(Michelle Taylor/Prince Albert Historical Society)

By Nolan Kowal

Spring tradition

‘Exciting time for the city’: River ice break up a P.A. tradition

Apr 12, 2024 | 2:00 PM

It’s as sure a sign of spring as you’ll get in central Saskatchewan.

The ice on the North Saskatchewan River near Prince Albert broke up on Wednesday afternoon, signalling a gradual changing of the seasons in the region.

“I think people very much pay attention to when the river freezes and when the river breaks up,” said Michelle Taylor with the Prince Albert Historical Society. “For us here at the museum, it’s a sign of spring and that summer is not that far away.”

“It’s just a really exciting time for the city because yes summer is coming.”

This year’s break up happened on April 10, which aligns with past years Taylor said. In 2022, the break-up happened on April 23 and on April 8 in 2021.

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“It’s just a fun thing to talk about with people, to put your guesses on as to when the river is going to break,” Taylor said. “It’s just fun to see the responses and the memories that come from the river breaking up, about the conversation with their families.”

Taylor added that it’s a neat spectacle, both visually and audibly.

“I love the sound…usually you can stand next to the river and hear the ice tingling away and you get the feel of the ice moving which is spectacular.”

(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

River break up is also a monumental event in Cree culture. According to kayas.ca, the Woodland Cree identified break-up as a seasonal change.

“As a people who depended on the lakes and rivers for their livelihood and trade network, the Woodland Cree needed to be able to describe the seasonal changes in their homeland,” the website states.

“Today, people in Northern Saskatchewan generally have adopted this way of describing the seasons.”

Taylor added that the historical society always has a good view of the break-up, as their building is right on the river.

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com