High Prairie
Town
Town of High Prairie
Motto: 
Gateway to the Peace Country
Location in Big Lakes County
Location in Big Lakes County
High Prairie is located in Alberta
High Prairie
High Prairie
Location of High Prairie in Alberta
High Prairie is located in Canada
High Prairie
High Prairie
High Prairie (Canada)
Coordinates: 55°25′57″N 116°29′10″W / 55.43250°N 116.48611°W / 55.43250; -116.48611
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionNorthern Alberta
Planning regionUpper Athabasca
Municipal districtBig Lakes County
Incorporated[1] 
 • VillageApril 6, 1945
 • TownJanuary 10, 1950
Government
[2]
 • MayorBrian Panasiuk
 • Governing bodyHigh Prairie Town Council
Area
 (2021)[3]
 • Land7.01 km2 (2.71 sq mi)
Elevation
[4]
595 m (1,952 ft)
Population
 (2021)[3][5]
 • Total2,380
 • Density339.5/km2 (879/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−07:00 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−06:00 (MDT)
Postal code span
T0G 1E0
Area code(s)780, 587, 825
HighwaysHighway 2
Highway 749
Websitewww.highprairie.ca

High Prairie is a town in northern Alberta, Canada within Big Lakes County. It is located at the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 749, approximately 89 km (55 mi) northeast of Valleyview and 118 km (73 mi) west of Slave Lake.

History

The name describes the nature of the surrounding countryside. A post office opened in 1910. Its early name was Prairie River.[6] In 1914, the alignment of the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway, later known as the Northern Alberta Railway, was chosen to go through High Prairie instead of Grouard to the northeast.[7] As a result, many residents and businesses from Grouard relocated to High Prairie once the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway was built.[7]

With an estimated population of 600 people, High Prairie was incorporated as a village on April 6, 1945[8] and subsequently as a town on January 10, 1950.[8]

Demographics

Federal census
population history
YearPop.±%
1946643—    
19511,141+77.4%
19561,743+52.8%
19611,756+0.7%
19662,241+27.6%
19712,354+5.0%
19762,281−3.1%
19812,506+9.9%
19862,817+12.4%
19912,932+4.1%
19962,907−0.9%
20012,737−5.8%
20062,750+0.5%
20112,600−5.5%
20162,564−1.4%
Source: Statistics Canada
[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of High Prairie had a population of 2,380 living in 941 of its 1,119 total private dwellings, a change of -7.2% from its 2016 population of 2,564. With a land area of 7.01 km2 (2.71 sq mi), it had a population density of 339.5/km2 (879.3/sq mi) in 2021.[3]

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of High Prairie recorded a population of 2,564 living in 949 of its 1,116 total private dwellings, a -1.4% change from its 2011 population of 2,600. With a land area of 7.22 km2 (2.79 sq mi), it had a population density of 355.1/km2 (919.8/sq mi) in 2016.[17]

Economy

High Prairie's main industries include agriculture, forestry, oil and gas, and service industry.

One of its main employers is the Tolko OSB Mill that was built in 1994, the plant was closed in 2008 due to the economic downturn. In 2018 the mill was reopened and now employs 174 people. West Fraser Mills purchased the Buchanan lumber mill in 2014 and is another main employer for High Prairie with 150 employees.

Attractions

Due to its proximity to the western shores of Lesser Slave Lake, High Prairie has a thriving tourism industry, particularly in the warmer summer months. There are many attractions at the lake, including events such as the Golden Walleye Classic.

Winagami Lake Provincial Park, approximately 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) to the north of High Prairie, and Kimiwan Lake, approximately 49 kilometres (30 mi) to the northwest, are attractions for bird-watching enthusiasts. Winagami Lake and Kimiwan Lake are within the general area where three major migration paths meet – the Central Flyway, the Mississippi Flyway, and the Pacific Flyway.

