Uranium City: Journey to a forgotten frontier
The very name Uranium City sounds as though it belongs in the pages of a science fiction novel — a place of gleaming laboratories, hidden in the far north. In reality, this remote settlement on the northwest tip of Saskatchewan was once a bustling hub of industry, a vital cornerstone in Canada’s uranium mining market.
Founded in 1952 by the provincial government, the town grew quickly from a small tented camp into a thriving community. At its peak, close to 13,000 people lived and worked here, with more than 50 mines in operation. Eldorado, the largest mine site, had its own school, worker dormitories, and a general store. Just down the road, a self-sufficient town flourished — complete with houses, businesses, and the kind of close-knit atmosphere that can only be found in isolated places.
In the summer of 1959, Uranium City even found itself on the royal itinerary during the longest Canadian royal tour in history. The original plan was for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip to visit smaller communities never before seen by royalty, including Uranium City, after opening the St. Lawrence Seaway. But with the Queen sidelined by her pregnancy with Prince Andrew, Philip continued the northern leg of the trip alone. On July 20, 1959, he spent two hours in Uranium City, making a public appearance and touring the mine — a moment still remembered by the people who lived there at the time.
Like many mining towns, Uranium City’s fate was tied to the market it served. When global uranium prices fell, the industry collapsed. In June of 1982, the mines closed, and the population began to drain away. Today, fewer than 50 people remain — most of them born and raised here, finding comfort in the quiet resilience of a partially abandoned town.