Alida, Saskatchewan

Alida was founded as a Canadian Pacific Railway station in the late 19th century, and it was named for Dame Alida Brittain. The local area was settled by immigrants from Europe, and other parts of North America. Alida incorporated as a village on February 19, 1926. The rail line was closed in 1976 when a spring storm washed out the rail bridge near Lauder, Manitoba, at the beginning of the line. The economic viability of the line had been in question for some time, so the bridge was never repaired. Track was removed beginning in 1978. The Post Office opened on December 1, 1913 and the first postmaster was Eugene Lemieux and served from 1913 to 1927. == Transportation ==

Alida is at the cross-roads of three highways, Highway 361, Highway 318, and Highway 601. Located east-northeast of Alida is the Alida/Cowan Farm Private Aerodrome. == Demographics ==

In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Alida had a population of 103 living in 53 of its 74 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021. In the 2016 Canadian census, Alida recorded a population of 120 living in 63 of its 68 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 131. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2016. == Sports and recreation ==

Alida has a skating/curling rink. In 2014, the original ice rink flooded and was deemed too expensive to repair. It was torn down in 2015 and funds were raised for a new one. It was completed by 2017. The Alida Wrecks hockey team play there. Alida holds annual curling bonspiels including a women's bonspiel and a farmers / oilmen's bonspiel. Along with this Alida hosts an annual recreational hockey tournament in which the local Alida Wrecks as well as teams from the surrounding communities compete. There is an annual Alida sports day which features an annual softball (slow pitch) tournament, food and drinks, and live music/entertainment. This event often takes place at the start of June. == Education ==

The local school closed down in 2005, and students are bused to schools in Carnduff, Oxbow, or Redvers. The School has since been used as a private residence. == Notable people ==

• Daryl Harrison - Saskatchewan Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for the constituency of Cannington and Agriculture Minister of Saskatchewan. • Dan D'Autremont - Saskatchewan Party former member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for the constituency of Cannington and forming member of the Saskatchewan Party. He served as MLA of Cannington from 1991-2020. == See also ==