Saskatoon’s most famous people, listed

The area that is now Saskatoon has a long history of human habitation, dating back thousands of years.

Indigenous peoples, including the Cree and the Assiniboine, are known to have lived in the area for centuries before the arrival of Europeans. The first recorded European contact with the region came in the late 1600s, when French explorers and fur traders began to venture into the area.

In the late 1800s, the Canadian government began to actively promote settlement of the area. Saskatoon was officially founded in 1883, and it quickly grew into a hub for agriculture, transportation, and industry.

In the early 20th century, Saskatoon experienced a significant economic boom, thanks in large part to the growth of the wheat and other agricultural industries. The city continued to grow and develop throughout the 20th century, becoming a center for education, culture, and technology.

Today, Saskatoon is a thriving city with a diverse economy and a rich cultural heritage. It is home to a number of museums, galleries, and cultural institutions, as well as several universities and colleges. The city is also known for its vibrant arts scene, and it hosts a variety of festivals and events throughout the year.

Here are the most famous people from Saskatoon, in no particular order.

Joni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell is a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and visual artist who has been a prominent figure in the music industry for over five decades. She was born on November 7, 1943, in Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada and moved to Saskatoon at an early age.

Mitchell began her music career in the 1960s, playing in coffeehouses and clubs in her native Canada and later in the United States. She gained critical acclaim with her 1969 album “Clouds,” which won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Performance. Her subsequent albums, including “Ladies of the Canyon,” “Blue,” and “Court and Spark,” established her as a major force in the singer-songwriter movement of the 1970s.

Mitchell’s music is known for its poetic lyrics and innovative, complex chord progressions. Her songs often explore themes of love, loss, and social issues. Some of her most famous songs include “Both Sides, Now,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Woodstock,” and “The Circle Game.”

In addition to her music career, Mitchell is also an accomplished painter and visual artist. She has had several exhibitions of her artwork and has created many of the covers for her own albums.

Throughout her career, Mitchell has won numerous awards and honors, including nine Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. She has been praised for her influence on generations of musicians and for her contributions to the folk and rock music genres.

Gordie Howe

Gordie Howe, also known as “Mr. Hockey,” was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and the Hartford Whalers in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on March 31, 1928, in Floral, Saskatchewan, Canada, and passed away on June 10, 2016, at the age of 88.

Howe’s professional hockey career spanned five decades, from 1946 to 1980. He played in a total of 2,421 games, scored 1,071 goals and 1,518 assists, and accumulated 2,589 penalty minutes, making him one of the most prolific and durable players in the history of the sport.

Howe was known for his physical strength, toughness, and scoring ability. He was a skilled playmaker and had a powerful shot, which helped him set numerous NHL records throughout his career. He was also renowned for his longevity, playing professional hockey until the age of 52.

During his career, Howe won four Stanley Cup championships with the Detroit Red Wings and six Hart Memorial Trophies as the NHL’s most valuable player. He was selected to the NHL All-Star team 23 times, a record that still stands today. Howe was also known for his charitable work off the ice and was awarded the Order of Canada in 1971 for his contributions to Canadian sport.

Gordie Howe’s legacy as one of the greatest hockey players of all time continues to be celebrated by fans of the sport around the world.

C. Donald Bateman

C. Donald Bateman is a Canadian-born aerospace engineer known for his contributions to aviation safety systems. He was born on September 21, 1933, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Bateman earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Saskatchewan. He started his career at Sundstrand Corporation

Bateman is best known for his work on aircraft safety systems, particularly the development of the ground proximity warning system (GPWS), which alerts pilots if their aircraft is flying too close to the ground or other terrain. This system has helped to prevent numerous accidents and is now a standard feature on all commercial airliners.

Throughout his career, Bateman received many honors and awards for his contributions to the aerospace industry. In 2011, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by US President Barack Obama. Bateman has also served on several advisory boards and committees for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Kim Coates

Kim Coates is a Canadian actor known for his role as Alexander “Tig” Trager in the popular television series “Sons of Anarchy.” He was born on February 21, 1958, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Coates began his acting career in the early 1980s, appearing in various Canadian television shows and movies. He gained wider recognition for his role in the Canadian television series “Street Legal” in the late 1980s. In the 1990s, he started to appear in Hollywood films, including “The Last Boy Scout,” “Waterworld,” and “Pearl Harbor.”

However, it was his role in “Sons of Anarchy” that brought Coates his greatest fame. He played the character of Tig Trager, a member of a motorcycle club involved in illegal activities. The show was a huge success and ran for seven seasons from 2008 to 2014.

Aside from his work in film and television, Coates is also involved in theater. He has performed on stage in various productions, including “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Glengarry Glen Ross.”

Coates has received many nominations and awards for his work in acting, including a Screen Actors Guild Award for his role in “Sons of Anarchy.” He is also involved in various charitable causes, including the Canadian Cancer Society and the Movember Foundation, which raises awareness for men’s health issues.

Tom Grummett

Tom Grummett is a Canadian comic book artist known for his work on various titles, including “Superman,” “X-Men,” and “Teen Titans.” He was born on March 18, 1959, in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.

