Saskatoon is Saskatchewan’s largest city, with a population of more than 200,000 and growing. However, the Saskatoon area has been inhabited for some 6,000 years. Its name is derived from "mis-sask-quah-toomina," the Cree Indian name for a local indigenous berry. The jams and pies made from those berries are still local specialties. Not until the early 1880s did the first European settlers, led by John A. Macdonald, begin to arrive from Toronto’s Methodist community and try to create a temperance colony in the great Northwest.

Since then, Saskatoon has become a progressive city. The South Saskatchewan River is the main waterway; here you can bike, jog, or take a stroll along the banks. Along the river and in the downtown area, you will see all sorts of evidence that Saskatoon is modern and cultured. The city has many craft shops and galleries, a fine symphony orchestra, four professional theater companies, and an active amateur theater community. Summer is festival time, with several unique ones to enjoy throughout the season.