Leduc, Alberta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leduc
City
City of Leduc
Leduc Grain Elevator
Flag Coat of arms Logo
Motto(s):  Integritas Unitas Firmitas  (Latin) "Integrity, Unity, Strength"
City boundaries
Leduc Location in Alberta Show map of Alberta Leduc Location in Canada Show map of Canada Leduc Location in Leduc County Show map of Leduc County
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Edmonton Metropolitan Region
Municipal district	Leduc County
Incorporated
• Village	December 15, 1899
• Town	December 15, 1906
• City	September 1, 1983
Area  (2021)
• Land	42.25 km2 (16.31 sq mi)
Elevation	730 m (2,400 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	34,094
• Density	806.9/km2 (2,090/sq mi)
• Municipal census (2019)	33,032
• Estimate (2020)	34,216
Time zone	UTC−07:00 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00 (MDT)
Forward sortation area	T9E
Area code(s)	780, 587, 825, 368
Highways	Hwy 2 Hwy 2A Hwy 39 Hwy 623
Railways	Canadian Pacific Kansas City
Public transit	Leduc Transit

Leduc (pronounced "lə-DEWK") is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada. It is about 33 kilometers (20 miles) south of Edmonton, Alberta's capital city. Leduc is part of the larger Edmonton Metropolitan Region.

History of Leduc

Leduc was started in 1891 by a settler named Robert Telford. He bought land near a lake, which is now called Telford Lake. This land became the center of the new settlement. Telford set up a stopping place for stagecoaches traveling between Calgary and Edmonton. This place was known as Telford's Place.

Robert Telford was an important person in Leduc's early days. He was the first postmaster, the first general store owner, and the first justice of the peace. He was also elected as Leduc's first Member of the Alberta Legislature (MLA) in 1905.

The arrival of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway in July 1891 helped the area grow. This railway later became part of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

How Leduc Got Its Name

There are two true stories about how Leduc got its name. In April 1886, a settler named McKinley needed a name for a new telegraph office. He decided to name it after the first person who walked through the door. That person was Father Hippolyte Leduc, a priest who had worked in the area since 1867.

Five years later, in 1891, the government official Edgar Dewdney was given a list of names for the new railway station. Father Leduc's name was on this list. Since the telegraph station was already called Leduc, Dewdney decided to use the same name for the new railway station and the growing community.

Leduc's Growth

Leduc officially became a village in 1899. It then grew into a town in 1906. By 1983, Leduc had a population of 12,000 people and became a city.

A very important event for Alberta happened near Leduc. On February 13, 1947, a huge amount of oil was discovered at the Leduc No. 1 oil well. This discovery greatly boosted Alberta's economy.

Geography and Nature

Leduc has many parks and sports areas. It also has over 35 kilometers (22 miles) of paths for walking and biking. Telford Lake is on the east side of the city, and Saunders Lake is just east of that.

Lakes and Ponds

Leduc is home to several bodies of water:

• Alexandra Park Ponds
• Coady Lake
• Leduc Reservoir
• Telford Lake
• West Point Lake

Leduc's Climate

Leduc has a climate with warm, rainy summers and cool nights. Winters are long, very cold, and usually dry, with some snowfall. Most of the rain falls in July, which is also the sunniest month of the year.

Population of Leduc

Leduc has been growing steadily over the years.

In the 2021 Census, 34,094 people lived in Leduc. This was a good increase from 2016, when the population was 29,993. The city covers an area of about 42.25 square kilometers (16.31 square miles).

Different Backgrounds in Leduc

Leduc is a diverse city with people from many different backgrounds. The table below shows how the different groups have changed over time.

Leduc's Economy

Aerial view of Leduc on a foggy morning

Leduc is a key part of "Alberta's International Region." This area is close to the Edmonton International Airport. Leduc is also located on the CANAMEX Corridor, which is an important trade route. Two Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway lines also run through the city. These transportation links help support industries in other parts of Alberta, like the oil and gas areas.

The oil and gas industry has always been very important to Leduc's economy. The Leduc Business Park, in the northern part of the city, has over 1,400 businesses. The Nisku Industrial Park, just north of Leduc, also has many businesses.

Arts and Culture in Leduc

Leduc has a great place for performances called the Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts. It has a theater with 460 seats.

In 2009, the Leduc Recreation Centre (LRC) opened. This huge building is about 309,000 square feet. It includes:

• Three ice hockey arenas
• A swimming center
• An 8-sheet curling rink
• Two large multi-use sports fields
• A 9,000 square foot fitness center
• A 4-lane running track
• Restaurants and child care facilities
• Several meeting rooms

In 2022, Curling Stadium Leduc opened inside the Leduc Curling Club. It allows live broadcasts of all games played there.

Next to the LRC is William F. Lede Park, which is 200 acres. This park offers:

• 7 baseball diamonds
• Beach volleyball courts
• A soccer field
• Two rugby fields with a clubhouse
• Two smaller soccer fields for younger players (U-12)
• Community gardens
• A 40-acre off-leash dog park
• Access to 8 kilometers (5 miles) of trails around Telford Lake

The Leduc Boat Club is also near the rugby house. In 2004, the club made Telford Lake ready for rowing sports. It even hosted the 2005 World Masters Games.

Media in Leduc

Leduc has its own local newspaper, the Leduc Representative (also known as the Leduc Rep). There is also a regional newspaper called the Leduc-Wetaskiwin Pipestone Flyer.

Leduc's first FM radio station, CJLD-FM, started in 2013. It is known as "93.1 The One." There is also an internet-based community radio station called "Leduc Radio," which has been serving the city since 2008.

Because Leduc is close to Edmonton, all the major news, radio, and TV channels from Edmonton also serve Leduc and the areas around it.

Emergency Services

The City of Leduc has its own fire and emergency management departments. The Fire Services Department has full-time and part-time members. They provide fire, ambulance, and patient transportation services to the city and parts of Leduc County.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are in charge of police services in Leduc. They are supported by the city's Enforcement Services Department, which has Peace Officers.

See also

In Spanish: Leduc (Alberta) para niños