What Rosthern is known for

The Rosthern Destination can be found in Saskatchewan's southern region. A few cities and towns, such as Saskatoon, Martensville, Manitou Beach, Rosetown, Elbow, Davidson, Lanigan, Humboldt, and the namesake, Rosthern, can be found within the borders of the destination. Rosthern covers a total land area of 1.66 square miles in the destination’s northern region, serving as the home to an estimated total of 1,968 residents as of 2021.[2][1] 

In terms of tourism, many of the attractions that are based throughout the town of Rosthern are historic sites. Of these historic attractions, the Mennonite Heritage Museum is one of the most prominent as it is architecturally characteristic of a mixture of Georgian and Colonial Revival styles. In 1910 the museum operated as the German-English Academy, which later became the Rosthern Junior College. This attraction is intended to inform visitors about the origins and development of Mennonite culture and religion in Saskatchewan Valley. Aside from historically significant sites, the town also contains a number of indoor and outdoor facilities for recreation, such as the Jubliee Sports Center, which offers a skating and curling rink; Valley Regional Park with an 18-hole golf course and campground; and several walking trails.[3]

The largest city in both the province of Saskatchewan and the destination itself is Saskatoon, a cultural and economic hub for central Saskatchewan that has been functioning as such since its founding as a Temperance colony in 1882.[5] As the city is a distribution and service center for various agricultural products, Saskatoon is deemed a significant region for the growth of wheat, oats, barley, flaxseed, rye, and canola. Other industries that aid the economy include the manufacturing of wood products, chemicals, clothing, machinery, and metal, as well as industries that involve food and dairy processing. A particularly notable establishment that can be found in the city is the University of Saskatchewan, which is also the site of the Diefenbaker Canada Centre and a gallery that honors Canadian history.[6] Similar to Rosthern, Saskatoon has a few recreational facilities and historic attractions that frequently draw visitors to the area. Some of the most popular attractions are the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo, Nutrien Playland at Kinsmen Park, and the Civic Conservatory.[7]

Geography

Grassland, farmland, open plains, forested areas, and a relatively high quantity of water features, such as lakes and rivers, comprise the Rosthern Destination’s topographic formation. The South Saskatchewan River courses directly through the city of Saskatoon from the north to the south. Additionally, within the vicinity of Saskatoon are Rice Lake, Goose Lake, Patience Lake, and Blackstrap Lake, among numerous bogs and ponds. Duck Lake and Rempel Lake are in close proximity to the town of Rosthern. 

The South Saskatchewan River is the largest supplier of water in the province for drinking water, recreation, industrial use, and irrigation. Reportedly 50% of Saskatchewan’s population relies on the river for their daily needs. Escarpments, plateaus, and hills characterize the river’s surrounding geography as a result of surfaced bedrock that has resisted erosion. A fair amount of potash mines can be found along the South Saskatchewan River due to the relative abundance of these minerals.[8]

Sightings of wildlife are relatively common around Saskatoon. Some of the species in the area include foxes, moose, rabbits, deer, coyotes, skunks, porcupines, beavers, and muskrats. The city’s website provides information about the advised procedures of what visitors and locals are recommended to do in case of any encounters with potentially dangerous wildlife.[7] 

Warm weather activities are more accessible in Rosthern from early July to mid-August when temperatures are reasonably moderate. Those who have toured the town in the past have described the summer season to be “comfortable” concerning the temperature, “long” in terms of duration, and “partly cloudy.” The winter season, however, has been said by visitors to be “frigid,” “snowy,” “windy,” and “mostly cloudy.” Generally speaking, temperatures range roughly between -4 degrees and 76 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year in Rosthern. July tends to be the hottest month with an average high of 75 degrees and a low of 54 degrees Fahrenheit. The cold season, which typically lasts from November to March, experiences temperatures that drop to 24 degrees Fahrenheit as an average daily high.[4]

History

Though the origin of Rosthern’s name is unclear, one theory indicates that the name is a misspelling of “rose thorn,” as the town has several wild roses growing in its vicinity. A different theory speculates that the name is a reference to a man named Ross who drowned in a “thern” that flows through the town, which is an old English term for “pool.”[10] One presumption of Rosthern’s name origin is that it may have derived from an older name of a village in the United Kingdom called Rostherne, which was brought to the area by a railroad worker who expressed his homesickness.[1]

Circa 1890, Mennonite settlers arrived in the area of what is now presently known as Rosthern. Following their arrival, the establishment of the Qu’Appelle, Long Lake, and Saskatchewan Railway took place and extended to the city of Prince Albert. It wasn’t until the year 1898 that Rosthern achieved village status a few years after the establishment of the post office in 1893. Five years later, the village was incorporated as a town.[1]

The aforementioned Mennonite Heritage Museum in Rosthern—initially referred to as the German-English Academy—is associated with the Mennonite community's earlier years of its education system. As its original name implies, the school would “provide instruction in English to preserve the German language.” The school was fairly religious, as those who managed the academy would strive to maintain the Mennonite religion and traditions. These operations continued until 1963 when a larger facility was constructed adjacent to the German-English Academy in an effort to accommodate the increasing number of students and to expand its curriculum. That same year, the school became the Rosthern Junior College, now providing services in a different building. Currently, the academy still focuses on teaching about the Mennonite lifestyle and traditions.[9]