Officially founded in 1913 with the arrival of the railroad, North Battleford overcame its rough wilderness setting to forge a vibrant community that was already established before the first train showed up.
A fur-trading post was established in1785, a telegraph line in 1874, a North-West Mounted Police headquarters in 1876, the capital of the North West Territories in 1877 and the first newspaper west of Winnipeg in 1878.
As one historian noted, "Undaunted by the odds that would have broken men and women of lesser spirit, they struggled on … they carved the nucleus of a city from the wilderness of bare prairie and bush."
That building spirit still thrives today.
In the first nine months of this year, building-permit values for residential construction nearly tripled to $23.2 billion and industrial permits soared from $1 million in all of 2011 to $6.8 billion this year. Combined private building permits are up 84 per cent from a year ago.
Institutional construction is down in 2012, but that is only because the city finished a stunning $51.7 million CUPlex, a massive civic building in 2011 that includes an aquatic centre, a performing arts venue and a power curling centre. It will hold its grand opening in the new year.
North Battleford celebrates its 10th anniversary next year - and a suitably boisterous celebration is planned.
from Western Investor December 2012
