Fort Qu'Appelle

Fort Qu'Appelle is a town of 2,000 people (2016) in Qu'Appelle Valley along the transition between Southeastern Saskatchewan and East Central Saskatchewan regions. == Understand == Fort Qu'Appelle was established as a Hudson's Bay Company trading post in 1852, and developed into a service centre for area settlers. Fort Qu'Appelle had a bid to succeed Battleford as the territorial capital, but lost out to Regina in 1882. It lies between Echo Lake and Mission Lakes, and should not be confused with the once-significant nearby town of Qu'Appelle, which is 28 km to the south along the Trans-Canada Highway. Fort Qu'Appelle maintains cross country ski trails and a snowmobile trail system. Opportunities for ice fishing are also available. 1 Fort Qu'Appelle Tourist Information Centre, on Hwy 10, ☏ +1 306-332-2037. Summer: daily 10AM-5PM. In the Canadian National Railway (CNR) heritage building. (updated Jul 2019) Town of Fort Qu'Appelle website === History === The current site is the third Fort Qu'Appelle. The first was a North West Company trading post (1801–05), also in the valley but near what is now the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border. The Hudson's Bay Company first used the name for a post north of present-day Whitewood (some 174 km east of Regina on Number 1 Highway) from 1813 to 1819. Prior to the mid-19th-century establishment of a longer lasting fur-trading post here, it was the hub of several historic trails that traversed the northwest. It was the site of a Hudson's Bay Company post from 1852 to 1854. An Anglican mission was established, which survives as the town's St. John the Evangelist Anglican parish church. The post was revived again from 1864 to 1911. With the signing of Treaty 4 by Cree and Salteaux Aboriginal peoples at Fort Qu'Appelle, the North-West Mounted Police, now the RCMP, arrived. Farm development began in the 1880s and farmers required a nearby urban centre for selling their grain and other products, purchasing agricultural and domestic supplies and for social gathering beyond rural schools and churches. The name "Qu'Appelle" comes from "is French for 'who calls' and is derived from its Cree name, kah-tep-was ('river that calls'). There are several versions of the origin of this name, but the most popular suggests it refers to a Cree legend of two ill-fated lovers." The name refers to the once-popular legend of the Qu'Appelle Valley versified by Pauline Johnson and known nation-wide. "Fort Qu'Appelle was the crossroads of a number of historic trails that traversed the North-West Territories." == Get in == Fort Qu'Appelle is 70 km northeast of Regina (via Highway 10) and 550 km west of Winnipeg. == Get around == Shylo's Taxi, ☏ +1 306 331-0330. (updated Jul 2019) == See == 1 Fort Qu'Appelle Museum, 198 Bay Avenue N, ☏ +1-306-332-6033. On the site of the original 1865 Hudson's Bay Company trading post, the museum displays Indigenous, Hudson's Bay Company, North West Mounted Police (NWMP) and Fort San artifacts plus many pioneer photos, tools and items. (updated Mar 2019) == Do == 1 Echo Valley Provincial Park (10 km west of Fort Qu'Appelle on Hwy 210), ☏ +1-306-332-3215, toll-free: +1-855-737-7275, echovalleypp@gov.sk.ca. The park is in the Qu'Appelle Valley between Echo and Pasqua Lakes, and offers scenic surroundings and numerous recreational opportunities. With two beaches and access to two lakes, this park is a great destination for the fishing and water enthusiast. Camping available. (updated Mar 2019) 2 Echo Ridge Golf Course (on Hwy 56 North (Fort San Road) on the northwest end of Fort Qu'Appelle), ☏ +1-306-332-4653, echoridgegolf@sasktel.net. 9 hole golf course located in (updated Mar 2019) 3 Mission Ridge Winter Park (1.6 km south of the Hwy 10/35 North intersection on the south end of Fort Qu'Appelle), ☏ +1-306-332-5479, toll-free: +1-800-550-6857, daylodge@missionridge.ca. Open Dec 1 to Mar 30. (updated Mar 2019) == Buy == 1 Fort Qu'Appelle and District Farmers' Market, 310 Broadway Street West, ☏ +1 306-450-2652, fortfarmersmarket@hotmail.com. Open every Saturday beginning long weekend in May to at least September long from 9:00 to 1:00 with an additional market on July 1st. Parking is on the west side of the market as well as street parking. (updated Mar 2026) Fort Qu'Appelle Pottery and Art Gallery, 165 Bay Avenue N (across from the museum), ☏ +1 306-332-4900, frowill@hotmail.com. Apr 15 to Dec 31: Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, or phone for an appointment.. (updated Mar 2019) == Eat == Country Squire Inn (Junction Hwy 10 and Bay St), ☏ +1 306-332-0044. Daily 8:30AM-9PM. (updated Mar 2019) 1 Valley Bake and Coffee Shop, 161 Broadway St, ☏ +1 306-332-5344. M-Sa 6:30AM-4PM, Su 7AM-2PM. Good breakfasts, burgers, and butter tarts. Vegetarian options. (updated Mar 2026) 2 Houston Pizza, 8th St, ☏ +1 306-332-3888. M-Sa 11AM-1AM, Su 11AM-midnight. A Saskatchewan chain of sit-down restaurants that is not to be confused with the Alberta chain called Boston Pizza. Pizza, pasta, steaks, sandwiches, burgers. Mains $10-29. (updated Mar 2026) 3 Ming's Garden, 215 Broadway St, ☏ +1 306-332-6887. M closed, Tu–F 11AM–8PM, Sa Su 4–8PM. (updated Mar 2026) == Drink == == Sleep == 1 BraeBurn Inn, 750 Bay Avenue S, ☏ +1 306-332-5757, braeburn@sasktel.net. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. All rooms are equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, coffee-maker, colour television with satellite, free Wi-Fi, fan and electric fireplace. Small RV park with 30 amp service available May-Sep. First night single $129, doublev$149, discounts for subsequent nights. (updated Mar 2026) 2 Country Squire Inn, 503 Hudson Ave (Junction of Hwy 10 and Bay St), ☏ +1 306-332-5603, brianleeca@yahoo.ca. A dated, poorly-maintained motel with restaurant attached. (updated Jul 2019) Fort Qu'Appelle Campground (on the E shore of Echo Lake, 1.2 km N of Hwy 10 via Boundary Ave), ☏ +1 306-331-6095, fortrec@sasktel.net. (updated Mar 2026) 3 Valley Centre Cabin Rentals, 1 Willow Way (adjacent to Fort Qu'Appelle Campground, 1.2 km N of Hwy 10 on Boundary Ave), ☏ +1 306-332-4866, valleycabinrentals@sasktel.net. Short and long-term rentals available. (updated Mar 2026) == Nearby == === Abernethy === 32 km (20 mi) east of Fort Qu'Appelle on Hwys 10 & 22 4 Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site (3 km south of Abernethy off Hwy 22), ☏ +1 306-333-2116, toll-free: +1-888-773-8888, lhnhomestead-motherwell-motherwellhomesteadnhs@pc.gc.ca. The site commemorates the life and achievements of W.R. Motherwell, Saskatchewan's first minister of agriculture and federal minister of agriculture for the Mackenzie King government. (updated Mar 2026) === Katepwa Beach === 16 km (10 mi) southeast of Fort Qu'Appelle on Hwy 56 5 Katepwa Beach Golf Club (Adjacent to Hwy 56 across from Katepwa Beach.), ☏ +1 306-332-2582. Open May 1 to Oct 15. (updated Mar 2026) 6 Katepwa Point Provincial Park, ☏ +1 306-332-3215, echovalley@gov.sk.ca. Small, day-use park featuring one of the nicest beaches in the Qu'Appelle Valley. It offers picnic facilities (briquettes only), playground, service centre and parking. Accommodations, licensed dining, concessions, golf and canoe/kayak rentals are available nearby. (updated Mar 2019) === Qu'Appelle === 28 km (17 mi) south of Fort Qu'Appelle on Hwy 35; 58 km (36 mi) east of Regina on the Trans-Canada Highway. Formerly a major distribution centre for the then District of Assiniboia in the North-West Territories (now southern Saskatchewan) and considered for the territorial capital, it was supplanted by Regina. Numerous historical buildings still remain. == Go next ==