Nipawin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Town of Nipawin
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NASA satellite image of Tobin Lake
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 Nipawin
Location in Saskatchewan
Nipawin
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada | |
| Province | Saskatchewan | |
| Census division | No. 14 | |
| Rural Municipality | Nipawin | |
| Settled | 1910 | |
| Incorporated (town) | 1937 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 8.71 km2 (3.36 sq mi) | |
| Population
(2016)
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| • Total | 4,401 | |
| • Density | 505.0/km2 (1,308/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (CST) | |
| Postal code |
S0E 1E0
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| Area code(s) | 306 | |
| Waterways | Saskatchewan River | |
Nipawin is a town in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located on the Saskatchewan River near Tobin Lake. The town sits between two lakes: Codette Lake and Tobin Lake. Codette Lake was formed by the Francois-Finlay Dam, built in 1986. Tobin Lake was created by the E.B. Campbell Dam, built in 1963. Because of these two dams, Nipawin is sometimes called the "Town of Two Lakes."
Nipawin is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Nipawin No. 487 and the Rural Municipality of Torch River No. 488. Major roads like Highway 35 and Highway 55 meet here. The town also has an airport and a water aerodrome.
The name "Nipawin" comes from the Cree language. It means "a bed, or resting place." This name referred to a low area by the river. In the past, First Nations women and children would camp there. They would wait for the men to arrive. This area is now covered by Codette Lake.
Contents
History of Nipawin
The first permanent settlement in Nipawin began in 1910. It started as a trading post. In 1924, the Canadian Pacific Railway built tracks nearby. The entire settlement then moved, building by building, to its current spot. This move brought the town closer to the railway.
Early Trading Posts
Many fur trading posts were once in the Nipawin area. These posts helped trade goods like furs. Joseph Smith reached the area in 1763. James Finlay built a post in 1768. Other traders like François le Blanc also had posts around that time. Later, in 1795, the North West Company and David Grant's company both had trading posts here.
Recent Events
On April 18, 2008, an accident happened in downtown Nipawin. A gas line was damaged, causing an explosion. This explosion destroyed three buildings and damaged several others. The mayor declared a state of emergency to help the town recover. This event was widely reported in the news.
People of Nipawin
In 2021, Nipawin had a population of about 4,570 people. This was a small increase from its population of 4,401 in 2016. The town covers an area of about 8.93 square kilometers.
| Canada census – Nipawin community profile | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2011 | 2006 | |
| Population: | 4,401 (+3.2% from 2011) | 4,265 (+4.6% from 2006) | 4,061 (−5.0% from 2001) |
| Land area: | 8.71 km2 (3.36 sq mi) | 8.71 km2 (3.36 sq mi) | 8.03 km2 (3.10 sq mi) |
| Population density: | 505.0/km2 (1,308/sq mi) | 489.4/km2 (1,268/sq mi) | 506.0/km2 (1,311/sq mi) |
| Median age: | 43.1 (M: 40.0, F: 45.5) | 44.2 (M: 41.9, F: 46.4) | |
| Total private dwellings: | 2,042 | 1,977 | 1,977 |
| Median household income: | $52,570 | ||
| References: 2016 2011 2006 earlier | |||
Climate and Weather
Nipawin has a climate with very cold winters and warm summers. The highest temperature ever recorded was 42.2°C (108°F) in July 1941. The coldest temperature was -48.3°C (-55°F) in January 1930.
