I Was Saskatchewan, When Saskatchewan Wasn’t Cool….

There’s a clamour of industry, moving vans, house builders, shoppers and drivers. Prairie folks are coming home but most intriguing for me are the Albertans who are moving here for the very first time. For sooo long we’ve been compared to, contrasted with, told we should be like, others wished we were like, put down cause we weren’t like, mocked cause we didn’t want to be like…Alberta. And we’re still very unique and unlike Alberta.

Not saying there’s anything wrong with Alberta, not saying that. I’m just saying that Saskatchewan has always had what everywhere else has: beauty, amazing sights and scenes, possibility, space…but all in a humble way.

I’m not bragging but I have to tell you, I was on cattle drive yesterday! Yes, a cattle drive. Moving cattle from one pasture to another, across Highway 11 as a matter of fact. RCMP stopped traffic on this divided double highway between Regina and Saskatoon so cattle and horses could cross over. A friend invited me to sit on a bail of hay in the back of a truck and be part of the action. In addition to witnessing breath-taking images and capturing some great photos of prairie skies and grasses, charming cows and rugged cowboys – male and female – I feel in deeper love as I got to know another aspect of my home province.

I wasn’t alone on this romantic journey. Lou was my companion. He just moved here from Alberta, never lived here before this summer. Lou was blissfully happy being out on the cattle drive too. He talked about leaving the chaos of Alberta traffic behind, the freedom he’s gained, the stunning skies around us. He just bought 12 acres of land and feels like his opportunities here are as limitless as the prairie skies he was admiring.

What makes Saskatchewan sexy nowadays – simply the high price of oil? We’ve always had all the things that are bringing people here today: mega natural resources, stunning beauty, opportunity galore and a relaxed lifestyle. People here give a damn about their neighbour. That was so evident yesterday on the cattle drive. We were just a bunch of neighbours helping out for the fun of it. We care about everyone having health care, food to eat and a place to call home. We know that our publicly owned crown corporations have got us to where we are today with schools, hospitals, transportation, communication, gas and power, crop and personal insurance, research and technology. Some call this socialism. It hasn’t been easy for Saskatchewan to prosper against the current. Our people have worked hard, minded our own business (literally), ignored the naysayers for the most part and revelled in the glory of our home. It’s just so darn interesting to watch people and corporations discover Saskatchewan now. Like me, many other local folks who have been here in the unpopular times are saying, “heck I was Saskatchewan, when Saskatchewan wasn’t cool”.

To see some of what I see, check out the images in the Cattle Drive gallery. Here’s one at the final destination. This photo will be the virtual door prize for anyone responding to my journal for the final quarter of 2007. Tell me what you think about our growth, our fabulous prairie skies, or your home.

The recipient of the previous draw was Kim Reeve of Regina. Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and feedback to my previous journal entry. Click here to see comments about my journal and website.

You all come visit us now, you hear?
Darlene