rights. In response, about 85 members of the gay and lesbian community marched down Main Street. About 150 people gathered in Crescent Park to speak out against Bryant's views.

In 2008, the Gay and Lesbian Association of Moose Jaw (GLAMj) asked for and received the first official proclamation of Pride Week in Moose Jaw. They also raised the Rainbow Flag over Moose Jaw's City Hall for the first time. The city's first pride parade since 1978 was held in 2015. Similar parades have been held every year in late May or early June, usually going from Main Street to Crescent Park.

Moose Jaw Pride is an LGBT community organization that became a non-profit in 2014. They helped start the Saskatchewan Pride Network in 2016. This network connects and supports 2SLGBTQ people in smaller communities across Saskatchewan.

Since 2019, Moose Jaw Pride has been working to make Moose Jaw a welcoming place for 2SLGBTQ tourists. Some attractions include a rainbow-colored bench on Main Street and a mural on the back of the Rainbow Retro building. This mural shows important moments and symbols from local 2SLGBTQ history.

Fun Attractions in Moose Jaw

Moose Jaw has many exciting places to visit! Some popular tourist spots include:

• The Tunnels of Moose Jaw
• The Moose Jaw Trolley
• The Temple Gardens Mineral Spa Resort
• The Western Development Museum
• Casino Moose Jaw
• The Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery
• The Yvette Moore Art Gallery
• The Murals of Moose Jaw
• The historic downtown area

Every July, the city hosts the four-day Saskatchewan Festival of Words. This event features top Canadian writers from different styles. The free three-day Sidewalk Days Festival brings thousands of people to Main Street the weekend after Canada Day. The Snowbirds flight team is based at CFB Moose Jaw, south of the city. They used to have an airshow every summer, which returned in 2019.

Moose Jaw has many beautiful parks. Crescent Park is located downtown. It has a creek, picnic tables, a library, an art museum, a playground, an outdoor swimming pool, a water park, tennis courts, a lawn bowling field, and an amphitheatre. Casino Moose Jaw and Temple Gardens Mineral Spa are just across the street from Crescent Park.

"Wakamow Valley" follows the Moose Jaw River. It has both natural and cared-for areas. There are many trails for hiking and cycling, along with picnic tables, barbecues, and four playgrounds. There is also an RV park, Lorne Calvert Campground, which opened in 1927. It is the longest-running campground in North America. You can rent canoes and kayaks near the campground. The Moose Jaw Canoe and Kayak Club has been there since the late 1990s.

Skyline of Moose Jaw from Chateau St. Michaels Retirement Home, overlooking Wakamow Valley Park

Old Wives Lake, a saline lake (salty lake), is about 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of the city on Highway 363. Buffalo Pound Lake, a eutrophic prairie lake (a lake rich in nutrients), is 28 kilometers (17 miles) north on Highway 2. Buffalo Pound Provincial Park is on the south shore of this lake.

Tunnels of Moose Jaw

The Tunnels of Moose Jaw offer two popular tours: Passage to Fortune and The Chicago Connection.

The Passage to Fortune tour tells a story about early Chinese Canadians. While the tour includes some true historical facts, like the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Chinese Head Tax, some parts of the story are not fully supported by historical evidence. For example, the tour suggests that Chinese Canadians were forced to live underground in the tunnels. In reality, many early Chinese Canadians owned their own laundries, a common business for them due to challenges in other industries. The first Chinese business in Moose Jaw in 1890 was a laundry. By 1908, most laundries in the city were run by Chinese owners.

The tunnels became busy again in the 1920s during a time called Prohibition in the United States. During Prohibition, it was illegal to make or sell alcohol in the United States. The tunnels were used to store illegal alcohol that was then sent to the U.S. using the Soo Line Railroad. There are many stories that American gangster Al Capone visited Moose Jaw or was involved in these operations. While there is no written or photographic proof of Capone being in Moose Jaw, some people who lived there claimed to have met him. Capone's grandniece also said he had been in Moose Jaw before he was sent to prison in 1931. In the 21st century, the city used these stories to create the Tunnels of Moose Jaw, a popular tourist attraction that opened in 2000. However, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police states that there is no "evidence that he ever set foot on Canadian soil."

