High Level | |
|---|---|
Town | |
| Town of High Level | |
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 Flag | |
 Location in Mackenzie County | |
  High Level High Level (Canada) Show map of Canada High Level High Level (North America) Show map of North America | |
| Coordinates:58°31′01″N117°08′10″W / 58.51694°N 117.13611°W /58.51694; -117.13611 | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Northern Alberta |
| Planning region | Lower Peace |
| Specialized municipality | Mackenzie County |
| Incorporated[1] | |
| • New town | June 1, 1965 |
| Government | |
| • Governing body | High Level Town Council |
| • MP | Chris Warkentin (Grande Prairie-Mackenzie-Conservative) |
| • MLA | Dan Williams (Peace River-UCP) |
| Area (2021)[3] | |
| • Land | 28.7 km2 (11.1 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Total | 3,922 |
| • Density | 136.7/km2 (354/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| Forward sortation area | T0H 1Z0 & T0H 4J0 |
| Area codes | 780,587, 825 |
| Highways | Highway 35 Highway 58 |
| Website | highlevel |
High Level is a town innorthern Alberta, Canada. It is located at the intersection of theMackenzie Highway (Highway 35) andHighway 58, approximately 733 kilometres (455 mi) north ofEdmonton and 725 km (450 mi) south ofYellowknife,Northwest Territories. High Level is located withinMackenzie County and was founded in 1947. The town serves a trading area of approximately 20,000 people.[5]
The name High Level originated from the height of the land that separates thePeace and theHay Rivers. The original location was approximately 5.6 km (3.5 mi) north of the present spot and along the old Fort Vermilion/Meander River freighting trail, serving as a stopping place, not a town. The original High Level Sports Grounds were at this location and the old trail was still visible there in the mid 1960s. The High Level Golf & Country Club currently occupies this approximate location. For many years, High Level was known as Tloc Moi (Hay Meadow).[6] The first fur traders arrived in this area in 1786, but it was not until 1947 that High Level was settled, with development of road access toFort Vermilion being the primary factor in determining the town's present location. High Level's first power plant was established in 1957, and a year later the firstpost office was built. The oil fields were discovered in the 1960s, and theMackenzie Northern Railway was run to the area in 1963.[6]
High Level marks the northern extent of thePeace River Country, and has one of the northernmost lands suited for agriculture in Canada. It is surrounded to the north and west bymuskegtundra.[citation needed] Although High Level is well north of the median population of Canada, it is on a similar latitude to the northernmost town of mainlandUnited Kingdom inThurso[7] and to the south of fiveEuropeancapitals.
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High Level has asubarctic climate (Köppen climate classificationDfc), with precipitation falling chiefly during the spring and summer, and wide temperature variations, rendering warm summers for the classification. The hottest recorded temperature, of 36.0 °C (96.8 °F) was on July 9, 2024, with the coldest recorded temperature −50.6 °C (−59.1 °F) on January 13, 1972. The name notwithstanding, this town lies at a low elevation for an Alberta community and the regional topography contributes to the extremes of temperature. In winter, very cold air often pools over the area. In summer, air masses originating from higher elevations warm by compression as they descend to High Level. Summer temperatures render High Level well within the vegetation zone, and winter average temperatures are less severe than further east in Canada, even at lower latitudes.
