Delisle, Saskatchewan

The origins of the town go back to original settlement which was on the Old Bone Trail. It derived its name from the DeLisle family. Lenora DeLisle with her four sons Amos, Fred, Ed and Eugene, came from North Dakota, United States, in 1903 and homesteaded on the land 3 miles (4.8 km) south of the present-day townsite. With the coming of the Canadian Northern Railway's line from Saskatoon to Calgary in 1908 the settlement to the south moved to the new townsite. The town was named after the brothers on December 29, 1908. Delisle was named a town in 1913.[4]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Delisle had a population of 1,024 living in 427 of its 462 total private dwellings, a change of -1.3% from its 2016 population of 1,038. With a land area of 3.33 km² (1.29 sq mi), it had a population density of 307.5/km² (796.4/sq mi) in 2021.[5]

A cenotaph stands in the heart of Delisle in front of the old hospital. On it are inscribed the names of those from Delisle and surrounding area who died in the two world wars. In 2002 the cenotaph was refurbished and rededicated. The service included a small parade consisting of Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, Sparks, elementary school children, the complement of HMCS Unicorn, and the RCSCC Jervis Bay Ship's Band leading the way from the Centennial Arena to the cenotaph.

The town also boasts a nine-hole grass green golf course (Valleyview Golf Course).

The town supports one of the largest high schools in the Prairie Spirit School Division bringing in students from smaller, nearby villages and hamlets such as Laura, Kinley, Donavon, Swanson, Vanscoy and the Pike Lake district, as well as rural students. It has a nine-man football team (Delisle Rebels) that has won several provincial titles; a track and field team that competes well for top spots in provincials and holds records for countless events; a soccer team that won provincials in 2009; and a drama program, that while in decline in recent years, has often performed well at large drama festivals. The school also contributes the most players for the Prairie Spirit (West) Band Program.

Hockey Hall of Fame brothers Max and Doug Bentley were born and lived in Delisle, as did their brother Reg, who played 11 National Hockey League games and nephew, Bev Bentley who played with 12 different teams in both Canada and the US between 1949 and 1967. Also from Delisle and seeing games in the NHL were Dick Butler and Jack Miller. As were a number of provincial champion curlers such as Jimmy Hill (Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame), Barbara McNevin, Doug Wyatt and Harold Worth.

Delisle is also the epitome of success in men's fastpitch, having won numerous provincial and western Canadian titles over the years. The team's collective accomplishments have also translated into individual success, highlighted by outstanding athletes such as the Wiebe brothers (Wayne, Terry and Byron), Dave Norris, and Jimmy Climenhaga.

Delisle was the setting for the Canadian modern day hockey movie Paperback Hero.

Delisle is considered part of the greater Saskatoon region and as such has direct access to most of its print, radio and television media.