Wabamun, Alberta
Encyclopedia
Wabamun is a village located 67 kilometres (41.6 mi) west of Edmonton in central Alberta
Central Alberta
Central Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta.Central Alberta is the most densely populated rural area in the province...
, 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...
.
Demographics
The population of the Village of Wabamun according to its 2009 municipal census is 662.In 2006, Wabamun had a population of 601 living in 252 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 0.0% increase from 2001. The village has a land area of 3.24 km² (1.3 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 185.3 /km2.
Economy
The main source of income within Wabamun is the coal-fired power plant located on the western edge of the village that is owned and operated by TransAlta Utilities. The power plant is slowly being closed down because of increased pressure from environmental agencies and aging. The Wabamun power plant has been the subject of heated debate over the past 10 years among the residents and cottagers of Wabamun Lake. Due to the lack of a cool–off pond, the water used to cool the internal systems is deposited back into the lake, which enhances the weed population dramatically. As of March 31, 2010, the plant has been taken off the grid and is currently undergoing preparations to be demolished. As well, the old staff housing on the west side of the village has been demolished, leaving empty streets complete with signs, sidewalks and fire hydrants.Tourism
A large cabin-going community exists in Wabamun during the summer, while the village is populated year round. Local sites include Wabamun LakeWabamun Lake
Wabamun Lake is one of the most heavily used lakes in Alberta, Canada. It lies west of Edmonton, Alberta. It is long and narrow, covers and is 11 meters deep at its deepest, with somewhat clear water....
, the village marina, the pier, the WAY-CUP coffee shop, hardware store, bowling lanes, the Midget House (now demolished), and a grocery store. The village is host to Canada's largest semi-pro indoor rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
every June, which spans a five-day period, and is hosted at the Wabamun Arena.
There are currently some plans for development of the village into more of a tourist destination. One of these plans involves developing the land that TransAlta donated (the old plant grounds). Other plans involve redeveloping Main Street (part of Canada's "Action Plan" grants) and redeveloping the pier area and marina.
The lake itself has a large population of Northern Pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
along with whitefish
Coregonus
Coregonus is a diverse genus of fish in the salmon family . The type species is the common whitefish . The Coregonus species are known as whitefishes...
and Perch. Currently, fish are to be only caught and released
Catch and release
Catch and release is a practice within recreational fishing intended as a technique of conservation. After capture, the fish are unhooked and returned to the water before experiencing serious exhaustion or injury...
in light of the August 2005 CN derailment, which spilled over 700,000 litres (154,000 Imp gal
Imperial unit
The system of imperial units or the imperial system is the system of units first defined in the British Weights and Measures Act of 1824, which was later refined and reduced. The system came into official use across the British Empire...
/185,000 US gal) of Bunker C pole oil into the lake.
The main sailing club of the lake is Wabamun Sailing Club, approximately 8 kilometres (5 mi) west of the village at the end of Range Road 43. A smaller club is located on the opposite shore of the lake.
Oil spill
On August 3, 2005, 45 cars of a CN Rail train derailed on the shores of Wabamun LakeWabamun Lake
Wabamun Lake is one of the most heavily used lakes in Alberta, Canada. It lies west of Edmonton, Alberta. It is long and narrow, covers and is 11 meters deep at its deepest, with somewhat clear water....
, West of the village, spilling their contents of more than 700,000 litres of a variety of fuel oils and pole treating oils into the lake.