Franchere, Alberta facts for kids
Franchere (sometimes spelled Franchère) is a small, quiet place in central Alberta, Canada. It is not a city or a town with its own government. Instead, it is called an unincorporated community.
Franchere is located in the Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87. You can find it about 10 kilometers (6 miles) east of Highway 28A. It is also about 59 kilometers (37 miles) west of the city of Cold Lake.
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What is Franchere?
Franchere is a small community where people live. It does not have its own local government, like a mayor or town council. Instead, it is managed by the larger Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87. This means that services like roads and other public needs are handled by the district.
Why is it "Unincorporated"?
An "unincorporated community" is a place where people live together, but it's not officially a city, town, or village. It means the area doesn't have its own separate local government. Instead, it's part of a larger county or municipal district. The bigger district provides services and makes decisions for the community.
How Franchere Got Its Name
Franchere and a nearby bay are named after a famous explorer. This explorer was Gabriel Franchère. He was a Canadian fur trader and explorer.
Who Was Gabriel Franchère?
Gabriel Franchère was born in Montreal in 1786. He worked for the Pacific Fur Company. In 1811, he traveled across North America. He went from Fort Astoria (in what is now Oregon, USA) all the way to Montreal. During his long journey in 1814, he visited the area where Franchere is today. He wrote a book about his travels. This book helped people learn a lot about the early history of the Pacific Northwest.
Franchere Bay and Moose Lake
The community of Franchere shares its name with Franchere Bay. This bay is a part of Moose Lake. Moose Lake is a large and beautiful lake nearby. Franchere Bay is the northwest "arm" of Moose Lake. An "arm" of a lake is like a long, narrow part that stretches out from the main body of water.
