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East
Central Region Varied landscapes range from prairie to rolling parkland, accentuated by scenic valleys and some of the most unique lakes you’ll find anywhere. Little Manitou Lake is mineral rich and has a buoyancy that makes it impossible for anyone to sink. With a mineral content similar to that of the great spas of Europe, and a reputation for healing waters, Manitou Springs Resort on the lake’s beach front has become one of Canada’s top mineral spas. The enormous Quill Lakes and their surrounding wetlands are so important to migrating shorebirds that they have been declared part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. There’s a good chance of seeing migrants such as Hudsonian godwits, ruddy turnstones and various sandpipers, as well as resident shorebirds such as American avocets, marbled godwits or rare piping plovers. Climb the lookout tower and walk the nature trails at the Wadena Wildlife Wetlands, follow the self-guided Ducks Unlimited Nature Watch driving tours around the lakes. Tune your radio to FM99.3 while in the area to hear information on birding and the communities of Wynyard, Foam Lake and Wadena. At Last Mountain Lake, you’ll find the oldest bird sanctuary in North America. The self-guided driving tour takes you to productive wetlands favored by a wide array of waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds. Walking trails allow an even closer look at wildlife and their grassland and marsh habitats. The area really comes alive during fall migration, when tens of thousands of geese, ducks and sandhill cranes stop to feed as they head south. Numerous other natural areas, such as Foam Lake Heritage Marsh, Ponass Lake or Valeport Marsh offer even more chances to watch wildlife. And myriad parks provide everything from camping and fishing to golfing and water sports. The region is home to four provincial parks, each with its special attractions. Greenwater Lake combines scenic forest wilderness with lakeside recreation, golf and horseback riding. With its shallow, warm water, Good Spirit Lake is excellent for families, and famous for its sandy beaches on the south end of the lake and its beautiful, though ecologically sensitive, sand dunes. Wildcat Hill is a wilderness park at the top of the Pasqiua Hills that remains virtually untouched. Its remote and rugged terrain of mixed-wood forests, swamps and rivers offers spectacular scenery to experienced hikers who prefer the backcountry wilderness. Duck Mountain, with its picturesque hills and aspen forests rising high above the plains, is noted for its excellent wildlife habitat. The immensely popular Madge Lake, cradled in the surrounding valleys, offers visitors beautiful beaches, great camping, fishing, boating, canoeing and hiking. Coupled with the nearby golf course and wonderful accommodations, summer vacationers are drawn to this popular recreation area. In the winter, many activities focus on the parks. There’s outstanding cross-country skiing on marked and groomed trails, ice fishing, and snowmobile trails. Go downhill skiing at Wapiti Valley Regional Park or visit Duck Mountain for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The Porcupine Forest is one of the best-known places for snowmobiling in the province. It’s in this area, and beyond, that you’ll find hundreds of miles of groomed, interconnected snowmobile trails linking parks and communities. Both Greenwater Lake and Duck Mountain Provincial Parks have winterized accommodations, as do many resorts and country bed and breakfasts. The community of Bredenbury lights up during the festive season with a nationally recognized winter lights celebration. Even pilots flying aircraft overhead are able to see the vivid display. In warmer seasons, you’ll find even more ways to enjoy the great outdoors, whether it’s on guided horseback rides in the Duck Mountain Hills, birdwatching, canoeing, wildlife viewing, relaxing at guest ranches and vacation farms or exploring Tobin Lake on a fully equipped houseboat. With so many golf courses to choose from here, you can plan a golfing holiday and play a different course each day. Rise to the challenge of the course at Melfort, known for its water hazards. Or enjoy the beauty of golfing at Tisdale, where the Doghide River is incorporated into the course. Head to Nipawin, where you’ll find the four longest par 5 holes in the province. Or try Yorkton’s recently renovated 18 holes at Deer Park. Take your pick from these and the many other courses you’ll find in numerous parks and communities. The region’s rich history is shared at numerous museums and historic sites, which relate the legacy of pioneers, fur traders, Mounties and Aboriginal people. At Pelly, go back to the early days of the fur trade and to the North West Mounted Police post where the first sitting of the Northwest Territories Council was held. Visit the heritage park at Hudson Bay, where the history of the area’s major industries - farming, forestry, fur trading and the railway - is portrayed. Remnants of the fur trade can still be found in the Touchwood Hills area, as well. Museums in many towns, such as Sturgis, Kamsack, Naicam and Saltcoats, give further insight into our past. Yorkton, the region’s largest urban centre, offers diverse culture and a fascinating heritage. The Western Development Museum at Yorkton has as its theme the "Story of People" and focuses on the province’s ethnic diversity. Each summer, the museum is the sight of the Threshermen’s Show and Seniors’ Festival, featuring demonstrations of threshing, stooking and other old-time farming operations. The Painted Hand Casino features gaming at its finest, with a First Nations’ theme. Three 18-hole golf courses and an executive-length par three are located nearby. The city is also home to the Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival, the oldest, continuously running short film festival in North America. The Godfrey Dean Gallery houses two galleries and a gift shop. Nearby Melville has historic and lasting ties with the railroad, and is an important agriculture centre. The small city invites visitors to its museums, 70-acre regional park, walking paths, scenic 18-hole golf course, and multi-purpose arena and indoor wave-pool. Melfort, the "City of Northern Lights," offers a gallery featuring touring art exhibits, family fun at Northern Lights Palace, and the Melfort and District Regional Park, which boasts exceptional ball diamonds, an 18-hole golf course and a nationally accredited waterski site. A short drive to the northeast of Yorkton is Veregin, where an entire heritage village gives you insight into the fascinating beliefs, practices and lifestyle of the Doukhobour pioneers. Originally from Russia, the pacifist Doukhobours immigrated to Canada more than a century ago, after suffering persecution in their homeland. Ukrainian culture is everywhere, from the enormous Ukrainian welcome statue named "Lesia" in Canora, to the borscht, perogies and holopchi on many menus, and the ornate, onion-domed churches in several towns and throughout the countryside. Ukrainian is still spoken in many communities and at church services. St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yorkton has a particularly striking cathedral dome. Fine examples of beautifully detailed religious art can be found in the Ukrainian Orthodox Heritage Church in Canora, with its paintings, icons and stained glass. Also at Canora, two other museums display railroad and pioneer artifacts, and an impressive autographs and toy collection. Many other cultures can be enjoyed, as well. Help celebrate French heritage in St. Brieux or Zenon Park, or Icelandic ways in Wynyard. Humboldt promises "a little bit of Germany in the heart of the prairies," with traditional half-timbre style buildings, German folkart and lively festivals to the beat of an oom-pa-pa band. There’s no better way to get in touch with the vibrant Plains Indian culture than at a traditional powwow, where dancers in brilliant outfits step and whirl to drumbeats and singers’ chants. Another top event is the Old Tyme Fiddling Festival at Govan, attracting top fiddlers from across North America. The region features five polkafests – they’ll take your breath away! – in Lanigan, Manitou Beach, Melfort, Lintlaw and Humboldt. If the great outdoors is more to your liking, take in the Shorebirds and Friends Festival held every spring at the Wadena Wildlife Wetlands. Guided nature walks, special children’s activities, nature-related exhibits and a variety of entertainment all take place in beautiful natural surroundings. Accommodation choices include everything from international standards in hotels and resorts, to farm vacations, well-equipped campgrounds and cozy bed and breakfasts. For more information, see the attractions and
events listings that follow, or contact the East Central Region
at:
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