Slave Lake

Slave Lake is a small town in northern Alberta, Canada about 255 km (124.3 mi) northwest of Edmonton and a similar distance southwest of Fort McMurray. It is located on the southeast shore of Lesser Slave Lake, at the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 88, in the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124.

This article is about the town on Lesser Slave Lake, Alberta. For the lake itself, see Lesser Slave Lake. For the much larger lake about 300 km to the northeast, see Great Slave Lake. For the lake east of Vancouver, British Columbia, see Stave Lake.
Slave Lake
Town
Town of Slave Lake
Main street in August 2006
Location in the MD of Lesser Slave River No. 124
Slave Lake
Location of Slave Lake in Alberta
Coordinates: 55°17′07″N 114°46′14″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionNorthern Alberta
Planning regionUpper Athabasca
Municipal districtMunicipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124
Incorporated[1] 
 • VillageJanuary 1, 1961
 • TownAugust 2, 1965
Government
 • MayorTyler Warman
 • Governing bodySlave Lake Town Council
 • CAOBrian Vance
 • MPArnold Viersen (Peace River-Westlock-Cons)
 • MLADanielle Larivee (Lesser Slave Lake-NDP)
Area
 (2016)[3]
 • Land14.44 km2 (5.58 sq mi)
Elevation590 m (1,940 ft)
Population
 (2016)[3]
 • Total6,651
 • Density460.5/km2 (1,193/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Postal code span
T0G 2A0 & 2S0
Area code(s)780, 587, 825
HighwaysHighway 2
Bicentennial Highway
WaterwaysLesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave River
Websiteslavelake.ca

Slave Lake serves as a local centre for the area. The administrative office for the Sawridge First Nation reserve is also located in the town.

History

The first European to visit the area of the present-day Town of Slave Lake was David Thompson who explored the area in 1799. Following his brief visit, several fur trading posts were established around Slave Lake, with a Hudson's Bay Company post established at the mouth of the lake. The first community, called Sawridge, was renamed Slave Lake in 1923. It was wiped out by a flood in the 1930s, and was subsequently moved to its current location. It was incorporated as a town in 1965.[5]

The Town of Slave Lake was inundated by a flood of Sawridge Creek in July 1988.[6]

2011 wildfire
Main article: 2011 Slave Lake 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.[7][8] Highway 2 had been closed at the outset of the fire, but eventually re-opened for evacuation,[9] with full evacuation ordered for Slave Lake.[10]

On May 16, 2011, provincial officials said that 40% of the town had been destroyed or damaged, including the town hall, the library, a radio station, a mall and a significant number of homes and other buildings; no injuries or deaths were reported.[11][12][13][14] On May 17, 2011, Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee indicated one-third of the town had been destroyed by the wildfire.[15] On May 20, 2011, a firefighting helicopter crashed into the Lesser Slave Lake near Canyon Creek where its pilot died at the scene. It crashed about 30 m (98 ft) off shore into water that was 1.5 m (4.9 ft) deep.[16] On July 6, Prince William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited the town to offer encouragement to residents and support for rebuilding efforts.[17]

Geography

Climate

Slave Lake experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc) that borders on a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb).

Demographics

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Slave Lake recorded a population of 6,651 living in 2,329 of its 2,762 total private dwellings, a -1.9% change from its 2011 population of 6,782. With a land area of 14.44 km2 (5.58 sq mi), it had a population density of 460.6/km2 (1,192.9/sq mi) in 2016.[3]

In the 2011 Census, the Town of Slave Lake had a population of 6,782 living in 2,294 of its 2,554 total dwellings, a 1.2% change from its 2006 population of 6,703. With a land area of 14.18 km2 (5.47 sq mi), it had a population density of 478.3/km2 (1,238.7/sq mi) in 2011.[25]

The population of the Town of Slave Lake according to its 2007 municipal census was 7,031.[26]

Sports

In 1994, the town hosted the Arctic Winter Games, which is a celebration of circumpolar sports and culture.

Club League Sport Venue Established Championships
Slave Lake Wolves
NWJHL
 Ice Hockey Arctic Ice Centre
N/A
1

Government

Residents of Slave Lake are in the electoral district of Peace River—Westlock for elections to the House of Commons of Canada, and Lesser Slave Lake for elections to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.[27][28]

Media

Media outlets serving Slave Lake and surrounding area include BOOM (FM) and the Lakeside Leader, a local community newspaper.


  • Main Street in 2006
  • Main Street in 2006
  • Slave Lake, Slave Lake, shoreline

See also

References
  1. "Location and History Profile: Town of Slave Lake" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 7, 2016. p. 562. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  2. "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 2017-09-22. Retrieved 2017-09-25.
  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.
  4. "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)" (PDF) (PDF). Safety Codes Council. January 2012. pp. 212–215 (PDF pages 226–229). Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  5. "Town History". Town of Slave Lake. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  6. "1988 Flood Archive". Dartmouth Flood Observatory. July 2003. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  7. Wingrove, Josh (May 15, 2011). "Change in winds caused chaos for fire-devastated Slave Lake, Alta". The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  8. Ibrahim, Mariam; Jesse Snyder; Julianna Cummins (May 16, 2011). "Slave Lake burns as thousands evacuated". Edmonton Journal. Postmedia Network. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  9. "Wildfire Update: HWY 2 Re-Opened". 93.5 Prairie FM. Newcap Radio. May 15, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  10. "Wildfire Update: Slave Lake". 93.5 Prairie FM. Newcap Radio. May 15, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  11. "Slave Lake firefighters struggle to save town". CBC News. May 16, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  12. "Aerial view of fire damage in Slave Lake". CTV Edmonton. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  13. Ibrahim, Mariam; Ryan Cormier (May 16, 2011). "A third of town reduced to ashes: Slave Lake mayor". National Post. Postmedia Network. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  14. "Destroyed Slave Lake radio station turns to internet". CBC News. 2011-05-17. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  15. Ibrahim, Mariam; Ryan Cormier (2011-05-17). "One-third of Slave Lake destroyed in massive wildfire, mayor says". Edmonton Journal. Postmedia Network. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  16. "Pilot dies in helicopter crash near Slave Lake". CBC News. 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
  17. "Prince William and Kate arrive... at town devastated by wildfire". The Daily Mail. 2011-07-06.
  18. Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  19. "Table 9: Population by census subdivisions, 1966 by sex, and 1961". 1966 Census of Canada. Western Provinces. Population: Divisions and Subdivisions. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1967.
  20. "Table 3: Population for census divisions and subdivisions, 1971 and 1976". 1976 Census of Canada. Census Divisions and Subdivisions, Western Provinces and the Territories. Population: Geographic Distributions. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1977.
  21. "Table 2: Census Subdivisions in Alphabetical Order, Showing Population Rank, Canada, 1981". 1981 Census of Canada. Census subdivisions in decreasing population order. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1982. ISBN 0-660-51563-6.
  22. "Table 2: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 and 1991 – 100% Data". 91 Census. Population and Dwelling Counts – Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1992. pp. 100–108. ISBN 0-660-57115-3.
  23. "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  24. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. January 6, 2010. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  25. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  26. Alberta Municipal Affairs (2009-09-15). "Alberta 2009 Official Population List" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  27. "Peace River–Westlock | Maps Corner | Elections Canada Online". elections.ca. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  28. "Provincial Electoral Divisions of Alberta as Defined by the Electoral Divisions Act, 2010" (PDF).
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