The Diefenbaker Canada Centre is nestled near the river on the University of Saskatchewan grounds. It is a unique public facility that contains over 4000 artifacts of Canada’s thirteenth Prime Minister, John G. Diefenbaker. Diefenbaker moved as a boy to Saskatchewan and attended the University of Saskatchewan, obtaining degrees in political studies, economics and law. Eventually he became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and was elected Prime Minister — the first and only individual from Saskatchewan to do so to date.

Within the Diefenbaker Centre, there are permanent exhibits of the Prime Minister’s rule including replicas of both the Cabinet room and the Prime Minister’s office. The Centre also contains the Archives which consist of over three million documents, eight thousand photographs and two major press clipping collections.

Temporary and travelling exhibits also rotate throughout the museum, sharing the centre. During a recent visit, the museum had numerous displays of the ‘Underground Railroad’, detailing the stories of people who helped black men, women and children to escape slavery in the U.S. for a new life in Canada. Back in my university days, I also vividly remember going to the Centre to see a copy of the Magna Carta as part of my Political Studies class. The Magna Carta is the first document that was forced onto the English monarchy by the citizens in an attempt to limit its powers.

Mr. Diefenbaker is buried a short walk away from the Centre beside his wife Olive overlooking the river.

Diefenbaker Canada Centre
University of Saskatchewan
101 Diefenbaker Place

306 966-8384

The Darrell Bell Gallery recently re-opened after expanding to adjacent space with an art opening. The expansion looks amazing (sorry, no pictures). Right now the ‘lobby area’ by the gallery is under renovations by the building owner, but it is a perfect time to drop by and check out the new space.

The SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival is a yearly event held the last week of June to the July long weekend. Growing a bit each year, the current festival has 7 venues in Saskatoon with over 25 concerts over the week. Several of the concerts have multiple artists or warmup acts which can span over the better part of a day. The festival is centred in Saskatoon but there are other concerts occurring simultaneously in Regina and other venues around the province.

Although the festival is centred around jazz, there is a lot of variety in the actual performances. Performers as diverse as DJ Champion (techno beats, roaring live guitars and blues vocals) and Herbie Hancock (rock, funk, and soul with freer stylistic elements from jazz) grace the venues.

The best venue the festival has is the Bessborough Gardens Mainstage. Tucked in at the back of the Bessborough, it is a large area able to accommodate several thousand people at once. As long as the sun shines (a sometimes iffy proposition around this time of year), the Gardens are an amazing place to spend an afternoon with friends, having a few drinks and enjoying the music.

As of writing, the festival is midway through its 2007 run. Try to check out a show or two of one of Saskatoon’s most famous and popular festivals.

SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival
Various Venues

306 652-1421 (Office)
306 652-4700 (Box Office)

I’m not exactly sure how I was originally introduced to The Bulk Cheese Warehouse, but over the years it has become my place to go when I’m looking to indulge the gourmet inside me. ‘Foodies’ throughout Saskatoon and area come to their business on Broadway Ave. to sample and buy the myriad of product they carry.

Of course the store is primarily known for their cheeses. They have two huge displays of cheeses from all over the world. From the familiar (mozzarella, cheddar) to the more exotic (various goat cheeses and unpasteurized cheeses), if you can’t find what you’re looking for here, you won’t find it anywhere in Saskatoon.

But The Bulk Cheese carries far more than just cheeses. A couple of years back they added an addition onto the back of their store to add a butcher shop / fish shop to their business. They carry organic meats, game (such as bison, elk) and some of the more common items you would expect. One of our favourite finds ever here was bison sausage. It was spicy and tangy and we instantly fell in love with it when it came off the barbecue. On a sad note though, it was a one-time only find! It never reappeared in the freezer and when we asked about it, it appears that the recipe disappeared along with the employee who had crafted it. Nevermind though because there are plenty of other items that are just as appealing.

Besides the meat and fish, there are also fresh pastas and sauces, bagels, salads (you have to try the pesto pasta salad), samosas and other appetizers. Fresh soups and breads can also be found.

The Bulk Cheese Warehouse towers above other specialty food stores in Saskatoon. You can count on finding some amazing items within to tempt any food lover’s stomach.

