Did Al Capone Ever Visit Moose Jaw, SK?

What is the true story of the gangster and the city?

From 2013 to 2017, I lived in southwest Saskatchewan and made many trips into Moose Jaw. During one trip, I visited the Tunnels of Moose Jaw, arguably the biggest tourist attraction in the city.

It was a fascinating look into the history of the city even though there may have been some stretching of the historical truths.

The Tunnels of Moose Jaw have operated for years as a tourist attraction where tours called Passage To Fortune and The Chicago Connection, are held. The first relates to the history of Chinese-Canadians in the city. The legend is that Chinese railway workers went underground to escape violence from CPR workers and lived there for years.

There is no evidence that the tunnels were every used by the Chinese-Canadian residents of the city though.

But it is the second one that is more famous.

As the story goes, the tunnels under Moose Jaw were used by rum-runners during the Prohibition Era in the United States. They allegedly held illegal alcohol that was shipped to the United States via the Soo Line Railroad.

The tunnels were essentially passageways that connected cellars of various homes and businesses in the central area of the city.

Due to being hidden under the city, the tunnels became a hub for prostitution and gambling. Many on the police force were on the payroll, and usually turned a blind eye to the activities under the streets.

The legend around those tunnels also relates to Al Capone. It is said that he visited the Moose Jaw area and the tunnels several times during the Prohibition Era and before he was convicted of tax evasion in 1931.

Unfortunately, there is no written or photographic proof of this. Most of the legend relies on first-hand accounts from Moose Jaw residents of the time who said they met him.

According to the RCMP, there is no evidence that Al Capone ever set foot in Canada.

Some say that the whole legend started in the 1970s among reporters to drum up local interest and tourism in the city. In 1986, the Moose Jaw Business Improvement District commissioned a study to investigate the tunnels history. Any stories of Al Capone were not confirmed.

Are the stories true?

Probably not.

But if you are ever in Moose Jaw, the Tunnels are a great attraction to visit to explore the fascinating history of this Saskatchewan city.