When I was young the objective was to get out of small town Canada. Now that I'm older, the objective is to get out of the city and back into a small town. The cycle of life...
@@nathansparrow1416 small town life doesn't necessarily require a small town in Saskatchewan with -40C winters. BC has plenty of small towns with milder winter weather
Same here in England and this trend has accelerated due to the pandemic as retired people in cities want space to live in during the lockdowns. So prices here in rural Suffolk have risen and houses are rarely on tbe market for long.
@@SesameStreetRacingChannel bang on bro!..truth..though i suffer in third world too..but its the truth what you said..its filthy here..so everyone here is trying to move their ass in even minus 40..
@@dominicmadlangawa Given the choice...no sane human chooses to live in poverty...of course, happiness can be experienced in any condition...even in a concentration camp...but nobody chooses that fate.
No doubt. I just got recommended her for god only knows what reason, but damn she’s sure got her shit together regarding this... and only 2 provinces away to boot!!!
Kinistino is only twenty minutes away from my home town, and honestly small town Saskatchewan is something else. The community is wonderful, the towns are peaceful, and there is so much space and so much freedom. It’s beautiful.
While travelling across Canada about 40 years ago we needed a few groceries so we stopped by a store in a small town in Saskatchewan. The store was closed so we asked a young boy going by on a bike why the store was not open. He replide " don't you know it's Tuesday".
That was a wonderful video. Loved it. I moved down to Medicine Hat from Edmonton almost 3yrs ago now. Best thing I ever done. Living in a small city, you become accustomed to the slower pace of life. The less traffic, not so busy as Edmonton by a long shot. The friendly people, the feel of a small town in a city. I took a trip to Edmonton last summer, I thought I was going to die....it was to much. Couldn't wait to get home to MH.
That MH looks like a tight dumpy place is smells coming in from brooks from all the 50 thousand square foot mega toxic pig farm buildings Alberta is getting commie go join a protest and see what happens to you in Alberta.
So glad you are getting lots of hits with your videos on small towns in Saskatchewan. As you may remember, we senior citizens chose to move to Lanigan nearly 5 years ago and we totally agree with your tips about small town living. We love the quieter lifestyle and the stress free living. Come here someday and show the world how problem free it can be living in a small town with top speed internet and all you need within an hour’s drive or 20 minutes for the basics. Keep your videos coming, Alina.
I am (was-damn covid!) a touring rock musician and have played many small Sask towns over the years. Esterhazy, Battleford, Kindersley, Lloydminster, Moose Jaw and many more-plus cities like Regina and Saskatoon. And northern Sask is gorgeous, with many lakes and beaches etc. People don’t realize just how beautiful it can be. I love Sask people-real and open-hearted.
There's an old joke about a little boy who moved to a small prairie town at the age of 5 with his parents. He lived the rest of his life there, dying at 90. On his tombstone, the townsfolk put the epitaph: "He was almost one of us"....
I'm finding these bands in RUclips Music and listening to them at work today. Thank you so much for going to the trouble of listing them, with timestamps even! What's cool is, some of the songs these bands have produced are good, yet the bands have only a handful of subscriptions on RUclips Music. That may be because of RUclips Music's smaller user base, compared to Spotify and other services, but it strikes me how these bands will get better exposure from your listings. You're doing us, and them, a huge favor. Thank you!
In 1995 I drove from California to Blaine Lake for a family reunion on my mom's side and and a Doukhobor celebration. The trip took four days and I arrived in town after driving all day from Harlem, Montana. Though the sun was just below the horizon, it was after 10 pm and pre-cel phone, so I decided to pitch a tent in a small park along the main highway and find my relatives in the morning. The mosquitos were dense, so I walked to the gas station/mini mart to buy some insect repellant before trying to sleep. It was about 11 pm by that point and the store was staffed by two teenagers, a boy and girl. They sold me a citronella candle and we talked about life in California and my family reunion. As I was leaving, they asked where I was staying, and I said, "My tent at the park". The girl looked concerned and said that normally I'd be able to stay in the upstairs room but that it was occupied by the two men who worked at the lake on the weekend. She asked what I was doing for a shower in the morning, and I said I hadn't figured that out yet. She gave me a note and told me to hand it to the person at the counter in the morning. I woke at about five in the morning to the sun beating down on my tent, so packed up and headed back to the store with my note. The woman at the counter seemed suspicious at first, but returned in a few minutes smiling, saying, "Oma is waiting for you upstairs". Sure enough, a woman in her late 70s greeted me with fresh towels, pointed me down the hallway and told me to be quiet so as not to wake the men in the spare room. I poked my head in the kitchen to say thank you as I left, and she said, "You're staying for breakfast, aren't you?" She'd made vareniki, my favorite dish made by my grandmother, so sat down to the kitchen table and we talked about the family reunion. While she didn't recognize any names, she brought up the Blue Book, a family tree compiled by local resident. She thought I might be in it and said there was a copy at the visitor's center, a 12x18 building visible from the bay window. As we finished up, the guys from the lake stopped in to say goodbye, and Oma introduced me, explaining the family reunion. "Is he in the book?", they asked. She said I was looking into it, we chatted for a bit, and they headed out. The following day as I was reading house for sale postings ($5000, outside of town) on the bulletin board in front of the Royal Mounted Police station, a car honked behind me and I heard someone say, "Hey Jeff!" I turned to look and it was the guys from the lake. They were all smiles and said, "You're in the book!". Small town, small world.
As a kid in a small town (anywhere, not just Saskatchewan), you have to be generally well-behaved as well. You can’t get away with anything since everyone knows who you are, and more importantly they know your parents. The punishments your parents would deal out would be worse than anything the courts could. It made me the decent person I am today. I’m in my 60’s and I’m glad I grew up in a small town.
This times a thousand. Growing up, I looked much older than I was. In the city I could easily get away with buying beer of smokes, but in my town I wouldn't even try... Even if the SMALL chance the clerk didn't know me, a customer would and my parents would know about it before I even got home.
Except where most ppl would get an instant ticket for racing in the roads or doing some donuts, you get on a first name basis with the police and they just tell you to go home😆😆🤣 Also breaking stupid laws like no advs on the road, the police don't give a shit as long as your not being super annoying, then again they might tell you there's lots of fields and go find one of them to drive in😆😆🤣
Eh here in Black lake there’s bullies everywhere like if there’s a house in construction kids would play in there and roughly kids would smoke and maybe drink so being caught doing anything bad is not even a problem since there’s more problems and will when there’s new windows for houses in construction kids would throw rocks at it not kidding.
