Melville, Saskatchewan

Melville
Saskatchewan Highway 15 in Melville
Melville
Coordinates: 50°55′50″N 102°48′28″W / 50.93056°N 102.80778°W / 50.93056; -102.80778Coordinates: 50°55′50″N 102°48′28″W / 50.93056°N 102.80778°W / 50.93056; -102.80778
Country	Canada
Province	Saskatchewan
Incorporated Village	1908
Incorporated Town	November 1, 1909
Incorporated City	August 1, 1960
Government
- Mayor	Walter Streelasky
- MLA Constituency of Melville-Saltcoats	Bob Bjornerud
- MP Yorkton—Melville	Garry Breitkreuz
Area
- Total	14.82 km2 (5.7 sq mi)
Population (2006)[1]
- Total	4,149
- Metro density	280.0/km2 (725.2/sq mi)
Time zone	Central Standard Time (UTC−6)
Highways	Hwy 10 Hwy 15 Hwy 47
Pearl Park Post office established	1905
Melville Post office established	July 1, 1908
[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Melville is a small Canadian city located in the east-central portion of Saskatchewan. It was declared a city by the province in 1960. The city is 145 kilometres (90 mi) north east of the provincial capital of Regina and 45 kilometres (28 mi) south west of Yorkton.^[9][10] According to The World Gazetteer, it has a 2004 population of approximately 4,300. Its official population was 4,129 inhabitants as of the 2006 census. It is the smallest official city in Saskatchewan. It is smaller than two former towns, Martensville and Meadow Lake, that have since then become cities. It is even smaller than two current (2010) official towns, Warman and Kindersley. Melville is bordered by the Rural Municipality of Cana No. 214 and the Rural Municipality of Stanley No. 215.

History

The Via railway station in Melville, circa 1991

According to What's in a Name?: The Story Behind Saskatchewan Places and Names by E. T. Russell, People Places Contemporary Saskatchewan Placenames by Bill Barry the city was named for Charles Melville Hays, who at the time of the settlement's initial construction was the president of the Grand Trunk Railway and Grand Trunk Pacific Railway.^[11][12]

Pearl Park was the area's first post office established in 1905 near the Pearl creek, a tributary of the Qu'Appelle River.^[13]

Demographics

The economic boom of Saskatchewan has led to an increase of nearly 200 residents in Melville over the past year (2007–2008). Although Melville is currently Saskatchewan's smallest city, with 4677 residents, recent announcements of new business openings brightens the future for Melville with the promises of additional newcomers to this community.

As of June 2008, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health statistics show that 4,677 citizens reside in the City of Melville.^[14]

Under Saskatchewan law, a town must have a sustained population of more than 5,000 in order to apply for and maintain a city charter, Melville is a notable exception to this rule, as it has retained its charter despite dropping to as few as 4,149 residents in 2006 according to the national census.

Government

Melville has a mayor as the highest ranking government official. Voters also elect aldermen or councillors to form the municipal council. Currently the mayor is Dr. Walter Streelasky.

Provincially, Melville is within the Constituency of Melville-Saltcoats. It is currently represented served by their MLA, Bob Bjornerud.

Melville is represented in the Canadian House of Commons by its MP of the Yorkton—Melville riding, currently Garry Breitkreuz.^[2][4][5][6]

Infrastructure

Melville airport

Melville's namesake was the president of the Grand Trunk Railway and Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, Charles Melville Hays^[11] Since Melville's founding in 1908, it has served as a nexus for railroad activity, currently including that of Canadian National Railway and Via Rail, the latter for which Melville effectively serves as the main rail/bus connection to Regina for its passengers. Today Melville railway station is still served by The Canadian three times per week.

The Melville Railway Museum (c. 1911) is a Municipal Heritage Property on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.^[16]

Melville's connections by road to other communities include Saskatchewan Highways 10, 15 and 47. The closest major centre to Melville is the city of Yorkton, which is only 43 kilometres to the northeast.

Melville Municipal Airport (TC LID: CJV9) is located 1.5 NM (2.8 km; 1.7 mi) east of the city.^[17]

Education

Melville is served by basic and adequate schools:École St. Henry's Junior Elementary School, St. Henry's Sr School and St. Paul's Catholic Elementary School both a part of the Christ the Teacher Catholic School Division^[18][19] The Carlton Regional College Basic Education is located nearby in Lestock. The Melville Comprehensive High School, a part of the Good Spirit School Division provides secondary education.^[20][21] Parkland Regional College provides post secondary technical training and operates a branch school out of the Melville Comprehensive High School building.^[22]

Sports

Melville is home to the Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, as well as the Melville Millionaires of the Western Major Baseball League.

The Building Communities Program, a provincial government initiative, has earmarked 3.7 million dollars to establish the Melville Communiplex. The communiplex will offer a new 1,700 seat ice arena, fitness and cardio care facilities, and a walking track. It will replace the existing 60 year old Melville Stadium, home to the Melville Millionaires. The communiplex is estimated to cost between 13 and 16 million dollars.^[23]

The city also has an 18 hole Golf course.

Arts and culture

Within 20 kilometres (12 mi) are the Melville Game Preserve, Melville Regional Park and Duff Recreation Site.^[8]

Hollywood references

Hannibal Rising - Hannibal shows up in the "Hamlet of Melville" in the final scene of the movie. Oddly, the town is surrounded by forest and is referred to as "near Saskatoon."

