Canadian Historical Association's Clio Prize winner, 2006
Saskatchewan Book Award for Non-Fiction nominee, 2005
Saskatchewan Book Award for Scholarly Writing nominee, 2005
In Saskatchewan: A New History, award-winning author and historian Bill
Waiser presents a fresh, entertaining account and interpretation of Saskatchewan's unique and captivating history. Writing with clarity, candor, and
compassion, Waiser describes in detail his province and its people through the stimulating, often tumultuous years since joining Confederation in 1905.
A gift to the province from the University of Saskatchewan, written in commemoration of the province's centennial celebrations in 2005, Saskatchewan: A New History tells, above all, the engaging stories of the people of
Saskatchewan. Their wisdom, foresight, bravery, toil, and eternal optimism gave birth to one hundred years of extraordinary history.
Waiser leaves no stone unturned as he records the events and stories of the people who experienced them: from the province’s earliest days, when anything seemed possible; through the years of the Great Depression, when the prospect of greatness seemed all but lost; to the second half of the century, when an intense, at times bitter, debate raged over how best to govern Saskatchewan. Relying on the most up-to-date historical research available, he offers new
perspectives on traditional views and tackles previously neglected, often difficult, concepts and events.
"What is most striking about these images, aside from the richness of their colour and the skillful use of light, are the happy, smiling faces. He could see things like no one else with a camera. He had an uncanny skill to set the scene. He caught people in everyday life and everyday activities and people wanted to have their picture taken by him."
Generously illustrated with carefully selected archival images and two sixteen-page colour inserts of commissioned photographs by Saskatoon’s John Perret, Saskatchewan: A New History also pays a stunning visual tribute to the historical, urban, and natural splendour of Saskatchewan and its people.
Includes: two 16-page colour photo inserts by John Perret, 205 Black and White photographs and illustrations, 20 reference tables, 15 maps . . and more.
Reviews:
"Should be in every Canadian history buff's library."
-- The Beaver
"Authoritative, well-written...brilliant."
-- Ramsay Cook, The Globe and Mail
"This book is a treasure, and will survive us all."
-- Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
"Just in time for the centennial of Saskatchewan, Bill Waiser has delivered a monumental history of the province that will still be admired for its scholarship when the bicentennial rolls around."
-- Canadian Geographic Magazine
"Wonderfully written in an authoritative but engaging style, Waiser’s "Saskatchewan" is a story of challenge where buoyant hopes and dashed dreams were acted out by generations of people whose origins and backgrounds were as diverse as the physical environment they settled. . . The historic photographs tell their own graphic story while the marvellous color plates evoke the heart and soul of this unique Canadian province. . . This is a fine book well worth reading."
-- Great Plains Quarterly
"Saskatchewan's people have a strength of character that has been forged by the demands of hard work, the often inhospitable climate, and the intensity of political debate. Bill Waiser's Saskatchewan: A New History captures the heart and the fearlessness of the people and the place I'm proud to call home."
-- Pamela Wallin
"Brilliant!"
-- Murray Lyons, The StarPhoenix
"Full of surprises and lively tales--.ought to be required reading for every newcomer to Saskatchewan. It could save them years trying to figure out Saskatchewan's unique character."
-- The StarPhoenix
Bill Waiser is the author, co-author, or co-editor of eight books, including Park Prisoners: The Untold Story of Western Canada’s National Parks and (with Blair Stonechild) Loyal Till Death: Indians and the North-West Rebellion, which was a finalist for the Governor General’s literary award for non-fiction. His most recent book, All Hell Cant Stop Us: The On-to-Ottawa Trek and Regina Riot, won the 2003 Saskatchewan Book Award for non-fiction.
From 1998 to 2001, Waiser hosted a weekly Saskatchewan history television series, Looking Back - now also a book of the same name. Waiser has served on the council of the Canadian Historical Association and the board of directors of Canada's National History Society.
In 2007 Bill received the honour of election to the Royal Society of Canada.
Click here
to see a photo of Bill Waiser presenting a copy of Saskatchewan: A New History to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II | 
