Athabasca, Alberta

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Town of Athabasca
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settlement_type = Town
motto = Gateway to the Great New North


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dot_map_caption =Location of Athabasca in Alberta
dot_x =95 |dot_y =112
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = CAN
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = AB
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 = Northern Alberta
subdivision_type3 = Census division
subdivision_name3 = 13
subdivision_type4 = County
subdivision_name4 = Athabasca County
government_footnotes =Cite web| url= http://www.town.athabasca.ab.ca/siteengine/activepage.asp?PageID=27&bhfv=2&bhfx=9.0%20%20r28&bhcd=32&bhsh=900&bhsw=1440&bhiw=1440&bhih=652&bhlu=en-us&bhrf=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Etown%2Eathabasca%2Eab%2Eca%2Fsiteengine%2FActivePage%2Easp%3FPageID%3D4&bhqs=1| title= Town Council| author= Athabasca|accessdate= 2007-10-16]
government_type =
leader_title =Mayor
leader_name =Colleen Powell
leader_title1 = Governing body
leader_name1 =Athabasca Town Council
leader_title2 =Manager
leader_name2 = Doug Topinka
leader_title3 =MP
leader_name3 =Brian Jean
(Cons-Fort McMurray—Athabasca)
leader_title4 =MLA
leader_name4 = Jeff Johnson
(PC-Athabasca-Redwater)
established_title = Founded
established_date = 1877
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area_total_km2 = 16.98
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population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =Cite web| url= http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4805011&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Arrowwood&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=4805011 | title= Athabasca - Community Profile | author= Statistics Canada| authorlink= Statistics Canada| year= Census 2006 | accessdate= 2007-06-09]

population_note =
population_total = 2575
population_density_km2 = 151.7
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timezone = MST
utc_offset = -7
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latd=54 |latm=43 |lats=11 |latNS= N
longd=113 |longm=17 |longs=08 |longEW=W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 533
elevation_ft =
postal_code_type = Postal code span
postal_code =T9S
area_code = +1-780
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website = [http://www.town.athabasca.ab.ca/ Town of Atabasca]
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The town of Athabasca (2006 population 2,575) is located in northern Alberta, Canada. It lies km to mi|145|spell=Commonwealth|precision=0|wiki=yes north of Edmonton on Highway 2, on the banks of the Athabasca River. It is the centre of Athabasca County.

Until 1913 it was known as Athabasca Landing.

The town is home to Athabasca University, a major centre for distance education.

Demographics

According to the Canada 2006 Census:References:
*2006 Community Profile

Footnotes:^↑ The data has not yet been released and is based on 2001 Census.

History

Unlike so many other towns in Alberta, Athabasca predates the railway. It was the terminus of the Edmonton to Athabasca Landing trail. Athabasca lies on a southern protrusion of the Athabasca River. During the fur trade era, when rivers were the principal means of transportation, the Athabasca–Edmonton trail connected two different drainage basins. The Athabasca River flows north and is part of the Mackenzie River watershed, which leads to the Arctic Ocean. Edmonton lies across a height-of-land on the North Saskatchewan River in the Nelson River drainage basin, which empties into Hudson Bay. Edmonton was in Rupert's Land, Athabasca was not. The trail allowed goods to be portaged back and forth between river systems. Once agricultral settlement occurred the trail served a similar purpose. Eventually road and rail links would trace the same path.

The Athabasca Heritage Society has put up signs through the downtown as well as along the riverfront that explains and depicts the history. It has also published a Historical Walking Tour that is available from the Town Office, Library and Visitor Information centre.

Media

Athabasca is served by one newspaper, the [http://www.athabascaadvocate.com Athabasca Advocate] , and one radio station, 850 CKBA, currently known as The Fox. CKBA made headlines in 1998 when it hired Kevin Zahara to be the morning show's announcer. Being only 14 at the time, Zahara was the youngest morning radio announcer in Canada. Zahara later became one of the youngest Town Councillors, elected to Athabasca Town Council in 2002 at the age of 19. He accepted a promotion in 2003 in Edson and was elected to Edson Town council in 2007 receiving the most amount of votes. Currently he is an Assistant Program Director with NewCap Radio overseeing several radio stations.

Notable native

*George Ryga - playwright, poet
*Jay Onrait - TSN notable TV personality

References

:* [http://www.albertafirst.com/profiles/statspack/20380.html Alberta First] - Athabasca Facts and Statistics