Ogema is a town in south central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is approximately south of Saskatchewan's capital city, Regina, and about midway between Weyburn and Assiniboia on Highway 13.
History Ogema's first settlers arrived in 1908. Most of those settlers came from the Bruce and Huron county regions of Ontario, but a few came from other parts of the world, including the United States, Europe and the British Isles.
While the first settlers arrived in 1908, it wasn't until 1911 that a post office was established with the name of Ogema. "Omega", which is Greek for "end", was originally chosen as the community's name because, at the time of settlement, it was "the end of the railway". However, when it came time to register the name, they were told by the authorities that there was another town named Omega and no two communities with the same name would be allowed. So it came to be that two letters were switched and "Ogema" was born. Ogema is an Ojibwe word meaning "Chief".
The lots for the town of Ogema were originally sold by the Canadian Pacific Railway, which was then building a branch line through southern Saskatchewan.
During the early years of settlement, several modes of transportation were used. Along with walking, a people travelled by horseback, wagons, buggies, and sleighs during the winter. Living quarters were prepared by the men, who went ahead of their families to make sure the homestead was ready. Power to these homesteads was supplied by oxen, mules, or horses. The horses were fed with grain obtained through threshing. The seeding was done with wooden box drills. Threshing time was very exciting for the people of Ogema, as it was seen as the payoff for a year's worth of homesteading.
In February 1911, Ogema was declared a village on the west 1/2 at 22-7-22. On August 10, 1911, the Canadian Pacific Railway line between Assiniboia and Weyburn reached Ogema. In 1912, a telegraph line reached the village, construction of the first curling rink began, and the village's first official sports day was held on June 12. On July 5, 1912, lumber yard manager Raymond Kenneth Rounds coordinated a census which concluded that there were 540 citizens living in the village.
On October 4, 1912, a motion of council proclaimed "Be it resolved that secretary-treasurer post up notices of the intention of village council to apply to the Lieutenant-Governor in Council for the corporation of the village into a town." In December 1912, having attained a population of 500, Ogema's status was upgraded from village to town.
On February 8, 1913, elections for council were held for the newborn town and A.R. Sargent was named mayor.
The year 1914 marked the beginning of the First World War and the town's men enlisted in the military. They sold or rented their homesteads and went off to war.
Disaster struck the town in January 1915 when a fire broke out on the east side of Main Street and destroyed nine businesses. Below zero temperatures contributed to the freezing of the fire engine, and so it was of minimal use when it came to extinguishing the fire.
As the war wound down, the town struggled to adjust as the men returned home from the battlefield. Due to injuries sustained while fighting, some of the men could no longer do farm work and had to find other jobs. Also around this period, a flu epidemic seized the town and wiped out entire families. Eventually, though, the returning soldiers settled into their new jobs and the epidemic passed, giving the people of Ogema renewed hope for the 1920s.
1920-1945 The 1920s in Ogema were a time of innovation as inventions were developed to help the farming world. The 1930s marked the beginning of the Depression that affected Ogema as well. In 1939, with the beginning of the Second World War, young men and women enlisted in the service.
1920s There was a boom in Ogema in the 1920s. The economy was based on "mixed farming and ranching."
In 1927, cement sidewalks were poured and were financed by debentures. Scouting: started in 1927 with three patrols and held summer camps in Willow Bunch Lake.
Leading up to the Great Depression 1928 marked a high in wheat production. However, for years farmers burned their fields to get rid of stubble and make way for the next year's crop. They did not understand at the time that this could take all the moisture from the ground. Around the beginning of the 1930s, rainfall declined and the soil dried, harming plant-roots. Wind turned to gales that lasted days and at times the sun turned "blood red".
1930s The "Dirty Thirties" were a bad time for Ogema. Not much was growing and the drought was deep; wells ran dry and water had to be hauled in. The Canadian government sent "relief" cars that brought in vegetables, fish, bedding, and other basics to the rural residents. Settlers faced "hot dry winds, dust storms, and grasshoppers."
Transportation In the 1930s, there was a food and gas shortage. Many took the engines out of their cars and attached horses to the front. They were called "Bennett Buggies."
Population Ogema experienced an "exodus" during this time. Problems arose as people weren't able to afford their property taxes and many families packed up and left, others stayed and tried their best.
Farming The government offered financial assistance to farmers for dugouts and set up community pastures. Farmers were now also faced with the task of finding rust-resistant wheat.
1940-1945 The Second World War hit closer to home than the previous war for the people of Ogema, as now there were radios that broadcast daily reports.
The lack of labourers forced farmers to invest in better machinery, which helped increase production. Quickly there was a grain surplus and thus more storage places and quonsets were built. As well, ration books were needed for things such as gasoline and "imported food stuffs."
Post-War Period 4H Club The Boys and Girls Club Work, the present 4H program in Ogema, was organized in 1949 with a mostly agricultural focus. Two of the clubs include the Ogema Beef Club and the Ogema Homestead Club. Achievements from both are recognized beyond Ogema. The Ogema Beef Club team took first place at the Farm Boys Camp in Regina in 1955. The Ogema Homestead Club also placed first at the Moose Jaw Farm Girls' Camp in the same year. The 4H clubs travel by bus for tours all around Saskatchewan. In 1965, both clubs came together to form the Ogema 4H Multiple Club, which continues presently. Most Achievement Days and meetings are held at the Ogema School.
Water Tower In 1961, the water tower was built to provide a safe water supply for the people living in Ogema. The well is drilled 248 feet deep. More water pipes were set in place and more fire hydrants installed, showing a definite sign of progress for the town.
Deep South Pioneer Museum The town of Ogema has been known as a place of heritage since the establishment of the Deep South Pioneer Museum in 1977. Residents wanted a safe place to store and present their heritage valuables, so volunteers worked to restore them until they were ready for display. At first, the museum buildings were spread over five acres of land, which soon became too small, so another five acres were purchased. The Deep South Pioneer Museum opened to the public on July 12, 1980, in correlation with Saskatchewan's 75th anniversary. The museum maintains over 30 buildings, many of which were moved from Main Street and areas surrounding Ogema. Each building holds artifacts to take visitors on a tour of pioneer living, especially in terms of agriculture: The museum houses over 150 pieces of old farm equipment. The buildings include a drug store, an Anglican church, and homes.
Museum Day The day after the Agricultural Society Annual Fair Day is Museum Day. Visitors take a tour of the museum and watch demonstrations made in the buildings about the pioneer way of life. The day begins with a pancake breakfast, then a church service, and then demonstrations, which include blacksmithing, flour-making, and rope-making. Together, the Agricultural Society Fair Day and Museum Day are meant to be an event to take pride in Ogema’s new and old citizens, and attract visitors from outside of the area.
Riding Arena In 2001, the Ogema Riding Arena was built by members of the Big Muddy Team Roping Association. Many roping and barrel racing events take place here. The largest purpose of the arena is for the annual Agricultural Society Fair Day every July, where a kid's rodeo and horse pulls take place.
Geography Ogema is situated in an internal drainage basin, with rolling hills and shallow sloughs. Typically, these sloughs mark regional low spots and are fed by a series of interconnected sloughs called kettle chains.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Ogema had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.
Numerous Filipinos live in the town, many of whom initially arrived to work at the Big Sky hog barn that opened in 2000.
Government Ogema has a mayor as the highest ranking government official. They also elects aldermen or councillors to form the municipal council. Provincially, Ogema is within the Weyburn-Big Muddy constituency and served by their MLA. Ogema is represented in the House of Commons of Canada by MP of the Souris—Moose Mountain riding.
Education
Ogema received its first school in 1911. A larger school was built in 1919 in the centre of town with several additions being built over the next 20 years. Ogema is currently served by Ogema School, a K-12 school built in 1961 which is in the South East Cornerstone Public School Division. The school has an enrolment of approximately 100 students.
Ogema School The Ogema School ranges from kindergarten to grade twelve, and is on Mehnke Street. The school offers a variety of courses, giving students the option to pursue further studies in post-secondary institutions.
Attractions The Ogema Fire Hall
The Fire Hall and Fire Wall were built after the fire of 1915 that destroyed much of Ogema's Main Street to prevent any future fires from spreading. The Fire Hall is equipped with a cistern to hold water to fight fires, and a jail cell. The hall is designated a Municipal Heritage Property. Attached to the Fire Hall and on the opposite side of the street there is a brick wall that measures 30 feet high, 70 feet long and 16 inches thick. This Fire Wall is designed to stop fires from spreading along the businesses of Main Street. The Fire Wall was also designated a Municipal Heritage Property, until its destruction in a windstorm on January 14, 2021.
1912 Canadian Pacific Railway Train Station
Ogema's original train station stood at the south end of Main Street on the north side of the railway tracks. Construction began on a train line from Weyburn to Assiniboia in 1909. By 1912 the line reached Ogema which was the midway point, and was completed in 1912. After passenger use declined and the station closed down, it was removed from the site and sold for scrap in the 1960s. In the early 2000s a committee was struck to oversee the return of a 1912 CPR train station to the original site. And in 2002, a station, being used as a grain bin at the time, was located and transported from Simpson, SK to Ogema. Over the next seven years, 1,000 of hours of labour were put into the station and, in the summer of 2009, it was opened to the public, nearly fully restored and furnished with original furniture and artifacts. Today, the Station has been fully refurbished and Southern Prairie Railway runs historical train tours from Ogema.
The Ogema Heritage Grandstand