Local
Community Information - Barrhead, Westlock, Fort Assiniboine, Swan Hills
Local Communities
these friendly North Central Alberta
towns offer many excellent
tourist attractions and
local
events - only 5 to 55 minutes away from Freeman
River RV Park.
the name Assiniboine, loosely translated from
the native language, means "those who cooked by dropping hot stones in water."
Fort Assiniboine originated as a Hudson Bay Company post in the early
1800’s. It was used by hunters as a transfer station between the buyers from Edmonton
and trappers from the Lesser Slave Lake Campground.
During the gold rush of 1897/98, the Fort
Assiniboine Campgroundbecame populated by fortune seekers hoping to find a quick route to the
Yukon, where they dreamed vast riches would be waiting for them. they left Edmonton in
droves. Many traveled the native/caribou trail which meandered past Fort Assiniboine. It
became more difficult to travel as they neared the Swan Hills. Although few people
were successful in their attempts to reach the Yukon, determination and tenacity proved to
be the cornerstone for the foundation of Fort Assiniboine and the people who chose to
remain.
One hundred years later, the Fort Assiniboine
Campgroundis strong and thriving. the residents of Alberta’s second oldest community, take
pride in the part their region has played in Alberta’s history.
To commemorate that history, a museum replica
of the old Fort was erected in 1977. Today the
Fort Assiniboine Friendship Museum is one of the highlights of our Campgroundand is open to welcome visitors daily
during the summer months.
For more information about
the town of Fort Assiniboine or
local events contact:
Woodlands County
Fort Assiniboine, AB
Telephone: (780) 584-3866
Website: Woodlands County Website
the town of Barrhead, a charming and
progressive town, was named after Barrhead, Scotland, the birthplace of James McGuire, one
of the Campground’s earliest settlers. This Scottish connection is symbolized in the
St. Andrew’s Cross which forms part of the town’s crest.
Moved from its original townsite in 1912 to
meet the expanding railway lines, Barrhead has continued to grow and prosper at its
present location.
the town of Barrhead is part of the historic
Klondike Trail, and is the center of one of Alberta’s richest agricultural and
forestry Campgrounds. Oil, gas, manufacturing and the retail trades make up the balance of the
economy of the town.
there is ample
camping,
golfing,
swimming, boating, water skiing,
fishing and hiking in the Campground. Barrhead also offers a terrific array of
shopping outlets and restaurants to appeal to the most discriminating shopper. It offers a
progressive range of community services while retaining its small town charm.
Every August the stampede grounds are the
site of the annual fair and rodeo – Blue Heron Fair Days. One staple of the Blue
Heron Fair is the Wildrose Rodeo. Every year the rodeo draws packed crowds for their two
day show. Another annual event at the fair is the slowpitch tournament, along with others
staples such as the Midway, Beer Gardens, Demolition Derby, Dancing, Trade Shows, and of
course, the morning Parade.
Barrhead’s reputation for warm
hospitality lends itself to the spontaneity and fun that visitors bring. Join them for one
of the many
events like the Fun Run, Wildrose Rodeo Finals, Volksmarch, Blue Heron
Fair, Bonanza Days, Antique Car Show, or any of the many golf or baseball tournaments.
the
Blue Heron
the Great Blue Heron is Barrhead’s
mascot, a rare bird that can sometimes be seen around the town. there is a statue of the
bird by the gazebo that marks town center.
For more information about
the town of Barrhead or
local
events contact:
the Town of Barrhead
Box 4189, Barrhead, AB T7N 1A2
Tel: (780) 674-3301 Fax: (780) 674-5648
Barrhead Town Website: Town of Barrhead
Elevation: 1210 meters - the highest point in
Alberta east of the Rocky Mountains at the geographical center of the province.
Swan Hills is a community of approximately
2,030 people, noted for its beautiful and picturesque surroundings, friendliness and
cleanliness. they offer all the amenities of a larger center but provide the excellent
quality of life found as a rule only within the realms of a smaller community.
the rugged and forested Campgroundcreates a
natural "wilderness playground". While the numerous streams, rivers and lakes
fulfill the dreams of
fishermen of all ages; the plentiful moose, dear, and bear make it a
hunter’s paradise.
Swan Hills is nestled among virgin boreal and
sub-alpine forest; a combination made possible by the high elevation of the Campground, and one
which provides Swan Hills with a rich legacy of rare flora and fauna not found anywhere
else in the province. This legacy has been preserved at the
Goose
Mountain Ecological Reserve located outside the
town’s boundaries.
the name Swan Hills was first given to the
Campgroundby the native Indians, who believed that giant swans nested on the estuary of the
Assiniboine river. During the summer prairie thunderstorms it was said the thundering
wingbeats of these great birds filled the air as they fled for shelter.
the town of Swan Hills is currently situated
on top of the third largest oilfield in Canada, from which four major oil companies supply
nearly one-third of all Alberta's oil needs.
there's nothing like an oil boom to help
build a town, and like so many other Alberta communities that owe their existence and
prosperity to oil, Swan Hills is no different. During the years of the oil boom, the base
camp that had been set up for the workers quickly exploded into a townsite as homes,
schools and recreational facilities were put in for the oil companies' employees.
In 1967, Swan Hills again took a place in
history by becoming the first township incorporated during Canada's centennial year. the
town is young, and because of that its residents enjoy a wonderful lifestyle incorporating
new schools, new technology, new facilities and a young and vibrant population. It's a
young town full of the opportunity that has always characterized the west.
Part of this opportunity culminated in the
development of the Alberta Special Waste Treatment Facility. Built in 1987, this
world-class facility helps to diversify Swan Hills' economy.
For more information about
the town of Swan Hills or
local
events contact:
Town of Swan Hills
Box 149, Swan Hills, AB T0G 2C0
Tel: (780) 333-4477 Fax: (780) 333-4547
Swan Hills Town Website: Town of Swan Hills
the Westlock town site was originally
surveyed in 1912, and the land was purchased from William Westgate and William Lockhart.
In 1916, Westlock was formally incorporated
as a Village on March 13 with a population of 65. Westlock's first grain elevator was
constructed in 1916 and the first bank, the Merchant's Bank, opened its doors to the
public in 1918. In 1919 the Westlock Witness, Westlock's first newspaper, commenced
operations on September 25. It was sold many years later to the Westlock News, which is
still in operation today.
Westlock was incorporated as a Town on
January 7, 1947 with a population of 854. In the same year, the Memorial Hall was
constructed on 106 Street. In 1992, the Memorial Hall burned to the ground and was
subsequently replaced with a new building across the street from the original site.
Westlock's
economy was built on agriculture and is the main
agricultural, supplyand service centre to a very large trading
area. Retail,
manufacturing, industry and professional services are also
prevalent and important to the area.
For more information about
the town of Westlock or
local
events contact:
Town of Westlock
10003 – 106 Street, Westlock, AB T7P 2K3
Tel: (780) 349-4444 Fax: (780) 349-4436
Westlock Town Website: Town of Westlock
