Wabasca-Desmarais, Alberta
Encyclopedia
Wabasca, also known as Wabasca-Desmarais, 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
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, 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 Municipal District (M.D.) of Opportunity No. 17
Opportunity No. 17, Alberta
The Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17 is a municipal district occupying a large remote area in central northern Alberta, Canada.It is located in Census Division 17 north of Athabasca. The municipal seat is in Wabasca. It was established as a municipal district on Aug 01, 1995, from the...
. It is located between and along the South and North Wabasca Lakes, at the intersection of Highway 813 and Highway 754. It is approximately 123 kilometres (76.4 mi) northeast of Slave Lake
Slave Lake, Alberta
Slave Lake is a town in northern Alberta, Canada, in the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124. It is located on the southeast shore of Lesser Slave Lake at the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 88....
.
Wabasca, which is the municipal seat of the M.D of Opportunity No. 17, consists of two communities – Wabasca and Desmarais. The hamlet has a population of 1,410, which is largely Native Canadian
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
. Over 2,000 additional residents live on six Bigstone Cree Nation
Bigstone Cree Nation
The Bigstone Cree Nation is a First Nation in Alberta, Canada. As Woodland Cree, they are a western branch of the larger Cree Nation.With lands adjacent to four lakes in northern Alberta's boreal forest, the First Nation is rich in fishing and wild game.In 2005, there were 5,874 registered...
reserves
Indian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
in the immediate surrounding area. These reserves include Wabasca 166, 166A, 166B, 166C and 166D and are the seat of the Bigstone Cree Nation, a Woodland 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...
First Nation.
The name Wabasca originates from the Cree
Cree language
Cree is an Algonquian language spoken by approximately 117,000 people across Canada, from the Northwest Territories and Alberta to Labrador, making it the aboriginal language with the highest number of speakers in Canada. It is also spoken in the U.S. state of Montana...
word wapuskau, meaning "white rapid" the name for the Wabasca River
Wabasca River
Wabasca River is a river in northern Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the Peace River.It has a total drainage area of .-Course:...
. Desmarais was named after Father Alphonse Desmarais, the first missionary in this area.
Demographics
The population of the Hamlet of Wabasca is 1,410 according to a municipal census conducted by the M.D. of Opportunity No. 17 in 2007.The following are the populations of the reserves surrounding Wabasca from the 2006 federal census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
.
- Wabasca 166 - 78
- Wabasca 166A - 648
- Wabasca 166B - 216
- Wabasca 166C - 173
- Wabasca 166D - 863
Transportation
The Hamlet of Wabasca is served by Highway 813 and Highway 754. The Wabasca AirportWabasca Airport
Wabasca Airport, , is located southeast of Wabasca, Alberta, Canada.-External links:* on COPA's Places to Fly airport directory...
is located within the hamlet.
Amenities
The community is home to the Wabasca General Hospital, the Wabasca Public Library, and a recreation centre that includes a pool. Wabasca also has two exercise centres, an ice arena, outdoor rodeo grounds, baseball diamonds, a skateboard park, and winter outdoor ice rinks.Wabasca has four churches including St. Charles Catholic Church, St. John's Anglican Church, St. Martins Catholic Church, and the Wabasca Revival Centre.
Schools
The Northland School Division operates two schools in the community – St. Theresa School for students in kindergarten through grade 5 and Mistassiniy School for students in grades 6 through 12.The Bigstone Cree First Nation Education Authority operates the Bigstone Community School (Oski Pasikoniwew Kamik).
A campus of Northern Lakes College
Northern Lakes College
Northern Lakes College is a publicly-funded comprehensive community college in north-central Alberta, Canada.Administrative offices are located in Slave Lake and Grouard, Alberta, with a staff of more than 275 working in more than 30 campuses...
is located in Wabasca. The college provides part-time and full-time programming for adult upgrading, apprenticeships, university studies, workforce development, and other careers.
Activities
Fishing, ice fishing, hunting, trapping, quadding, and snowmobiling are traditional and recreational activities in the area. Other activities includes cross-country skiing, skating, skateboarding, and swimming.A paved walking trail links Desmarais and Wabasca with an approximate distance of 20 km (12.4 mi).
Located along the shores of the North and South Wabasca Lakes, the community has a boat launch, a swimming dock, and a fishing bridge between the two lakes.
Industry
Located west of the Wabasca Oil FieldWabasca Oil Field
Wabasca is an oil field in a remote area of northern Alberta, where heavy petroleum is produced. It is also known as the Pelican Lake Oilfield.The closest community is Wabasca...
, oil and gas exploration and extraction is Wabasca's primary industry. Forestry also plays a role in the local economy with Alberta Pacific Forest Industries operating an office out of the community.
Climate
Wabasca has 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).
Community events
Wabasca hosts numerous events on an annual basis including the Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceRoyal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
(RCMP) Fish Derby, the Wabasca Road Race, and the Lions Club Ski-Doo Rally among others.