The town of Whitewood was established in the 1880's by the French Counts of St. Hubert, headed by Dr. Rudolph Meyer. Their goal was to build a life on the prairies similar to that of the French nobility in Europe. At this time, Whitewood was already functioning as a supply centre because of its geographical location halfway between Brandon, Manitoba and Regina, Saskatchewan. The Canadian Pacific Railway main line was built through Whitewood in 1882 but it was not until 1892 that the Town officially became incorporated.
The name Whitewood was chosen from a bluff of white poplars that were growing nearby on an otherwise treeless prairie. Whitewood also became known as the "Crossroads Community" because of its location at the corner of two major highways, the Trans-Canada #1 and the #9 Highway.
Throughout its life, Whitewood has been a historical community in the shaping of Canada. It was in this very Town that the first sitting of the Supreme Court of Eastern Assiniboia was held, as well as the first secret ballot election of the Northwest Territories. Whitewood resident R.S. Park travelled to Winnipeg with Louis Riel and a delegation of natives in 1883 to protest the seizure of lands and ask for support from Archbishop Tache at Saint Boniface. This predated the uprising in 1885. Another Whitewood resident, Francis Cosgrave served on the jury at Reil's trial.
The first secret-ballot election in the Northwest Territories was held in Whitewood in 1894.
In 1893, pupils from Whitewood won a certificate and bronze medal for their art and handiwork at the Chicago World's Fair.
The first sitting of the Supreme Court of Eastern Assiniboia was held here before Saskatchewan became a province.
Whitewood is the site of the first successful Finnish settlement in all of Canada.
The first flour mill in Regina was operated by a former Whitewood resident named James Saunders.
Whitewood was the distribution center for mail to the entire region. The oldest remaining building in the Northwest Territories to house a post office still stands and can be found on the Whitewood Heritage Walking Tour.
Whitewood resident J.F. Guerin was the first dentist to set up shop in the Northwest Territories. He was also an amateur actor, and he and his beautiful wife formed a travelling theatrical company which performed throughout the region.
Whitewood resident A.B. Gillis was the last Speaker of the House for the Government of the Northwest Territories, which was disbanded when the province of Saskatchewan was formed.
Whitewood resident John Hawkes, was appointed as the first Legislative Librarian for the province in 1907. He went on to found the Saskatchewan Travelling Library system and later wrote a book, the impressive 3-volume "Saskatchewan and its People." His wife, Elizabeth Hawkes, was the first woman in Saskatchewan to publish a newspaper, the Broadview Express.
Counts and countesses, senators, prime ministers and poor pioneers socialized at functions in the community. Authors and actresses, outlaws and bureaucrats all crossed paths in this community and many went on to make significant contributions to the history and culture of our province and Canada.
