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| Geography |  The Town of Ogema is located in South Central Saskatchewan, approximately 125 kilometres (kms) south of Saskatchewan's Capital City, Regina. Ogema is located midway between Weyburn and Assiniboia on Highway 13, which runs through the southern part of the province. The Red Coat Road and Rail short line railway runs through Ogema and brings producer cars to the farmer owned Ogema Elevator Ltd.
The Rural Municipality (RM) of Key West, which includes the town of Ogema, is located centrally in the southern part of Saskatchewan on the Missouri Coteau. The Coteau is characteristically composed of rolling hills and shallow sloughs known as knob and kettle topography.
The Ogema area is an internal drainage basin. This means that spring meltwater and rain water drain into low areas within the region, rather than into a river or stream system. Typically these sloughs mark regional low spots and are fed by a series of interconnected sloughs called kettle chains. In effect, the Ogema area is a basin.
Our system is made up of a variety of soils including Ardill clay loams and Sceptre heavy clays. Generally the area south of Ogema is Class 4 and 5 suitable for grazing; while the area north of town is 60% Class 3 suitable for annual crop production, with bands of Class 4 and 5 running in a north to south direction throughout the municipality.
| | History | The first settlers arrived in 1908 but it was not until 1911 that a post office was established with the name of Ogema. Many of the settlers came from Ontario, while others arrived from the United States, the British Isles and other parts of Europe. The pioneers had selected Omega, which is the Greek word for end, as at that time the settlement was the 'end of the rail line.' On making application for registration of the town name they were told by the authorities that there was another town with that name and two communities with the same name would not be allowed. So with the rearrangement of two letters the town became Ogema, a Cree Indian word meaning 'Big Chief'.
| | Economic Information | Ogema's population is 292 according to the 2001 Census but has grown to approximately 320 in the last year. The RM of Key West has a population of approximately 370 people.
Agriculture is the primary industry in the RM of Key West. The Red Coat Road and Rail is a short line railway owned by local producers that runs from Pangman 20 kms east of Ogema to Assiniboia, 80 kms west of Ogema. Ogema Elevator Ltd. is owned by 30 area investors and reopened the former Saskatchewan Wheat Pool elevator as their own small grain company. There are three manufacturers in the RM that export some of their goods to other provinces.
Ogema District Credit Union is building an addition to increase their office space to accommodate the financial assistance to their members.
| | Attractions | Ogema has one of the largest museum sites in Canada and the only Heritage garage site in Saskatchewan. The Deep South Pioneer Museum holds its Museum Day on the second Sunday in July every year. In 2002, the Transportation Division of the Museum located a 1911 Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Train Station and relocated it at the end of Main Street in Ogema. The plan is to have the Train Station restored to its original splendor for the Homecoming in 2005 and have an interpretive centre depicting the early settlers coming to the prairies.
The Fair Day is the second Saturday in July and is one of the longest continually running Agricultural Fairs in Saskatchewan.
The Ogema Regional Park is located beside the south end of the town next to Highway 13. The park is equipped with 14 - 220 amp powered sites and 25 non-electrical sites, a large group camping area, 4 maintained ball diamonds, 3 heated outdoor swimming pools (including the diving and children's paddling pool), free showers, flush toilets, and laundry facilities. The park includes a well-equipped playground and a Heritage grandstand of which there are few in Saskatchewan. There is a 9-hole mini-golf course located beside the swimming pools. Throughout the months of July and August many levels of water and swim instruction take place. Qualified instructors and lifeguards organize fun activities such as aqua-size, water polo, and various 'fun swim' evenings. The pools are used extensively by young and old as well as nearby campers and visitors to the park. A Recreational Complex hosts ice hockey, curling, and figure skating in winter and various activities in the summer. In 2001, a roping arena was built by the Deep South Livestock Association and the Big Muddy Team Ropers Association host a Team Roping Jackpot event that participants come from all over Southern Saskatchewan. On the first Saturday in August, the Team Roping and Barrel Racing Finals are held at this arena.
Every two years, in April, the Economic Development Committee holds a two-day Trade Show in the Ogema Recreational Complex.
Ogema has recently attracted new people and new businesses to the community. Big Sky Farms has the first 5,000 sow farrow-to-finish facility which created more than 60 new jobs in the area. Ogema is one of seven communities featured in the Action Committee on the Rural Economy (ACRE) Report as being a town to watch. The Regina Leader-Post featured an article about Ogema by Ron Petrie where he said (October 30, 2002) 'Ogema has become the unofficial capital of Saskatchewan's efforts to preserve country living.'
Ogema has many service organizations and has a strong volunteer base that keeps our community flourishing.
| | Other Info | EDUCATION:
Ogema School - phase 1 completed in 1962 and phase 2 in 1970. It consists of Kindergarten to Grade 12 with all types of school programs including guidance services, correspondence classes, and an audio/visual resource centre.
The school has a fully stocked resource centre. The gymnasium is full sized with a stage to accommodate such activities as drama, Christmas concerts, award days, and graduation. The track and field facilities include an oval track, jumping pits, shot put, discus, and javelin areas, the playground is equipped with swings, slides, ball diamonds, a football field, and other apparatus. The school also offers a busy extra-curricular program including volleyball, badminton, basketball, curling, track and field, bowling, drama, Yearbook, Student Council, and a full intramural program. Four bus routes transport students from rural areas.
Playschool - Ogema has a playschool once a week, held in the United Church basement. Playschool accommodates children from other towns and communities.
Southeast Regional College - SE Regional College is very active in our area and is always looking for more programs to hold in our area.
The Ogema Town Library has 1600 square foot library space. The library is open Monday morning, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons. The library was newly built in 1983 and is located on Main Street, which makes it easily accessible. The Ogema regional library offers public internet, e-mail access, short-term loaning of books, summer reading program, and displays by local artists.
HEALTH:
Ogema has a small clinic where the doctor from Pangman comes twice a week in the afternoons for visits. The Pangman Health Centre is attached to the Deep South Personal Care Home, which makes it a very unique facility.
The Sunshine Villa was built in 1989, when the town donated property to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation for the building of a six unit Senior Complex. It enables people to live in one or two bedroom apartments with a common lounge and kitchenette available to them for family activities.
The lives of seniors in Ogema have been enhanced by the advantages provided through the senior housing project of three duplexes. They are able to live independently in their own surroundings, taking part in church and community activities. This project was completed in 1977. As well as 3 duplex senior units, there are also 4 three-bedroom family units.
The Dew Drop Inn Seniors' Centre located on Main Street is a meeting place for the seniors where they hold birthday parties, wellness clinics, hold exercises classes for seniors twice a week, and have card tournaments and bingo weekly.
The Deep South Personal Care Home is 20 kms from Ogema and is a non-profit community owned, charitable Corporation which has 21 spacious rooms with a security system, air conditioning in central areas, resident parking, and a large deck area. There are two or more resident aides in attendance 24 hours a day and being under the same roof as the Health Centre, accessibility to other health care professionals, such as physician, emergency services, ambulance, dietary consultations, social services, and public health are immediately available.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is stationed in Bengough and the RM of Key West and Ogema pay for the police service to the area.
The Fire Department located on Main Street houses the Fire Engine, which services the Town and surrounding RMs.
For more detailed information on our community, please visit us on the web at www.ogema.ca
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