Love these places....with all the crazy in the world, these are great places to be. Nothing in the world like honest hard working down to earth people and open space.
Being from Manitoba and loving the blue bombers I still have a spot in my heart for Saskatchewan. Worked there for a few years in LA Ronge , drove through it all many times. It's actually a beautiful province! Even with all the flat land jokes. Good people!:)
Very informative, thanks for sharing. I was about to visit Saskatchewan from Toronto and then Covid came around. I have a thing for small prairie towns and those old wooden grain elevators. I that they're disappearing fast.
Thank you for a great video! Presentation, videography, and music were fantastic. The last I visited your home province, was back in ‘94, when I lived in Montana. I truly love Saskatchewan and hope to one day visit again. Wishing you all the best from the Bluegrass of Kentucky. 🇨🇦💚💛❤️💙🤍🇺🇸
Don’t listen to the naysayers- the people are awesome the summers fantastic and those who embrace the winters rather than hate them can snowmobile, skate, play winter sports and take in the many winter festivals. Yes the winters are long but you appreciate summer so much more! 59 years in Saskatchewan and counting ...
@@briany7680 thanks bro! I have NO regrets. The people are very nice. You know I noticed in small towns here people look at me, they know I am new in town. But unlike in Ontario if somebody is looking at me if I smile they almost always smile back! Out near Kindersley I was trying to leave the A&W with my hands full and a man went out of his way to open the door and looked at me right in the eyes. Being from Ontario I appreciate that stuff because most people there are trying to act too cool to notice anybody else. As for winter I think I got this!
Amazing as always Alina! Cool to see your town again. Even though I grew up in Regina, it really seemed so small and humble as a kid. Didn't lock our doors and always back home by dinner. This just brings back a warm feeling. Much appreciated!
HI Alina. Thank you for the video . I like soo much your videos ,, especially about such small authentic Canadian small towns and villages . Keep going making more videos like this one. I also like to listen and practice English from your videos , you speak so clearly and comprehensive . Thank you !
Hi Alina! I very much enjoyed riding with you and your dad along Highway 40, checking out the small towns between Blaine Lake and The Battlefords. Again, this brings back some fond memories of road trips during my U of S grad student days. Decades later, I will most likely not have the opportunity to ride this route again and enjoy the people and scenery of Central Saskatchewan. I love your music selections; these really capture the spirit and essence! And your insights on small town living are very universal - even in my native Province de Québec! It looks like the brutal cold spell is now over. Spring is in the air on the Canadian Prairie! Enjoy the warmth with your family, Alina!
I've always liked small towns. Even when I lived in cities, I would live on the edges, or outskirts. I live in the Yukon now in a place of about 100, a 6 hour drive from Whitehorse (the nearest city), and I love it! The quiet.... it is amazing.
I love your videos. I'm from Québec but come and still live in a small town and i love it. Visiting Saskatchewan and the Prairies in general is for sure on my bucket list.
I’m from South Texas (Ingleside, Tx) and I was raised on a huge chunk of land here with a farm/ranch work mentality. I truly am astonished by the small town lifestyle of Saskatchewan, Canada! It has both it’s comparison and difference from Texas here in the United States. If it’s possible, I would love to see a video on the small town of Maryfield, Saskatchewan! :)
Thanks for this....I'm from Shellbrook, my dad worked for Sask.Power (Natural Gas)from Shellbrook to Krydor he was the serviceman. I still have relatives in Blaine Lake. It hasn't changed in 40 years. ♥️🇨🇦♥️
Alina, thanks! It's amazing video! It's Little but cozy town. There is purest snow... Such places are not easy to find in our time. Also I was pleased to see the Ukrainian flag next to the Canadian flag. Greetings from Kiev.🤗
Many thousands of Ukrainians came over to Sask in the early 1900's to take advantage of a Canadian government incentive to farm and populate the rich farmland here. Therefore, there is a lot of Ukrainian influence.
Alina, you made such great points in this video, great tips on how if you want to make a permanent life change one should dip their toes in the water before ripping up their old life. Of course after watching and listening to you on you tube for a few years now it is nothing new that you always great points. You are always so on point with your commentary.
Born and raised in Watrous, then Shaunavon. 20 years in Saskatoon. Now living in Regina (but dreaming of New Orleans lol). 11. Have a car. Not just because of winters but because there are no trains or buses. Town to town Trains went out of style and just recently the entire Saskatchewan government run bus system was shut down and soon after Greyhound followed suit. There’s one or two upstart bus businesses and there’s the via rail line along the yellow head but both of these are very limited as to where they go. 12. Invest in several layers of winter clothing that you’ll end up using day to day, especially in Jan and Feb. she said the windchill sometimes gets to -40. Sometimes the windchill can get to minus -50 and not everything in a small town comes to a stop at that temp. 13. If you watch tv for anything you will need cable or a satellite dish. When tv stations turned to digital the range of channels over the airwaves became limited to the two biggest cities (and even then...). 14. If you need to go anywhere, be prepared for a lot of driving. Some towns are only an hour or two away from a big city or even a small one. Other towns can be four to five hours away.
I lived in Regina for four years. I was driving around the city over the weekends during those four years and had the chance to see most of them small cities and loved them all with nice and hospitable people whom I met.
Outstanding video commentary. I would add even grocery shopping can be very limiting. Also, you really need to experience the prairie and love the solitary landscape.
I lived in Kelvington, not too far from Kinistino, when I went to grade 2, and I loved it, as a kid. My friends and I had the run of the town and we'd hang out at the garage (unless we got kicked out) or the Chinese restaurant or just run around the streets and alleys. I learned to ride a bike there. Big moment of childhood!
Alena grew up in a small rural town which is lovely. But we live in an Arctic zone like Canada, Norway, Iceland, Finland, we have Severe depression is difficult during the winter months what I hate. But in the summer is summer given as joy, excitement, suny tawnyfour seven and as well as traveling abroad on holiday what I like. Alina Soon or later I will move to Canada. Nice video.
I am sooo sooo grateful for you to bring tears in my eyes! I miss Saskatchewan! I love it so dearly such a wonderful and life that gave me time to explore myself. All your points are valid and true. I do appreciate your time and making this video. I am also grateful for the people who have contributed to the music! Your choice is so calming effect on me. I wish I could come back.. oh Saskatchewan!!
