Anzac is a hamlet

Hamlet (place)

A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...

 in northern Alberta

Northern Alberta

Northern Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta.Its primary industry is oil and gas, with large heavy oil reserves being exploited at the Athabasca Oil Sands and Wabasca Area in the east of the region...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 within the Regional Municipality (R.M.) of Wood Buffalo

Wood Buffalo, Alberta

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is a specialized municipality located in northeastern Alberta. Formed as a result of the amalgamation of the City of Fort McMurray and Improvement District No. 143 on April 1, 1995, it is the second largest municipality in Alberta by area...

. It is located on Highway 881

Alberta Highway 881

Alberta Provincial Highway No. 881 is a highway in the province of Alberta, Canada. It runs south-north in two sections, from Highway 13 in Hardisty to Highway 55, then from Highway 55 in Lac La Biche to Highway 63 south of Fort McMurray. There is a break between the two sections, where Highway 55...

 along the east shore of Gregoire Lake

Gregoire Lake (Alberta)

Gregoire Lake is a lake in Alberta, Canada. It is part of the Athabasca River Basin.It is located in the wetlands of northern Alberta, adjacent to Highway 63, between Fort McMurray and Lac la Biche. Until 1940 it was known as Willow Lake....

, approximately 36 kilometres (22.4 mi) southeast of Fort McMurray.

Anzac was named for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps

Australian and New Zealand Army Corps

The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps was a First World War army corps of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force that was formed in Egypt in 1915 and operated during the Battle of Gallipoli. General William Birdwood commanded the corps, which comprised troops from the First Australian Imperial...

 who surveyed the area during World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 for construction of the rail line to Waterways, Alberta.

Originally named after Willow Lake, the previous name of Gregoire Lake, the community were mostly non-status or non-treaty Cree

Cree

The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...

 Indians whose forefathers had migrated to the Athabasca Basin area from what was to become northern Manitoba; mostly displacing the original Beaver and Chipewyan

Dene

The Dene are an aboriginal group of First Nations who live in the northern boreal and Arctic regions of Canada. The Dené speak Northern Athabaskan languages. Dene is the common Athabaskan word for "people" . The term "Dene" has two usages...

 occupants of the area.

During World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 a road was built from the rail siding to service and construct an American army base on Stoney Mountain.

The area has seen significant growth corresponding to that of Fort McMurray and the oil industry.

Demographics

The population of Anzac according to the R.M of Wood Buffalo's 2007 municipal census is 714. The subsequent 2008 municipal census recorded a population of 837. However, with the overall 2008 municipal census result for the R.M. of Wood Buffalo not being accepted by Alberta Municipal Affairs

Alberta Municipal Affairs

Alberta Municipal Affairs is a ministry of the Executive Council of Alberta. Its major responsibilities include assisting municipalities in the provision of local government, administering a safety system for the construction and maintenance of buildings and equipment, and managing Alberta's...

due to the use of extrapolation, Anzac's 2008 population may be more of an estimate compared to its 2007 figure.