Home / Lifestyle / Gravelbourg's Hunting Haven: How a Small Town Thrives on American Visitors
Gravelbourg's Hunting Haven: How a Small Town Thrives on American Visitors
21 Oct
Summary
- Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan sees $100,000 boost from American hunters each year
- Hunters visit from as far as Michigan and Arkansas to enjoy bird hunting
- Local B&B owner grateful for continued American patronage despite political tensions
In the town of Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan, the influx of American hunters has become a vital part of the local economy. Just over a week after Canadian Thanksgiving, the dining room of the La Maison B&B was filled with the distinctive drawls of visiting Americans, who have maintained their tradition of coming to the province for fishing and hunting.
According to the 2021 census, Gravelbourg has a population of just under 1,000 people. However, the town sees a significant economic boost from these American visitors, with the local B&B owner estimating they contribute around $100,000 each year. Hunters from as far as Michigan and Arkansas make the trip, drawn to the open fields where they can shoot mallards and geese, something they can no longer do back home.
Despite the current geopolitical climate and tensions between Canada and the U.S., the American tourists say they are not paying attention to the "noise" and that the two countries' relationship will always be strong. The local B&B owner, Toos Giesen-Stefiuk, also steers clear of political discussions, focusing instead on providing a warm welcome to her returning guests.
For Gravelbourg, the presence of these American hunters is a vital part of the community's spirit and economic well-being. As one visitor, Joe Dunbar, remarked, "When the sun comes up, and on a bluebird day like this, and you have mallards working -- it's fantastic."