I was born in Saskatoon but spent a lot of time in Luseland SK with family and I always enjoyed the more communal and friendly nature of everyone there
I bought a house in a small town some years ago ..left Toronto..absolutely the best thing we've ever done!! I'm jealous of the life my kid gets to live I wish I was brought up here!!!! Saskatchewan is the greatest province period
@Jannah Lam what is better in those places ? Population.?.overpriced homes? Pollution? No jobs? Traffic? ... must be the 7000 tim Hortons in the same areas
Great video! I’ve spent some time in Yorkon, North Battleford and Saskatoon. I’m moving to Saskatchewan soon from London England so I think it will be a huge culture shock, especially with the weather ❄️
Great video of the south of Saskatchewan. Communities in the north of Saskatchewan are much closer to nature, but much further away from many health services and further away from post-secondary educational opportunities and from other services. The north shares one of the important shortcomings you identified. That is that "health care in small towns is limited". One example of the provincial government's lack of a policy for small Saskatchewan communities, is that it does not recognize the need to build more affordable and publicly funded long term care facilities, A policy for a community's oldest residents to "age in place" would enable them to stay in their communities their entire lives. There is a need for government policies which will encourage people, who wish to stay or move to small communities, to enjoy the quality of life there.
I lived in Toronto my whole life, was thinking of relocating to a small town eventually just to get some peace of mind and new environment. This video opened my eyes to reality, thanks! New subscriber
Hi Alina - The advantages of living in a smaller town far outweigh the disadvantages. The sincerity & familiarity of the people is very refreshing in contrast to the isolation you can feel in a larger city where the fast pace is overwhelming both personally & professionally . Its also nice to not have to be constantly on guard for potential threats to your person from others. I like the comfort.
I grew up in Spiritwood not to far away from Blain Lake and Hafford. Watching this made me homesick. I love the small town pace of life. Thanks for sharing.
Since 1986 have visited Sask. 18 times staying with friends just north of Holbein...I remember one time we visited the small town of Hafford and got talking to a Ukranian lady...apparently when she came to Canada she bought a load of rocks with her to do her washing just in case there none where she was to settle !! I love all the small town diners and cafes..all those wonderful rural chracters and generous portions...gravy on fries to die for...
I love small town life! My main mode of transport was always a utility bicycle. Living car free isn’t hard if you know how to manage it. I get to keep out of the cold and heat most of the time because I live in an assisted living facility where my needs are met. There are stunning mountain views and the elevation in Colorado insures cold winters are dry and seldom fall below freezing. As Alina mentioned, small town and rural life tend to be conservative and since they reflect my values, I have no problem fitting in. The main drawback to small town life is you don’t have access to all the conveniences of big city life. I don’t miss them because they’re overwhelming and if I can’t get something in a small town, I order it over the Internet and have it shipped to my door. If I had to sum up my personal experience with small town life, it comes down to living life in the slow lane and appreciating the virtue of a downsized lifestyle. Its not for everyone but since I’m an introvert, the solitude of small town life is a perfect fit for me! Small town life can be exactly what might work well for some people.
We heat our house with natural gas. We also eat pretty much any thing any body else does. It may be cold in the winter, but it is absolutely wonderful in the summer.
Most houses in Saskatchewan use natural gas forced air central heating. They also have a lot of insulation. New housing has external walls at least 6” thick filled with insulation.
One more wonderful production, with very nice images and fitting country music. All this together with very well said arguments and analysis about your topic! And having by your side your wonderful father, supporting you, is very touching for me, that I have lost mine. Thank you so much Alina!
I moved to small town Saskatchewan in November after living my whole life in big city Ontario, 47yrs... never being here before, not knowing a single person but had enough of the never ending high cost of living and bottomless pit of payments and with the extreme tyranny in Ontario with the scamdemic I needed out!... bought a great little house for an incredible price and was the greatest decision of my life, happiest I have ever been!
I am moving in mid April similar reason. I don't know anybody there but I couldn't take it here any longer and didn't want my children to grow up here in Ontario any longer. I think this place is toast, done, I'm sad to see my home destroyed but I'm blessed to be able to go on a new adventure in my life.
@@ThisHandleWasTheOnly1Available A group grocery store or gas station or several other possible businesses where it’s kind of owned by the locals who each pay for a membership that becomes like a stake in the company. You tell them your member number and your purchases are recorded and on an annual basis a dividend cheque is paid out to each member. I actually went to a summer camp put on by local coops where we learned all this and started our own camp store. Socialism was big here once. EDIT: you also get an equal share of whatever profits they made by purchases from other people who aren’t members.
@@ThisHandleWasTheOnly1Available Federated Co Op headquartered in Saskatoon is actually a big company and a major employer. Membership is at your choice and can be equated to a profit sharing program which many major companies have. I am thinking that you are perhaps from the USA where you have high crime and lots of ghettos so if that is your benchmark, I would take Saskatchewan any day.
And also Alina, you can walk down the middle of the street and make videos. LOL That church looks like something you brought over with you from the Ukraine. Love your Dad's dry sense of humor.
Steve Ethelston Virtually all vehicles have “Block Heaters” to warm the engine oil so vehicle is easier to start when temperatures drop for extended periods of time 🥶🥶
@@graemedalgleish8944 You are correct. My earlier comment should have given a better explanation that the block heater warms the engine coolant which warms the engine block which in turn warms the engine oil so the engine turns over easier thus starts better.
Loved the Video, my Mother was born on a farm near Redberry Lake, not far from Krydor. I still have relatives in the area, though my mother's generation are all passed on. I was born and raised in the US, but I can remember many of these places from childhood visits- though I date myself when I say that I remember Krydor with a train station, post office and store. (My aunt was once the Postmistress, while my uncle was the butcher and ran the store.)
The most important thing when choosing a small Canadian town to live - is how far away are you from a medium sized or larger city. Luckily for Alina's Dad, Hafford is only one hour from the city of Saskatoon - so that means living in Hafford will be totally tolerable. And it's even closer to Prince Albert, so you can't get better than that. Some small towns are an hour away from another even smaller town - not possible to live in.
