Prince Albert National Park Before Prince Albert National Park was established, the 3875 square km area that would fall within its borders, was a traditional hunting and trapping ground for the Montreal Lake Cree Nation. It was also home to a Hudson Bay Company post on Waskesiu Lake from 1886 to 1893. In 1913, the southern third portion of the park was established as the Sturgeon River Reserve. It was in that year that the Prince Albert Lumber Company began harvesting the forest for lumber. In 1924, because of the area’s recreational potential the first cottage subdivision was created on Waskesiu Lake. In order to further develop the cottage site and roads into Waskesiu Lake, the Prince Albert Board of Trade successfully lobbied for the creation of a national park. On August 10, 1928, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, elected representative for Prince Albert, officially opened Prince Albert National Park - Saskatchewan’s first national park.
Photo courtesy Tourism Saskatchewan Photo by Greg Huszar
Throughout the depression of the 1930s, relief workers cut trails, built roads, bridges, wharves and structures. Concentrated work was done on the development of a townsite and campground because of the increasing influx of park visitors. In 1931, there were 3800 campers sharing space on 480 sites. Permission followed to allow the erection of collapsible shack tents. By the 1950s there were 412 shack tents in the campground. Over time, the shack tents were relocated, many eliminated, and others converted into permanent cottages. Today in the park there are 12 recognized federal heritage buildings, all built between 1928 and 1935.
Photo by L Carter
Photo by Ed Stringer
80 | Discover Prince Albert
Canada’s national parks were created for the enjoyment of Canadians as nature reserves and recreational sites. In 1931 the Dominion Park Service hired conservationist and author, Grey Owl (Archibald Belaney), as its first naturalist, providing him with a cabin on Ajawaan Lake in PANP. Over the next 7 years Grey Owl actively promoted wilderness conservation as an author and international speaker. Today, hiking to Grey Owl’s cabin is a popular 40km round trip experience.
