You don’t need a car to explore the province. Just park yourself at a computer, log on to www.esask.uregina.ca, and discover Saskatchewan online.

This is exactly what grade eight students from St. Matthew School in Regina had the opportunity to do today. The students participated in the launch of the online Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan at the Canadian Plains Research Center at the University of Regina.

The decision to make the Encyclopedia available online was an easy one. “When we first conceived the Encyclopedia, it was always with the intent that we would make it available in a form that would reach the widest audience,” says Vice-President Research and International, David Gauthier. “This online version fulfills our commitment to the people of Saskatchewan of a living legacy of knowledge.”

Viewers will notice some additions to the printed material in the online Encyclopedia. Some statistical information has been updated, and new material, including photographs, has been added. Most significantly, all of the 21 theme essays and selected entries are now available in French.

Canada’s New Government, through Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD), contributed $221,619 to get the online Encyclopedia up and running.

“Canada's New Government is getting things done for the people of Saskatchewan,” said Tom Lukiwski, Member of Parliament for Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. “This online Encyclopedia will be a valuable resource to all Canadian citizens, and to business people and potential immigrants around the world. It will help promote Saskatchewan as a place to do business, to visit and as a place to come live.”

The Government of Saskatchewan contributed a total of $736,000 for the print and online publication of the Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. This contribution, together with that of WD, was critical to the conversion and hosting of the online Encyclopedia.

“This resource provides a lasting and factual story of our people and our accomplishments,” Saskatchewan Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Glenn Hagel said. “Access to the Encyclopedia online creates a legacy of knowledge that will be invaluable to future generations.”

Access to the site will be free, at least for the first year, and visitors will be able to search for articles and images.

The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan was first published in 2005. The largest publishing project in Saskatchewan history, it has more than 1000 pages and over 800 contributors.