Waskatenau

Waskatenau
Village
Village of Waskatenau
Waskatenau
Location of Waskatenau
Coordinates: 54°05′51″N 112°47′4″W / 54.09750°N 112.78444°W / 54.09750; -112.78444Coordinates: 54°05′51″N 112°47′4″W / 54.09750°N 112.78444°W / 54.09750; -112.78444
Country  Canada
Province  Alberta
Region Central Alberta
Census Division 12
Municipal district Smoky Lake County
Incorporated[1]  
 • Village May 19, 1932
Government
 • Mayor Casey Caron
 • Governing body Waskatenau Village Council
Area (2016)[2]
 • Land 0.6 km2 (0.2 sq mi)
Elevation 362 m (1,188 ft)
Population (2016)[2]
 • Total 186
 • Density 311.9/km2 (808/sq mi)
Time zone UTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Highways 28
831
Waterways North Saskatchewan River
Website Official website

Waskatenau ( /wəˈsɛtnə/ wə-SET-nə) is a village in central Alberta, Canada. It is located in Smoky Lake County, 90 km northeast of the city of Edmonton. Waskatenau is a Cree word meaning "opening in the bank" in reference to the clef in the nearby ridge through which the Waskatenau Creek flows. [3] It is pronounced with a silent "k."

Demographics

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Waskatenau recorded a population of 186 living in 99 of its 129 total private dwellings, a −27.1% change from its 2011 population of 255. With a land area of 0.6 km2 (0.23 sq mi), it had a population density of 310.0/km2 (802.9/sq mi) in 2016.[2]

In the 2011 Census, the Village of Waskatenau had a population of 255 living in 115 of its 140 total dwellings, a -8.3% change from its 2006 population of 278. With a land area of 0.6 km2 (0.23 sq mi), it had a population density of 425.0/km2 (1,100.7/sq mi) in 2011.[4]

Home Run For Life softball marathons

Waskatenau is known for its repeated efforts to set a world record for the longest continuous game of softball. The town held three such softball marathons, known as the "Home Run For Life", as fundraisers for the Cross Cancer Institute and Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton. In late June 2005, the first marathon went for 60 hours and 4 minutes and raised $75,000, unofficially holding the world record for less than 1 day before a team in Quebec broke it. Waskatenau tried again in 2007, and played for 108 hours and 3 minutes from June 27 to July 1, raising over $91,000.[5][6] However, the Guinness Book of World Records disallowed the record for technical reasons. Finally, in 2009, Home Run For Life III successfully set the official, Guinness-approved record for the "longest game of softball", playing 115 hours and 3 minutes from June 30 to July 5,[7][8] and raising more than $110,000.


History

The 1880s name for the area was Wah-Sat-now after the nearby cleft as mentioned above. The Wah-Sat-Now (Cree) band in residence there in the 1880s later moved to the Saddle Lake reserve. [9].

The new spelling Waskatenau was in common use by 1920. [10] About that time a CNR line was built from Edmonton to St. Paul. Waskatenau was the station built between Radway and Warspite.[11]

The Village of Waskatenau was incorporated on May 19, 1932.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Location and History Profile: Village of Waskatenau" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 21, 2016. p. 611. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  3. ↑ A century of progress : an historical study of the Waskatenau, Smoky Lake, Warspite, Bellis, Vilna and Spedden school communities. The County of Smoky Lake No. 13. 1967. p. 2. ; Harrison, Place Names of Alberta, volume 3
  4. ↑ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Alta. village set for record softball game", Canwest News Service, June 26, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Softball team claims world record", Edmonton Journal, July 2, 2007.
  7. ↑ "Longest marathon playing softball". guinnessworldrecords.com. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  8. ↑ Ashley Thompson, "In pursuit of a Guinness record", NovaNewsNow.com in The Hants Journal, August 27, 2010.
  9. ↑ Edmonton Bulletin, April 18, 1885; July 16, 1897
  10. ↑ Edmonton Bulletin, April 29, 1920
  11. ↑ Edmonton Bulletin, May 17, 1920
  12. ↑ Harrison, Place Names of Alberta, volume 3
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