The Bulk Cheese Warehouse

732 Broadway Ave

306 652-8008

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park is located in the Silverspring neighbourhood in Saskatoon. Originally called “The Sutherland Forest Nursery Station”, the site was used as a nursery to supply the northern part of the prairie provinces with trees. Over 147 million trees came out of the nursery from 1913 to 1966, delivering caragana, ash, maple, elm and willow trees across the prairies. The park could possibly be called “Saskatoon’s Stanley Park”.

When the nursery closed, Saskatoon reopened part of the site as the Forestry Farm Park and continued to develop it as a community park. It, along with the original superintendent’s residence on the site, has been designated a national historic site.

The park today has several large open fields with a cricket pitch, a baseball diamond, three separate gardens as well as BBQ and picnic areas and a playground. Ontop of this, fishers can try their luck at the pond which is stocked with fish. The meditation garden is a personal favourite of mine and is maintained by the Saskatchewan Perennial Society.

Of course the park also plays host to the Saskatoon Zoo where a variety of prairie animals and more exotic species can be seen. In the winter the park is probably most famous for serving as the backdrop for the SIGA Enchanted Forest where millions of light bulbs light up the park in a festive holiday display.

Near the zoo, a more recent addition has been that of the butterfly garden. Inside the greenhouse-like structure, you’ll find several varieties of butterflies enjoying the flowers.

The Forestry Farm Park is a great place to come to spend an afternoon if you want to do a little fishing, play some sports, have a picnic, toss around a frisbee or just relax.

Forestry Farm Park
1903 Forestry Farm Park Drive

(306) 975 3382

Saskatoon’s point of origin was the South Saskatchewan River. As the city has grown and spread, the river has remained an integral part of the city’s character, and a focus for many recreational activities. In 1979, the provincial government established the Meewasin Valley Authority, an organization dedicated to conserving the natural and cultural heritage resources of the South Saskatchewan River Valley in Saskatoon and vicinity. Meewasin’s jurisdiction encompasses some 60 kilometres along the river, from Pike Lake in the southwest to Clarke’s Crossing in the northeast.

Meewasin’s trail system follows the river through the heart of Saskatoon, with over twenty kilometres of paved trail. It passes by several notable sites and landmarks, and offers ever-changing views of the city and river valley. A favourite destination for many people is the weir, with its landscaped boardwalk and promenade. The trails also wind their way past the University of Saskatchewan campus, several riverbank parks, the Mendel Art Gallery, Kinsmen Park, the Bessborough Hotel, and all seven of Saskatoon’s bridges.

People flock to the trails in the summer to jog, bike or stroll leisurely with the family dog. In winter, the snow-covered trails become paths for cross-country skiers. Meewasin is the Cree word for “beautiful”. However one chooses to take in the sights along the trails, it won’t take long to discover why that name is so appropriate.

Meewasin Trail & Facilities
Meewasin Valley Authority

Built by the Texaco oil company in 1929, this eye-catching building was known as the West Side Service Station until 1943, when it was changed to the Little Chief Service Station. This is the only commercial example of Spanish Colonial architecture in Saskatoon, and only one of two in all of Saskatchewan. It’s architecture consists of white stucco, wide overhanging eaves, tile roof and parapeted walls.

After it ceased to be a service station, the Saskatoon Police Service obtained and renovated the building for use as a reporting station, a community liaison office and a meeting space. The building was designated a municipal heritage property in 2003.

Little Chief Station
Corner of 20th St. W and Avenue D

I’m taking a little bit of liberty here by naming this post Wilson’s Entertainment Centre. Wilson’s Greenhouse and Garden Centre doesn’t refer to its entertainment selections as being an “Entertainment Centre” but in essence that’s what they have created. Located right beside its thriving greenhouse operations, there are several options for people to come out and enjoy themselves or to drop off the kids while browsing the greenhouse.

The first option is Wilson’s driving range. Golfers can come and work on their swing, buying buckets of balls to whack out onto a huge expanse of grass. It has 38 tee boxes, with natural grass and 8 different target greens.

The second option is Wilson’s mini golf. Rather than being one of those with windmills, clown noses and the kitschy-like (don’t get me wrong, I sometimes like kitschy), it has real grass greens, sand traps and a small creek running through it. A large rock fountain flows down to the creek. It’s a fun way to practice your putting or just have a grudge match against good friends.

