attractions - Les Auvergnois de Ponteix

The small prairie community of Ponteix, with its distinct French culture, was founded by Father Albert Royer and named after his parish in France. Located southeast of Swift Current just off Hwy 13, Ponteix provides its residents and visitors with full services and a variety of businesses and recreational facilities. While visiting the community be sure to check out the local attractions.

For those flying in from outside Saskatchewan, Ponteix is only a three-hour drive from the Regina International Airport. For a complete fransaskois experience, drive to Gravelbourg, then follow the Red Coat Trail till you see “Mo”, our 24-foot-long reproduction of the 75-million-year-old Plesiosaur discovered nearby. Stop and take a few selfies with the kids, then head for the Royer Cultural Centre at the bottom of Center street so we can give you tips on the best local tourist attractions!

Bienvenue à Ponteix! Welcome to Ponteix!

100 YEARS OF FRENCH HISTORY AND CULTURE

Is this your first visit?

Let us guide you.

First stop

First stop, the Royer Community Cultural Center which bears the name of the town’s founder l’Abbé Albert-Marie Royer, a French priest who came to Saskatchewan to establish the parish of Notre Dame d’Auvergne in 1908. The center houses the Notukeu Heritage Museum, created by Henri Liboiron, a local archaeology enthusiast who discovered the plesiosaur fossils as well as an astonishing collection of artefacts, weapons and tools that were used by the First Nations of the Plains; some are over 10,000 years old! If you swing by the museum, a bilingual attendant will gladly accompany you to explain the rich history of the various fossils!

Next stop

Next stop, the impressive Notre Dame D’Auvergne parish church, the largest columnless church in all of Western Canada. There you can admire the precious historical statue of the sanctuary, La Pieta, which dates back to the 15^th century and was to Ponteix from France by the first Sisters of Notre-Dame d’Auvergne in 1913. Enjoy the beauty of the high ceilings, then head for the basement where you will find a historical mural which decorates the whole length of a wall.

Staying the night?

Want to spend the night and explore the area? Book a room at the Parkside Inn, or camp at the nearby Notukeu Regional Park with full-service RV sites, showers, and restrooms. Children get to enjoy the playground and the heated outdoor swimming pool while parents enjoy the excellent nine-hole golf course and tennis court. A quick 5-minute drive gets you to the Roberge Bison Farm where you’ll be able to admire a whole herd of these impressive animals which use to roam these parts by the thousands. Visit the farm’s facilities with owner Guy Roberge, and don’t forget to buy some amazing bison steaks for your barbecue!

100 YEARS OF FRENCH HISTORY AND CULTURE

Is this your first visit?

Let us guide you.

First stop

First stop, the Royer Community Cultural Center which bears the name of the town’s founder l’Abbé Albert-Marie Royer, a French priest who came to Saskatchewan to establish the parish of Notre Dame d’Auvergne in 1908. The center houses the Notukeu Heritage Museum, created by Henri Liboiron, a local archaeologie enthusiast who discovered the plesiosaur fossils as well as an astonishing collection of artefacts, weapons and tools that were used by the first Amerindians of the Plains; some are over 10,000 years old! If you swing by the museum, a bilingual attendant will gladly accompany you to explain the rich history of the various fossils!

Next stop

Staying the night?

Come discover us!

We invite you to come and discover Ponteix and its surroundings. This country of wind and roaming hills has no equivalent in Canada. It evokes prehistory and indigenous peoples, the arrival of pioneers and the prairie roots of Saskatchewan’s French culture. As is often the case in the prairies, you will most likely be able to see the bell towers of the Notre-Dame-d’Auvergne church from afar, as well as the grain elevator and our gigantic golf-ball shaped white water tower the name PONTEIX inscribed in bold letters.

At the entrance to the village, you will be greeted by “Mo” the plesiosaur – he’s hard to miss! – and you might even catch a glimpse of the Roberge family’s herd of bison grazing nearby. Take the time to explore the streets of our town, swing by the Centre Culturel Royer, check out its great museum. Feeling hungry? Go grab some food at Splitter’s Bar and Restaurant and talk to the people you meet there. There’s a lot to do around here. Hope you have fun!

The first thing visitors see when they drive by Ponteix is the statue of “Mo”. This reproduction was built to commemorate the discovery in 2019 of the remains of a new species of marine reptile 6 kilometers northeast of Ponteix by residents Bob St. Cyr and Henri Liboiron. It measures 8 feet 10 inches (2.7 meters) in height, and 24 feet (7.3 meters) in length. The plaque at the foot of the path leading to the statue reads: “Mo” The plesiosaur of Ponteix (elasmosaurus), a marine reptile who lived there 70 million years ago, reaching a length of 38 feet.

