Saskatoon is the largest city in Saskatchewan and stands on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, in the center of the state, about 170 km (105 miles) northwest of the Lakes Settlement (Vatnabyggð). Most people say that the name is related to a common berry, Saskatoon or Saskwaton in the Cree language of the natives. There are two theories of naming; another and the most common report is that the settler John Neilson Lake, who went to the area with a group of settlers in 1883, got to taste the berries and liked the taste, shouted “Wonderful saskatoon – Queen of the North”. The other theory is that Cree natives gathered material in arrows from a special willow species that grew in the district and the word “Sask-kwa-tan” was used where the species grew most and best and meant “the place where the willow is cut”. In 1882 a group of Good Templars traveled from Toronto, where alcohol, in their opinion, flowed excessively, west into the plains after agreeing with Canadian authorities on special areas in the Northwest Territory, where the Templars intended to form a “dry” community on the Canadian plains. However, it was the aforementioned John Neilson Lake that in 1883 led the first settlers to the area where the city now stands. In 1903 the village on the west bank was granted town rights and in 1906 Saskatoon became a city of 4,500.
Icelandic Residents
In the first decade of the 20th century, Icelandic immigrants in the United States, Canada and even directly from Iceland flocked to the Lakes Settlement (Vatnabyggð). Agriculture and fishing suited this best, few sought a future in villages, towns or cities. They were mainly descendants of settlers, the second generation was growing up and had an easier time adapting to a new society in Western Canada. One of them was Júníus Jónsson, son of Jón Jónsson at Skinþúfa in Seyluhreppur in Skagafjarðarsýsla. The father and son came west to Canada in 1900 and went to New Iceland. Júníus had the opportunity to work with surveyors in the province and was successful in his work. On April 28, 1921, Lögberg published an article in a Saskatoon newspaper about Júníus. The article is called “Íslenskkur myndarskapur”: “On the 22nd, The Saskatoon Daily Star publishes the following article about our countryman, Júníus Jónsson; ” The town of Saskatoon is about to lose one of its best officials, Júníus Johnson, an assistant surveyor hired by the Prince Albert Town Council as the town’s chief planner and overseer of its agencies. In a word, the town’s chief of staff. The mayor of Saskatoon has expressed his sadness over the departure of Mr. Johnson and publicly thanked him for the excellent work he has done in the needs of the town. Júníus was born in Iceland but came to Canada in 1900 and has seen more of his adopted country than most other Canadians. Only after he came to this country did he settle down with his people in New Iceland, but joined the service of the Dominion government’s surveyors after a year’s stay there. With them he traveled as follows: In 1902 Northern Manitoba, in 1903 around Saskatoon and part of Edmonton. In 1904 he was west in Klettafjöll. 1905 about 150-200 miles north from Prince Albert and south to The Pas, in Pasguia and Porcupine Hill. In 1906-7 he was back in the Saskatoon district, but in 1908 he entered the service of the town of Saskatoon, a trained surveyor. The mayor of Saskatoon, Mr. Young said: “One of the best men we’ve ever had in our service.” Saskatoon City Commissioner Leslie said of him: “Mr. Johnson is without exception one of the best officials we have ever had. He has been unselfish, sincere and true in all his work and his department has overseen all the buildings, water supply and sewage on behalf of the town for many years. We, his collaborators, congratulate him on this improved position and his acknowledgment and wish him all the best in it. And we congratulate Prince Albert on having been fortunate enough to have such a gentleman in their service. “Mr. Johnson will take up his post at Prince Albert on May 15.”
In the years 1910-1914, the number of Icelanders in the town increased somewhat, more information about them later.
English version by Thor Group.