Slave Lake, Alberta
Encyclopedia
Slave Lake is a town 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...
, in the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124. It is located on the southeast shore of Lesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave Lake is a lake located in central Alberta, Canada, northwest of Edmonton. It is the second largest lake entirely within Alberta boundaries , covering and measuring over long and at its widest point. Lesser Slave Lake averages in depth and is at its deepest...
at the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 88.
In 1994, the town hosted the Arctic Winter Games
Arctic Winter Games
The Arctic Winter Games is an international biennial celebration of circumpolar sports and culture.-Background:The Arctic Winter Games were founded in 1969 under the leadership of Governor Walter J. Hickel of Alaska, Stuart M. Hodgson, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and Yukon...
which is a celebration of circumpolar sports and culture. The town is also the birthplace of Walter Patrick Twinn
Walter Patrick Twinn
Walter Patrick Twinn was a Canadian Chief of the Sawridge First Nation starting in 1966, and Senator from 1990-1997. He took control as chief just after oil was discovered on Sawridge reserve land; with the royalties from that he created a legacy for the Sawridge band by building first the...
, a First Nations person and Canadian Senator.
History
The area of the present-day Town of Slave Lake was first explored by David ThompsonDavid Thompson (explorer)
David Thompson was an English-Canadian fur trader, surveyor, and map-maker, known to some native peoples as "Koo-Koo-Sint" or "the Stargazer"...
in 1799. Following his exploration, several fur trading
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
posts were established around Slave Lake, with a Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
post established at the mouth of the lake. The first community, called Sawridge, was wiped out by a flood in the 1930s, and was subsequently moved and renamed Slave Lake. It was incorporated as a town in 1965.
The Town of Slave Lake was inundated by the flood of Sawridge Creek in July 1988.
2011 wildfire
On May 15, 2011, large parts of the town were affected by wildfires in the area. Winds pushed the flames into the town and destroyed many houses and businesses. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued, but with highways being closed, residents were urged to make their way to beaches, large parking lots, and open spaces. Highway 2 had been closed at the outset of the fire, but eventually re-opened for evacuation, with full evacuation ordered for Slave Lake.On May 16, provincial officials said that 40% of the town had been destroyed or damaged, including the town hall, the library, a radio station
CHSL-FM
CHSL-FM is a classic hits radio station in Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada. It started out as an AM oldies station. The station's ownership would change countless times over the years. Some of the station's owners included OK Radio Group, Nornet, OSG, and Telemedia...
, a mall and a significant number of homes and other buildings; no injuries or deaths were reported. On May 17, Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee indicated one-third of the town had been destroyed by the wildfire. On May 20, 2011, a firefighting helicopter crashed into the Lesser Slave Lake near Canyon Creek
Canyon Creek, Alberta
Canyon Creek is a hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada within the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124. It is located on Highway 2, approximately east of Grande Prairie.- References :...
where its pilot died at the scene. It crashed about 30 m (98.4 ft) off shore into water that was 1.5 m (4.9 ft) deep. On July 6, Prince William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited the town to offer encouragement to residents and rebuilding efforts.
Demographics
| Slave Lake population history (1996–2006) |
|
|---|---|
| 1996 | 6,553 |
| 2001 | 6,600 |
| 2006 | 6,703 |
The population of the Town of Slave Lake according to its 2007 municipal census is 7,031.
In 2006, Slave Lake had a population of 6,703 living in 2,342 dwellings
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
, a 1.6% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of 14.18 km² (5.5 sq mi) and a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 472.8 /km2.
Politics
Residents of Slave Lake are in the electoral districtElectoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Fort McMurray—Athabasca
Fort McMurray—Athabasca
Fort McMurray—Athabasca is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968...
for elections to the federal House of Commons, and Lesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave Lake (electoral district)
Lesser Slave Lake is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada. It has existed since 1971.-Boundary history:- Members of the Legislative Assembly :...
for elections to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
.
Climate
Slave Lake experiences a subarctic climateSubarctic climate
The subarctic climate is a climate characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool to mild summers. It is found on large landmasses, away from the moderating effects of an ocean, generally at latitudes from 50° to 70°N poleward of the humid continental climates...
(Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dfc) that borders on a humid continental climate
Humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
(Köppen Dfb).
Sports
| Club | League | Sport | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slave Lake Wolves Slave Lake Wolves The Slave Lake Wolves are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the North West Junior Hockey League... |
North West Junior Hockey League The North West Junior Hockey League is a Junior "B" Ice Hockey league operating in the Peace River region of Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The winner of Northwest "B" playoffs earns the chance to compete for the Western Canadian Junior "B" Crown, the Keystone Cup... |
Ice Hockey Ice hockey Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take... |
Arctic Ice Centre | |
|
Notable residents
- Lane CaffaroLane CaffaroLane Caffaro is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Hannover Indians in the German 2nd Bundesliga....
, professional ice hockey player - Gordon KruppkeGordon KruppkeGordon W. "Gord" Kruppke is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 23 games in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings.-External links:...
, former professional ice hockey player - Omar Mouallem, also known as A.O.K., rapper and journalist
- Walter Patrick TwinnWalter Patrick TwinnWalter Patrick Twinn was a Canadian Chief of the Sawridge First Nation starting in 1966, and Senator from 1990-1997. He took control as chief just after oil was discovered on Sawridge reserve land; with the royalties from that he created a legacy for the Sawridge band by building first the...
, former Canadian Senator and chief of the Sawridge First Nation