Cupar, Saskatchewan, a quaint town nestled 75 kilometres northeast of Regina, is a hidden gem in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Settled on the flat plains, just 45 kilometres north of the picturesque Qu'Appelle Valley, Cupar is a town that boasts a rich history and a vibrant culture.
Cupar, Saskatchewan, is often referred to as the Home of Eddie Shore, the legendary NHL defenceman who was raised in this very town. This remarkable hockey history is a source of pride for the locals. But Cupar's claim to fame doesn't stop at hockey. The town is also home to artist Jacqueline Berting, whose Berting Glass studio is located just north of town. One of her most notable works, The Glass Wheatfield, is a stunning display of 1,400 waist-high glass wheat stalks, each piece individually hand cut and lamp worked. Berting describes her work as "a salute to the Canadian farmer".
Cupar, Saskatchewan, is also known for its unique summer tradition, the Cupar Gopher Drop. This one-of-a-kind lottery involves stuffed toy gophers (Richardson's ground squirrels) labelled with numbers being dropped from a hot-air balloon. The "owner" of the gopher that lands nearest Hole 1 wins the first prize, and so on.
Cupar, Saskatchewan, became a village in 1905. The town was named by a Canadian Pacific Railway official after the town of Cupar in Fife, Scotland. In 2005, the town celebrated its centennial, marking a century of rich history and community growth.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Cupar, Saskatchewan, had a population of 598 living in 246 of its 274 total private dwellings. This represented a 6% increase from its 2016 population of 564. With a land area of 0.86 km2 (0.33 sq mi), the town had a population density of 695.3/km2 (1,800.9/sq mi) in 2021.
Cupar, Saskatchewan, is a town that beautifully blends history, culture, and community spirit. Whether you're a hockey fan, an art enthusiast, or simply a lover of unique traditions, Cupar has something to offer.
