Rouleau, Saskatchewan

Rouleau
The former grain elevator in Rouleau, seen in 2012
The former grain elevator in Rouleau, seen in 2012
Nickname: 
Dog River
Town of Rouleau in Saskatchewan
Town of Rouleau in Saskatchewan
Rouleau
Rouleau in Saskatchewan
Coordinates: 50°11′25″N 104°54′27″W
Country Canada
Province Saskatchewan
Rural Municipality Redburn No. 130
Post office founded April 1, 1895
Incorporated as a Village (NWT) July 23, 1903
Incorporated as a Town (Sask) March 1, 1907
Named for Charles Rouleau
Government
 • Type Mayor-Council
 • Governing Body Rouleau Town Council
 • Mayor Grant Clarke
Area
 • Total 1.61 km2 (0.62 sq mi)
Elevation
580 m (1,900 ft)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total 540
 • Density 282.2/km2 (731/sq mi)
Time zone UTC−06:00 (CST)
Postal code
S0G 4H0
Area Codes 306 / 639
ISO 3166 code CA-SK
Federal electoral district Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan
Provincial electoral district Indian Head-Milestone
Highways Hwy 39
Website Town of Rouleau

Rouleau is a town in southern Saskatchewan, Canada, on the Canadian Prairies. It lies within census Division No. 6 and rural municipality Redburn No. 130.

As of 2021, the population was 505 (an decrease of 6.5 percent from the 2016 census), in an area of 1.65 square kilometres. Rouleau is on Saskatchewan Highway 39 and is about 35 km southwest of Regina.

The town was notably the filming location of the popular Canadian sitcom Corner Gas, depicting the fictitious town of Dog River.

History

Railway Avenue, 1911

A post office was established at Rouleau in the provisional District of Assiniboia, North West Territories, as early as April 1, 1895. It incorporated as a village on July 23, 1903.

Rouleau was named after Charles Borromée Rouleau. Rouleau was a magistrate in Battleford from 1883 until 1887 and served in the 1st Council of the North-West Territories.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Rouleau had a population of 505 living in 206 of its 221 total private dwellings, a change of -6.5% from its 2016 population of 540. With a land area of 1.54 km2 (0.59 sq mi), it had a population density of 327.9/km2 (849.3/sq mi) in 2021.

Canada census – Rouleau community profile
2021 2011
Population 505 (-6.5% from 2016) 453 (+13.3% from 2006)
Land area 1.54 km2 (0.59 sq mi) 1.61 km2 (0.62 sq mi)
Population density 328.1/km2 (850/sq mi) 282.2/km2 (731/sq mi)
Median age 41.6 (M: 39.6, F: 42) 39.9 (M: 40.6, F: 38.5)
Private dwellings 205 (total)  207 (total) 
Median household income
References: 2021 2011 earlier

Climate

Climate data for Rouleau, Saskatchewan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 10.9
(51.6)
10.0
(50.0)
17.9
(64.2)
33.7
(92.7)
31.1
(88.0)
33.2
(91.8)
33.4
(92.1)
37.9
(100.2)
31.1
(88.0)
22.5
(72.5)
24.4
(75.9)
8.1
(46.6)
37.9
(100.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −9.5
(14.9)
−4.4
(24.1)
6.7
(44.1)
11.9
(53.4)
17.9
(64.2)
20.1
(68.2)
24.8
(76.6)
25.7
(78.3)
17.9
(64.2)
11.5
(52.7)
2.0
(35.6)
−11.7
(10.9)
9.4
(48.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −22.2
(−8.0)
−16.6
(2.1)
−7.1
(19.2)
−2.6
(27.3)
3.6
(38.5)
7.1
(44.8)
11.1
(52.0)
10.1
(50.2)
1.6
(34.9)
−2
(28)
−10
(14)
−23.2
(−9.8)
−4.2
(24.4)
Record low °C (°F) −36.2
(−33.2)
−34.3
(−29.7)
−31.2
(−24.2)
−24.4
(−11.9)
−4.5
(23.9)
1.8
(35.2)
3.0
(37.4)
3.2
(37.8)
−5.6
(21.9)
−15.6
(3.9)
−26.9
(−16.4)
−34
(−29)
−36.2
(−33.2)
Source: Environment Canada, The Weather Network

Corner Gas

Principal shooting set of Corner Gas in 2010

The town is best known as the main filming location for the CTV television series Corner Gas. The series' production team built a full-size mock gas station and coffee shop at the western entrance of the town for filming, causing confusion among visitors thinking Corner Gas and The Ruby were real establishments. The town's grain elevator was also repainted with the name "Dog River" as it appears in the background of many episodes of the series.

For an episode which aired in early 2007, then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper stopped in Rouleau to play a cameo role in the television show.

The buildings used as sets for the program were allowed to fall into disrepair after the show wrapped up production. They were purchased by an entrepreneur, Sylvain Senecal, who converted them into a museum and souvenir shop. The set was demolished in November 2016.

The grain elevator was destroyed in a fire on November 5, 2021, about two weeks after the building used for depicting Dog River's police station collapsed.

Notable people