Slave Lake is a small town in northern Alberta, Canada about 200 km 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. Slave Lake is in the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124.
Slave Lake serves a local centre for the area. The administrative office for the Sawridge First Nation reserve is also located in the town.
History
The area of the present-day Town of Slave Lake was discovered by Europeans when David Thompson visited 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 the current location. 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, 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 where its pilot died at the scene. It crashed about 30Â m (98Â ft) off shore into water that was 1.5Â m (4.9Â 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.
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 âˆ'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.
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.
The population of the Town of Slave Lake according to its 2007 municipal census is 7,031.
Sports
In 1994, the town hosted the Arctic Winter Games which is a celebration of circumpolar sports and culture.
Government
Residents of Slave Lake are in the electoral district of Peace Riverâ€"Westlock for elections to the federal House of Commons, and Lesser Slave Lake for elections to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.
Media
Media outlets serving Slave Lake and surrounding area include LAKE (FM) and the Lakeside Leader, a local community newspaper.
Notable people
- Lane Caffaro, professional ice hockey player
- Gordon Kruppke, former professional ice hockey player
- Omar Mouallem, also known as A.O.K., rapper and journalist
- Walter Patrick Twinn, former Canadian senator and chief of the Sawridge First Nation
Gallery
See also
- List of communities in Alberta
- List of towns in Alberta
References
External links
- Official website