The further you get away from the city the more it feels like a small town though, if you live close you have people from the city that commute for work and don't get involved in the community you have to be far enough that people are working and involved in the community... As well as real estate prices get lower the further away from a city you are if you're looking at it from a cost of living standpoint...Amazon Prime as well as pretty much every other retailer offering free shipping, you can get anything you would need in a city within 2 days...
Saskatchewan doesn't have too many Vancouver sized cities - Prince Albert for example only has 30,000 people. I call that a small city, and the closer you live to one of those small small small cities - the better. Of course being a half hour from Vancouver is not living in a small town. I wonder if you can even buy very much organic food in Prince Albert or would you have to go to Saskatoon?
@@ralphwiggum250N Yes it probably wouldn't be available, most people in rural areas surrounded by agriculture understand organic is just a marketing tactic to sell food at a higher premium to city people. Most people that understand agriculture know the ethical impact of organic and that it requires twice the land therefore taking a meal away from somebody in need. We need people to adapt modern-day farming practices to be able to feed everybody as the gap between the amount of supply and the demand increases as the population rapidly increases, so yeah they're probably isn't that kind of food available which is a very good thing for anyone who thinks of others and the environment
There are no "big cities" in Sask...just 2 small cities...Saskatoon and Regina. Saskatoon is quite beautiful and you can get regular goods and services there...but good luck getting anything other than stale bread in small towns...probably like living in Siberia in Russia...
Had the pleasure of joining the community in Yorkton Sask for 8 years, and wished we could have stayed forever. Unfortunately a family illness forced us back to care for my Mom in Nov 2018,, and covid trapped us in Ont. We will never regret our time in Saskatchewan, and loo forward to retiring there when the time comes.
My kids were involved in 4-H here in 'small town' Nova Scotia. Our daughter did an exchange through 4-H with a group from Beachy, Saskatchewan. Both groups really enjoyed seeing each other's small towns as they were similar but geographically so different.
About 10 years ago I lived in Unity & then moved to PA briefly (coming from Ontario & then going to BC). The towns sounded vaguely familiar, but the church in Krydor sparked my memory! I drove Hwy 40 from the Battlefords to PA & back quite a few times during the summer when I moved. I always wanted to stop at that church but never did.
Funny, never saw any one else on the street walking. You had the whole place to yourself. Very cold. Is it true, one has to live in a small town for 40 years before you can run for mayor?
Alina, thanks so much for this great video. It's super to see you haven't lost touch with your Saskatchewan roots. This was a great flashback for me of all the trips spent visiting relatives in small-town/southern Saskatchewan as a child!
My son's graduation class was 5 people! And the whole town came out to support them😊
Some schools here in the south have graduating class of 1 or even 0.
When I was young the objective was to get out of small town Canada. Now that I'm older, the objective is to get out of the city and back into a small town. The cycle of life...
I totaly agree with you , same with me !
@@nathansparrow1416 small town life doesn't necessarily require a small town in Saskatchewan with -40C winters. BC has plenty of small towns with milder winter weather
Same here in England and this trend has accelerated due to the pandemic as retired people in cities want space to live in during the lockdowns. So prices here in rural Suffolk have risen and houses are rarely on tbe market for long.
Ironic how that comes to be.
Yes. The city really is a rat race
What I love about the prairies is how sunny it is. It can be 40 below but it’s sunny.
I'm glad we have you to represent Saskatchewan to the world. I'm an immigrant to this beautiful province myself and I love it here.
You need to get out and see the rest of the country...but I guess anything is better than living in abject poverty in the third world.
@@SesameStreetRacingChannel rude and uncalled for
@@SesameStreetRacingChannel bang on bro!..truth..though i suffer in third world too..but its the truth what you said..its filthy here..so everyone here is trying to move their ass in even minus 40..
@@SesameStreetRacingChannel people can still be happy if they live in poverty
@@dominicmadlangawa Given the choice...no sane human chooses to live in poverty...of course, happiness can be experienced in any condition...even in a concentration camp...but nobody chooses that fate.
I grew up in a small town and couldn't wait to leave. 30 years later and I love it everytime I go back.
Alina, your vlog was so engaging and well presented it was a treat to behold. Thank you for presenting small town Saskatchewan to the World.
My pleasure!
No doubt. I just got recommended her for god only knows what reason, but damn she’s sure got her shit together regarding this... and only 2 provinces away to boot!!!
Is it easy to come in this province from other country
Hello Sadia, I don't know, I have never been there. I live in Nicaragua. Take care. : )
@@samuelrodriguez5033 oh thanku for reply me
Kinistino is only twenty minutes away from my home town, and honestly small town Saskatchewan is something else. The community is wonderful, the towns are peaceful, and there is so much space and so much freedom. It’s beautiful.
While travelling across Canada about 40 years ago we needed a few groceries so we stopped by a store in a small town in Saskatchewan. The store was closed so we asked a young boy going by on a bike why the store was not open. He replide " don't you know it's Tuesday".
Funny..🤣🤣
We can infer from this anecdote, among other things, that the young boy would be at least in his middle age now, if still alive.
That was a wonderful video. Loved it. I moved down to Medicine Hat from Edmonton almost 3yrs ago now. Best thing I ever done. Living in a small city, you become accustomed to the slower pace of life. The less traffic, not so busy as Edmonton by a long shot. The friendly people, the feel of a small town in a city.
I took a trip to Edmonton last summer, I thought I was going to die....it was to much. Couldn't wait to get home to MH.
Going back to the Hat, cause that’s where it’s at!!!
@@joephelps7867 Redcliff rocks!
That MH looks like a tight dumpy place is smells coming in from brooks from all the 50 thousand square foot mega toxic pig farm buildings Alberta is getting commie go join a protest and see what happens to you in Alberta.
I LOVE KRYDOR. My great Baba lived on a farm south of Krydor then lived in Krydor.
Smart, well thought out and helpful list! Making her Dad proud.
So glad you are getting lots of hits with your videos on small towns in Saskatchewan. As you may remember, we senior citizens chose to move to Lanigan nearly 5 years ago and we totally agree with your tips about small town living. We love the quieter lifestyle and the stress free living. Come here someday and show the world how problem free it can be living in a small town with top speed internet and all you need within an hour’s drive or 20 minutes for the basics. Keep your videos coming, Alina.
I am (was-damn covid!) a touring rock musician and have played many small Sask towns over the years. Esterhazy, Battleford, Kindersley, Lloydminster, Moose Jaw and many more-plus cities like Regina and Saskatoon. And northern Sask is gorgeous, with many lakes and beaches etc. People don’t realize just how beautiful it can be. I love Sask people-real and open-hearted.
