Vanguard, Saskatchewan


Vanguard is a village in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan within the Rural Municipality of Whiska Creek No. 106 and Census Division No. 3. It is on Highway 43 close to Notekeu Creek. Its prime economic driver is agriculture: chick peas; lentils; red, spring, hard and durum wheats are grown here.

History

In 1910, the Canadian Pacific Railway purchased the land from Latimer Young which became the community of Vanguard. Vanguard incorporated as a village on July 8, 1912. The origin of the name Vanguard may be attributed to it having been on the vanguard of the railway in 1912; however, is also a name in the Royal Navy tradition. Lord Horatio Nelson had a Vanguard; the last dreadnought battleship was also called Vanguard. Recent publications state that the inspiration for the name of the village came from which was commissioned in 1909 and exploded in 1917, killing 843 of the 845 men aboard. Regardless of the true origin of the name, the north-south streets in Vanguard reflect the naval heritage, being named Armada, Victory, Triumph, Drake and Nelson Streets. The east-west streets are named in honour of the province, the landscape in which Vanguard is situated, the rail heritage and the hopeful spirit in which Vanguard was established. Vanguard is bisected by Division St. and the main street is called "Dominion".

Demographics

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Vanguard recorded a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2016.
In the 2011 Census of Population, the Village of Vanguard recorded a population of, a change from its 2006 population of. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2011.

Attractions

Nearby communities are Pambrun, Gravelbourg, Swift Current, Hodgeville and Ponteix. Vanguard is close to Cypress Hills inter-provincial park, Grasslands National Park, the Canada–US border, and Lac Pelletier regional park.

Education

Vanguard is the home of Vanguard Community School with specialist teachers, low student-teacher ratio, and an enrollment of approximately 90.

Notable people

, broadcaster, and journalist James Minifie called Vanguard home. He worked for the New York Herald Tribune and was the Washington correspondent for the CBC. Knowlton Nash described Mr. Minifie as: "a man passionately dedicated to improving the quality of journalism overwhelming desire was accuracy in reporting". Woodrow Lloyd, former premier of Saskatchewan, was a principal in Vanguard. NHL goaltender, Al Rollins, was born in Vanguard.