Wabasca-Desmarais, Alberta
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| Wabasca-Desmarais | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Alberta |
| Region | Northern Alberta |
| Municipal District | Opportunity |
| Government | |
| - Municipal District | Municipal District of Opportunity |
| Elevation | 550 m (1,804 ft) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
| Area code(s) | +1-780 |
| Highways | Highway 813 Highway 754 |
| Waterways | Wabasca Lakes |
| Website: Municipal District of Opportunity | |
Wabasca-Desmarais is a large hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada, 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] Demographics
Reserve and total population (2006)[3]
- Wabasca 166 - 78
- Wabasca 166A - 648
- Wabasca 166B - 216
- Wabasca 166C - 173
- Wabasca 166D - 863
[edit] Amenities
The community is home to four churches (St. Charles Catholic Church, St .Martins Catholic Church, St. John's Anglican Church and Wabasca Revival Center), a library,[4] a health care centre managed by Aspen Regional Health Authority[5] and a community center.
[edit] Recreational activities
Fishing, ice fishing, hunting, trapping, quadding and snowmobiling 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[6] 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 Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Annual Fish Derby, Wabasca Road Relay Race, and the Lions Club Snowmobile Poker Rally.
[edit] References
- ^ Municipal District of Opportunity - History
- ^ Bigstone Cree Nation webpage
- ^ Statscan
- ^ The Municipal District of Opportunity 17. Community Services. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
- ^ Aspen Regional Health Authority. Community profile of Wabasca-Desmarais. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
- ^ Energy News - SURE Northern purchase of Oil sands lease
[edit] External links
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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 |
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