Shhhh keep it lowkey
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing such interesting videos.
There's an old joke about a little boy who moved to a small prairie town at the age of 5 with his parents. He lived the rest of his life there, dying at 90. On his tombstone, the townsfolk put the epitaph: "He was almost one of us"....
Yup, been there done that:)
we moved to our small town in Alberta in 1982 - we are still 'the newcomers'.
Where I grew up if your parents weren't born there, you weren't from there...
Yeah this is one of those "it's funny because it's true" things.
@@DavidBealeakaFKD That hits so close to home....
I'm finding these bands in RUclips Music and listening to them at work today. Thank you so much for going to the trouble of listing them, with timestamps even! What's cool is, some of the songs these bands have produced are good, yet the bands have only a handful of subscriptions on RUclips Music. That may be because of RUclips Music's smaller user base, compared to Spotify and other services, but it strikes me how these bands will get better exposure from your listings. You're doing us, and them, a huge favor. Thank you!
You are most welcome!
You must be referring to “The Northern Pikes” great Canadian band from Saskatchewan!
Born & raised in Blaine Lake, SK. You hit all the points very well. Thanks for the video.
Ryan I was raised just up the road from Speers can you guess where? And by the best grandparents ever!!!!!!
In 1995 I drove from California to Blaine Lake for a family reunion on my mom's side and and a Doukhobor celebration. The trip took four days and I arrived in town after driving all day from Harlem, Montana. Though the sun was just below the horizon, it was after 10 pm and pre-cel phone, so I decided to pitch a tent in a small park along the main highway and find my relatives in the morning. The mosquitos were dense, so I walked to the gas station/mini mart to buy some insect repellant before trying to sleep. It was about 11 pm by that point and the store was staffed by two teenagers, a boy and girl. They sold me a citronella candle and we talked about life in California and my family reunion. As I was leaving, they asked where I was staying, and I said, "My tent at the park". The girl looked concerned and said that normally I'd be able to stay in the upstairs room but that it was occupied by the two men who worked at the lake on the weekend. She asked what I was doing for a shower in the morning, and I said I hadn't figured that out yet. She gave me a note and told me to hand it to the person at the counter in the morning.
I woke at about five in the morning to the sun beating down on my tent, so packed up and headed back to the store with my note. The woman at the counter seemed suspicious at first, but returned in a few minutes smiling, saying, "Oma is waiting for you upstairs". Sure enough, a woman in her late 70s greeted me with fresh towels, pointed me down the hallway and told me to be quiet so as not to wake the men in the spare room. I poked my head in the kitchen to say thank you as I left, and she said, "You're staying for breakfast, aren't you?" She'd made vareniki, my favorite dish made by my grandmother, so sat down to the kitchen table and we talked about the family reunion. While she didn't recognize any names, she brought up the Blue Book, a family tree compiled by local resident. She thought I might be in it and said there was a copy at the visitor's center, a 12x18 building visible from the bay window. As we finished up, the guys from the lake stopped in to say goodbye, and Oma introduced me, explaining the family reunion. "Is he in the book?", they asked. She said I was looking into it, we chatted for a bit, and they headed out.
The following day as I was reading house for sale postings ($5000, outside of town) on the bulletin board in front of the Royal Mounted Police station, a car honked behind me and I heard someone say, "Hey Jeff!" I turned to look and it was the guys from the lake. They were all smiles and said, "You're in the book!". Small town, small world.
1:01
I can't help it but wonder what would have happened if case you were not in "the book".
Nice Alina, thanks for showing us what small town Canada is like. It certainly isn't for me either but I'd love to visit.
As a kid in a small town (anywhere, not just Saskatchewan), you have to be generally well-behaved as well. You can’t get away with anything since everyone knows who you are, and more importantly they know your parents. The punishments your parents would deal out would be worse than anything the courts could. It made me the decent person I am today. I’m in my 60’s and I’m glad I grew up in a small town.
This times a thousand. Growing up, I looked much older than I was. In the city I could easily get away with buying beer of smokes, but in my town I wouldn't even try... Even if the SMALL chance the clerk didn't know me, a customer would and my parents would know about it before I even got home.
Except where most ppl would get an instant ticket for racing in the roads or doing some donuts, you get on a first name basis with the police and they just tell you to go home😆😆🤣
Also breaking stupid laws like no advs on the road, the police don't give a shit as long as your not being super annoying, then again they might tell you there's lots of fields and go find one of them to drive in😆😆🤣
Especially if your dad, like mine, was the principal
Eh here in Black lake there’s bullies everywhere like if there’s a house in construction kids would play in there and roughly kids would smoke and maybe drink so being caught doing anything bad is not even a problem since there’s more problems and will when there’s new windows for houses in construction kids would throw rocks at it not kidding.
Not everyone gets caught, even in a small town.
So glad you emphasized small towns. That is where the heart of a country is born. Enjoyed the video and you were magnificent.💕💕💕💕😊🤩💋🌹
Is Gainsbough Sask, a small town,David
@@allanbarsness6076 Don't know. I live in Ohio USA.
Thank you for such great videos. Thinking of moving out there but not sure because of the kind of winter.
Love these places....with all the crazy in the world, these are great places to be. Nothing in the world like honest hard working down to earth people and open space.
Being from Manitoba and loving the blue bombers I still have a spot in my heart for Saskatchewan. Worked there for a few years in LA Ronge , drove through it all many times. It's actually a beautiful province! Even with all the flat land jokes. Good people!:)
Manitobin here ..but live in Saskatchewan now for almost 6 years
I was raised in the hamlet of cando Saskatchewan and its so small but i loved it and actually miss it ☺
Very informative, thanks for sharing. I was about to visit Saskatchewan from Toronto and then Covid came around. I have a thing for small prairie towns and those old wooden grain elevators. I that they're disappearing fast.
Thank you for a great video! Presentation, videography, and music were fantastic. The last I visited your home province, was back in ‘94, when I lived in Montana. I truly love Saskatchewan and hope to one day visit again. Wishing you all the best from the Bluegrass of Kentucky. 🇨🇦💚💛❤️💙🤍🇺🇸
Thank you very much and hope you get to visit soon!