Stretch your legs and admire the beautiful prairie scenery. If you’re lucky you might even see bison from the Roberge Bison Farm roaming the land nearby. It’s a great spot for a selfie. Send them to all your friends. Better yet, tell your friends to come see it for themselves!

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Walter Chizzini - Agent de développement communautaire

Gateau fransaskois, Ponteix, Saskatchewan

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The Centre culturel Royer, by its name, pays homage to Father Albert Royer, the French founder of the parish. Built in 1996, the center has become a place of gathering, celebration, socialization and education that reaches out to both French and English speakers in this breathtaking region of the Saskatchewan “badlands”. The Royer Cultural Center supports the local francophone community in its quest to promote bilingualism and furnish a French environment for groups of all ages wishing to organize social gatherings. The Center also houses the Notukeu Museum, a bowling alley, a games room, and a hall space dedicated to social and cultural events of all kinds. Swing by and say hi! We’d love to show you around!

Located in the Royer Cultural Center, the Notukeu Heritage Museum, created by Henri Liboiron, houses astonishing archaeological and paleontological collections. Henri’s extraordinary collection includes artifacts, weapons, and tools of the early Plains Indians, some dating back 10,000 years! Henri spent a lifetime collecting these artefacts in fields surrounding Ponteix. He was a colourful character, and his collection is simply amazing! You’ll also find fossils of the 75-million-year-old plesiosaur discovered just north of Ponteix, a carnivorous underwater reptile known to locals as “Mo”. Henri Liboiron passed away in 1996.

“He was very, very entertaining. I always enjoyed when I met him for a cup of coffee, or down here, when the museum was open. We would sit down, and all you had to do was ask one question and he was off. He was very pleasant to listen to. That’s one of my memories of him. We miss him very much.” – Raymond Chabot, Ponteix resident

The remarquable Notre Dame D’Auvergne parish church towers majestically over the village of Ponteix. The largest columnless church in all Western Canada, Notre Dame D’Auvergne was built of concrete and brick and accented by twin 40 metre spiers. It is also home to the priceless La Pieta historic statue of the sanctuary which dates to the French Revolution; it arrived in Ponteix with the first Sisters of Notre-Dame d’Auvergne in 1913. Take time to walk the corridors and admire the historic mural that decorates an entire basement wall and the original embossed metal walls and ceilings (1920s era) in the church hall. A public archive and an art gallery are also located on site.

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Congrès eucharistique à Ponteix - 11 juil 1947

It was in 1934 that Monsignor A. Melanson, Bishop of Gravelbourg, asked his faithful to make a pilgrimage to Ponteix to ask the Virgin for special help during the drought years of the Depression. Several thousand pilgrims answered the call by visiting his sanctuary on July 16, 1936, in Ponteix. The tradition continues to this day, and plaques in the church bear witness to the miracles attributed to him. In 2019, the community of Ponteix celebrated with great pomp its 85th pilgrimage.

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The Notukeu Regional Park is located on the outskirts of the village of Ponteix, near the Notukeu stream. There are 17 full-service RV sites: electrified sites, showers, flush toilets, and dumps. The pitches are available from the long weekend in May until the end of September

The outdoor swimming pool is heated and has showers and changing rooms; lifeguards are on duty there full time. Children can also have fun in the water play park or in the playground.

For golf enthusiasts, there is a lovely nine-hole course with fairways and greens of well-watered grounds, all nestled along the Notukeu stream. Rental carts are available. The park also has a clubhouse with a tennis court and horseshoe pits. Places to eat within 5km of Notukeu Regional Park include Splitter’s Bar & Restaurant, and The Harvest Moon Cafe.

To reserve a spot, call 306-625-3222 or send an email to [email protected]

The outdoor swimming pool is heated and has showers and changing rooms; lifeguards are on duty there full time. Children can also have fun in the water play park or in the playground.

To reserve a spot, call 306-625-3222 or send an email to [email protected]

Ferme Guy Roberge éleveur de bisons à Ponteix Saskatchewan

In Saskatchewan, bison are closely associated with the history of the First Nations and Plains Métis. It was in 1996 that Guy Roberge decided to raise a herd of bison on his farmland near Ponteix. “I loved the idea of bringing buffalo back to this part of the country. There used to be thousands roaming the hills around here.” He is the only bison breeder in this particular part of Saskatchewan. Since embarking on this adventure, bison ranching has become a family affair as his son ______ now helps him run the bison ranch while his daughter takes care of growing the grain on this mixed-use farm.

Make sure to call ahead for a guided tour. Guy is a great tour guide. His bison are imposing animals. Bison can weigh 700 kilograms (1,543 pounds), making them the largest land animal in North America. Herbivorous, bison are nomadic and move in herds. Plains bison came close to extinction after intensive hunting in the 19th and 20th centuries. As their population has since recovered, the bison has now been removed from the endangered species list.

