Estevan is the eighth largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located approximately 16 km (9.9 mi) north of the Canada–United States border. The Souris River runs by the city.
The first settlers in what was to become Estevan arrived in 1892, along with the expansion of the Canadian Pacific Railway. It was incorporated as a village in 1899, and later became a town in 1906. On March 1, 1957, Estevan acquired the status of a city, which, in Saskatchewan terms, is any community of 5,000 or more.[2]
The name origin is attributed to George Stephen's Registered Telegraphic Address, Estevan.[3] George Stephen was the first President of the Canadian Pacific Railway from 1881 to 1888.
On December 22, 1915, the 152nd (Weyburn-Estevan) Battalion, CEF was authorised and recruited men from the area before departing to Great Britain on October 3, 1916.
Estevan was the site of the notorious Estevan Riot in 1931. Although most of the strikers were from nearby Bienfait, the strike is associated with Estevan because it was in this city that the demonstrators were met by members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. After the subsequent riot, which lasted 45 minutes, three strikers lay dead. It was later proven that the three miners had been killed by the RCMP.