Notable Melvillians

• George Abel - Olympic Gold Medalist
• Sid Abel - Hockey Hall of Famer (deceased).
• Phil Bessler - Former NHL player for the Detroit Red Wings.
• Evan Carlson - Former Saskatchewan MLA
• Tim Cheveldae - NHL Goaltender for the Winnipeg Jets, and Detroit Red Wings
• Jimmy Franks - Former NHL Goaltender for the Detroit Redwings.
• Shaun Heshka - NHL player for the Phoenix Coyotes.
• Sol Kanee - President of the Canadian Jewish Congress from 1971 to 1974.
• Chris Kunitz - NHL player for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• Rita Johnston - Politician, the first ever woman to be a preimer of a Canadian province.
• Pearl McGonigal - Former politician and office holder.
• Todd McLellan - Head coach of the NHLs San Jose Sharks.
• Mike Morin - Former professional ice hockey player.
• Alex Motter - Former NHL player for the Detroit Red Wings.
• Terry Puhl - Retired MLB player for the Houston Astros.
• Brent Rathgeber - Lawyer and Member of Parliament.
• Roger Reinson - Retired CFL player, 3-time Grey Cup Champion.
• Ricky Kanee Schachter - Dermatologist, member of the Order of Canada.
• Jarret Stoll - NHL player for the Los Angeles Kings.
• Don Walchuk - Olympic Curler.
• Arch Wilder - Former NHL player for the Detroit Red Wings.
• Lyall Woznesensky - Former CFL defensive lineman.

Location

References

1. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/search-recherche/frm_res.cfm?Lang=E&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01. Retrieved 2009-09-06. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Canadian Textiles Institute. (2005). "CTI Determine your provincial constituency". http://www.textiles.ca/eng/nonAuthProg/redirect.cfm?path=IssPolContacts&sectionID=7601.cfm. Retrieved 2009-09-06 
3. ^ National Archives, Archivia Net. "Post Offices and Postmasters". http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/post-offices/001001-100.01-e.php. Retrieved 2009-09-06 
4. ^ ^{a b} Government of Saskatchewan, MRD Home. "Municipal Directory System". http://www.mds.gov.sk.ca/apps/Pub/MDS/welcome.aspx. Retrieved 2009-09-06 
5. ^ ^{a b} Commissioner of Canada Elections, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada (2005). "Elections Canada On-line". http://www.elections.ca/home.asp. Retrieved 2009-09-06 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Melville". Sask Biz Community Profiles Enterprise Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan. http://www.saskbiz.ca/communityprofiles/communityprofile.asp?CommunityID=297. Retrieved 2009-09-06. 
7. ^ Giannetta, J. (March/03 updated September 2009). "SASKATCHEWAN COMMUNITIES - the cities (a brief history)". Saskatchewan Schools. http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/sask/skcities.html. Retrieved 2009-09-09. 
8. ^ ^{a b} "Geographical Names of Canada". Natural Resources Canada > Earth Sciences Sector > Priorities > Mapping Services Branch > (Government of Canada). http://geonames2.nrcan.gc.ca/cgi-bin/v9/within_radius_v9?english. Retrieved 2009-09-09 
9. ^ Driving Directions from Melville, SK, CA to Regina, SK, CA. MapQuest, Inc.. 2009. http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Melville&1s=SK&2c=Regina+&2s=SK. Retrieved 2009-09-09 
10. ^ Driving Directions from Melville, SK, CA to Yorkton, SK, CA. MapQuest, Inc.. 2009. http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Melville&1s=SK&2c=Yorkton&2s=SK. Retrieved 2009-09-09 
11. ^ ^{a b} Grade 7 class at Henry Kelsey Public School (1975). E.T. Russell. ed. What's In a Name?. Saskatoon: Western Producer Prairie Books. ISBN 0-919306-39-X 
12. ^ Barry, Bill (2003). People Places Contemporary Saskatchewan Placenames. Regina, Canada: Print West communications. pp. 230. ISBN 1-894022-92-0. 
13. ^ Barry, Bill (2005). Geographic Names of Saskatchewan. Regina, SK: People Places Publishing Ltd.. ISBN 1-897020-19-2 
14. ^ Saskatoon Star Phoenix, ed. Saskatoon sees 2.8% hike; Regina rises by 0.6%. Saskatoon Star Phoenix newspaper Wednesday March 14, 2007. p. B1. 
15. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. 2009-02-24. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/index.cfm?Lang=E. Retrieved 2009-02-24. 
16. ^ Canadian Register of Historic Places.
17. ^ Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 20 October 2011 to 0901Z 15 December 2011
18. ^ "École St. Henry's Junior Elementary School". Christ the Teacher Catholic School Division. 2009. http://www.christtheteacher.ca/default.aspx?page=1501. Retrieved 2009-09-09. ^{[dead link]}
19. ^ "St. Paul's Catholic Elementary School". Christ the Teacher Catholic School Division. 2009. http://www.christtheteacher.ca/. Retrieved 2009-09-09. 
20. ^ "Yorkton Regional High School". History 20: Curriculum Guide - Acknowledgements. 2009. http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/history20/ackno.html. Retrieved 2009-09-09. 
21. ^ "http://mcs.gssd.ca/". Good Spirit School Divisio. 2009. http://mcs.gssd.ca/. Retrieved 2009-09-09. 
22. ^ "Parkland Regional College". 2009. http://www.parklandcollege.sk.ca/. Retrieved 2009-09-09. 
23. ^ Hall, Angela (August 23, 2008). "New communiplex in Melville closer to reality". Saskatoon The Star Phoenix: pp. A6. http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/ 

External links

• City of Melville Web Portal
• City of Melville Homepage
• Map of Melville at Statcan
• The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan - Melville