Togo Saskatchewan
Welcome to Togo Saskatchewan!
Togo was originally called Pelly Siding because of the nearby Pelly Trail, part of the Hudson Bay Trail that ran from Fort Ellis, Manitoba, to Fort Pelly. Not many are familiar with Pelly Siding, if asked where it was, they most likely would point you in the direction of present-day Pelly.
Today a tiny section of the Old Pelly Trail still remains; it’s located a quarter mile west of Togo. Those who stop to see these grooves of history can maybe catch a glimpse of the pioneers who had dreams of a better life in Canada. In the early part of the century, when the railroads were built across the Northwest Territories, settlements were established. Pelly Siding was located on the Canadian Northern Railways (CNR) main line that ran from Winnipeg to Edmonton.
In 1906 the Russo-Japanese war was raging and two names stood out, Admiral Togo of the Japanese fleet and General Makaroff of Russia. In 1906 Pelly Siding was incorporated as a village and renamed Togo after the Japanese admiral, and the next town to the east on the CNR line was named Makaroff in honour of the Russian general.
Togo was the hub of this agricultural area. It had grain elevators, postal service, medical services, hardware and general stores, a bakery and financial institution. It was a bustling community that experienced tremendous growth with the daily arrival of immigrants from other parts of the world seeking their fortune.
One of those immigrants was Reginald John Marsden Parker, who came to Canada at the age of 17 from Liskeard, Cornwall, England. He gained employment in the area as a hired farm hand and at the age of 19 began the operation of his own farm. In 1945 after being involved for many years with the politics of Saskatchewan, Reginald Parker was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of the province.
Another person who made a big impact on the village in his day was Mr. J.H Abercrombie who built the first foundation, which became a drugstore, which operated from 1906 – 1949. The building was later used for many things, such as a residence…a bank whose manager G.K.Stone came from Roblin Manitoba twice a week until a permanent bank was built.
In the early years, when there were so few settlers, the drugstore had also provided a place to sit around a warm fire and exchange their stories and make plans for the future of the village. Many of the descendants of the original settlers of the Togo area still live in and around the community. They fondly recall an era that played an integral role that wove the tapestry of Togo today.
Togo has a slower pace of life than it did a century ago, but some things still remain, as they do in many small prairie towns: the local hotel, the curling and skating rink, the post office, the coffee shop, and the people with a character that is unique to those living on the prairies.
Services We Offer
Services
Togo is a small village busting with very successful businesses! Listed are the current businesses and facilities, along with their products and services. Visit this page often, for there are many more business opportunities in store for Togo!
As of October 1, 2007, the rent for the Togo Community Hall is as follows: $150 for each floor per 24 hours or $75 per floor for a 4 hour event, ie funeral, anniversary, etc. A damage deposit equal to the rent, plus payment of the rent is required at least 24 hours in advance. The damage deposit will be returned once the hall condition has been reviewed and accepted by the Village Maintenance Foreman. Bookings for the Togo Community Hall can be made through the Village Office.
Village of Togo
Box 100
Togo SK
S0A 4E0
(306) 597-2114
villageoftogosk@gmail.com
Bookings for the Community Hall can be made through the Village office.
The Togo Centennial Arena is fully equipped with a skating rink, curling rink, kitchen, viewing and eating areas, and 3 dressing rooms.
The Skating Ice is available to rent. Contact the Village Office for details.
The Rink Kitchen is owned by the Village of Togo. The operation of the kitchen is put up for tender each year, with not necessarily the highest bidder winning. The successor is then responsible for the operation of the kitchen during regular hours. The Arena facilities can be rented out to the general public. Please inquire at the Village office for Terms & Conditions.
The Togo Figure Skating is a group that uses the Skating Arena for the majority of the winter season. From December to March they meet twice a week to practice and prepare for their annual skating carnival. Always with a different theme, this is their showcase event where the kids are able to show off their awesome talents and ‘tricks’ that they have learned over the course of the season! Please contact the club president, Amanda Burback (306) 597-2115.
Compost
The Village of Togo’s landfill does have a compost site. Village citizens can take the compost materials from gardens, yards, and kitchens out to the site themselves, or if it is in a separate, neat pile located near their garbage pick-up site, it will be picked up during regular garbage pick-up.
In Good Taste Foods
Rentals http://ingoodtastefoods.ca
“In Good Taste Food Service started in 1995 with a vision of creating quality food products. We believed that there were people across the Canadian prairies who wanted quality products with home baked flavour and goodness, and we were right! We looked to our prairie roots for ideas and inspiration, knowing that families had brought recipes from all over the world to our towns and farms. For more than a century those recipes had been handed down, included in community cookbooks, and lovingly prepared by generation after generation. We were and are committed to creating products that reflect our family kitchen traditions. For us, the greatest honour is to hear the comment, ‘It tastes homemade.’ It’s that traditional flavour and quality that keeps our customers coming back.
“In Good Taste Food Service provides a variety of products for groups and organizations wishing to raise money for their club or cause. Our fund-raising program allows you to sell high quality popular bars of many kinds, mealtime items, appetizers, spices and seasonings, cookie dough, and baked goods. We also provide a selection of products to the wholesale and food service industry. Visit with us at one of the many shows and we attend across the prairies, and sample our goodies.”
Silver Thread Community Centre & Canada Postal Service
The Silver Thread Community Centre is the hub of communication and the heart of Togo. The Silver Thread was originally named Silver Threads Drop In, changing to the Community Centre in order to welcome people of all ages. The Togo Postal Outlet is conveniently located at the Silver Thread, with full services. Hours of operation are as follows –Monday to Thursday: 8 am to 2 pm; Saturday and Sunday: 8am to 12am for breakfast. Select Wednesday evenings for Bingo
Empress Hotel
The Empress Hotel is owned and operated locally! Quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger in this hometown pub! Stop by and enjoy the atmosphere!
Communities near Togo include:
Rural Municipality of Cote #271 https://www.rmofcote271.com/
Kamsack, Saskatchewan http://www.kamsack.ca/
Roblin, Manitoba http://www.roblinmanitoba.com/
Yorkton, Saskatchewan http://www.city.yorkton.sk.ca/