CBC’s virtual road trip series Land of Living Stories explores the hidden gems across Saskatchewan. Reporter Janani Whitfield hit the road to Carlyle in search of inspiring stories of community spirit.
When Jennifer Sedor and her then-fiance were living in Regina and looking for a place to buy a house to call home nearly 20 years ago, they had the sense that life in one of the province’s biggest cities was not for them.
“So we started looking to small-town Saskatchewan, as many a young person might consider doing nowadays,” she said.
They happened to visit Carlyle, about 200 kilometres southeast of Regina, when its annual Christmas-timed Dickens Village Festival was unfolding, and that sold them on the concept of moving to the smaller town.
“So we were finally able to purchase a home,” she said, “because it was much more affordable — and still is, by the way, for anyone who’s looking for a wonderful place to live.”
Over time, she’s become a big booster of the city — she’s now its mayor — and she thinks it lives up to its slogan, “Carlyle Has It,” whether people think of their Dickens festival, other major events or its thriving business community.
“For the most part, it’s a very progressive, community-minded, people-focused area,” Sedor said. “And that’s why we’re here and that’s why I do the work that I do.”
If you would like CBC Saskatchewan to visit your town or city and meet the people creating change there, email community engagement producer Janani Whitfield at janani.whitfield@cbc.ca.