I m moving to Saskatchewan small town this month, for a job..in agriculture industry. Very excited for this new journey. Awesome video Alina
I am moving to about 100km northeast of Kinistino in April with my family! We are escaping Ontario, I am going to watch this video with interest.
My condolences.
Don’t listen to the naysayers- the people are awesome the summers fantastic and those who embrace the winters rather than hate them can snowmobile, skate, play winter sports and take in the many winter festivals. Yes the winters are long but you appreciate summer so much more! 59 years in Saskatchewan and counting ...
@@briany7680 thanks bro! I have NO regrets. The people are very nice. You know I noticed in small towns here people look at me, they know I am new in town. But unlike in Ontario if somebody is looking at me if I smile they almost always smile back! Out near Kindersley I was trying to leave the A&W with my hands full and a man went out of his way to open the door and looked at me right in the eyes. Being from Ontario I appreciate that stuff because most people there are trying to act too cool to notice anybody else. As for winter I think I got this!
Amazing as always Alina! Cool to see your town again. Even though I grew up in Regina, it really seemed so small and humble as a kid. Didn't lock our doors and always back home by dinner. This just brings back a warm feeling. Much appreciated!
Saskatchewan looks very beautiful, especially with two kind people like Alina and her Dad in it ⛄⛄ :)
HI Alina. Thank you for the video . I like soo much your videos ,, especially about such small authentic Canadian small towns and villages . Keep going making more videos like this one. I also like to listen and practice English from your videos , you speak so clearly and comprehensive . Thank you !
Glad you like them!
Hi Alina! I very much enjoyed riding with you and your dad along Highway 40, checking out the small towns between Blaine Lake and The Battlefords. Again, this brings back some fond memories of road trips during my U of S grad student days. Decades later, I will most likely not have the opportunity to ride this route again and enjoy the people and scenery of Central Saskatchewan. I love your music selections; these really capture the spirit and essence! And your insights on small town living are very universal - even in my native Province de Québec!
It looks like the brutal cold spell is now over. Spring is in the air on the Canadian Prairie! Enjoy the warmth with your family, Alina!
Thank you, Gediminas! Yes, hoping Spring comes soon :)
Wonderful video. Fine photography. Charming guide
I've always liked small towns. Even when I lived in cities, I would live on the edges, or outskirts. I live in the Yukon now in a place of about 100, a 6 hour drive from Whitehorse (the nearest city), and I love it! The quiet.... it is amazing.
03:48 Does the Doukhobor Prayer Hall have a choir? Liturgy of bread and salt!
Beautifully filmed! There's something special about prairie small towns 💗
There really is!
Hello Ellie
Excellent content and very well presented. It's always interesting (and eye-opening) to see how other people live. Thank you!
My experience living in small town Canada is that it can be very hard to get a family doctor.
My experience is the same living in Montreal.
I love your videos. I'm from Québec but come and still live in a small town and i love it. Visiting Saskatchewan and the Prairies in general is for sure on my bucket list.
My Dad was born in Saskatoon in 1930, raised down the street, in Floral, same town as Gordie Howe, hockey great!!
in Blaine Lake my grandma and her friends painted all the pictures on the side of the buildings :)))
I’m from South Texas (Ingleside, Tx) and I was raised on a huge chunk of land here with a farm/ranch work mentality. I truly am astonished by the small town lifestyle of Saskatchewan, Canada! It has both it’s comparison and difference from Texas here in the United States. If it’s possible, I would love to see a video on the small town of Maryfield, Saskatchewan! :)
Thanks for this....I'm from Shellbrook, my dad worked for Sask.Power (Natural Gas)from Shellbrook to Krydor he was the serviceman. I still have relatives in Blaine Lake. It hasn't changed in 40 years. ♥️🇨🇦♥️
Alina, thanks! It's amazing video! It's Little but cozy town. There is purest snow... Such places are not easy to find in our time. Also I was pleased to see the Ukrainian flag next to the Canadian flag. Greetings from Kiev.🤗
Many thousands of Ukrainians came over to Sask in the early 1900's to take advantage of a Canadian government incentive to farm and populate the rich farmland here. Therefore, there is a lot of Ukrainian influence.
Alina, you made such great points in this video, great tips on how if you want to make a permanent life change one should dip their toes in the water before ripping up their old life. Of course after watching and listening to you on you tube for a few years now it is nothing new that you always great points. You are always so on point with your commentary.
That is a warm and comfortable hat. And looks good. I have one similar to yours.
Born and raised in Watrous, then Shaunavon. 20 years in Saskatoon. Now living in Regina (but dreaming of New Orleans lol).
11. Have a car. Not just because of winters but because there are no trains or buses. Town to town Trains went out of style and just recently the entire Saskatchewan government run bus system was shut down and soon after Greyhound followed suit. There’s one or two upstart bus businesses and there’s the via rail line along the yellow head but both of these are very limited as to where they go.
12. Invest in several layers of winter clothing that you’ll end up using day to day, especially in Jan and Feb. she said the windchill sometimes gets to -40. Sometimes the windchill can get to minus -50 and not everything in a small town comes to a stop at that temp.
13. If you watch tv for anything you will need cable or a satellite dish. When tv stations turned to digital the range of channels over the airwaves became limited to the two biggest cities (and even then...).
14. If you need to go anywhere, be prepared for a lot of driving. Some towns are only an hour or two away from a big city or even a small one. Other towns can be four to five hours away.
Much culture shock Alina? Beach in Albania to Kinistino in 1 month? Wow!!
or temperature shock :)
@@petermelnikov682 yes, true!!:)
Who pays the bills?
Hi welcome back video is beautiful so the town but you can keep snow ❄️ too cold for me cool that you’re with your dad you both be safe 🇺🇸🇺🇸
I lived in Regina for four years. I was driving around the city over the weekends during those four years and had the chance to see most of them small cities and loved them all with nice and hospitable people whom I met.
Outstanding video commentary. I would add even grocery shopping can be very limiting. Also, you really need to experience the prairie and love the solitary landscape.
Yes, grocery options can definitely be tricky if you're far from a large center.
Hi Grew up in PA and went to high school in Melfort. If you want small try Star City.. Enjoyed your video.
I love how you present part of your influences growing up that make you the practical woman you are today! 💚😊
I lived in Kelvington, not too far from Kinistino, when I went to grade 2, and I loved it, as a kid. My friends and I had the run of the town and we'd hang out at the garage (unless we got kicked out) or the Chinese restaurant or just run around the streets and alleys. I learned to ride a bike there. Big moment of childhood!
