24 Rare Vintage Photographs That Capture Everyday Life in Saskatchewan, Canada From the Early 20th Century

Saskatchewan is a prairie and boreal province in western Canada, the only province without natural borders. It is a landlocked province with large distances to moderating bodies of waters. As a result, its climate is extremely continental, rendering severe winters throughout the province.

Saskatchewan has been inhabited for thousands of years by various indigenous groups, and first explored by Europeans in 1690 and settled in 1774. It became a province in 1905, carved out from the vast North-West Territories, which had until then included most of the Canadian Prairies.

In the early 20th century the province became known as a stronghold for Canadian social democracy; North America's first social-democratic government was elected in 1944. The province's economy is based on agriculture, mining, and energy. Saskatchewan's current premier is Brad Wall and its lieutenant-governor is Vaughn Solomon Schofield.

Family in a carriage, Humboldt, Saskatchewan

Freda and Edward, Hatton, Saskatchewan, September 1921

Hanley, Saskatchewan, May 31, 1910

Humboldt, Saskatchewan, July 12, 1918

Humboldt, Saskatchewan, October 1914

Watching baseball game, Humboldt, Saskatchewan, 1912

Langham, Saskatchewan, 1909

1st Avenue looking south, Nipawin, Saskatchewan

Cutting wheat on the Franklin Realty Company's farm, Nokomis, Saskatchewan

Fire at Nokomis, Saskatchewan, February 3, 1921

Nipawin, Saskatchewan, 1925

Nokomis, Saskatchewan, May 28, 1912

Prairie schooners, Nokomis, Saskatchewan

Carnival, Leader, Saskatchewan, August 20, 1917

Derrick built by schoolboys, Lancer, Saskatchewan

Kaiser Wilhelm Ave., Langenberg, Saskatchewan

Lang, Saskatchewan

Lanigan Hotel, Lanigan, Saskatchewan

Loverna, Saskatchewan

Luseland, Saskatchewan

Lashburn Fair, Saskatchewan, 1911

Lashburn, Saskatchewan, 1908

Lashburn, Saskatchewan

Sir Wilfred Laurie visits Lashburn, Saskatchewan