Sports and Fun in Moose Jaw

Like in many Canadian cities, hockey is a very important sport in Moose Jaw. Baseball has also been popular since the city's early days. In 1895, the city won the territorial baseball championship. More recently, in 2004, the Junior All-Star team (for ages 13/14) won the Canadian Championship. They were the first team from Saskatchewan to win a game at the Little League World Series.

Here are some notable sports teams from Moose Jaw:

• Moose Jaw Warriors, a team in the Western Hockey League
• Moose Jaw Storm, a Division 2 Soccer team
• Moose Jaw Miller Express, a team in the Western Major Baseball League
• Moose Jaw Mustangs, a team in the Prairie Gold Lacrosse League
• Moose Jaw Rotary Track Club, a Track and Field and cross country club
• Lil Chicago Roller Derby's Moose Jaw Jaw Breakers - Women's Flat Track Roller Derby
• Moose Jaw Chiefs, a Senior team in the Prairie Gold Lacrosse League

Moose Jaw has also hosted major sports events, such as the 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championships.

Learning in Moose Jaw

Moose Jaw has several schools for students of all ages. There are five high schools and 15 elementary schools. These schools are part of the Prairie South School Division and the Holy Trinity Catholic Schools.

École Ducharme offers classes from preschool to grade 12 and is Moose Jaw's only French-speaking school. École fransaskoise de Moose Jaw offers French Immersion from preschool to grade 9.

Moose Jaw is also home to a campus of Saskatchewan Polytechnic, which offers higher education and training.

City Services and Transportation

Safety and Security

The Moose Jaw Fire Department (started in 1906) has 57 members. They provide fire and rescue services to the city and CFB Moose Jaw. They have two stations: North Hill Fire Station (Headquarters) and South Hill Fire Station. They also help CFB Moose Jaw with fire suppression.

Ambulance services are provided by Five Hills Health Region. Non-emergency medical services are provided by St. John Ambulance.

The Moose Jaw Police Service has 54 police officers. They are responsible for keeping the city safe and work with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Getting Around Moose Jaw

Moose Jaw Transit

Founded	1957
Headquarters	1010 High Street West
Locale	Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Service area	urban area
Service type	bus service
Fleet	7
Web site	Transit Division

Moose Jaw Transit provides bus service within the city. This system has four routes that run from a downtown hub on weekdays. Buses operate between 7:15 AM and 6:15 PM. The bus fleet was updated in 2008 with new, accessible vehicles.

The Moose Jaw Municipal Airport is about 7 nautical miles (13 kilometers or 8 miles) east-northeast of Moose Jaw. The airfield at CFB Moose Jaw is also used by civilian planes. Civilian operations at the base call it Moose Jaw/Air Vice Marshal C.M. McEwen Airport.

Moose Jaw has four photo radar cameras, including two on the TransCanada Highway that passes through the city.

Media in Moose Jaw

Print

• Moose Jaw Express, a local weekly newspaper with a Weekend edition.

Radio

• 800 AM — CHAB, plays oldies music (800 CHAB), owned by Golden West Broadcasting
• 100.7 FM — CILG-FM, plays country music (Country 100), owned by Golden West Broadcasting
• 103.9 FM — CJAW-FM, plays adult contemporary music (Mix 103), owned by Golden West Broadcasting
• Moose Jaw's Rock Station The Buzz, The Buzz Digital Radio Network, a digital radio broadcaster playing active rock (TheBuzzRocks.ca), owned by Pearl Creek Media

Television

• SNN : Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan News Network is a Digital TV Broadcaster that shows local and provincial news (SaskNews.net), owned by Pearl Creek Media
• The only local broadcast television station in Moose Jaw is CKMJ-TV channel 7. This is an analogue repeater of the CTV station CKCK-DT Regina. Moose Jaw used to have its own television station, CHAB-TV, from 1959 to 1969. Digital TV is also available from Regina, Saskatchewan.
• In the first episode (series pilot) of Due South, it is mentioned that the character Benton Fraser once worked in Moose Jaw.
• In the animated series Atomic Betty, the city is called "Moose Jaw Heights."
• In the series Corner Gas, in an episode called "Contagious Fortune," a character named Brent jokes about swimming at the Moose Jaw swimming pool to explain his pink eye.

Film

• In the musical film The Apple (1980 film), the main characters Alphie and Bibi are from Moose Jaw.

Famous People from Moose Jaw

Many notable individuals have connections to Moose Jaw. Here are some of them:

See also

In Spanish: Moose Jaw para niños