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This page is about the town on Lesser Slave Lake, Alberta. For the lake itself, see Lesser Slave Lake. For the much larger lake about 300 km to the northeast, see Great Slave Lake. For the lake east of Vancouver, British Columbia, see Stave Lake.
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Slave Lake
Town
Town of Slave Lake
Main street in August 2006
Main street in August 2006
Town boundaries
Town boundaries
Slave Lake is located in M.D. of Lesser Slave River
Slave Lake
Slave Lake
Location in M.D. of Lesser Slave River
Slave Lake is located in Alberta
Slave Lake
Slave Lake
Location in Alberta
Country Canada
Province Alberta
Region Northern Alberta
Planning region Upper Athabasca
Municipal district Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124
Incorporated  
 • Village January 1, 1961
 • Town August 2, 1965
Area
 (2021)
 • Land 14.31 km2 (5.53 sq mi)
Elevation
590 m (1,940 ft)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total 6,836
 • Density 477.7/km2 (1,237/sq mi)
Time zone UTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Postal code span
T0G 2A0 & 2S0
Area code(s) 780, 587, 825
Highways Highway 2
Bicentennial Highway
Waterways Lesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave River
Website slavelake.ca


Slave Lake is a town in northern Alberta, Canada that is surrounded by the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124. It is approximately 255 km (158 mi) northwest of Edmonton. It is located on the southeast shore of Lesser Slave Lake at the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 88.

Slave Lake serves as a local centre for the area. The administrative office for the Sawridge First Nation is also located in the town.

History

The area of the present-day Town of Slave Lake was discovered by Europeans when David Thompson visited the area in 1799. Following his brief visit, several fur trading posts were established around Slave Lake, with a Hudson's Bay Company post established at the mouth of the lake. The first community, called Sawridge, was renamed Slave Lake in 1923. It was wiped out by a flood in the 1930s, and was subsequently moved to the current location. It was incorporated as a town in 1965.

The Town of Slave Lake was inundated by the flood of Sawridge Creek in July 1988.

2011 wildfire

Main page: 2011 Slave Lake wildfire

On May 15, 2011, large parts of the town were affected by wildfires in the area. Winds pushed the flames into the town and destroyed many houses and businesses. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued, but with highways being closed, residents were urged to make their way to beaches, large parking lots, and open spaces. Highway 2 had been closed at the outset of the fire, but eventually re-opened for evacuation, with full evacuation ordered for Slave Lake.

On May 16, provincial officials said that 40% of the town had been destroyed or damaged, including the town hall, the library, a radio station, a mall and a significant number of homes and other buildings; no injuries or deaths were reported. On May 17, Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee indicated one-third of the town had been destroyed by the wildfire. On May 20, 2011, a firefighting helicopter crashed into the Lesser Slave Lake near Canyon Creek where its pilot died at the scene. It crashed about 30 m (98 ft) off shore into water that was 1.5 m (4.9 ft) deep. On July 6, Prince William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited the town to offer encouragement to residents and rebuilding efforts.

Geography

Climate

Slave Lake experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc) that borders on a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb).

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Slave Lake recorded a population of &&&&&&&&&&&06836.&&&&&06,836 living in &&&&&&&&&&&02405.&&&&&02,405 of its &&&&&&&&&&&02681.&&&&&02,681 total private dwellings, a change of 2.8% from its 2016 population of &&&&&&&&&&&06651.&&&&&06,651. With a land area of 14.31 km2 (5.53 sq mi), it had a population density of 477.7/km2 (1,237/sq mi) in 2021.

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Slave Lake recorded a population of 6,651 living in 2,329 of its 2,762 total private dwellings, a -1.9% change from its 2011 population of 6,782. With a land area of 14.44 km2 (5.58 sq mi), it had a population density of 460.6/km2 (1,193/sq mi) in 2016.

The population of the Town of Slave Lake according to its 2007 municipal census was 7,031.

Gallery

  • Mainstreet Alberta Slave Lake 3985

    Main Street in 2006

  • Albert Mainstreet Slave Lake3984

    Main Street in 2006

  • View of Slave Lake Shoreline

    Slave Lake, Slave Lake, shoreline

Sports

In 1994, the town hosted the Arctic Winter Games. This is a celebration of circumpolar sports and culture.

Club League Sport Venue Established Championships
Slave Lake Wolves
NWJHL
 Ice Hockey Arctic Ice Centre
N/A
1

Notable people

  • Walter Patrick Twinn- Chief of the Sawridge First Nation starting in 1966, and Senator from 1990 to 1997.
  • Scott Cyr, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Bonnyville-Cold Lake, May 5, 2015 – March 19, 2019
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