High Prairie | |
|---|---|
Town | |
| Town of High Prairie | |
| Motto: Gateway to the Peace Country | |
 Location in Big Lakes County | |
  High Prairie High Prairie (Canada) Show map of Canada | |
| Coordinates:55°25′57″N116°29′10″W / 55.43250°N 116.48611°W /55.43250; -116.48611 | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Northern Alberta |
| Planning region | Upper Athabasca |
| Municipal district | Big Lakes County |
| Incorporated[1] | |
| • Village | April 6, 1945 |
| • Town | January 10, 1950 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Brian Panasiuk |
| • Governing body | High Prairie Town Council |
| Area (2021)[3] | |
| • Land | 7.01 km2 (2.71 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 595 m (1,952 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 2,380 |
| • Density | 339.5/km2 (879/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| Postal code span | |
| Area codes | 780,587, 825 |
| Highways | Highway 2 Highway 749 |
| Website | www |
High Prairie is a town innorthern Alberta, Canada withinBig Lakes County. It is located at the junction ofHighway 2 andHighway 749, approximately 89 km (55 mi) northeast ofValleyview and 118 km (73 mi) west ofSlave Lake.
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 theEdmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway, later known as theNorthern Alberta Railway, was chosen to go through High Prairie instead ofGrouard 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]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | 643 | — |
| 1951 | 1,141 | +77.4% |
| 1956 | 1,743 | +52.8% |
| 1961 | 1,756 | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 2,241 | +27.6% |
| 1971 | 2,354 | +5.0% |
| 1976 | 2,281 | −3.1% |
| 1981 | 2,506 | +9.9% |
| 1986 | 2,817 | +12.4% |
| 1991 | 2,932 | +4.1% |
| 1996 | 2,907 | −0.9% |
| 2001 | 2,737 | −5.8% |
| 2006 | 2,750 | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 2,600 | −5.5% |
| 2016 | 2,564 | −1.4% |
| Source:Statistics Canada [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] | ||
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics 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 of339.5/km2 (879.3/sq mi) in 2021.[3]
In the2016 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 of355.1/km2 (919.8/sq mi) in 2016.[17]
High Prairie's main industries includeagriculture,forestry,oil and gas, and service industry.
One of its main employers is theTolkoOSB 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.
Due to its proximity to the western shores ofLesser 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, andKimiwan 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 – theCentral Flyway, theMississippi Flyway, and thePacific Flyway.
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 theFort McMurray—Athabasca electoral district. In the next federal election, it will become part of the newly formed riding ofPeace River—Westlock.[18]
The High Prairie Community Health and Wellness Clinic, which is run byAlberta 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.[20][21][22]
Media outlets serving High Prairie and surrounding area includeCKVH The Fox,CIRE-TV (the localcommunity channel), and the South Peace News, a local community newspaper.
In 2001, High Prairie was recognized for its state-of-the-art water treatment system and it was awarded 4 'blooms' byCommunities in Bloom,[24] a non-profit organization that encourages environmental responsibility and beautification in Canadian communities.
Thenews satire programThis Is That hadan episode in which they discussed a (fictional) attempt by High Prairie to attract tourism by inventing a fake accent.[25]
Authority control databases: Geographic |
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