Canora, Saskatchewan

a town in Saskatchewan, Canada

Canora is a town, located at the junction of highways No. 5 and 9 in east central Saskatchewan, about 50 km north of Yorkton. It is centrally located on the corners of four adjacent rural municipalities, including the RM of Good Lake. The community is home to approximately 3,500 residents and is part of the Canora Pelly electoral district. The community was founded along the Canadian Northern Railway tracks one of the companies that evolved into the Canadian National Railway (CN), and two CN freight lines (one east west branch line to Saskatoon and one line going north) still run through Canora. The Canora railway station, downtown on the CN east west line before the switch to the northbound line, is served by Via Rail on its passenger service from Winnipeg to Churchill, Manitoba. As of 2016, 53% of the town’s residents are either from Ukraine or of Ukrainian descent, with the language still widely spoken in the community. Canora became a village in 1905 and was incorporated as a town in 1910.

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Canora had a population of 2092 living in 981 of its 1123 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 2024. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.

The area around Canora was first settled by Europeans in the late 19th century by Doukhobors, Romanians, and Ukrainians. The first ranchers arrived in the area in 1884. Two years later, in 1886, the land was officially surveyed by the Dominion government. The first Ukrainian block settlement in Saskatchewan was established in 1897 when 150 families arrived in the Canora District from Western Ukraine. In 1904, the Canadian Northern Railway laid tracks through the area and in April of that same year, a post office was opened, a school district established, and a town site was surveyed. A year later, in 1905, Canora was incorporated as a hamlet on the site of the train station, which now serves as the town's museum and tourist information centre. In 1908, Canora became a village. The name Canora is derived from the first two letters of the words "Canadian Northern Railway." By 1910, with a growing population of around 400, Canora had officially achieved the status of a town. In 1912, the first Canora Chamber of Commerce was established. Over the next few decades, the community experienced rapid growth with population levels remaining stable even through the Great Depression. Canora's population peaked in 1966 with about 2,734 residents.

Canora hosts two week long festivals that celebrate both winter and summer. Canora in Bloom Canora's week long annual summer festival that takes place in July and features family friendly activities, including pool activities, movie nights, golf nights, an old fashioned picnic with local musicians and numerous dinners and suppers hosted by local groups and organizations.

Winter Lights Festival Canora's week long annual winter festival that features events such as a family skate with Santa, family movie night, youth events, a children's carnival, an evening parade followed by a community bonfire and fireworks display, as well as numerous dinners hosted by local community groups and organizations.

Sylvia Fedoruk, Saskatchewan's first woman Lieutenant Governor, was born in Canora in 1927. John Hnatyshyn, Canadian senator and lawyer born in Canora in 1907. Harry Fain, a lawyer who represented clients such as Elvis Presley, Carey Grant, Lee Majors, Rod Steiger and Ali MacGraw, was born in Canora in 1908. Florence Storgoff, a political and Freedomite activist, was born in Canora in 1908. Allan McKinnon, a Canadian politician, was born in Canora in 1917. Warner Jorgenson, a Canadian politician, was born in Canora in 1918. Lorne Kopelchuk, a Canadian politician, was born in Canora in 1938. Cliff Koroll, a National Hockey League player and coach and Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Famer was born in Canora in 1946. Harold Phillipoff, a National Hockey League player, was raised in Canora. Tyler Wright, a National Hockey League player and coach, was born in Canora in 1973. Cam Severson, a National Hockey League player was born in Canora in 1978. Terry Dennis, a Saskatchewan politician, was born in Canora.

Canora is protected by the Canora Sturgis RCMP detachment. The detachment has 8 members, between Canora and Sturgis. Canora and area is served by a full time Ambulance service – consisting of 3 PCP's, 3 ICP's, and two ACP's. Canora's fire protection is provided by 21 professionally trained and certified paid per call staff. Along with fire protection they also provide rescue services such as vehicle extrication. Their services are also utilised in surrounding Rural Municipalities.

Canora is located at the junction of east west Saskatchewan Highway 5 and north south Saskatchewan Highway 9. The town also serves as a hub for two freight lines of the Canadian National Railway. The downtown Canora railway station is served by Via Rail passenger service as a stop on the Winnipeg–Churchill train.