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| Geography |  The town of Delisle is located 30 kilometres (kms) southwest of Saskatoon on Highway 7, at the junction of Highway 45. The Agrium Potash mine, only 5 kilometres away, is clearly visible from the northern edge of town and provides significant employment and resources to the entire community.
Pike Lake Provincial Park is a short 20 minute drive east of Delisle.
| | History | In 1907-1908, the Goose Lake Railway Line was built through land owned by 4 brothers (Amos, Eddie, Eugene and Fred Delisle). The town was named Delisle in their honour and on December 29, 1908, Delisle was incorporated into a village and later, in 1913, gained status as a town.
Although primarily an agricultural community, the construction of the Agrium Potash Mine in 1969 significantly altered and boosted the local economy by providing a number of well-paying jobs. Today, Delisle has a blended economy consisting of agriculture, potash mining and is increasingly becoming a bedroom community to the City of Saskatoon.
Delisle's most notable historical individuals are in the area of sports. NHL hockey legends Max and Doug Bentley were proud to call Delisle their home. Their legacy continues to live on as both were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and their names are still recognized by hockey fans worldwide. Delisle has a reputation in curling as well, where curling greats Jim Hill and Harold Worth competed on a national level. These names are just a few of the sports legends to come out of Delisle.
Although not as well known, a movie called 'Paperback Hero' was filmed on location in Delisle in 1973. The movie starred Keir Dullea and was about, what else, hockey in small town Saskatchewan. The movie followed the antics of two small town hockey players and the demise of their hockey team and their local hockey careers. The movie came to symbolize what hockey means to our small communities in Saskatchewan.
Today, Delisle is a progressive community where sports and recreation are still a key part of who we are. Delisle currently has a population of approximately 900 people and about 350 residences. Our proximity to Saskatoon will guarantee that the community will continue to grow and prosper.
| | Economic Information | The official census population of Delisle is 884 people. The population is a healthy mix of both young and old alike with demands for services for all age categories. There are approximately 350 households in the town.
Delisle's economy was originally primarily agricultural. In 1969, with the opening of the Agrium Potash mine, mining became a major component of the local economy. Many well-paying jobs have been the result, as well as a number of direct contributions to the community itself have been provided by Agrium through the years. The presence of the mine has made the community much more affluent than it would have been otherwise.
With its close proximity, Delisle is slowly becoming a bedroom community of Saskatoon. Delisle is only a twenty minute drive from the city limits of Saskatoon. Although housing and lot costs are considerably lower than in Saskatoon, the local real estate market is definitely tied to the fluctuations that occur in Saskatoon. Older homes in Delisle may sell as cheap as $30,000 while newer homes will sell for $100,000 to $140,000, depending on size and finish. A typical house sale is usually in the $60,000 to $80,000 range. A lot in Delisle will typically sell for $5,000 to $12,000. The town of Delisle has lots available for sale in the $7,000 to $12,000 range. Rectangular lots as well as cul-de-sac lots are presently available. The Town has recently adopted a new building incentive program for residential construction. A rebate of $2.00 per square foot of newly constructed living space built above ground is now being offered. For more information on lots, lot prices or the rebate program, contact the Delisle Town Office at 493-2242.
Agriculture is still a large part of the local economy. Two larger agricultural employers in Delisle are Orchard Transport Ltd., a local trucking firm, and Delsa Food Processors Inc. who specialize in producing salads, most notably coleslaw, potato salads and macaroni or pasta salads. Delsa's salads can be found in KFC outlets throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta as well as under private labels in Safeway and Sobeys stores. Despite the recent slump in agricultural commodities, Delisle's local economy continues to do well due to its diversity and nearby employment opportunities. This trend should continue regardless of what happens on the world markets.
| | Attractions | Delisle has a skating and curling rink with artificial ice, a recently built Senior Citizens' Centre and a brand new 9 hole grass-green golf course that is the pride of the community. The new golf course is only in its second year of operation and already is receiving rave reviews.
Delisle employs a full-time recreation director to ensure an abundance of programs for both young and old alike. Delisle's minor sports and school programs have been so successful that the community has teams competing in hockey, football, fastball and slowpitch on a provincial and national level almost yearly. The Delisle Rebels football team just recently captured their second consecutive 9 Man provincial title in 2003. The team has gone 2 complete seasons without a loss.
Pike Lake Provincial Park is a short 20 minute drive from Delisle. The park features excellent campground facilities, a swimming pool with a water slide, sandy beaches, nature walks as well as a number of other amenities to choose from.
Delisle is known for hosting old time rock and roll cabarets. Names that have appeared in Delisle in the past include Trooper, Prism , Harlequin and Honeymoon Suite. Delisle hosts its share of other community events including craft sales, local business trade shows, suppers and the like.
If nostalgia is your cup of tea, then visit the L'il Bit of Country shop on our main business street. The shop features antiques from the past as well as home-baked goodies. All our businesses in Town will do their best to make your visit to Delisle an enjoyable one.
| | Other Info | Education:
Delisle has an elementary school composed of kindergarten to Grade 6. Delisle has a composite high school where children from the Vanscoy and Pike Lake area are brought to Delisle for schooling. Delisle also has an organized playschool program where three and four year olds are given an opportunity to interact in a supervised and professional setting.
Emergency Services:
An RCMP detachment comprised of a corporal and four constables is located in Delisle on Highway 7, that goes through town. Delisle also has a volunteer fire department located in town that also serves a large segment of the surrounding rural area. Ambulance service is provided by MD Ambulance out of Saskatoon. There are a number of First Responders in the area to assist in an emergency call.
Health Services:
The Delisle Community Health Centre provides a number of services to the community. Some of the services provided include a physician, nurses, pharmacy, lab, dentist. chiropractor, masseuse, home care and a wide array of other programs. Phone 493-2810 for a detailed listing of all the services they provide.
Churches:
1) Delisle United Church
2) Delisle Anglican Church
3) Delisle Community Chapel
4) St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church
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