My grandparents live in porcupine plain not too far from kelvington
Stumbled upon your video! I’m from Birch Hills, enjoying small town life and loved watching this 💕
Alena grew up in a small rural town which is lovely. But we live in an Arctic zone like Canada, Norway, Iceland, Finland, we have Severe depression is difficult during the winter months what I hate. But in the summer is summer given as joy, excitement, suny tawnyfour seven and as well as traveling abroad on holiday what I like. Alina Soon or later I will move to Canada. Nice video.
I am sooo sooo grateful for you to bring tears in my eyes! I miss Saskatchewan! I love it so dearly such a wonderful and life that gave me time to explore myself. All your points are valid and true. I do appreciate your time and making this video. I am also grateful for the people who have contributed to the music! Your choice is so calming effect on me. I wish I could come back.. oh Saskatchewan!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I was born in Saskatoon but spent a lot of time in Luseland SK with family and I always enjoyed the more communal and friendly nature of everyone there
You nailed all 10 points! I have lived on my Sk. farm my whole life.
I would like to recommend living in Shediac: small town, several big grocery stores, Canada post, accounting firm, law firm, 2-hour to Halifax.
My Dad grew up in Turtleford Sask, so when I saw this Alina it was a must watch
I bought a house in a small town some years ago ..left Toronto..absolutely the best thing we've ever done!! I'm jealous of the life my kid gets to live I wish I was brought up here!!!! Saskatchewan is the greatest province period
This makes me feel good, escaping Ontario in mid April for Saskatchewan.
@@neilwhitaker6284 u will not regret it ...bit of culture shock at first but its amazing here best luck
@Jannah Lam lmao ignorance is bliss stay put there bud
@Jannah Lam like? Ontario?
@Jannah Lam what is better in those places ? Population.?.overpriced homes? Pollution? No jobs? Traffic? ... must be the 7000 tim Hortons in the same areas
Great video!
I’ve spent some time in Yorkon, North Battleford and Saskatoon.
I’m moving to Saskatchewan soon from London England so I think it will be a huge culture shock, especially with the weather ❄️
Great video of the south of Saskatchewan. Communities in the north of Saskatchewan are much closer to nature, but much further away from many health services and further away from post-secondary educational opportunities and from other services. The north shares one of the important shortcomings you identified. That is that "health care in small towns is limited". One example of the provincial government's lack of a policy for small Saskatchewan communities, is that it does not recognize the need to build more affordable and publicly funded long term care facilities, A policy for a community's oldest residents to "age in place" would enable them to stay in their communities their entire lives. There is a need for government policies which will encourage people, who wish to stay or move to small communities, to enjoy the quality of life there.
I love vlogs about tiny towns that not many people really know about! Thanks for sharing about your home
I lived in Toronto my whole life, was thinking of relocating to a small town eventually just to get some peace of mind and new environment. This video opened my eyes to reality, thanks!
New subscriber
Plus the crooked trees north of Hafford is really neat !
Hi Alina - The advantages of living in a smaller town far outweigh the disadvantages. The sincerity & familiarity of the people is very refreshing in contrast to the isolation you can feel in a larger city where the fast pace is overwhelming both personally & professionally . Its also nice to not have to be constantly on guard for potential threats to your person from others. I like the comfort.
I grew up in Spiritwood not to far away from Blain Lake and Hafford. Watching this made me homesick. I love the small town pace of life. Thanks for sharing.
Since 1986 have visited Sask. 18 times staying with friends just north of Holbein...I remember one time we visited the small town of Hafford and got talking to a Ukranian lady...apparently when she came to Canada she bought a load of rocks with her to do her washing just in case there none where she was to settle !! I love all the small town diners and cafes..all those wonderful rural chracters and generous portions...gravy on fries to die for...
I have many friends around that area
The electric extension cord going across the side walk for the block heater on the red Ford truck is very Canadian! Great video!
I love small town life! My main mode of transport was always a utility bicycle. Living car free isn’t hard if you know how to manage it. I get to keep out of the cold and heat most of the time because I live in an assisted living facility where my needs are met. There are stunning mountain views and the elevation in Colorado insures cold winters are dry and seldom fall below freezing. As Alina mentioned, small town and rural life tend to be conservative and since they reflect my values, I have no problem fitting in. The main drawback to small town life is you don’t have access to all the conveniences of big city life. I don’t miss them because they’re overwhelming and if I can’t get something in a small town, I order it over the Internet and have it shipped to my door. If I had to sum up my personal experience with small town life, it comes down to living life in the slow lane and appreciating the virtue of a downsized lifestyle. Its not for everyone but since I’m an introvert, the solitude of small town life is a perfect fit for me! Small town life can be exactly what might work well for some people.
Love the quiet and slow pace of a small town i must I live in one Have a great day
Hi it's nice vilog, show us the heating system of the houses, and what type of food they eat to be able to bear that so much cold ?
We heat our house with natural gas. We also eat pretty much any thing any body else does. It may be cold in the winter, but it is absolutely wonderful in the summer.
@@sandralong333 thanks for replying
Most houses in Saskatchewan use natural gas forced air central heating. They also have a lot of insulation. New housing has external walls at least 6” thick filled with insulation.
@@neilgendzwill3260 thanks for replying
One more wonderful production, with very nice images and fitting country music. All this together with very well said arguments and analysis about your topic! And having by your side your wonderful father, supporting you, is very touching for me, that I have lost mine. Thank you so much Alina!
I moved to small town Saskatchewan in November after living my whole life in big city Ontario, 47yrs... never being here before, not knowing a single person but had enough of the never ending high cost of living and bottomless pit of payments and with the extreme tyranny in Ontario with the scamdemic I needed out!... bought a great little house for an incredible price and was the greatest decision of my life, happiest I have ever been!
I am moving in mid April similar reason. I don't know anybody there but I couldn't take it here any longer and didn't want my children to grow up here in Ontario any longer. I think this place is toast, done, I'm sad to see my home destroyed but I'm blessed to be able to go on a new adventure in my life.
@@neilwhitaker6284 Enjoy your prison sentence...you obviously are having a tough time in life if you are choosing Sask.
