Dore Lake

Dore Lake is a tiny settlement of fewer than 100 people located on the south shore of one of the largest and most beautiful lakes in North-western Saskatchewan. Its very name is an anglicized translation of the French word for "Golden" which is an accurate portrayal of an aspect of the waters of this pristine northern lake. Just as with every community there is a documented history for Dore Lake but there is a largely untold history prior to the arrival of settlers of European descent.

Deeply trod ancient portages and trails give telltale if mute evidence to Dore Lake's pre-history. It is known that the abundance of fish and game in the area drew Aboriginal people to the area long before the arrival of others. The Lake area was a rich ground in which to harvest fish, fur and game for centuries, and the old trails linking it to other nearby lakes and settlements would seem to say this was always so.

Just as the forestland and waters of the area provided an enjoyment of life since the times when primitive but efficient hunter-gatherer skills were enough to yield up a livelihood, it continues to do so. Scattered fishing camps were established all around and on the islands of Dore Lake by an influx of settlers from the south after the turn of the last century. Those hardy settlers lived as well as one could imagine by drawing on the magnificent fish resources of the lake and the plentiful game that abounds in the region. Eventually the needs of these new settlers for schools and other services that only collective efforts can support led them to move to the present day site of the community by 1960.

Dore Lake is a community of people who are proud of their hardy forbears and aware of the beauty of their surroundings but they are also eager for others to know their history of triumphs and struggles in making their community what it is today.

Dore Lake Links

Saskatchewan Map

KCDC

A look at the past

Northern Affairs