"Saskatoon", named after a wild prairie berry that grows in profusion in the area, is known as The Bridge City because it is situated on the banks of the scenic South Saskatchewan River and the river is crossed by seven traffic bridges in the city. Two of Saskatoon's prominent landmarks overlook the river - the castle-like Delta Bessborough Hotel, and the University of Saskatchewan with it's beautiful greystone buildings. F urther information for Saskatoon: http://www.sasktourism.com/regions/city_saskatoon.htm

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"Regina", Canada's Queen City and the provincial capital, started life as a tent settlement named Pile O' Bones. Back then, the site was a treeless plain near a small, winding creek. Today Regina is an oasis of more than 350,000 hand-planted trees which seems to appear out of nowhere amid a 'desert' of seemingly endless wheat fields. The city is celebrating its centennial in 2003.

The two must-sees in Regina are always the RCMP Training Academy, and Wascana Centre, a massive park development in the heart of the city which covers an area of 2,300 acres - one of the largest urban parks in North America.

The main feature of the Center is man-made Wascana Lake, and many of Reginas top attractions are in the center - the provincial Legislative Building, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, the MacKenzie Art Gallery, the Saskatchewan Science Center/Kramer Imax Theater, the old & new University Of Regina campus, and the Center Of The Arts, among others. A good Regina web site: http://canada.worldweb.com/FeaturesReviews/TownCityReviews/8-155.html

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"Last Mountain House" historic site, located 48 kms northwest of Regina (8 kms NW of Craven on Hwy 20), offers a glimpse of life at a winter fur trade outpost at this reconstructed 1869 Hudsons Bay Company post. The site recalls the last days of the fur trade in southern Saskatchewan when the era of buffalo hunting and Red River carts soon gave way to homesteads and the railroad.

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The city of "Moose Jaw" tells its colorful history through impressive downtown heritage buildings, and over 30 outdoor murals on various downtown buildings. There are also popular tours of the underground tunnels built by disenfranchised Chinese immigrants. In the 1920s, when Moose Jaw was a popular hangout for liquor smugglers (including allegedly Al Capone) during Prohibition in the US, these tunnels were used by the liquor smugglers and gangsters.

Notorious River Street is the setting for many of Moose Jaw's most entertaining stories, legends and myths about gamblers, bootleggers, tom-catters, painted ladies, crooked cops and gangsters. Two good Moose Jaw web sites: http://www.citymoosejaw.com/tourism/index.shtml http://www.sasktourism.com/regions/city_mj.htm

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The red scarlet tunics of the "RCMP" are internationally recognized as a Canadian symbol of pride and justice. Originally formed in 1873 to preserve peace on the Canadian frontier, they are now Canada's federal police force.

The training academy for the force is in Regina where on Tuesday evenings in July and August, the traditional "R.C.M.P. Sunset Retreat Ceremony" is held for the public. The ceremony is performed by RCMP recruits dressed in their traditional scarlet red tunics. The RCMP Centennial Museum at the academy is the official museum of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and portrays the history of the Force through equipment, weapons, uniforms, photos and memorabilia.

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Not far from the RCMP Academy, on Dewdney Avenue, is the "Government House" heritage property and museum. It was the official residence of the Lieutenant Governors, the Queen's representative in Regina, from 1891-1945 and is one of Saskatchewan's oldest heritage buildings.