Canora is nestled into the junction of highways No. 5 and 9 in east-central Saskatchewan. Centrally located on the corners of four adjacent rural municipalities, the community is home to approximately 2,000 residents and draws upon a substantial trading area.
Canora is known as the “Heart of Good Spirit Country” as a result of its proximity to several lakes and parks, including Crystal Lake, Good Spirit Lake and Duck Mountain Provincial Park. The area is host to Saskatchewan’s greatest number of golf courses per capita and boasts one of the highest traffic counts in the province.
The Town of Canora received a 2008 Saskatchewan Municipal Award in the category of Environmental Stewardship. The award resulted from the Town's source water protection project to preserve the community's quality water supply. The undertaking, for which the Town partnered with Ducks Unlimited, saw many acres of former farm land restored to its natural state.
The community was named one of the top 10 places in Canada to retire by CARP Magazine and was the only Saskatchewan community to make the list for 2006. Canada's Association for the 50 Plus considered many factors in compiling its list, including: climate, quality of life, cost of living, transportation, retail services, health care, community services, cultural, educational and recreational activities and crime and public safety.
The town was also judged to have the best-tasting municipal water in Canada at the 13th annual international water tasting competition held in 2003 in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, USA. Canora’s water, supplied by several ground wells northeast of the community, also placed fourth internationally at the competition that received entries from eight countries and 23 states. Free samples of this great-tasting water are available at the CN Station House Museum during the summer months.
Recreational facilities in the community include a serviced campground, cross country ski trails, tennis courts, ball diamonds, curling and ice skating rinks, soccer pitches, skate park, beach volleyball court, community halls, swimming pool, parks, playgrounds and a nine-hole grass green golf course. A walking tour of the community, featuring its museums and other attractions, has been developed. With an abundance of nearby lakes, rivers and rural landscapes, Canora is literally only minutes away from some of the best hunting and fishing opportunities in the province.
“Ca-No-Ra”, which became a village in 1905 and was incorporated as a town in 1910, was named using the first two letters of “Canadian Northern Railway”. A CN Station House Museum, traditional Ukrainian welcome statue, Ukrainian Heritage Museum and fully-restored Ukrainian Orthodox church, officially designated a heritage site, recognize and preserve the community’s diverse heritage. An ongoing mural program has also been initiated.
To maximize the well-being of its residents, Canora features an acute-care hospital, nursing home, doctor’s office, ambulance service, chiropractor, optometrist, home care, public health services and massage therapy clinic. We are currently seeking the services of a dentist and veterinarian.
Policing services are delivered by an in-town RCMP detachment and a fully-equipped volunteer fire brigade provides fire and rescue services.
Students can attend kindergarten to Grade 12 at Canora’s two schools. Children as young as three years old may attend Canora Nursery School and those wishing to obtain further or specialized learning can access a wide variety of programs through the local branch of the Parkland Regional College.
May, 2009
The Town of Canora's water quality and sample submission compliance record
for 2008 is available to the public. Saskatchewan Environment regulations
require that waterworks owners provide this notification to consumers on an
annual basis. The information is available for inspection at the town office
during regular business hours.
April, 2009
Council set new water, sewer and garbage collection rates for all users. The
new rates will see a minimum residential water bill of $126 every three
months.
November, 2008
Council set its 2009 tax concession policy which provides for reduced
property taxes on certain types of new construction and/or commercial
properties. Information regarding the policy is available at the town
office.
September, 2008
The Town of Canora's 2008 Waterworks Rate Policy and Capital Investment
Strategy is available at the town office. For more information, visit the
Public Works section of the town's website or
click here.
May, 2008
Canora received a 2008 Saskatchewan Municipal Award in the category of
Environmental Stewardship.
May, 2008
Council adopted its 2008 budget with a municipal tax rate of 23.8 mills.
January, 2008
Council updated its commercial lot sale policy to encourage development of
commercial properties.
May, 2006
Canora was named one of the 10 best places in Canada to retire by CARP
Magazine.
