Moose Jaw is named for Moose Jaw Bone Creek as shown on a map by surveyor John Palliser in 1857 and comes from the Plains Cree name “moscastani-sipiy” meaning “a warm place by the river” and the word “moose gaw” meaning “warm breezes”.
Location: Moose Jaw is located in the south central part of the Province.
Judicial District: Moose Jaw Judicial District
Courthouse – Moose Jaw
Location: 64 Ominica Street / 1st Avenue NW
Built: 1908 – 1909
Style: Colonial Revival
Architect: Frank Darling and J A Pearson of Toronto, Ontario
Contractor: Smith Brothers ( Duncan D Smith and Donald D Smith ) and John Wilson
Description: The building faces south and is a two story red coloured brick and limestone structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the centre of Moose Jaw. The south front has two large red coloured brick columns with recessed central entrance framed with limestone and with crest at the top. The second story windows are large and arched. The centre sections on the east and west side, project slightly from the main building. A wide cornice runs below the flat roof line. The King’s Bench courtroom is located on the west side of the second story. On the west side of the first story is a small courtroom. The building houses the Sheriff’s Office. In 2013, the ceiling in the main courtroom on the second story collapsed. The building was restored in 2015. The contractor was Poole Construction Company Ltd.
History: The first courthouse was built at High Street and 9th Avenue in 1893. The present courthouse is the oldest standing courthouse in Saskatchewan still used as a courthouse. The cost of construction of the courthouse was $50,000.
See: In Moose Jaw is the Provincial Court located in the Government Building on the west side,
Courthouse – Moose Jaw
Court of King’s Bench courtroom
Court of King’s Bench small courtroom
Main Courtroom ceiling collapse
Photos taken 2013 and 2019
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