Government

High Prairie is governed by a town council, a mayor and six council members, each of whom serve four-year terms. Federally, it is part of the Fort McMurray—Athabasca electoral district. In the next federal election, it will become part of the newly formed riding of Peace River—Westlock.[18]

Medical services

The High Prairie Community Health and Wellness Clinic, which is run by Alberta Health Services (AHS), was established to replace the Associate Medical Clinic in 2014.[19] The Community Health and Wellness Clinic, which is family-focused and includes primary care services, has a collaborative, inter-professional healthcare team, that responds to the higher incidents of patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and breathing disorders in High Prairie, according to AHS.[19] The Clinic has chronic disease management nurses and nurse practitioners (NPs), as well as physicians. In September 2014, after Dr. Danie Du Toit announced the decision to leave High Prairie and return to South Africa, the AHS announced plans to add two physicians who had been newly-recruited.[19] By June 2017, the High Prairie Community Health and Wellness Clinic had moved from 4620 - 53 Ave, the site of the old hospital site to its new location in their new facility in the High Prairie Health Complex.[20] A newly-recruited doctor, who will work at the AHS Clinic, arrived on February 13, 2022, and will increase the total number of physicians in the area.[21] High Prairie also has a privately-run clinic, the High Prairie Medical Clinic, operated for decades by Dr. Pam Edwards, who is now retired, and her partner Dr. Robin Laughlin, who has worked in High Prairie since 1975.[22][23][24]

Media

Media outlets serving High Prairie and surrounding area include CKVH The Fox, CIRE-TV (the local community channel), and the South Peace News, a local community newspaper.

Notable people

Recognition

In 2001, High Prairie was recognized for its state-of-the-art water treatment system and it was awarded 4 'blooms' by Communities in Bloom,[26] a non-profit organization that encourages environmental responsibility and beautification in Canadian communities.

The news satire program This Is That had an episode in which they discussed a (fictional) attempt by High Prairie to attract tourism by inventing a fake accent.[27]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Location and History Profile: Town of High Prairie" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 7, 2016. p. 316. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  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 8, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and population centres". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  6. ↑ Hamilton, William (1978). The Macmillan Book of Canadian Place Names. Toronto: Macmillan. p. 26. ISBN 0-7715-9754-1.
  7. 1 2 Brown, Richard. "A Town Bypassed: Grouard, Alberta, and the Building of the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway". The Archivist. Ottawa: National Archives of Canada (17). ISSN 0705-2855. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Town of High Prairie". Town of High Prairie. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Table 5: Population of urban centres, 1916-1946, with guide to locations". Census of the Prairie Provinces, 1946. Vol. I: Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1949. pp. 397–400.
  10. ↑ "Table 6: Population by sex, for census subdivisions, 1956 and 1951". Census of Canada, 1956. Vol. I: Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1958.
  11. ↑ "Table 9: Population by census subdivisions, 1966 by sex, and 1961". 1966 Census of Canada. Western Provinces. Vol. Population: Divisions and Subdivisions. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1967.
  12. ↑ "Table 3: Population for census divisions and subdivisions, 1971 and 1976". 1976 Census of Canada. Census Divisions and Subdivisions, Western Provinces and the Territories. Vol. Population: Geographic Distributions. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1977.
  13. ↑ "Table 2: Census Subdivisions in Alphabetical Order, Showing Population Rank, Canada, 1981". 1981 Census of Canada. Vol. Census subdivisions in decreasing population order. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1982. ISBN 0-660-51563-6.
  14. ↑ "Table 2: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 and 1991 – 100% Data". 91 Census. Vol. Population and Dwelling Counts – Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1992. pp. 100–108. ISBN 0-660-57115-3.
  15. ↑ "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  16. ↑ "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 May 25, 2019.
  17. 1 2 "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.
  18. ↑ Alberta Redistribution Commission. "Alberta Electoral Districts". Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  19. 1 2 3 "Update about health care services for High Prairie physicians, community partners and residents" (PDF). Alberta Health Services (AHS) (Press release). October 31, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  20. ↑ "New High Prairie Community Health and Wellness Clinic opens next week". June 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  21. ↑ Clegg, Chris (February 10, 2022). "New doctor". South Peace News. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  22. ↑ Clegg, Chris (October 2, 2018). "Thank you, Dr. Laughlin!". South Peace News. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  23. ↑ Clegg, Chris (February 22, 2022). "Editorial – We have all failed". South Peace News. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  24. ↑ Clegg, Chris (February 10, 2022). "Editorial – We have all failed". South Peace News. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  25. ↑ "cheyanne turions". Chicago Architecture Biennial. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  26. ↑ Communities in Bloom Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine - Participants
  27. ↑ Lila MacLellan (March 27, 2015). "A new way to attract tourists: fake accents and dying languages". Quartz. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
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