@@SesameStreetRacingChannel hahahahahaa, yeah people from the GTA are clueless to not only Canada but to the rest of the world
Very enjoyable music, nice explanation, thanks Alina.-Tony from the Philippines.
You forgot to mention getting a Co op number! Lol
True!
What's a co-op number?
@@ThisHandleWasTheOnly1Available A group grocery store or gas station or several other possible businesses where it’s kind of owned by the locals who each pay for a membership that becomes like a stake in the company. You tell them your member number and your purchases are recorded and on an annual basis a dividend cheque is paid out to each member. I actually went to a summer camp put on by local coops where we learned all this and started our own camp store. Socialism was big here once. EDIT: you also get an equal share of whatever profits they made by purchases from other people who aren’t members.
@@ryancoulter4797 WTF? Canada is more communist than Soviet Russia ever was. Do they have Gulags in the Prairies too?
@@ThisHandleWasTheOnly1Available Federated Co Op headquartered in Saskatoon is actually a big company and a major employer. Membership is at your choice and can be equated to a profit sharing program which many major companies have. I am thinking that you are perhaps from the USA where you have high crime and lots of ghettos so if that is your benchmark, I would take Saskatchewan any day.
My Wife was born in Kinistino. Thanks for the fun!!!
And also Alina, you can walk down the middle of the street and make videos. LOL That church looks like something you brought over with you from the Ukraine. Love your Dad's dry sense of humor.
Thanx for sharing your usual great video Alina - keep up the good work and continue to enjoy time with your Dad in Hafford!
I watch Just for Laughs: Gags I love the show. I love Canada I would love to go visit someday.
Filmed in Montreal. Polar opposite of sask.
Beautiful landscape..nicely shot and excellent soundtrack. Always liked these small town streets...makes for great photographs.
Looks like the Pick-up truck is king in those parts. I noticed cables running from some parked cars to the houses. Overnight car heating?
Steve Ethelston Virtually all vehicles have “Block Heaters” to warm the engine oil so vehicle is easier to start when temperatures drop for extended periods of time 🥶🥶
Most vehicles had a block heater to keep the coolant or antifreeze warm.
@@graemedalgleish8944 You are correct. My earlier comment should have given a better explanation that the block heater warms the engine coolant which warms the engine block which in turn warms the engine oil so the engine turns over easier thus starts better.
I am considering buying a separate oil pan heater.
Edit... when I start my diesel, the oil pressure comes up but if it is really cold, it will drop to zero for a few seconds until the oil circulates.
im very happy to see this kind of place , thanks for showed the place :)
It's so weird seeing kinistino on RUclips hahaha
Loved the Video, my Mother was born on a farm near Redberry Lake, not far from Krydor.
I still have relatives in the area, though my mother's generation are all passed on.
I was born and raised in the US, but I can remember many of these places from childhood visits-
though I date myself when I say that I remember Krydor with a train station, post office and store.
(My aunt was once the Postmistress, while my uncle was the butcher and ran the store.)
The most important thing when choosing a small Canadian town to live - is how far away are you from a medium sized or larger city. Luckily for Alina's Dad, Hafford is only one hour from the city of Saskatoon - so that means living in Hafford will be totally tolerable. And it's even closer to Prince Albert, so you can't get better than that. Some small towns are an hour away from another even smaller town - not possible to live in.
Yes, that is a very good point. It's a very good idea to choose a small town that is closer to a large center.
The further you get away from the city the more it feels like a small town though, if you live close you have people from the city that commute for work and don't get involved in the community you have to be far enough that people are working and involved in the community... As well as real estate prices get lower the further away from a city you are if you're looking at it from a cost of living standpoint...Amazon Prime as well as pretty much every other retailer offering free shipping, you can get anything you would need in a city within 2 days...
Saskatchewan doesn't have too many Vancouver sized cities - Prince Albert for example only has 30,000 people. I call that a small city, and the closer you live to one of those small small small cities - the better. Of course being a half hour from Vancouver is not living in a small town. I wonder if you can even buy very much organic food in Prince Albert or would you have to go to Saskatoon?
@@ralphwiggum250N Yes it probably wouldn't be available, most people in rural areas surrounded by agriculture understand organic is just a marketing tactic to sell food at a higher premium to city people. Most people that understand agriculture know the ethical impact of organic and that it requires twice the land therefore taking a meal away from somebody in need. We need people to adapt modern-day farming practices to be able to feed everybody as the gap between the amount of supply and the demand increases as the population rapidly increases, so yeah they're probably isn't that kind of food available which is a very good thing for anyone who thinks of others and the environment
There are no "big cities" in Sask...just 2 small cities...Saskatoon and Regina. Saskatoon is quite beautiful and you can get regular goods and services there...but good luck getting anything other than stale bread in small towns...probably like living in Siberia in Russia...
Had the pleasure of joining the community in Yorkton Sask for 8 years, and wished we could have stayed forever. Unfortunately a family illness forced us back to care for my Mom in Nov 2018,, and covid trapped us in Ont. We will never regret our time in Saskatchewan, and loo forward to retiring there when the time comes.
A lot of my family is from Yorkton 👍
My kids were involved in 4-H here in 'small town' Nova Scotia. Our daughter did an exchange through 4-H with a group from Beachy, Saskatchewan. Both groups really enjoyed seeing each other's small towns as they were similar but geographically so different.
That's wonderful!
About 10 years ago I lived in Unity & then moved to PA briefly (coming from Ontario & then going to BC). The towns sounded vaguely familiar, but the church in Krydor sparked my memory! I drove Hwy 40 from the Battlefords to PA & back quite a few times during the summer when I moved. I always wanted to stop at that church but never did.
In my home town Blaine Lake!
small town sask survivor checking in. great video
I enjoy your Canadian vlogs more than other places.
Great video, you hit the nail on the head with all the points. I was born, raised, and still live just east of you, I'm from Hudson Bay.
Funny, never saw any one else on the street walking. You had the whole place to yourself. Very cold. Is it true, one has to live in a small town for 40 years before you can run for mayor?
Alina, thanks so much for this great video. It's super to see you haven't lost touch with your Saskatchewan roots. This was a great flashback for me of all the trips spent visiting relatives in small-town/southern Saskatchewan as a child!
You are most welcome! Happy to hear it!
Hey Alina. I was wondering if you were going to post a video today. Anyway how was your Birthday, 21 right.
What a beautiful, refreshing video and simple, to-the-point narration. Thank you and keep up the good work.