| Climate data for High Level (High Level Airport) Climate ID: 3073146; coordinates58°37′17″N117°09′53″W / 58.62139°N 117.16472°W /58.62139; -117.16472 (High Level Airport); elevation: 338 m (1,109 ft); 1991−2020 normals, extremes 1970−present[a] | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record highhumidex | 11.4 | 14.2 | 18.3 | 29.8 | 33.8 | 35.5 | 39.8 | 37.7 | 32.2 | 26.2 | 13.4 | 13.7 | 39.8 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 11.3 (52.3) | 14.6 (58.3) | 18.5 (65.3) | 30.2 (86.4) | 33.9 (93.0) | 33.5 (92.3) | 36.0 (96.8) | 35.2 (95.4) | 30.2 (86.4) | 26.1 (79.0) | 15.0 (59.0) | 14.2 (57.6) | 36.0 (96.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −14.6 (5.7) | −10.2 (13.6) | −2.6 (27.3) | 8.4 (47.1) | 16.8 (62.2) | 21.5 (70.7) | 23.3 (73.9) | 21.5 (70.7) | 15.4 (59.7) | 5.8 (42.4) | −6.5 (20.3) | −13.1 (8.4) | 5.5 (41.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −19.8 (−3.6) | −16.3 (2.7) | −9.4 (15.1) | 1.7 (35.1) | 9.5 (49.1) | 14.7 (58.5) | 16.8 (62.2) | 14.8 (58.6) | 9.0 (48.2) | 0.9 (33.6) | −11.1 (12.0) | −18.1 (−0.6) | −0.6 (30.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −25.0 (−13.0) | −22.5 (−8.5) | −16.2 (2.8) | −4.9 (23.2) | 2.1 (35.8) | 7.8 (46.0) | 10.3 (50.5) | 8.1 (46.6) | 2.6 (36.7) | −4.0 (24.8) | −15.5 (4.1) | −23.1 (−9.6) | −6.7 (20.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −50.6 (−59.1) | −46.1 (−51.0) | −45.0 (−49.0) | −32.2 (−26.0) | −13.7 (7.3) | −3.6 (25.5) | −0.2 (31.6) | −4.4 (24.1) | −13.9 (7.0) | −36.3 (−33.3) | −43.4 (−46.1) | −47.2 (−53.0) | −50.6 (−59.1) |
| Record lowwind chill | −57.1 | −51.1 | −50.3 | −35.8 | −22.1 | −3.8 | 0.0 | −6.1 | −17.5 | −32.9 | −53.0 | −54.5 | −57.1 |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 19.7 (0.78) | 15.7 (0.62) | 17.3 (0.68) | 14.8 (0.58) | 28.9 (1.14) | 54.6 (2.15) | 72.9 (2.87) | 41.9 (1.65) | 34.5 (1.36) | 19.1 (0.75) | 21.0 (0.83) | 19.6 (0.77) | 360.0 (14.17) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 1.1 (0.04) | 0.4 (0.02) | 1.1 (0.04) | 6.4 (0.25) | 26.4 (1.04) | 56.0 (2.20) | 72.9 (2.87) | 41.9 (1.65) | 32.1 (1.26) | 10.4 (0.41) | 1.1 (0.04) | 0.8 (0.03) | 250.5 (9.86) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 26.9 (10.6) | 20.9 (8.2) | 23.0 (9.1) | 10.9 (4.3) | 2.9 (1.1) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 2.2 (0.9) | 10.8 (4.3) | 27.6 (10.9) | 28.5 (11.2) | 153.7 (60.5) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 12.5 | 9.0 | 7.8 | 5.3 | 8.5 | 11.8 | 13.0 | 12.0 | 9.8 | 9.1 | 11.2 | 11.8 | 121.7 |
| Average rainy days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 0.72 | 0.29 | 0.54 | 2.5 | 7.9 | 11.8 | 13.0 | 12.0 | 9.6 | 5.3 | 1.1 | 0.62 | 65.3 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.2 cm) | 12.8 | 9.6 | 7.9 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 0.04 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.56 | 5.0 | 11.7 | 12.5 | 64.7 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%)(at 1500 LST) | 71.1 | 64.5 | 53.1 | 41.6 | 37.9 | 45.8 | 51.5 | 52.4 | 53.2 | 62.8 | 78.9 | 76.5 | 57.4 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 52.6 | 96.2 | 178.5 | 239.4 | 280.1 | 298.2 | 295.2 | 264.4 | 168.0 | 101.3 | 46.0 | 35.3 | 2,055.1 |
| Percentagepossible sunshine | 23.8 | 36.8 | 48.9 | 55.4 | 53.7 | 54.5 | 54.1 | 55.3 | 43.5 | 31.7 | 19.5 | 17.7 | 41.2 |
| Source:Environment and Climate Change Canada[8] (sun 1981–2010)[9] | |||||||||||||
High Level has a variety of wildlife, including wolves,coyotes,ravens, and many types of insects. Hunters can findmoose,deer,bear and geese. There are over 150 species ofbirds known to nest in the area.[6]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 708 | — |
