Moose Jaw: A Small City With A Big Past

	There Are Many Stories Behind Moose Jaw's Name1

There are different stories as to how Moose Jaw received its intriguing name. Most theories suggest it is from First Nation origin. One local legend has a nearby creek as the inspiration behind the name. The creek had a peculiar shape, which resembled the outline to a moose's jaw. However, the most common theory is that it is from the Cree word for “warm breezes.”

HISTORY

In July of 1882, the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway brought 7,600 men and 1,700 teams of horses into Moose Jaw. The area had been settled years prior as a traditional First Nations fur trader’s camp. The population grew rapidly with the newcomers and the town began to boom. On November 20, 1903, Moose Jaw received city status.

Moose Jaw is Full of Historic Buildings, such as the Court House2

While venturing the city, take note of the red brick heritage buildings such as the Moose Jaw Court House. In 1891, the city fell victim to a massive fire that destroyed several businesses and a church on Main Street. Due to the fire damage, it became mandatory to use brick or stone for construction. The buildings give Moose Jaw's downtown area a historic look.

Moose Jaw's nickname, “Little Chicago,” ties into the city's defiant past. During the Prohibition era (1920 - 1933), prostitution, rum-running and bootlegging thrived in the small settlement. The Soo Line railway, which ran from Moose Jaw via Minneapolis to Chicago, became a way for Moose Javians to supply booze to the United States. There are countless stories that the city has a connection to the notorious Al Capone. It is believed the Chicago gangster and his cronies frequented the area to smuggle whiskey into the US.

Today, tourism is a major industry in Moose Jaw. The city's welcoming atmosphere to visitors is represented by its new nickname “The Friendly City.” Apart from tourism, the city's diverse economy also includes agriculture and agri-processing, manufacturing, service and retail. A large employer in the city is 15 Wing Moose Jaw, which is the principle site of the NATO Flying Training in Canada program.

CLIMATE

Moose Jaw's climate can be classified as a continental prairie climate, which means it experiences mild to warm summers and cold winters. July is the warmest month, with an average temperature of around 20°C (68°F), while January is the coldest month with an average of around -13°C (6.8°F). Most tourist attractions are open year-round, but the peak tourism season is during the summer months.

The area boasts an ideal climate for agriculture, with its warm temperatures and high rainfall during the early spring and summer months. Although winter days in Moose Jaw can get quite chilly, the sun still shines brightly even during the most bitterly cold ones. Each year the city receives a high amount of sunshine, approximately 2,350 hours throughout the year.

TRANSPORTATION

Getting There
The closest commercial airport to Moose Jaw is the Regina International Airport. The airport offers many direct flights to and from a variety of cities, including Vancouver,Winnipeg and Toronto. Saskatoon, located 208 km (129 m) northwest of Moose Jaw, also has a major airport, the Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport.

Pleasent Prairie Surroundings 3

The city's close proximity to the Trans-Canada Highway connects Moose Jaw to larger centres such as Calgary, Alberta to the west of the city and Regina to the east.

The Greyhound Bus Lines stop in Moose Jaw and make frequent trips to cities in and outside of Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Transportation Company also accesses Moose Jaw, specializing in transportation to small and large communities throughout Saskatchewan.

Getting Around
Once in Moose Jaw, visitors can travel to various attractions by using the City of Moose Jaw Transit System. Buses stop in several locations throughout the city. There are also several taxi and rental car services available.

FEATURED ATTRACTIONS

Tunnels of Moose Jaw
Explore the secrets of Moose Jaw's past through the legendary underground tunnels. It is suspected that these mysterious passageways were built around the late 1800s and early 1900s for steam engineers, who maintained boilers, to access each building without going outside. The Tunnels of Moose Jaw present the passageways in an interactive way with two tours. Visitors are brought back to the year 1929 as bootleggers in the Chicago Connection tour, which focuses on Al Capone's presence in the area. The second tour, Passage to Fortune, gives a glimpse into the lives of early Chinese immigrants to Canada.

	Swans Inhabit Crescent Park4

Western Development Museum
Learn about how people roamed spacious Saskatchewan before the convenience of cars. The Western Development Museum documents the history of road, rail, water and air transportation. The railway played a significant part in opening up western Canada to the east. Find out more about the Canadian Pacific Railway through informative displays. The museum also houses a gallery that focuses on the legendary 431 Squadron Snowbirds.

Temple Gardens Mineral Spa Resort
Rejuvenate in Canada's largest therapeutic, geo-thermal, mineral water indoor/outdoor rooftop pool at the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa Resort. The pools are linked by a water tunnel, which makes getting from both pools an easy task. As one relaxes in the mineral-rich water their skin experiences a warm and soothing feeling. The water, which creates a calm atmosphere, is drawn from a porous rock formation of an ancient seabed that is more than 1350 m (4500 ft) below the earth's surface.

Crescent Park
Centrally located in Moose Jaw, only one block east of Main Street, sits the “Jewel of the Prairies.” Crescent Park, provides 28 acres (11.3 ha) of space in which to relax. The park's winding paths reveal colourful flowers and glimpses into nature with each step. Swans, ducks and geese inhabit the park and provide great photo opportunities. There are plenty of activities going on daily in the gardens, including an outdoor pool, water park, tennis and lawn bowling clubs, the YM/YWCA and an art museum. If looking for some reading material while at the park, there is a public library on the grounds as well. An outdoor amphitheatre makes use of the beauty of the outdoors for special events.

1. Moose; Moose Jaw, SK, CAN
2. Court House; Moose Jaw, SK, CAN
3. Prairies; Moose Jaw, SK, CAN
4. Swans; Moose Jaw, SK, CAN