Plenty (
2016 population: ) is a
village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to ...
in the
Canadian province
Within the geographical areas of Canada, the ten provinces and three territories are sub-national administrative divisions under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Constitution. In the 1867 Canadian Confederation, three provinces of British North ...
of
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada, western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on t ...
within the
Rural Municipality of Winslow No. 319
The Rural Municipality of Winslow No. 319 ( 2016 population: ) is a rural municipality (RM) in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan within Census Division No. 13 and Division No. 6.
History
The RM of Winslow No. 319 incorporated as a ru ...
and
Census Division No. 13. Plenty is located equidistant among
Kindersley
Kindersley is a town surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Kindersley No. 290 in west-central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located along Highway 7, a primary highway linking Calgary, Alberta and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. At a population of 4,59 ...
,
Biggar,
Kerrobert and
Rosetown and approximately 150 kilometres southwest of the City of
Saskatoon
Saskatoon () is the largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It straddles a bend in the South Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province. It is located along the Trans-Canada Hig ...
.
History
Plenty incorporated as a village on March 25, 1911.
The
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadi ...
(CPR) chose the name ''Plenty''. As the railroad was being laid, the future town site and surrounding areas were the first fields on the line that produced good crops, thus appearing to be "the Land of Plenty", and the town received its name from this inspiration.
Approximately north of Plenty is the Moore's Ravine Municipal Heritage Site (Richard's Pasture) made up of approximately designated on which are located several Aboriginal heritage sites including two turtle effigies, the Plenty Medicine Wheel, and test pits where archaeological digs have revealed hundreds of scattered buffalo bones. This site is on private land.
East of Plenty by is Lake Opuntia. It is a stopping place for birds and wildlife and covers approximately 1395 hectares. In the 1950s, the area surrounding the lake was made a game preserve to regulate hunting. Opuntia Lake is strategically situated in the major goose fall staging area of Western Canada, is a very important staging area for waterfowl. Estimated maximum fall concentrations include 15,000 to 20,000 geese (Canada, White-fronted, Snow and Ross' geese), up to 30,000 ducks (mainly Mallard, Pintail, and assorted divers), 2,000 Sandhill Cranes and 500 Tundra Swans. The lake supports only a small number of breeding and moulting dabblers and divers.
During the 1950s, a program of tree planting occurred at the lake along with the construction of baseball diamonds and a boat house. For several years the Plenty Sports Day was held at the lake. Several attempts were made to stock the lake with fish but the lakes salinity and fluctuating levels brought an end to this project and the use of the site for the sports day.
In the mid 1970s, a dirt and stock car track was built near the gravel pits at the lake. Although the track was completed, races were never held.
Demographics
In the
2021 Census of Population conducted by
Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada (StatCan; french: Statistique Canada), formed in 1971, is the agency of the Government of Canada commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and cultur ...
, Plenty had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.
In the
2016 Census of Population, the Village of Plenty 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.
Economy
The economy of Plenty and area is primarily driven by agriculture with some oil and gas activity to the west and south of the town.
Education
Plenty is located within the Sun West School Division. North West Central School, a
Kindergarten
Kindergarten is a preschool educational approach based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from home to school. Such institutions were originally made in the late 18th cent ...
to grade 12 school, services the surrounding communities of
Kelfield,
Ruthilda, and
Stranraer
Stranraer ( , in Scotland also ; gd, An t-Sròn Reamhar ), also known as The Toon, is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is located in the historical parish of Inch in the historic county of Wigtownshire. It lies on the shores of L ...
and provides high school services for the community of
Dodsland.
[http://www.sunwestsd.ca/plenty/ North West Central School website]
Notable people
Plenty is the home town of the late
Brad McCrimmon
Byron Brad McCrimmon (March 29, 1959 – September 7, 2011) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and coach. He played over 1,200 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, ...
(1959–2011), former captain of the NHL's
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...
and winner of the
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
with the Flames in 1989. It is the birthplace of Brad's brother
Kelly McCrimmon
Kelly McCrimmon (born October 13, 1960) is the General Manager of the Vegas Golden Knights.
Playing career
Kelly McCrimmon played for the Prince Albert Raiders of the SJHL before suiting up with the Wheat Kings for two seasons, winning his fir ...
, former player, coach and General Manager of the
Brandon Wheat Kings
The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. They are members of the Western Hockey League (WHL) since joining the league in the 1967–68 season. Previously, they played in the Manitoba Junior Hoc ...
and General Manager of the
Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. Founded in 2017 as an expan ...
.
Plenty is also home to Don Saxton who was part of Canada's National Volleyball team for eight years and competed for Canada at the 1983 World Student Games and the 1984 Olympic Games, as well as
Jaycee Gebhard
Jaycee Gebhard (born June 2, 1999) is a Canadian ice hockey centre, currently playing with Brynäs IF Dam of the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL). Selected in the first round, 6th overall in the 2020 NWHL Draft, she was the first ever draft ...
,
Brynäs IF
Brynäs IF is a Swedish ice hockey team from Gävle. The club currently plays in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), the top tier of ice hockey in Sweden. The club has played in the top-tier league since 1960, longer than any other team.
History ...
forward and first-ever draft pick of the NWHL's
Toronto Six
The Toronto Six is a professional women's ice hockey team based in Toronto playing out of Canlan Ice Sports – York. They are one of two Canadian teams in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) (formerly known as the National Women's Hockey League ...
.
See also
*
List of communities in Saskatchewan
Communities in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada include incorporated municipalities, unincorporated communities and First Nations communities.
Types of incorporated municipalities include urban municipalities, rural municipalities and nor ...
*
Villages of Saskatchewan
A village is a type of incorporated urban municipality in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. A village is created from an organized hamlet by the Minister of Municipal Affairs by ministerial order via section 51 of ''The Municipalities Act'' i ...
References
Villages in Saskatchewan
Winslow No. 319, Saskatchewan
Division No. 13, Saskatchewan
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