| 1971 | 1,614 | +128.0% |
| 1976 | 1,562 | −3.2% |
| 1981 | 2,194 | +40.5% |
| 1986 | 3,004 | +36.9% |
| 1991 | 2,849 | −5.2% |
| 1996 | 3,093 | +8.6% |
| 2001 | 3,444 | +11.3% |
| 2006 | 3,887 | +12.9% |
| 2011 | 3,641 | −6.3% |
| 2016 | 3,159 | −13.2% |
| 2021 | 3,922 | +24.2% |
| Source:Statistics Canada [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] | ||
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, the Town of High Level had a population of 3,922 living in 1,313 of its 1,467 total private dwellings, a change of24.2% from its 2016 population of 3,159. With a land area of 28.7 km2 (11.1 sq mi), it had a population density of136.7/km2 (353.9/sq mi) in 2021.[3]
The population of the Town High Level of according to its2017 municipal census is 3,992,[17] a change of4.4% from its2015 municipal census population of 3,823.[18]
In the2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of High Level recorded a population of 3,159 living in 1,096 of its 1,339 total private dwellings, a-13.2% change from its 2011 population of 3,641. With a land area of 29.2 km2 (11.3 sq mi), it had a population density of108.2/km2 (280.2/sq mi) in 2016.[16]
The area surrounding High Level is known for itsoil reserves andforests. Two large oil and gas fields,Rainbow Lake which is located west of the town andZama City which is located northwest of the town[19] provides services to theoil patch. OneOSB mill (which closed in 2007, and reopened in 2015 after the merger of Ainsworth andNorbord) is located south of High Level and adimensional lumber mill is located in the town's industrial area.
High Level has the most northerly grain elevator in Canada and is a grain terminal for the large agricultural area. There are approximately 350,000 cultivated acres of farm land in the region and farmers transport their grains from up to 120 km (75 mi) away.[20]
The town has a council consisting of a mayor (Crystal McAteer) and six councillors (Brent Anderson, Robyn Dwyer, Terrance Jessiman, Joshua Lambert, Boyd Ernest Langford, Jan Welke).[21]
Both airplane and helicopter services are available in High Level. Due to the 'remote' location, medevac, and chartered services, provided byNor-Alta Aviation, Highland Helicopters, and Delta Helicopters (which is not associated withDelta Air Lines), are offered to serve the surrounding communities.
Scheduled airline service is offered atHigh Level Airport byCentral Mountain Air; direct flights to Edmonton are offered on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.[22]
Telephone service is provided by the incumbent carrierTelus as well asNorthwestel.
Regional businesses are represented by the High Level and District Chamber of Commerce.[23]
High Level has three public schools and one private school.
The local radio station isCKHL-FM 102.1, part of theYL Country network of stations based atCKYL inPeace River. In addition, two radio services have repeaters: CBXL 99.5 FM, carrying CBC Radio One as a repeater ofCBX Edmonton, and CFKX-FM 106.1, repeatingCKKX-FM from Peace River. The local newspaper isThe Echo.
Television is available by way of locally owned low-powered analogue repeaters ofCITV-DT Edmonton (CH2807 channel 10) andCHAN-DT Vancouver (CH2808 channel 12),[25] both owned by the High Level Community Hall Society.[26][27]
The cable television system, in operation for 25 years as High Level Cable, was purchased in August 2006 byNorthwestel Cable. Both analog and digital formats are available for television service. High-speedInternet service is also available from Northwestel.
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