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 800 km to the northeast, see Great Slave Lake. For the lake east of Vancouver, British Columbia, see Stave Lake.
Slave Lake
Town
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionNorthern Alberta
Planning regionUpper Athabasca
Municipal districtMunicipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124
MayorFrancesca Ward
Governing bodySlave Lake Town Council
Interim CAOGarry Roth
MPArnold Viersen (Peace River-Westlock-Cons)[citation needed]
MLAScott Sinclair (Lesser Slave Lake-UCP)
 • VillageJanuary 1, 1961
 • TownAugust 2, 1965
Area land14.31 km²
Population as of2021
Population total6836
Population density477.7 km²
Time zoneMST (UTC−7)
Time zone (DST)MDT (UTC−6)
Coordinates55°17′07″N 114°46′14″W
Elevation590 m
Postal code spanT0G 2A0 & 2S0
Area codes780, 587, 825
HighwaysHighway 2
Bicentennial Highway
WaterwaysLesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave River
Websiteslavelake.ca

Slave Lake is a town in northern Alberta, Canada that is surrounded by the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124. It is approximately 255 km (158 mi) northwest of Edmonton. It is located on the southeast shore of Lesser Slave Lake at the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 88.

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

History

The first European known to visit the area of the present-day Town of Slave Lake was the British explorer David Thompson, who arrived in 1799. Following his brief visit, other British agents established several fur trading posts around Slave Lake, including a Hudson's Bay Company post at the mouth of the lake.

A settlement developed around the post and became known as Sawridge. It was renamed as Slave Lake in 1923. After a flood in the 1930s destroyed much of the town, it was relocated and rebuilt at its current location on higher ground. It was incorporated as a town in 1965.[2]

The Town of Slave Lake was inundated by a flood of Sawridge Creek in July 1988.[3]

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 town, destroying many houses and businesses. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued, but highways had been closed and residents were urged to seek refuge at beaches, large parking lots, and open spaces.[4][5] Highway 2 had been closed at the outset of the fire, but eventually re-opened for evacuation.[6] Full evacuation of all residents was ordered for Slave Lake.[7]

On May 16, 2011, provincial officials said that 40% of the town had been destroyed or damaged by the fires, 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.[8][9][10][11] On May 17, 2011, Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee indicated one-third of the town had been destroyed by the wildfire.[12] On May 20, 2011, a firefighting helicopter crashed into the Lesser Slave Lake near Canyon Creek; 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.[13]

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.[14]

Geography

Climate

Slave Lake experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc) that borders on a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb). Summers tend to be mild with cool nights, while winters are long and severely cold.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Slave Lake had a population of 6,836 living in 2,405 of its 2,681 total private dwellings, a change of 2.78% from its 2016 population of 6,651. With a land area of 14.31 km2 (5.53 sq mi), it had a population density of in 2021.[15]

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 -1.93% 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 in 2016.[16]

The population of the Town of Slave Lake according to its 2007 municipal census was 7,031.[17]

Panethnic groups in Slave Lake (2001−2021)
Panethnic group2021[18]2011[19]2001[20]
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
European[a]3,59554.0%4,48566.7%4,48068.6%
Indigenous1,78026.7%1,69025.1%1,77027.1%
Southeast Asian[b]73010.9%2854.2%250.4%
South Asian2153.2%1001.5%250.4%
Middle Eastern[c]1852.8%1452.2%1151.8%
African901.4%00.0%150.2%
East Asian[d]300.5%200.3%801.2%
Latin American150.2%00.0%200.3%
Other/Multiracial[e]200.3%00.0%00.0%
Total responses6,66097.4%6,72599.2%6,53098.9%
Total population6,836100%6,782100%6,600100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Sports

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

ClubLeagueSportVenueEstablishedChampionships
Slave Lake Wolves
NWJHL
Ice HockeyArctic 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.[21][22]

Media

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

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  2. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  3. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  4. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  5. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.

References

  1. ^ "Location and History Profile: Town of Slave Lake". Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 7, 2016. p. 562. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  2. ^ "Town History". Town of Slave Lake. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  3. ^ "1988 Flood Archive". Dartmouth Flood Observatory. July 2003. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Ibrahim, Mariam; Jesse Snyder; Julianna Cummins (May 16, 2011). "Slave Lake burns as thousands evacuated". Edmonton Journal. Postmedia Network. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  6. ^ "Wildfire Update: HWY 2 Re-Opened". 93.5 Prairie FM. Newcap Radio. May 15, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  7. ^ "Wildfire Update: Slave Lake". 93.5 Prairie FM. Newcap Radio. May 15, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  8. ^ "Slave Lake firefighters struggle to save town". CBC News. May 16, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  9. ^ "Aerial view of fire damage in Slave Lake". CTV Edmonton. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Destroyed Slave Lake radio station turns to internet". CBC News. 2011-05-17. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "Pilot dies in helicopter crash near Slave Lake". CBC News. 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
  14. ^ "William and Kate thrill Slave Lake residents". CBC News. 2011-07-06.
  15. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs (2009-09-15). "Alberta 2009 Official Population List". Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  18. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  19. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  20. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  21. ^ "Peace River–Westlock | Maps Corner | Elections Canada Online". elections.ca. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  22. ^ "Provincial Electoral Divisions of Alberta as Defined by the Electoral Divisions Act, 2010"