| Climate data for Nipawin Airport, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1927–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 11.1 (52.0) |
11.1 (52.0) |
16.8 (62.2) |
31.1 (88.0) |
36.7 (98.1) |
38.2 (100.8) |
42.2 (108.0) |
37.2 (99.0) |
37.2 (99.0) |
31.1 (88.0) |
17.0 (62.6) |
8.0 (46.4) |
42.2 (108.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −13.3 (8.1) |
−9.1 (15.6) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
8.5 (47.3) |
17.2 (63.0) |
21.6 (70.9) |
23.9 (75.0) |
23.7 (74.7) |
17.0 (62.6) |
8.3 (46.9) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−10.9 (12.4) |
6.8 (44.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −18.7 (−1.7) |
−14.7 (5.5) |
−7.9 (17.8) |
2.6 (36.7) |
10.1 (50.2) |
15.2 (59.4) |
17.6 (63.7) |
16.8 (62.2) |
10.6 (51.1) |
2.7 (36.9) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
−16 (3) |
0.9 (33.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −24.2 (−11.6) |
−20.3 (−4.5) |
−13.5 (7.7) |
−3.4 (25.9) |
2.9 (37.2) |
8.7 (47.7) |
11.2 (52.2) |
9.7 (49.5) |
4.2 (39.6) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
−12.2 (10.0) |
−21 (−6) |
−5.1 (22.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −48.3 (−54.9) |
−45 (−49) |
−40.2 (−40.4) |
−33.6 (−28.5) |
−11.9 (10.6) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−10 (14) |
−24.4 (−11.9) |
−37.4 (−35.3) |
−47.2 (−53.0) |
−48.3 (−54.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 15.2 (0.60) |
11.6 (0.46) |
14.8 (0.58) |
25.2 (0.99) |
43.3 (1.70) |
74.4 (2.93) |
82.7 (3.26) |
57.2 (2.25) |
40.8 (1.61) |
27.7 (1.09) |
16.1 (0.63) |
18.2 (0.72) |
427.3 (16.82) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.4 (0.02) |
0.6 (0.02) |
1.6 (0.06) |
12.7 (0.50) |
40.6 (1.60) |
74.3 (2.93) |
82.7 (3.26) |
57.2 (2.25) |
39.4 (1.55) |
14.8 (0.58) |
2.0 (0.08) |
0.5 (0.02) |
326.8 (12.87) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 22.3 (8.8) |
16.8 (6.6) |
17.1 (6.7) |
14.9 (5.9) |
2.9 (1.1) |
0.1 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.4 (0.6) |
14.9 (5.9) |
19.3 (7.6) |
24.7 (9.7) |
134.4 (52.9) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 101.1 | 128.8 | 177.8 | 233.4 | 267.2 | 282.2 | 311.8 | 281.3 | 178.0 | 136.5 | 88.3 | 80.0 | 2,266.3 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 40.1 | 46.5 | 48.5 | 55.7 | 54.4 | 55.7 | 61.2 | 61.4 | 46.6 | 41.5 | 33.9 | 33.9 | 48.3 |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
Economy and Jobs
Nipawin is close to the Fort à la Corne Provincial Forest. This area has special rocks called kimberlites, which often contain diamonds. There is a lot of diamond exploration happening here. Other important industries in Nipawin include:
- Farming
- Tourism
- Processing canola oil
- Making honey
- Forestry
- Developing new plant-based fuels
Fun Things to Do
Nipawin is a great place for outdoor activities. Many people visit for fishing, camping, boating, golfing, and hunting.
Fishing Events
Nipawin hosts several exciting fishing events each year:
- The Great Northern Pike Festival is a summer-long event. You can win prizes for catching tagged fish.
- Other annual fishing tournaments include the Codette Walleye tournament.
- There is also the Ladies Fish for Freedom tournament.
- The Premier's Walleye Cup tournament is another popular event.
- The Vanity Cup Walleye tournament takes place in late September and early October.
Parks and Golf
- The Nipawin and District Regional Park is just north of town. It's a great spot for outdoor fun.
- The Evergreen Golf Course has 18 holes. It's located at the regional park. This course is known as one of the top public courses in Canada. It's also one of the top five in Saskatchewan. The Evergreen Golf Club hosts many tournaments, including the Bob Dow Memorial Golf Tournament.
Snowmobiling
Nipawin is part of the Trans-Canada Snowmobile Trail. There are many other groomed trails around Nipawin. Snowmobile rallies are also held here.
Sports and Recreation
- Curling is a popular sport in Nipawin for all ages. The town hosts several curling events. These include the Ladies, Men's, and Seniors Bonspiels. The Evergreen Curling Classic is also a big event.
- The town is home to the Nipawin Hawks. This is a junior hockey team that plays in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
Schools and Learning
Nipawin has three public schools for younger students:
- Central Park Elementary School
- Wagner Elementary School
- L.P. Miller Comprehensive School (which includes high school grades)
The town also has two colleges:
- The Nipawin Campus of Cumberland College has many students.
- Nipawin Bible College offers religious studies.
Famous People from Nipawin
Several notable people have connections to Nipawin:
- Sharon Butala, a well-known novelist.
- Dane Byers, an NHL hockey player.
- Lyndon Byers, a retired NHL player for the Boston Bruins.
- Greg Classen, a retired hockey player who played for the Nashville Predators.
- James Archibald Kiteley, a provincial politician.
- Arthur McKay, a painter and professor.
- Dave Pagan, a professional baseball pitcher.
