The origins of the town go back to original settlement which was on the Old Bone Trail. It derived its name from the DeLisle family. Mrs. Lenora DeLisle with her four sons Amos, Fred, Ed and Eugene, came from North Dakota, USA in 1903 and homesteaded on the land 3 miles south of the present day townsite. With the coming of the CN Railway in 1908 the settlement to the south was forced to move to the new townsite. The town was named after the brothers on December 29, 1908. Delisle was named a town in 1913.
Demographics
Sights
A cenotaph stands in the heart of Delisle in front of the old hospital. On it are inscribed the names of those from Delisle and surrounding area who made the supreme sacrifice in the two world wars. In 2002 the Cenotaph was given a refurbishment and was re-dedicated. The service included a small parade consisting ofGirl Guides, Boy Scouts, Sparks, elementary school children, the complement of, and the RCSCC Jervis Bay Ship's Band leading the way from the Centennial Arena to the cenotaph. The town also boasts a nine-hole grass green golf course.
Education
The town supports one of the largest high schools in the Prairie Spirit School Division bringing in students from smaller, nearby villages and hamlets such as Laura, Kinley, Donavon, Swanson, Vanscoy and the Pike Lake district, as well as rural students. It has a nine-man football team that has won several provincial titles; a track and field team that competes well for top spots in provincials and holds records for countless events; a soccer team that won provincials in 2009; and a drama program, that while in decline in recent years, has often performed well at large drama festivals. The school also contributes the most players for the Prairie Spirit Band Program.
Notable people
brothers Max and Doug Bentley were born and lived in Delisle, as did their brother Reg, who played 11 National Hockey League games and nephew, Bev Bentley who played with 12 different teams in both Canada and the US between 1949 and 1967. Former NHL goaltender Jack Norris is also proud to call Delisle home. Also from Delisle and seeing games in the NHL were Dick Butler and Jack Miller. As were a number of provincial champion curlers such as Jimmy Hill, Barbara McNevin, Doug Wyatt and Harold Worth. Delisle is also the epitome of success in men's fastpitch, having won numerous provincial and western Canadian titles over the years. The team's collective accomplishments have also translated into individual success, highlighted by outstanding athletes such as the Wiebe brothers, Dave Norris, and Jimmy Climenhaga.
