La Loche, Saskatchewan, is a quaint village nestled in the northwest region of the province. Situated on the eastern shore of Lac La Loche, at the end of Highway 155, this village is a gem in Canada's boreal forest. As of 2016, La Loche had a population of 2,827 and is part of the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District.
Bordering La Loche to the north and accessible via Highway 955 is the Clearwater River Dene Nation (CRDN), home to 822 people. Together, the La Loche/CRDN population centre, with 3,649 people, represents about 30 percent of Canada's Denesuline speakers. The Denesuline language is spoken by 89% of the residents.
The northern hamlet of Black Point, located on the southern shore of the lake, is accessible via the Garson Lake Road Highway 956. This road ends in Garson Lake, from where a winter road is built every year to Fort McMurray, Alberta.
On the northern end of Lac La Loche is the Methye Portage or Portage La Loche. This portage to the Clearwater River was in use for more than a century during the North American fur trade. Brigades such as the Portage La Loche Brigade from Fort Garry came from the south, while the Athabasca and Mackenzie brigades came from the north.
At Rendezvous Lake on the 19 km (12 mi) portage, the fur brigades would meet every year and exchange trade goods for furs. These furs were then transported to York Factory on the Hudson Bay for shipment to England. Today, the Methye Portage is part of the Clearwater River Provincial Park and a National Historic Site. The Clearwater River is also a Canadian Heritage River.
Fur trade posts were established on Lac La Loche soon after Peter Pond passed through the Methye Portage in 1778. The Atlas of Canada shows four posts of the North West Company from 1780 to 1819 and three posts of the Hudson's Bay Company starting in 1819.
In 1857, a permanent trading post was built on the south end of the Portage. This post moved to nearby West La Loche in the 1870s until it was destroyed by fire in 1936. The Hudson's Bay Company then relocated their post across the lake at La Loche in the newly purchased Revillon Frères buildings, where they remained until they sold their northern stores in 1987.
Missionary priests have been visiting La Loche since 1845. In 1860, the separate La Loche Mission of Notre Dame de la Visitation was established. Father Jean-Marie Pénard O.M.I., the first resident priest of La Loche from 1895 to 1917, wrote in 1895 that the population of La Loche at the Mission was around 100 people.
In the 1940s, a convent was built for the Grey Nuns, along with the first hospital and the first school of the community. In 1953, a new Roman Catholic Mission church, which is still in use, was constructed.
The first road, Highway 155, reached La Loche in 1963. Water/sewer and electricity became available to most homes in 1974. Direct dial telephone came in 1974, television in 1976, and a skating arena in 1978. In 1979, a new high school was opened, Highway 955 to the Cluff Lake uranium mine site was completed, and the Clearwater River Dene Nation was officially created.
On January 22, 2016, a tragic shooting spree in La Loche resulted in the death of four people and injuries to seven others. A 17-year-old male suspect was apprehended and taken into custody.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, La Loche had a population of 2,514 living in 724 of its 814 total private dwellings, a change of 2.9% from its 2016 population of 2,444.
The La Loche Population Centre has a population of 3,649 in two adjoining communities. These two communities and their 2016 Canada Census population are: La Loche (northern village) with 2,827 residents and the Clearwater River Dene Nation with 822 residents.
The La Loche Arena Complex houses the Robbie Fontaine Memorial Arena, a meeting hall, the local radio station CHPN-FM, activity rooms, and offices. The Dave O'Hara Public Library at Ducharme School offers internet access.
The La Loche Friendship Centre and the La Loche Sport, Recreation and Culture Board organize many of the activities and festivals that occur every year. The week-long "Yanessa Days Festival", the "La Loche Long Sun Run," and the Canada Day celebrations are a few of the popular yearly events.
La Loche has a business community that serves the population and the mining companies exploring north of the community. Air services are provided via the La Loche Airport. The La Loche detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the La Loche Volunteer Fire Department serve La Loche and nearby communities.
The northern village of La Loche provides water and sewer service, garbage pick-up, road maintenance, snow removal, and local radio and cable television services. SaskPower provides electricity and SaskTel provides telephone, 911 emergency service, and internet services. Methy Construction and Maintenance Corporation, owned by the northern village, offers commercial and residential property development and construction and contracting for heavy equipment.
