Alsask, Saskatchewan


Alsask is a special service area in the Rural Municipality of Milton No. 292, in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. Alsask is located 60 km west of the city of Kindersley. Highway 44 runs to the east of Alsask, and Highway 7 lies a few kilometres to the north. The community had a population of 111 in the 2016 Canada Census.
The community's name combines the names of Alberta and Saskatchewan, although it is a misconception that it straddles the border between the two provinces, approximately 300 meters east of the Alberta border. While the community lies completely within Saskatchewan, the local graveyard is actually in Alberta. Alsask most notable landmark is one of three remaining radar domes that for many years operated as CFS Alsask as part of the Canadian Forces Pine Tree Line. Alsask Lake is located south east of the town site.

History

Alsask incorporated as a village November 22, 1910, two years later on November 1, 1912 it was decided the village was large enough to incorporate into a town, by 1916 the population of Alsask had reached 300.
The Great Depression years hit Alsask hard, the village struggled with maintaining its population, the town was reverted to a village on January 1, 1947.
Things began to change; in 1959 with the establishment of RCAF Station Alsask a base was established next to the town site, and by the early 1970s the population had reached over 800, though the village never reverted to town status. The base was disbanded in 1987.
Since the closing of the RCAF Station Alsask, the village population continued to decline; by 2009, the Village of Alsask was dissolved as a political entity, and a motion was accepted to join the Rural Municipality of Milton as a special service area on July 30, 2009.
;Heritage sites
The Military Heritage Site is a newly designated Heritage site, designated in 2002. The site is the former Royal Canadian Air Force Alsask Station, a Cold War era, military base and Pinetree Line radar dome, open to public Monday to Friday. Few of the original buildings remain. Most notably, the "Gopher Dip" indoor swimming pool as it was known during the lifespan as a military site, is still in use. During the summer months the swimming pool is well used, attracting many children and families from surrounding communities. The site also includes a bowling alley built to entertain families of the RCAF and Alsask and area residents.
The Old Alsask School operated from its opening in 1913 until 1976 when the property was taken over by the Village of Alsask. In 2002 the building was restored as a community centre and is now listed as a Municipal Heritage Property.

Demographics

Health

Alsask is part of the Heartland Regional Health Authority with SaskHealth reporting Alsask as having a population of 148.

Climate

Alsask experiences a semi-arid climate. Winters are long, cold and dry, while summers are short and warm. Precipitation is low, with an annual average of, and is heavily concentrated in the warmer months.
The Alsask weather station is now inactive, the daily average values are based on reading between 1973 and 1997 while the record readings are based on date from 1959 to 1997.

Notable people

Notable persons who were born, grew up or lived in Alsask: