Lake in the Middle of Town, The

The Lake in the Middle of Town
by Neil Sawatzky; Illustrated by Julio Salazar
Published by Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing
Review by Sally Meadows
$24.95 ISBN 9781778690402

When you do a Google search for things to see in Regina, Saskatchewan, Wascana Park consistently comes up in the top five. With easy access to other popular tourist attractions such as the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, the Saskatchewan Science Centre, and the Mackenzie Art Gallery, Wascana Park shines as a beautiful green space surrounding picturesque Wascana Lake.

Residents and tourists alike marvel at its beauty. But what is the history behind this “sparkling gem in the Queen City’s crown?” An updated, hardcover, 20^th anniversary edition of The Lake in the Middle of Town dives into this question both as an easy-to-read poem perfect for inter-generational snuggles and with sidebar information for older children and adults who want to dig deeper into the lake’s fascinating history.

Although I didn’t grow up in Saskatchewan, my mother was born in Regina, so this book really opened my eyes up to the historical depth and breadth of this iconic area in Saskatchewan’s capital in a personal way. From its Indigenous roots to the first appearance of settlers to the establishment and growth of the area as the territorial (and later, provincial) capital, this book successfully weaves historical events and quintessential provincial symbols such as the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police), the Legislative Building, and the Albert Memorial Bridge (a war memorial) into the lake’s narrative.

Discover who dammed the original meandering prairie creek known as Pile O’ Bones and why, creating the precursor to the lake; the story of the boy in the canoe who was plucked out of Wascana Lake by the devastating 1912 tornado; why and when the lake was drained—twice; and the role of the lake in nineteenth to twenty-first century festivals and sporting/recreational activities. As a birdwatcher, I was pleased to see a section about the lake’s role as a sanctuary for migrating and nesting waterfowl. Despite numerous trips to Regina over the years, I have never walked around the lake and have now put it on my bucket list.

This book is historically and culturally relevant and a must-have for school, public, and personal libraries. It is a lovely keepsake for visitors to Regina and a wonderful gift for all ages who have roots in or connections to Saskatchewan and its capital city.

The story is perfectly complimented by the richly coloured imagery of illustrator Julio Salazar, a graphic designer by trade who himself calls Regina home.

As a thirty-year veteran of Saskatchewan’s tourism industry, author Neil Sawatzky is the perfect person to share the history of Wascana Lake. The Lake in the Middle of Town was originally published in 2004 and was a finalist in the Children’s Literature category of the Saskatchewan Book Awards in 2005.

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE OR FROM WWW.SKBOOKS.COM.