The Rural Municipality of Spiritwood No. 496 (2016 population: ) is a rural municipality (RM) in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan within Census Division No. 16 and Division No. 6. Located in the north-central portion of the province, it is west of the City of Prince Albert. History The RM of Spiritwood No. 496 incorporated as a rural municipality on December 9, 1929. It absorbed the RM of Shell Lake No. 495. The RM of Shell Lake No. 495 was originally named the RM of Shell River No. 495 prior to November 30, 1935. Geography The RM of Spiritwood No. 496 is adjacent to the RMs of Big River No. 555 to the north, Medstead No. 497 to the west, Meeting Lake No. 466 to the south, and Canwood No. 494 (formerly Thompson No. 494) to the south. Communities and localities The following urban municipalities are surrounded by the RM. Towns Spiritwood Villages Shell Lake Resort villages Echo Bay Big Shell The following unincorporated communities are within the RM. Organized hamlets Spruce Bay Localities Bapaume Capasin Leoville Mildred Norbury Penn Ranger The RM also surrounds the Witchekan Lake First Nation Reserves and Pelican Lake First Nation Reserves (191, 191A, 191B, 191C). Demographics In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the RM of Spiritwood No. 496 had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021. In the 2016 Census of Population, the RM of Spiritwood No. 496 recorded a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of . With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2016. Government The RM of Spiritwood No. 496 is governed by an elected municipal council and an appointed administrator that meets on the second Tuesday of every month. The reeve of the RM is Shirley Dauvin while its administrator is Colette Bussiere. The RM's office is located in Spiritwood. Transportation Rail Big River Branch C.N.R—serves Prince Albert, Shellbrook, Clonfert, Canwood, Polwarth, Mattes, Debden, Eldred, Dumble, Bodmin, Big River. Roads Highway 24—serves Spiritwood and Leoville Highway 3—intersects Highway 24 and serves Belbutte, Spiritwood and Shell Lake Highway 793—intersects Highway 24 and serves Big River Highway 696—intersects Highway 24 and serves Pelican Lake First Nation Indian