Wabamun, Alberta
| Wabamun | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
| Village of Wabamun | |
  Wabamun Location of Wabamun in Alberta | |
| Coordinates: 53°33′28″N 114°28′06″W / 53.55778°N 114.46833°WCoordinates: 53°33′28″N 114°28′06″W / 53.55778°N 114.46833°W | |
| Country |
 Canada |
| Province |
 Alberta |
| Region | Edmonton Capital Region |
| Census division | 11 |
| Municipal district | Parkland County |
| Government[1] | |
| • Mayor | Charlene Smylie |
| • Governing body | Wabamun Village Council |
| Area (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 3.24 km2 (1.25 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 740 m (2,430 ft) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 661 |
| • Density | 203.8/km2 (528/sq mi) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC−7) |
| • Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC−6) |
| Area code(s) | +1-780 |
| Highways | Highway 16 |
| Waterway | Wabamun Lake |
| Website | Official website |
Wabamun /ˈwɑːbəmən/ is a village located 67 kilometres (42 mi) west of Edmonton in central Alberta, Canada.
Demographics
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 2001 | 601 | — |
| 2006 | 601 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 661 | +10.0% |
In the 2011 Census, the Village of Wabamun had a population of 661 living in 265 of its 295 total dwellings, a 10% change from its 2006 population of 601. With a land area of 3.24 km2 (1.25 sq mi), it had a population density of 204.0/km2 (528.4/sq mi) in 2011.[2]
The population of the Village of Wabamun according to its 2009 municipal census is 662.[3]
In 2006, Wabamun had a population of 601 living in 252 dwellings, a 0.0% increase from 2001. The village has a land area of 3.24 km2 (1.25 sq mi) and a population density of 185.3/km2 (480/sq mi).[4]
Economy
The main source of income within Wabamun was the coal-fired power plant located on the western edge of the village that was operated by TransAlta Utilities. The power plant was closed down because of increased pressure from environmental agencies and aging. The Wabamun power plant has been the subject of heated debate over the past 10 years among the residents and cottagers of Wabamun Lake. Due to the lack of a cool–off pond, the water used to cool the internal systems is deposited back into the lake, which enhances the weed population dramatically. As of March 31, 2010, the plant has been taken off the grid and is currently undergoing preparations to be demolished. As well, the old staff housing on the west side of the village has been demolished, leaving empty streets complete with signs, sidewalks and fire hydrants.
Tourism
A large cabin-going community exists in Wabamun during the summer, while the village is populated year round. Local sites include Wabamun Lake, the village marina, the pier, the WAY-CUP coffee shop, hardware store, bowling lanes, the Midget House (now demolished), and a grocery store. The village is host to Canada's largest semi-pro indoor rodeo every June, which spans a five-day period, and is hosted at the Wabamun Arena.
There are currently some plans for development of the village into more of a tourist destination. One of these plans involves developing the land that TransAlta donated (the old plant grounds). Other plans involve redeveloping Main Street (part of Canada's "Action Plan" grants) and redeveloping the pier area and marina.
The lake itself has a large population of Northern Pike along with whitefish and Perch. Currently, fish are to be only caught and released in light of the August 2005 CN derailment, which spilled over 700,000 litres (154,000 Imp gal/185,000 US gal) of Bunker C pole oil into the lake.
The main sailing club of the lake is Wabamun Sailing Club, approximately 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) west of the village at the end of Range Road 43. A smaller club is located on the opposite shore of the lake.
It is home to "Canada's largest dragonfly", a metal statue similar to other attractions to be found across the region.
Oil spill
On August 3, 2005, 45 cars of a CN Rail train derailed on the shores of Wabamun Lake, West of the village, spilling their contents of more than 700,000 litres of a variety of fuel oils and pole treating oils into the lake.
See also
References
- ↑ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. April 15, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "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.
- ↑ Alberta Municipal Affairs (2009-09-15). "Alberta 2009 Official Population List" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-09-12.
- ↑ Statistics Canada. "Canada 2006 Census: Wabamun - Community Profile". Retrieved 2007-06-09.
External links
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