Lac La Biche, Alberta
| Lac La Biche | |
|---|---|
| — Hamlet — | |
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| Motto: Forestry Capital of Canada | |
 Lac La Biche
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| Coordinates: 54°46′13″N 111°58′45″W / 54.77028°N 111.97917°WCoordinates: 54°46′13″N 111°58′45″W / 54.77028°N 111.97917°W | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Alberta |
| Region | Northern Alberta |
| Census division | 12 |
| Municipal district | Lac La Biche |
| Founded | October 4, 1798 |
| Dissolved | August 1, 2007[1] |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Peter Kirylchuk |
| • Governing body |
Lac La Biche County Council
|
| • MLA | |
| Area (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 6.20 km2 (2.39 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 574 m (1,884 ft) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 2,544 |
| • Density | 410.6/km2 (1,063/sq mi) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC−7) |
| • Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC−6) |
| Postal code span | T0A 2C0-T0A 2C2 |
| Area code(s) | -1+780 |
| Highways | Highway 55 Highway 36 Highway 881 |
| Waterway | Lac la Biche |
| Website | laclabichecounty.com |
Lac La Biche is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Lac La Biche County.[3] It is located approximately 220 kilometres (140 mi) northeast of the provincial capital of Edmonton, on the southern shore of Lac la Biche. Previously incorporated as a town, Lac La Biche amalgamated with Lakeland County to form Lac La Biche County on August 1, 2007.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
Its location on fur-trade routes resulted in posts being built there in the late 1790s. Both David Thompson and George Simpson passed through here, using the Beaver River to go from the main Methye Portage route to reach the Athabasca River. The French-speaking element, mostly from Red River, coalesced around the Oblate mission that was established in 1853. It formed a community that was tightly knit, even though the influence of the church lessened and the trend was towards marrying out and establishing nuclear families. Living was largely off the land; logging and road work provided intermittent wage labour. Many of the adults were trilingual, speaking French and Cree as well as English. Therefore, from its beginning, Lac La Biche was already an ethnically diverse, though fraught, community.[4] Other pertinent local ethnicities include the White Russians Old Believers, several Native reservations, and a French population. The Lac La Biche Mission is a National Historic Site and was one of the first residential schools in Alberta.[5]
[edit] Demographics
In the 2011 Census, Lac La Biche had a population of 2,544 living in 938 of its 1,047 total dwellings, a -7.8% change from its 2006 population of 2,758. With a land area of 6.2 km2 (2.4 sq mi), it had a population density of 410/km2 (1,063/sq mi) in 2011.[2]
In 2006, Lac La Biche had a population of 2,758 living in 1,169 dwellings, a 0.6% decrease from 2001. The former town has a land area of 6.18 km2 (2.39 sq mi) and a population density of 446.6 /km2 (1,157 /sq mi).[6]
[edit] Infrastructure
Lac La Biche Airport (YLB) is located 1.5 NM west of Lac La Biche. It features a fully serviced 5,700 ft (1,700 m) by 100 ft (30 m) paved airstrip.
[edit] Economy
The community is supported by the oil patch, logging, forestry, and commercial fishing.
[edit] Recreation
Lac La Biche is home to the Lac La Biche Golf Course, while numerous lakes and campgrounds provide outdoor recreation opportunities in the area, including Lakeland Provincial Park to the east.
[edit] Education
The main campus of Portage College is located in Lac La Biche. The college has a ACAC hockey team named the Portage Voyageurs. The team's first season began in the fall of 2008.[7] Northern Lights School Division No. 69
- Vera M. Welsh Elementary School (K-3)
- Central Elementary School (4-5)
- Dr. Swift Middle School (6-8)
- J.A. Williams High School (9-12)
- Lac La Biche Off-Campus(8-12)
- Portage College
[edit] Notable people
- René Bourque – professional hockey player
- Raymond Lemieux - organic chemist pioneer in discovery of the synthesis of sucrose
- Travis Milne - professional actor
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Province of Alberta (2007-08-01). "Order in Council (O.C.) 332-2007". http://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/orders/orders_in_council/2007/807/2007_332.html. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
- ^ a b c "Census Profile - Lac La Biche, Alberta (Population Centre)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=POPC&Code1=0439&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=lac%20la%20biche&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=48&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
- ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs (2010-04-01). "Specialized and Rural Municipalities and Their Communities". http://municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/documents/msb/2010-ruralmun.pdf. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
- ^ Olive P. Dickason The Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples/Aboriginals: Metis
- ^ Lac La Biche Mission. "Lac La Biche Mission national historic site". http://www.laclabichemission.com/default.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- ^ Statistics Canada (Census 2006). "Lac La Biche—Community Profile". http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4812035&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Lac%20la%20Biche&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=4812035. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
- ^ Voyageur Athletics
[edit] External links
- Lac La Biche County
- Radio Station, Big Dog 103.5
- Lac La Biche County
- Lac La Biche County Weather Office
- Travel Alberta
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Plamondon | Fort McMurray | Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park | |
| Athabasca |  |
Cold Lake | ||
 Lac La Biche  |
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