List of municipalities in Saskatchewan

Location of Saskatchewan in Canada

Distribution of Saskatchewan's 466 urban, 296 rural and 24 northern municipalities (2013)

Saskatchewan is the sixth-most populous province in Canada with 1,033,381 residents as of 2011 and is the fifth-largest in land area at approximately 588,000 km² (227,000 sq mi).^[1] In 2011, Saskatchewan's 786 municipalities covered 7001527000000000000♠52.7% of the province's land mass and were home to 7001941000000000000♠94.1% of its population.^{[2][3][lower-alpha 1]} On December 31, 2013, this total was reduced to 782 when Antler, Gladmar, Ruthilda and Shackleton all dissolved from village status.^[4][5] These 782 municipalities are local government "creatures of provincial jurisdiction" with natural persons power.^[6] One of the key purposes of Saskatchewan's municipalities are "to provide services, facilities and other things that, in the opinion of council, are necessary or desirable for all or a part of the municipality".^[6] Other purposes are to: "provide good government"; "develop and maintain a safe and viable community"; "foster economic, social and environmental well-being" and "provide wise stewardship of public assets."^[6]

The Government of Saskatchewan's Ministry of Municipal Relations recognizes three general types of municipalities and seven sub-types – urban municipalities (cities, towns, villages and resort villages), rural municipalities and northern municipalities (northern towns, northern villages and northern hamlets).^[2] Cities are formed under the provincial authority of The Cities Act, which was enacted in 2002.^[7] Towns, villages, resort villages and rural municipalities are formed under the authority of The Municipalities Act, enacted in 2005.^[8] The three sub-types of northern municipalities are formed under the authority of The Northern Municipalities Act, enacted in 2010.^[9] As provincial laws, these three acts were passed by the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan with royal assent granted by the Lieutenant Governor.

Of Saskatchewan's 782 municipalities, 462 of them are urban municipalities (16 cities, 146 towns, 160 villages and 40 resort villages), 296 are rural municipalities and 24 are northern municipalities (2 northern towns, 11 northern villages and 11 northern hamlets).^[2] The Cities Act, The Municipalities Act and The Northern Municipalities Act stipulate governance of these municipalities.^[7][8][9] Saskatchewan's Ministry of Municipal Relations is responsible for providing provincial programs and services to municipalities.^[10]

In 2011, just over 7001400000000000000♠40% of Saskatchewan's population resided in its two largest cities. Saskatoon, the largest city, is home to 7001220000000000000♠22% of the province's population (222,189 residents), while Regina, Saskatchewan's capital city, is home to 7001190000000000000♠19% (193,100 residents).^[3] The villages of Dafoe, Keeler, Krydor and Valparaiso are all tied as Saskatchewan's smallest municipalities by population with 15 people each.^[3][4][5] The largest municipality by land area is the Rural Municipality of Hudson Bay No. 394 at 12,463 km² (4,812 sq mi), while the smallest by land area are the resort villages of Etters Beach and Pelican Pointe at 0.12 km² (0.046 sq mi) each.^[3]

Urban municipalities

Distribution of Saskatchewan's 16 cities, 146 towns, 264 villages and 40 resort villages (2013)

Downtown Saskatoon, the largest city in Saskatchewan

Downtown Regina, Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan's capital and second largest city

Skyline of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

As of 2014, Saskatchewan has 462 urban municipalities, which includes the sub-types of cities, towns, villages and resort villages.^[2]

Cities

A city can be created from a town by Saskatchewan's Minister of Municipal Relations by ministerial order via section 39 of The Cities Act if it has a population of 5,000 or more and the change in status is requested by the town council.^[7] A city does not automatically revert to town status if the population drops below 5,000; this only occurs if the city council requests it, the majority of electors vote to revert to town status, or the minister is of the opinion that the reversion to town status is in the public interest.^[7] Melville retains its city status despite dropping below the 5,000 population threshold in the 1990s.

Saskatchewan has 16 cities including Lloydminster, which traverses the provincial border with Alberta.^[2] Unlike Lloydminster, Flin Flon, which traverses the provincial border with Manitoba, is not officially recognized as a city. Saskatchewan's 16 cities had a cumulative population of 595,678 and an average population of 37,230 in the 2011 Census.^[3] Saskatchewan's largest and smallest cities are Saskatoon and Melville with populations of 222,189 and 4,546 respectively.^[3][11]

Towns

A town can be created from a village or resort village by Saskatchewan's Minister of Municipal Relations by ministerial order via section 52 of The Municipalities Act if it has a population of 500 or more.^[8] Upon reaching a population of 5,000, a town's council may request the minister to change its status to a city in accordance with section 39 of The Cities Act.^[7] Should a town's population decline to less than 500, its council may request its status be reverted to village or resort village status.^[8]

Saskatchewan has 146 towns that had a cumulative population of 137,611 and an average population of 943 in the 2011 Census.^[2][3] Saskatchewan's largest and smallest towns are Kindersley and Scott with populations of 4,678 and 75 respectively.^[3]

Villages

A village can be created from an organized hamlet by Saskatchewan's Minister of Municipal Relations by ministerial order via section 51 of The Municipalities Act if it meets four requirements. It must have:^[8]

• been an organized hamlet for three or more years;
• a population of 100 or more;
• 50 or more dwellings or businesses; and
• a taxable assessment base that meets a prescribed minimum.^{[lower-alpha 2]}

Upon reaching a population of 500, a village's council may request the minister to change its status to a town in accordance with section 52 of The Municipalities Act.^[8]

Saskatchewan has 260 villages that had a cumulative population of 43,140 and an average population of 163 in the 2011 Census.^[2][3] Saskatchewan's largest village is Caronport with a population of 1,068, while Dafoe, Keeler, Krydor and Valparaiso are all tied are the province's smallest villages with populations of 15 each.^[3]

Resort villages

Like a village, a resort village can be created from an organized hamlet by Saskatchewan's Minister of Municipal Relations by ministerial order via section 51 of The Municipalities Act if it has: been an organized hamlet for three or more years; a population of 100 or more; 50 or more dwellings or businesses; and a taxable assessment base that meets a prescribed minimum.^{[8][lower-alpha 2]} Upon reaching a population of 500, a resort village's council may request the minister to change its status to a town in accordance with section 52 of The Municipalities Act.^[8]

Saskatchewan has 40 resort villages that had a cumulative population of 4,092 and an average population of 102 in the 2011 Census.^[2][3] Saskatchewan's largest and smallest resort villages are Candle Lake and the Lumsden Beach with populations of 765 and 10 respectively.^[3][11]

List of urban municipalities