Plamondon, Alberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Plamondon
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 Plamondon
Location in Lac la Biche County
Plamondon
Location in Alberta
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Census division | No. 12 |
| Municipal district | Lac La Biche County |
| Settled | 1905 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unincorporated |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 9.65 km2 (3.73 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 555 m (1,821 ft) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 501 |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Forward sortation area |
T0A
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| Area code(s) | 780, 587, 825 |
| Highways | Highway 858 |
Plamondon is a small community called a hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada. It is part of Lac La Biche County. You can find it on Highway 858, about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) north of Highway 55. Plamondon is located at an elevation of 555 meters (1,821 feet) above sea level.
This hamlet is in Census Division No. 12. It is also part of the federal voting area known as Fort McMurray—Cold Lake.
Contents
History of Plamondon
The community of Plamondon was started in 1908 by Joseph Plamondon. Many of the first families who settled here were French-American and French Canadian pioneers. Most of these families came from Provemont, Michigan. This town is now known as Lake Leelanau. Other settlers came from French-speaking areas in Ontario, Canada. This information was shared in an interview with Cecelia Bussey in 1991.
North of Plamondon, there is a community called Rossian. This area is home to a group of people known as Old Believers. They are a traditional branch of the Russian Orthodox church. Their ancestors separated from the main church after some changes were made by Patriarch Nikon in 1666. This split is known as the Raskol.
The Old Believers near Plamondon are called bezpopovtsy, which means "Priestless Old Believers." They believe that the line of church leaders ended after Nikon's changes. Because of this, they do not have priests or certain church ceremonies. Many of these families moved to the area in the mid-1970s. They came from Woodburn, Oregon, which also has a large Old Believer community. Some also came from Xinjiang, China, by way of New Zealand. They had fled there after the Russian Revolution and the Chinese Communist Revolution.
Population and Demographics
In 2021, Statistics Canada counted the population of Plamondon as 501 people. These people lived in 195 of the 230 homes in the hamlet. This was an increase of 20.4% from its population of 416 in 2016. Plamondon covers a land area of 9.65 square kilometers (3.73 square miles). This means there were about 51.9 people per square kilometer in 2021.
In the 2016 Census, Plamondon had 348 people living in 136 homes. This was a small increase of 0.9% from its 2011 population of 345. At that time, its land area was 1.96 square kilometers (0.76 square miles). The population density was about 177.6 people per square kilometer.
The 2016 municipal census by Lac La Biche County also counted 348 people in Plamondon. This was a 1.2% increase from the 344 people counted in the 2013 municipal census.
Plamondon is also home to a significant number of Russian Orthodox Old Believers.
Local Economy
The main ways people make a living in the Plamondon region are through logging and farming. Logging involves cutting down trees for wood. Farming means growing crops or raising animals.
Community Amenities
Plamondon has several important facilities for its residents.
- There are two schools: Ecole Beausejour and Ecole Plamondon School. Students from the whole area attend these schools.
- École Plamondon School offers classes in English, French immersion, and Russian.
- École Beausejour is a French-speaking school. It focuses on teaching students about French culture.
- The community also has two hotels, two banks, and a post office.
- There is an indoor hockey arena with artificial ice.
- You can visit a museum to learn about the area's history.
- There is also a rather large church in the hamlet.
Plamondon hosts fun annual events too.
- One event is a French hockey tournament called Hockey en Fête. The Frontenacs team from the University of Alberta has won this tournament twice.
- Another event is the Canadian Mud Racing Organization (CMRO) event. This exciting mud racing competition happens every year at the Plamondon Mud Bog.
Notable People from Plamondon
Some well-known people have connections to Plamondon:
- Colin Piquette: A former member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the area of Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater.
- Leo Piquette: Also a former member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing Athabasca-Lac La Biche.
- Clara Plamondon: An Anglican bishop.
- Crystal Plamondon: A performing artist, known for her music.