Grummett began his career in the mid-1980s, working for Marvel Comics on titles such as “Power Pack” and “New Mutants.” He later moved to DC Comics, where he became best known for his work on the “Superman” titles. He co-created the character of Superboy, who was featured in his own title and later became a member of the Teen Titans.

Grummett’s artwork is known for its dynamic, superheroic style and attention to detail. He has collaborated with many writers throughout his career, including Louise Simonson, Scott Lobdell, and Judd Winick. In addition to his work on mainstream superhero titles, Grummett has also worked on smaller, independent projects, such as “The Adventures of Robin Hood” and “The Life and Times of Savior 28.”

Grummett has received many accolades for his work in comics, including several nominations for the prestigious Eisner Award. He is also a popular guest at comic book conventions and has provided artwork for trading cards and other merchandise related to comic book characters.

Trey Lyles

Trey Lyles is a Canadian professional basketball player who currently plays as a power forward for the Sacramento Kings in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on November 5, 1995, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Lyles began his basketball career in high school, where he was considered one of the top players in the country. He played college basketball at the University of Kentucky for one year before declaring for the NBA draft in 2015.

Lyles was selected in the first round of the 2015 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. He played for the Jazz for two seasons before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2017. He played for the Nuggets for three seasons before signing with the San Antonio Spurs in 2020. In March 2021, Lyles was waived by the Spurs and signed with the Detroit Pistons. On February 10, 2022, Lyles was acquired by the Sacramento Kings

Throughout his career, Lyles has been known for his versatility as a player, with the ability to play both the power forward and center positions. He is a skilled scorer and rebounder and has also developed a reliable three-point shot.

Off the court, Lyles is involved in various charitable organizations and has been recognized for his efforts to give back to his community. He also represents the Canadian national basketball team and has competed in several international competitions.

David Milgaard

David Milgaard is a Canadian man who was falsely accused, convicted, and imprisoned for the murder of Gail Miller in 1969. He was born on July 7, 1952, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

In January 1969, Miller, a Saskatoon nursing aide, was brutally murdered in a park in Saskatoon. Milgaard, who was 16 years old at the time, was in Saskatoon visiting family and friends. Despite having no evidence linking him to the crime, Milgaard was arrested and charged with the murder.

Milgaard was convicted in 1970 and sentenced to life in prison. He maintained his innocence throughout his imprisonment, and his case gained national attention as his mother and a group of supporters worked tirelessly to prove his innocence.

In 1988, Milgaard’s case was reopened, and new DNA evidence was used to prove that he was not the killer. After nearly 23 years in prison, Milgaard was finally released in 1992. He was later awarded $10 million in compensation from the Canadian government for the wrongful conviction and imprisonment.

The wrongful conviction of David Milgaard is considered one of the most significant cases of injustice in Canadian history. It led to a review of Canada’s justice system and the creation of the Commission of Inquiry into the Wrongful Conviction of David Milgaard, which recommended changes to the legal system to prevent wrongful convictions in the future.

It is often said that the Tragically Hip’s song “Wheat Kings” is about David Milgaard. The song was released on the band’s 1992 album “Fully Completely,” which coincided with Milgaard’s release from prison after being wrongfully convicted of murder and serving 23 years behind bars.

Keith Morrison

Keith Morrison is a Canadian broadcast journalist and correspondent for NBC’s “Dateline” television program. He was born on July 2, 1947, in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Morrison began his journalism career in Canada, working as a reporter for various newspapers and television stations. He eventually joined CBC News, where he became a well-known host and reporter. He covered major news events such as the Gulf War and the fall of the Berlin Wall, and won numerous awards for his journalism, including several Gemini Awards, which are the Canadian equivalent of the Emmy Awards.

In 1995, Morrison joined NBC News as a correspondent and began working on the “Dateline” program. He has since become known for his distinctive voice and unique storytelling style, which often involves dramatic pauses and suspenseful delivery.

Over the years, Morrison has covered a wide range of stories for “Dateline,” including high-profile murder trials, political scandals, and natural disasters. He has also interviewed many celebrities and newsmakers, including O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson, and Hillary Clinton.

Morrison’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including multiple Emmy Awards and a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. He is widely regarded as one of the most respected and well-known journalists in North America.

“Rowdy” Roddy Piper

“Rowdy” Roddy Piper, born Roderick Toombs, was a professional wrestler and actor from Canada who rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s. He was born on April 17, 1954, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and passed away on July 31, 2015, at the age of 61.

Piper began his wrestling career in the 1970s, working for various promotions in Canada and the United States. He eventually joined the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE), where he became known for his flamboyant personality and his signature kilt and bagpipes. He was one of the most popular wrestlers of his time and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

In addition to his wrestling career, Piper also had a successful career in film and television. He appeared in a number of movies and TV shows, including the cult classic “They Live” and the TV series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” He also hosted his own podcast, “Piper’s Pit.”

Throughout his career, Piper was known for his outspoken personality and his willingness to speak his mind. He was a controversial figure at times, but was widely respected by his peers in the wrestling industry and by his fans.

Piper passed away in 2015 from a heart attack. He is remembered as one of the most entertaining and charismatic wrestlers of all time and as a beloved figure in the world of professional wrestling.