Canada's Most Notorious City

Moose Jaw's slogan is "Canada's Most Notorious City" because of our colorful and sometimes dark past, especially during the Prohibition era in the 1920s and 30s. Today, we embrace our "notorious" label with a wink, using it to tell engaging stories, run fun tours like the Tunnels of Moose Jaw Tours, and promote our city’s one-of-a-kind history.

There are many stories related to the origin of the name “Moose Jaw”. It is believed to originate from two potential Indigenous Cree words “Mosocapiskan” or “Moscastani-sipiy”. Indigenous scholar Arok Wolvengrey believes that Moscastani-sipiy is the original Cree name for the Moose Jaw River and surrounding area. This translates to “river of warm breezes, river of slighter winds”. Moose Jaw likely comes from the phonetics of this word rather than translation. (https://pub-moosejaw.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=12380)

Moose Jaw is one of those places that surprises people — in the best possible way. It’s quirky, historic, scenic, and packed with personality, setting it apart from other prairie cities. Known as Canada’s Most Notorious City, Moose Jaw has a colourful past rooted in prohibition-era stories of rum-running, secret tunnels, and legendary figures like Al Capone. You can dive into that history on a visit to the famous Tunnels of Moose Jaw, or hop on our vintage trolley for a guided tour full of local legends, ghost stories, and unexpected true crime.

But there’s more to Moose Jaw than intrigue. We’re home to the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa, where you can soak in natural geothermal waters year-round — a rare luxury in the heart of the prairies. Our downtown is walkable, vibrant, and lined with massive, hand-painted murals that turn every corner into a piece of public art. You'll also find unique local shops, charming cafés, and restaurants that range from classic comfort food to global cuisine.

Nature lovers will appreciate Wakamow Valley, a lush river park right in town that offers camping, canoeing, biking, and a peaceful escape from the everyday. And of course, no visit is complete without a selfie with Mac the Moose, the world’s largest moose statue and a local legend in his own right.

Moose Jaw offers the kind of authentic, memorable experience you won’t find in bigger cities — and that's exactly why people fall in love with it. Come curious, and leave surprised you hadn’t come sooner.

Yes we can! You can give us a call at (306) 693-8097, or send an email to info@tourismmoosejaw.com and we will happily help you plan your next visit to our notorious little city!