Mortlach | |
|---|---|
| Village of Mortlach | |
.jpg) Mortlach in 2019 | |
| Motto: Meet me in Mortlach | |
  Location of Mortlach in Saskatchewan Show map of Saskatchewan Mortlach, Saskatchewan (Canada) Show map of Canada | |
| Coordinates:50°27′18″N106°03′50″W / 50.455°N 106.064°W /50.455; -106.064 | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Saskatchewan |
| Region | Southwest |
| Census division | 7 |
| Rural Municipality | Wheatlands No. 163 |
| Post office founded | 1905 |
| Incorporated (village) | January 1, 1949 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal |
| • Governing body | Mortlach Village Council |
| • Mayor | Marg Apperley |
| • Administrator | Anggy Ladner |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.87 km2 (1.11 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 274 |
| • Density | 95.6/km2 (248/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| Postal code | S0H 3E0 |
| Area code | 306 |
| Highways |  Highway 1 |
| Railways | Canadian Pacific Railway |
| Website | mortlach |
| [1][2][3][4] | |
Mortlach (/ˈmɔːrtlæk/) is a village in theCanadian province ofSaskatchewan within theRural Municipality of Wheatlands No. 163 andCensus Division No. 7. The village is onSaskatchewan Highway 1 about 40 km west of the city ofMoose Jaw.Thunder Creek passes the community to the north, where it is joined by Sandy Creek. Mortlach became a village on April 19, 1906, and is one of two towns in Saskatchewan to have been incorporated as a town (April 1, 1913) to then be reverted to village status on January 1, 1949;[5] the other is the village ofAlsask.
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, Mortlach had a population of274 living in111 of its127 total private dwellings, a change of5% from its 2016 population of261. With a land area of 2.87 km2 (1.11 sq mi), it had a population density of95.5/km2 (247.3/sq mi) in 2021.[8]
In the2016 Census of Population, the Village of Mortlach recorded a population of261 living in108 of its117 total private dwellings, a-10.7% change from its 2011 population of289. With a land area of 2.76 km2 (1.07 sq mi), it had a population density of94.6/km2 (244.9/sq mi) in 2016.[9]
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Mortlach incorporated as a village on January 1, 1949.[10]
While there are several theories about the origin of the name Mortlach, such as: it was named after an English village; it is aGaelic translation of 'low hills'; and it may be a French term for 'dead lake' or Lac du Mort. The one that is generally accepted is that the village was named byGeorge Stephen, the first president of theCanadian Pacific Railway (CPR), for his home parish of Mortlach, Scotland. Other community names such as Parkbeg, Caron and Craigellachie, site of the 'Last Spike', also hail from his home parish. A church inDufftown inBanffshire,Scotland, with origins dating back to AD 525, bears the Mortlach name.
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In 1904, theCanadian Pacific Railway's (CPR) new line became operational and the Village of Mortlach came to life on land originally homesteaded in 1902 by a Khamis Michael, a native of what is todayIraq. By the spring of 1905, many people who had homesteaded the summer before along with new homesteaders began building. The first store, post office, and lumber andcoal supply would be owned by Mr. E.B. Tedford. Scribner and Wheeler built the first hotel in 1905 and the first school was built that fall.
One year later, in 1905, Mortlach already had a Board of Trade with a strong business district including two businesses, three general stores, lumber and coal suppliers, post office, livery, hotel, meat market, and an implement and harness dealer. In the fall of 1905 there was a section house but no station until 1906, built along with an elevator. The firstRoyal North-West Mounted Police were stationed here in 1905 the same year that theProvince of Saskatchewan was created. These were exciting times. The first weekly Mortlach newspaper was printed inCaron and theMethodist Church was also organized that year. The first doctor came to town that year and Mortlach fast became a popular place to stop and visit. 1907 saw many additional businesses grow, more hardware and implements, dry goods, general stores, harness shops, butchers, tinsmith, livery, real estate and insurance, and a hotel with a restaurant.
1907 was also the year of asmallpox epidemic, so a new house that was being built became anisolation hospital. TheBank of Hamilton opened a branch on Rose Street and Khamis Michael built a rink on Dean Street. The firstexhibition was held in that rink on August 4, 1908. Mortlachincorporated as a village in 1909 with about 700 residents. The Star Theatre was built in 1910 by A.C. Baker. Soon there were many more businesses in this thriving community: a Red and White Store, two restaurants, blacksmith, grocery store, two cobblers, butcher, baker, undertaker, embalmer, flour miller, electric repair shop, Chinese laundry, veterinarian, Beaver Lumber, Imperial Lumber,Bank of Toronto, photo studio, newspaper publisher, livery stable and auto garage, and another implement shop.
The village is governed by a village council composed of amayor, fourcouncillors and a village administrator.[11] Municipal elections are held every four years.
Mortlach has a number of attractions, including a communityorchard, churches, parks and restaurants, a library, museum and the local scenery.[12]Music plays a part in Mortlach's culture – from the Mortlach Old Time Fiddlers to the community choir. In July 2009, Mortlach was awarded an artist in residence for a year.[13]
Mortlach has one school that offersKindergarten through grade 12, and supports its academic program with a mix of sports, cultural, and social aspects.[citation needed]
Places adjacent to Mortlach, Saskatchewan | |
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