Rouleau /ˈrl/ is a town in southern Saskatchewan, Canada, on the Canadian Prairies. It lies within census Division No. 6 and Rural Municipality of Redburn No. 130.

Rouleau
The former grain elevator in Rouleau, seen in 2012
The former grain elevator in Rouleau, seen in 2012
Nickname: 
Dog River
Town of Rouleau in Saskatchewan
Town of Rouleau in Saskatchewan
Rouleau
Rouleau in Saskatchewan
Town of Rouleau in Saskatchewan
Town of Rouleau in Saskatchewan
Rouleau
Rouleau (Canada)
Coordinates: 50°11′25″N 104°54′27″W / 50.19028°N 104.90750°W / 50.19028; -104.90750[1]
CountryCanada
ProvinceSaskatchewan
Rural MunicipalityRedburn No. 130
Post office foundedApril 1, 1895
Incorporated as a Village (NWT)July 23, 1903
Incorporated as a Town (Sask)March 1, 1907
Named forCharles Rouleau
Government
 • TypeMayor-Council
 • Governing BodyRouleau Town Council
 • MayorGrant Clarke
Area
 • Total
1.61 km2 (0.62 sq mi)
Elevation580 m (1,900 ft)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total
540
 • Density282.2/km2 (731/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−06:00 (CST)
Postal code
S0G 4H0
Area Codes306 / 639
ISO 3166 codeCA-SK
Federal electoral districtMoose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan
Provincial electoral districtIndian Head-Milestone
Highways Highway 39
WebsiteTown of Rouleau
[3][4][5]

As of 2021, the population was 505 (a decrease of 6.5 percent from the 2016 census), in an area of 1.65 square kilometres (0.64 sq mi). Rouleau is on Highway 39 and is about 35 kilometres (22 mi) southwest of Regina.

The town was notably the filming location of the popular Canadian sitcom Corner Gas, depicting the fictitious town of Dog River.

History

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Railway Avenue, 1911

A post office was established at Rouleau in the provisional District of Assiniboia, North West Territories, as early as April 1, 1895. It incorporated as a village on July 23, 1903.

Rouleau was named after Charles Borromée Rouleau. Rouleau was a magistrate in Battleford from 1883 until 1887 and served in the 1st Council of the North-West Territories.[6][7]

Demographics

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In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Rouleau had a population of 505 living in 206 of its 221 total private dwellings, a change of -6.5% from its 2016 population of 540. With a land area of 1.54 km2 (0.59 sq mi), it had a population density of 327.9/km2 (849.3/sq mi) in 2021.[8]

Canada census – Rouleau community profile
20212011
Population505 (-6.5% from 2016)453 (+13.3% from 2006)
Land area1.54 km2 (0.59 sq mi)1.61 km2 (0.62 sq mi)
Population density328.1/km2 (850/sq mi)282.2/km2 (731/sq mi)
Median age41.6 (M: 39.6, F: 42)39.9 (M: 40.6, F: 38.5)
Private dwellings205 (total)  207 (total) 
Median household income
References: 2021[9] 2011[10] earlier[11][12]

Climate

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Climate data for Rouleau, Saskatchewan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 10.9
(51.6)
10.0
(50.0)
17.9
(64.2)
33.7
(92.7)
31.1
(88.0)
33.2
(91.8)
33.4
(92.1)
37.9
(100.2)
31.1
(88.0)
22.5
(72.5)
24.4
(75.9)
8.1
(46.6)
37.9
(100.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −9.5
(14.9)
−4.4
(24.1)
6.7
(44.1)
11.9
(53.4)
17.9
(64.2)
20.1
(68.2)
24.8
(76.6)
25.7
(78.3)
17.9
(64.2)
11.5
(52.7)
2.0
(35.6)
−11.7
(10.9)
9.4
(48.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −22.2
(−8.0)
−16.6
(2.1)
−7.1
(19.2)
−2.6
(27.3)
3.6
(38.5)
7.1
(44.8)
11.1
(52.0)
10.1
(50.2)
1.6
(34.9)
−2
(28)
−10
(14)
−23.2
(−9.8)
−4.2
(24.4)
Record low °C (°F) −36.2
(−33.2)
−34.3
(−29.7)
−31.2
(−24.2)
−24.4
(−11.9)
−4.5
(23.9)
1.8
(35.2)
3.0
(37.4)
3.2
(37.8)
−5.6
(21.9)
−15.6
(3.9)
−26.9
(−16.4)
−34
(−29)
−36.2
(−33.2)
Source: Environment Canada, The Weather Network

Corner Gas

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Principal shooting set of Corner Gas in 2010

The town is best known as the main filming location for the CTV television series Corner Gas. The series' production team built a full-size mock gas station and coffee shop at the western entrance of the town for filming, causing confusion among visitors thinking Corner Gas and The Ruby were real establishments. The town's grain elevator was also repainted with the name "Dog River" as it appears in the background of many episodes of the series.

For an episode which aired in early 2007, then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper stopped in Rouleau to play a cameo role in the television show.

The buildings used as sets for the program were allowed to fall into disrepair after the show wrapped up production.[13] They were purchased by an entrepreneur, Sylvain Senecal, who converted them into a museum and souvenir shop.[14] The set was demolished in November 2016.

On 28 September 2014, the building that was used as the FOO[D] MAR[KE]T, the local grocery store in the series, was destroyed in a fire.[15] The grain elevator was destroyed in a fire on November 5, 2021, about two weeks after the building used for depicting Dog River's police station collapsed.[16]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Natural Resources Canada (HAJIC)". Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  2. ^ "Sask municipal directory". Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  3. ^ National Archives, Archivia Net. "Post Offices and Postmasters". Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  4. ^ Government of Saskatchewan, MRD Home. "Municipal Directory System (Town of Rouleau)". Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  5. ^ CTI Determine your provincial constituency, 2005, archived from the original on September 11, 2007, retrieved May 26, 2007
  6. ^ Welcome to Rouleau Saskatchewan, AKA Dog River, Host to Corner Gas!, retrieved May 27, 2007
  7. ^ ROULEAU, CHARLES-BORROMÉE. "Dictionary of Canadian Biography". Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  8. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Saskatchewan". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  9. ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  10. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  11. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  12. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
  13. ^ "Disused Corner Gas set becoming eyesore: mayor". CBC News. July 9, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  14. ^ Healy, Don (May 3, 2012). "Photos: Corner Gas film set is back in business". Leader-Post. Postmedia Network. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  15. ^ "Corner Gas Building Gutted in Massive Blaze".
  16. ^ "Iconic 'Corner Gas' grain elevator destroyed in early morning fire". CTV News Regina. November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.