La pieta de la paroisse Notre-Dame d'Auvergne

Transported from France by the Sisters of Notre-Dame d´Auvergne, La Pieta was installed in the first chapel in 1913. Rachel Lacoursière-Stringer tells us the story of this parish treasure: “It dates from the 15th century; made of oak, covered with gold, it represents the Virgin holding in her arms the body of Christ at the descent from the cross. It is said to have been carved in 1490 and was miraculously saved from theft, from the waters of the sea and finally from a fire.” This precious statue can now be admired in Ponteix’s magnificent Notre-Dame d’Auvergne parish church.

It was in March 1995 that Jeanne Legault (Levasseur) was first inspired to raise an image in honor of the Virgin Mary and in memory of her parents on the old Levasseur homestead, located 3 km northeast of Ponteix. Encouraged by her twin brother, Jean Levasseur, Jeanne had an imposing wooden statue sculpted which was erected in 2000 on the site where Armand Levasseur and Lucienne Landry raised their thirteen children.

The statue, blessed by the archbishop and baptized Our Lady of the Fields came to be considered the patron saint of farmers and the protector of the land. Not only has the statue become an important symbol of hope for the farmers of the region, but Jeanne also sees it as a unifying symbol for the entire community.

The impressive fifteen-foot-tall structure (symbolizing the fifteen members of the family) was carved from a single tree trunk (Douglas Fir) by artist Ian Mackenzie of Kamloops, Alberta.

Our favourite spots!

After visiting the attractions of Ponteix, discover this undulating Canadian prairie which recalls the landscapes of the first inhabitants. Enjoy fun experiences with family and friends at Parc regional du Lac Pelletier with its beach and campground, or drive to Val Marie and the Grasslands National Park where you’ll find exciting trails, geocaches, guided nature hikes, RV/tent camping, teepee lodging, or oTentik rentals at Frenchman Valley and Rock Creek Campgrounds. (A wheelchair-accessible oTentik is available and a pet-friendly oTentik unit).

Experience the loneliness of the great plain as the prairie wind ripples a sea of grass under the clear blue sky. Hop aboard a traditional cart, sit in front of a crackling campfire, or spend the night under one of the shining stars. Travel back in time as you admire dinosaur bones, stroll past teepee rings, and spot a prairie farm on the distant horizon.

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For hundreds of years the scenic Lac Pelletier valley has been an oasis in the prairies for people who settled in the area and since 1964 the regional park has been a popular recreation spot in the southwest of the Saskatchewan. This spring-fed lake is surrounded by cabins, campgrounds and farmland and offers wonderful outdoor activities in summer and winter.

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Treasure Valley Markets is located 50 km (32 miles) South of Swift Current, or 13 km (8 miles) North of Cadillac, on #4 Highway. The farm was homesteaded by Karl and Adeline Metke in 1912. This farm has remained in the Metke Family for 4 Generations. It is now a mixed farm with grain farming, cow-calf operation, market garden, orchard and agro-tourism. Treasure Valley Markets is a great family destination. They offer visitors a picnic area in the orchard with a play structure, swings, slide, trampoline, fire pit and different games. Kids are also invited to explore the Petting Zoo, try out the Paddle Boats and visit the Ice Cream Stand!

“We want to make it an enjoyable learning experience when individuals come out to our farm, either to pick fruit or to view the market garden and orchard.”

Learn more: http://treasurevalleymarkets.com/

Kanada, Saskatchewan, The Convent, Country Inn in Val Marie

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Val Marie is the gateway to the Grasslands National Park, one of Canada’s great national parks. With its wide-open spaces, dark skies and abundant wildlife, this prairie park is teeming with culture, history and conservation. In fact, in 1877 Tatanka Iyotake – Sitting Bull – crossed the United States to Canada along the Frenchman River (which runs through Val Marie) after his victory over General Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

The community of Val Marie – Valley of Mary – was founded in 1910 by Father Passaplan, Louis Denniel and brothers François and Léon Pinel. Most of the early settlers were ranchers and farmers from Quebec and France. The small village of Val Marie is located in southern Saskatchewan just 25 minutes north of the Saskatchewan-US border. The region’s economy is based on agriculture, animal husbandry, tourism and natural gas.

Before heading to the national park, stop by the park office for detailed information about its history, flora and fauna, special events, programs, and more. The community and area also offer a variety of accommodation options for visitors, including the Val Marie Hotel, Val Marie Campground, Old Convent Inn, Convent Inn, and Sky Story Bed & Breakfast. And don’t leave the community without stopping for a delicious treat at the Coffee Bar or perusing Prairie Wind & Silver Sage’s book and gift selections.