Wabasca-Desmarais, Alberta
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Wabasca-Desmarais is a large hamlet in northern Alberta with a population of over 2000.
The name Wabasca originates from the Cree word wapuskau, meaning "grassy narrows", the name for the Wabasca River. Desmarais was named after Father Alphonse Desmarais, the first missionary in this area.[1]
Located between and along the South and North Wabasca Lakes, at the intersection of highway 813 and highway 754, 123 km north-east of Slave Lake, it is home to the two communities of Wabasca and Desmarais.
Wabasca is the seat of the Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17.
The settlement population is largely Native Canadian and the four Bigstone Cree Nation reserves surrounding the settlement more than double the population base. These reserves Wabasca 166, 166a, 166b, 166c, 166d are the seat of the Bigstone Cree Nation, a Woodland Cree First Nation.[2]
The community is served by the Wabasca Airport.
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[edit] Recreational Activities
Fishing, Ice fishing, Hunting, Trapping, Quading and Snowmobilling are traditional and recreational activities in the area.
[edit] Industry
The settlement of Wabasca-Desmarais serves the Wabasca Oil Field along with the smaller settlements of Sandy Lake, Trout Lake, Peerless Lake, and Chipewyan Lake. Proposed tar sands developments[3] north of the settlement by SURE Northern Energy (a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell) may increase the population of Wabasca-Desmarais in a very short period.
[edit] Community Events
Each year the community of Wabasca-Desmarais is host to several events such as the RCMP Annual Fish Derby, Wabasca Road Relay Race, and the Lions Club Snowmobile Poker Rally.
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Fort Vermilion | Wood Buffalo National Park | Fort McMurray | |
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 Wabasca-Desmarais  |
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| Slave Lake | Athabasca | Lac la Biche |
[edit] References
- ^ Municipal District of Opportunity - History
- ^ Bigstone Cree Nation webpage
- ^ Energy News - SURE Northern purchase of Oil sands lease
[edit] External links
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