Ponteix

Ponteix (/ˈpɒntɛks/, PON-teks) is a town in southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada, 86 km (53 mi) southeast of Swift Current. It is located on Highway 628 just north of Highway 13.

Ponteix
Town
Town of Ponteix
Ponteix town hall
Ponteix
Ponteix
Coordinates: 49.7476°N 107.4883°W / 49.7476; -107.4883
CountryCanada
ProvinceSaskatchewan
Post office Founded1908-10-01
Government
 • MayorDavid Scully
 • Town ManagerLynne Lemieux
 • Governing bodyPonteix Town Council
 • MLADave Marit
 • MPJeremy Patzer
Area
 • Total1.09 km2 (0.42 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total605
 • Density556.0/km2 (1,440/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central Standard Time)
Postal code
S0N 1Z0
Area code(s)306
HighwaysHighway 13
Highway 612
Websitewww.ponteix.ca
[2][3]

History

In 1908, Father Albert-Marie Royer from the Auvergne region in France established a parish and hamlet called Notre-Dame d’Auvergne north of Notukeu Creek. Five years later, the townsite was moved south of the creek when the Canadian Pacific Railway laid track south of the creek. After the move, the community was renamed Ponteix after Father Royer's former parish in France (Le Ponteix, commune of Aydat).[4]

Demographics

According to the 2011 federal census, there were 605 residents in Ponteix, of whom 175 spoke both official languages (English and French).[1]

Canada census – Ponteix community profile
2011 2006
Population: 605 (+13.9% from 2006) 531 (-3.5% from 2001)
Land area: 1.09 km2 (0.42 sq mi) 1.09 km2 (0.42 sq mi)
Population density: 556.0/km2 (1,440/sq mi) 488.0/km2 (1,264/sq mi)
Median age: 51.6 (M: 47.0, F: 55.8) 56.8 (M: 54.5, F: 57.9)
Total private dwellings: 268 277
Median household income: $41,827
References: 2011[5] 2006[6] earlier[7]

Attractions
  • Plesiosaur Statue: Near Ponteix was the site of a plesiosaur find in the early 1990s. In 1995 community members and students of Ponteix school contributed small articles to this plesiosaur statue before it was filled with cement and painted by the townspeople in a ceremony commemorating the discovery of the original plesiosaur's bones.[8]
  • Notukeu Heritage Museum located in Ponteix features prehistoric artifacts.[9]
  • Notre Dame D'Auvergne Catholic Church, a brick and concrete structure in Ponteix built in 1929, features twin steeples and houses a large wood carving of the Pieta.[10] The Pieta statue came to Canada in 1909 and was saved when the 1916 church was destroyed by fire in 1923. A description of the oak statue in 1954 by Abbot Jerome Webber of St. Peter's Abbey claims it was made in France over four hundred years ago, was saved by peasants during the French Revolution and was once covered in pure gold.[11]

Notable residents

Mark Lamb, a former professional hockey player and now assistant coach for the Dallas Stars, was born in Ponteix.

See also

References
  1. "2011 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 2014-08-02.
  2. National Archives, Archivia Net. "Post Offices and Postmasters". Retrieved 2013-11-22.
  3. Government of Saskatchewan, MRD Home. "Municipal Directory System". Retrieved 2013-11-22.
  4. "Town of Ponteix website". Retrieved 2012-12-20.
  5. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
  6. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
  7. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  8. "Big Things (Village of Ponteix, Saskatchewan)". Retrieved 2012-12-20.
  9. "Museums Association of Saskatchewan (Notukeu Heritage Museum)". Retrieved 2012-12-20.
  10. "Notre Dame D'Auvergne Catholic Church". Archived from the original on 2004-02-22. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
  11. "Saskatchewan's Marian Shrines". Retrieved 2012-12-20.


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