Glenavon, Saskatchewan

Glenavon (2016 population: 182) is a village in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan within the Rural Municipality of Chester No. 125 and Census Division No. 5.

Glenavon
Village of Glenavon
Glenavon, Saskatchewan is located in Saskatchewan
Glenavon, Saskatchewan
Location of Glenavon in Saskatchewan
Glenavon, Saskatchewan is located in Canada
Glenavon, Saskatchewan
Glenavon, Saskatchewan (Canada)
Coordinates: 50°10′52″N 103°07′55″W / 50.181°N 103.132°W / 50.181; -103.132
Country Canada
Province Saskatchewan
RegionSaskatchewan
Census division5
Rural MunicipalityChester No. 125
Government
 • TypeMunicipal
 • Governing bodyGlenavon Village Council
 • MayorWilliam (Bill) Sluser[1]
 • AdministratorBrittany Knoll
Area
 • Total1.32 km2 (0.51 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total182
 • Density137.6/km2 (356/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
Postal code
S0G 1Y0
Area code306
Highways Hwy 48
RailwaysCanadian National Railway
[2][3][4][5]

History edit

Glenavon incorporated as a village on April 13, 1910.[6]

Demographics edit

Population history
(1981–2016)
YearPop.±%
1981284—    
1986262−7.7%
1991237−9.5%
1996230−3.0%
2001207−10.0%
2006183−11.6%
2011176−3.8%
2016182+3.4%
Source: Statistics Canada via Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics[7][8]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Glenavon had a population of 179 living in 97 of its 110 total private dwellings, a change of -1.6% from its 2016 population of 182. With a land area of 1.29 km2 (0.50 sq mi), it had a population density of 138.8/km2 (359.4/sq mi) in 2021.[9]

In the 2016 Census of Population, the Village of Glenavon recorded a population of 182 living in 108 of its 121 total private dwellings, a 3.3% change from its 2011 population of 176. With a land area of 1.32 km2 (0.51 sq mi), it had a population density of 137.9/km2 (357.1/sq mi) in 2016.[10]

History edit

Murder of Anna Juswiak edit

On May 5, 1950, 23-year old Polish émigrée Anna Juswiak boarded a train in Regina bound for Glenavon, where she was to meet friends of her fiancé, Stanley Kisilowski.[11] On May 6, Juswiak's body was discovered in the backyard of a Glenavon home, "her head battered by a blunt instrument."[12] Subsequently, Royal Canadian Mounted Police interviewed a man registered as "Leo Beaudry" from Portage La Prairie at a hotel in Kipling, identifying him as 25-year old John Woltucky, an ex-military and ex-convict using an alias, who had been released from penitentiary in Prince Albert on April 17, 1950.[12] Woltucky was previously serving out a three-year sentence for illegal possession of a firearm, five charges of housebreaking, and theft of a parka.[13] Police were initially "convinced that Woltucky did not answer to the description of the man they were looking for," but, with additional information from authorities in Glenavon, picked up Woltucky at the train station minutes before he was to board an outbound train.[12] Among his personal effects, police discovered a bank book belonging to Ms. Juswiak.[11] Two women from Kipling, Saskatchewan, Mrs. Lars Pearson and Mrs. Alf Johnston, identified Woltucky as having disembarked the train in Glenavon accompanying Juswiak.[12]

The trial of John Woltucky proved sensational for the small town of Glenavon, where, "nothing like it had ever happened before in the peaceful community."[14] In multiple newspapers, the murder of Anna Juswiak was initially reported as a shooting.[15][16] During the trial, Glenavon's population of roughly 250 was "augmented by some 200 non-residents."[12] According to Regina Leader-Post reporter Robert Tyre, "the murder itself was overshadowed by the antics of the villagers who deserted home, business, and family en masse to prowl and poke about the scene of the crime like an army of Scotland Yard detectives gravely and earnestly searching for clues."[14]

Woltucky was convicted and found guilty twice, both times sentenced to the death penalty.[11] During his detainment, he underwent psychological testing at Weyburn's Souris Valley Mental Health Hospital, from which he escaped on July 2, 1951 and was later re-apprehended.[17]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Municipal Directory System".
  2. ^ National Archives, Archivia Net, Post Offices and Postmasters, archived from the original on 2006-10-06
  3. ^ Government of Saskatchewan, MRD Home, Municipal Directory System, archived from the original on November 21, 2008
  4. ^ Canadian Textiles Institute. (2005), CTI Determine your provincial constituency, archived from the original on 2007-09-11
  5. ^ Commissioner of Canada Elections, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada (2005), Elections Canada On-line, archived from the original on 2007-04-21
  6. ^ "Urban Municipality Incorporations". Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  7. ^ "Saskatchewan Census Population" (PDF). Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  8. ^ "Saskatchewan Census Population". Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  9. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Saskatchewan". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  10. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Saskatchewan)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c Pacholik, Barb (2009). Paper cows & other Saskatchewan crime stories. Pruden, Jana G., 1974-, University of Regina. Canadian Plains Research Center. Regina [Sask.]: Canadian Plains Research Center. pp. 91–97. ISBN 978-0-88977-276-2. OCLC 772396369.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  12. ^ a b c d e Staff Writer (June 10, 1950). "Higher court for Woltucky - In Glenavon murder". The Leader-Post. p. 8. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  13. ^ Staff Writer (December 20, 1947). "Three-Year Sentence". Winnipeg Free Press. p. 8. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  14. ^ a b Tyre, Robert (1950). Along the Highway. Regina, Saskatchewan: School Aids and Text Book Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 12.
  15. ^ Canadian Press (May 9, 1950). "Charge Man with Murdering DP Girl". Medicine Hat News. p. 4. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  16. ^ Canadian Press (May 9, 1950). "Ex-City Man Faces Charge of Murder". Winnipeg Tribune. p. 5. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  17. ^ Canadian Press (July 4, 1951). "Escaped Mental Patient Captured at Weyburn". Winnipeg Free Press. p. 2. Retrieved March 8, 2020.

50°10′52″N 103°07′55″W / 50.181°N 103.132°W / 50.181; -103.132