Opened recently is Velocity speedway, a large Go-Kart race track. The track is quite large and has Go-Karts faster than the ones I remember once riding. Clad in red jumpsuits, you can hit the track and try to get the fastest time. The smell of fumes are in the air and rubber will be burned. The karts supposedly can go up to 80 miles an hour. A printout after your race will show you how well you did against your friends and others that week. There are some straightaways and tight curves — enough to shake things up and keep you having fun trying to pass your friends.

Besides the entertainment options, Wilson’s has a concession stand, a licensed patio and lots of creamy ice cream for the hottest days. There’s even an inflatable ‘jump and slide’ for the kids. Next time you’re looking for something to do on a hot summer’s day, consider driving out to Wilson’s to have some fun.

Wilson’s Entertainment Centre
Corner of Highway 5 & McOrmond Road (next to Wilson’s Greenhouse)

306 955-9580

After a long winter, Saskatoon residents turn their thoughts to their yard and gardening. Whether it is putting in a backyard pond, putting in a vegetable garden or adding some shrubs or flowers, Wilson’s Greenhouse and Garden Centre is a one-stop location for all your gardening needs.

Located at the corner of Highway 5 & McOrmond Road in Saskatoon, Wilson’s contains a large selection of annuals and perennials. Wilson’s also is one of the best places in Saskatoon to shop for water plants and fish for your pond.

Online, Wilson’s has a plant database, listing over 1500 types of plants they carry in their store as well as over 350 trees and shrubs. You can browse the plants and their growing conditions to help you plan on what you’d like to buy.

Wilson’s is also more than just a garden centre. In the past several years, it has expanded to offer several different entertainment options from a golf driving range, to mini-golf to a go-cart track. We’ll cover these in an upcoming post.

Wilson’s Greenhouse and Garden Centre
Corner of Highway 5 & McOrmond Road

306 955-9580

Update - As of July, 2008, Pesto’s is no longer in business and will be replaced by a restaurant named ‘Bliss’.

Opening near the beginning of 2007, Pesto’s has brought another example of fine dining to the trendy Broadway area.

Pesto’s serves what they call “freestyle cuisine”. By this they mean that they do not want to tie their restaurant to one particular type of food such as French or Italian, but that they wish to mix it up a bit with the dishes. This can be either good (choices are never really wrong) or bad (a confusing mish-mash of items that just don’t go together). Luckily in Pesto’s case, it is quite good and the supper we had ranked right up with any other fine dining that can be found in the area. Everything is fresh and made in house and all the flavours come through to show that.

The building itself has two main dining areas. The downstairs area is more casual with two full walls of windows making it light and airy. The upstairs is a quieter, more formal area which would be more suited to evening dining and impressing a date. Upstairs windows look over Broadway, letting you watch traffic and pedestrians go by. The decor is spartan and minimalist but feels comfortable.

On a visit to Pesto’s, I chose a portabella mushroom appetizer and a pecan cranberry crusted pork tenderloin with spinach risotto as the starch. My dining companion chose an apple-raspberry grilled chicken salad and halibut wrapped in thinly sliced roasted potatoes in a orange beurre-blanc sauce. He told the waiter that he’d also like to have the risotto with the halibut. This is where it got interesting. The waiter cocked his head to the side a bit and asked, questioningly, “Oh… Do you think those go well together?”

We were both a bit taken aback. Saskatoon is hardly near the epicentre of the culinary world. In fact we’re not even a ripple or two back. Still we have some nice restaurants here and have never been questioned on the appropriateness of our orders before. Snapping back into reality, I suggested that he instead get the bacon-wrapped baby potatoes, which he did. I must admit that we were surprised by the waiter’s actions, but we weren’t upset. In reality, the potatoes probably were a better choice for the fish, especially since the dish already had the potatoes in it and the risotto would probably have been too heavy.

On a subsequent visit for brunch on Sunday, I had Pesto’s freestyle french crepes which are served with homemade ricotta cheese, berries, melon and topped with figs and maple syrup. I wasn’t aware the dish wasn’t a hot menu item but the flavours were spot on which took away any disappointment. The service was friendly and courteous.

Pesto’s is a great choice for fine dining in Saskatoon and is located on the trendiest street in the city. Whether you’re looking for a place to bring a date or friends, Pesto’s won’t fail to disappoint.

Pesto’s Restaurant & Catering
1002 Broadway Ave