Lac La Biche, Alberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lac La Biche
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Main street
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| Motto(s):
Welcoming by Nature
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Location within Lac La Biche County
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 Lac La Biche, Alberta
Location in Alberta
Lac La Biche, Alberta
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Northern Alberta |
| Planning region | Lower Athabasca |
| Specialized municipality | Lac la Biche |
| Founded | October 4, 1798 |
| Dissolved | August 1, 2007 |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 68.39 km2 (26.41 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 560 m (1,840 ft) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 3,120 |
| • Density | 45.6/km2 (118/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Postal code span |
T0A 2C0-T0A 2C2 & T0A 3Z0
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| Area code(s) | -1+780 |
| Highways | Highway 55 Highway 36 Highway 881 |
| Waterway | Lac la Biche |
| Website | laclabichecounty.com |
| Official name: Notre Dame des Victoires / Lac La Biche Mission National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1989 |
Lac La Biche ( lak-_-lə-_-bish) is a hamlet in Lac La Biche County within northeast Alberta, Canada. It is located approximately 220 km (140 mi) northeast of the provincial capital of Edmonton. Previously incorporated as a town, Lac La Biche amalgamated with Lakeland County to form Lac La Biche County on August 1, 2007.
Contents
Etymology
The indigenous peoples of the area referred to the lake as Elk Lake (Nêhiyawêwin: wâwâskesiwisâkahikan, Dënesųłiné: tzalith tway). The earliest Europeans translated this name into English as "Red Deer Lake" and in French as "Lac la biche" ("Lake of the doe"). Over time, the French name came to be used in English as well.
History
Historic voyageur highway
Lac La Biche was on the historical voyageur route that linked the Athabaskan region to Hudson Bay. David Thompson and George Simpson used the fur trade route via the Beaver River from the main Methye Portage route that reached the Athabasca River. David Thompson was the first known European to record his sojourn on Lac La Biche. Thompson, who referred to the lake as Red Deers Lake, arrived October 4, 1798 and built a trading post, now known as Lac La Biche, and overwintered there. He entered copious notes in his diary on the Nahathaway (the Cree), their customs, traditions, and the Western Forest Land, including the large supply of whitefish and beaver.
"The French-speaking element, mostly from Red River, coalesced around the Oblate mission that was established in 1853. It formed a community that was tightly knit, even though the influence of the church lessened and the trend was towards marrying out and establishing nuclear families. Living was largely off the land; logging and road work provided intermittent wage labour. Many of the adults were trilingual, speaking French and Cree as well as English."
The Hudson's Bay Post at Lac La Biche was looted on April 26, 1885 during the Northwest Rebellion by members of Big Bear's band. Their plan to loot the nearby Roman Catholic Mission was stopped by the local Cree and Métis population. Métis Scrip Records show many residents of the area were awarded scrip by the Government of Canada from 1885 until the 1920s.
The Lac La Biche Mission is now a National Historic Site and Provincial Historic Resource. It was established in 1853 by Oblate missionaries and was the site of one of the first residential schools in Alberta.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Lac La Biche recorded a population of 3,120 living in 1,198 of its 1,458 total private dwellings, a change of -6% from its 2016 population of 3,320. With a land area of 68.39 km2 (26.41 sq mi), it had a population density of 45.6/km2 (118/sq mi) in 2021.
As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Lac La Biche recorded a population of 2,314 living in 895 of its 1,048 total private dwellings, a change of -8.2% from its 2011 population of 2,520. With a land area of 6.05 km2 (2.34 sq mi), it had a population density of 382.5/km2 (991/sq mi) in 2016.
Lac La Biche County's 2016 municipal census counted a population of 2,682 in Lac La Biche, a -7.4% change from its 2013 municipal census population of 2,895.
Attractions
Lac La Biche is home to the Lac La Biche Golf Course, while numerous lakes and campgrounds provide outdoor recreation opportunities in the area, including Lakeland Provincial Park to the east.
Economy
The community is supported by the oil patch, logging, forestry, agriculture, and commercial fishing.
Jamie Davis Towing (featured on the Highway Thru Hell reality show) has an operation in Lac La Biche.
Education
The main campus of Portage College is located in Lac La Biche. The college has an ACAC hockey team named the Portage Voyageurs. The team's first season began in the fall of 2008.
- Northern Lights School Division No. 69
- Vera M. Welsh Elementary School (K-3)
- Aurora Middle School (4–8)
- J.A. Williams High School (9–12)
- Lac La Biche Off-Campus (8–12)
- Other
- Light of Christ Catholic School (Preschool-Grade 11)
- École Sainte-Catherine (K-4)
Infrastructure
Lac La Biche Airport (YLB) is located 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km; 1.7 mi) west of Lac La Biche. It features a fully serviced 5,700 by 100 ft (1,737 by 30 m) paved airstrip.
Images for kids
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Lac la Biche from the west end of the community
