Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, population 1700, is a town located in the south western corner of the province. It was established along the railway line in 1913. Although origin of the town's name has been lost it is generally believed that it is a combination of the names of Lord Shaughnessy and William Cornelius Van Horne, two of the founders of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Early settlers were homesteaders taking advantage of the free 160 acres of land granted to them by the federal government. The water that was used for the royal visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939 was supplied by the town, earning it the title "The Water Capital of Canada".

Kindly written and contributed by Mrs M J Ujimoto © 2009