Wabasca-Desmarais, Alberta

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Wabasca-Desmarais
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settlement_type = Hamlet
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dot_mapsize = 200px
dot_map_caption = Location of Wabasca-Desmarais in Alberta
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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 = Municipal District
subdivision_name3 = Opportunity
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leader_title = Municipal District
leader_name = Municipal District of Opportunity
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timezone = MST
utc_offset = -7
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latd= 55|latm= 56|lats= 59|latNS=N
longd= 113|longm= 49|longs= 20|longEW=W
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elevation_m = 550
postal_code_type =
postal_code = Postal Code
area_code = +1-780
blank_name = Highways
blank_info = Highway 813
Highway 754
blank1_name = Waterways
blank1_info = Wabasca Lakes
website = [http://www.mdopportunity.ab.ca/ Municipal District of Opportunity]
footnotes = Wabasca-Desmarais is a large hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada, with a population of over 2000.

The name Wabasca originates from the Cree word "wapuskau", meaning "grassy narrows", the name for the Wabasca River. Desmarais was named after Father Alphonse Desmarais, the first missionary in this area. [ [http://www.mdopportunity.ab.ca/New%20Page/us.html#history Municipal District of Opportunity] - History]

Located between and along the South and North Wabasca Lakes, at the intersection of Highway 813 and Highway 754, 123 km north-east of Slave Lake, it is home to the two communities of Wabasca and Desmarais.

Wabasca is the seat of the Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17.

The settlement population is largely Native Canadian and the four Bigstone Cree Nation reserves surrounding the settlement more than double the population base. These reserves Wabasca 166, 166a, 166b, 166c, 166d are the seat of the Bigstone Cree Nation, a Woodland Cree First Nation. [ [http://www.bigstonecree.com/ Bigstone Cree Nation webpage] ]

The community is served by the Wabasca Airport.

Demographics

Reserve and total population (2006) [ [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Search/SearchForm_Results.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Wabasca&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01 Statscan] ]
* Wabasca 166 - 78
* Wabasca 166A - 648
* Wabasca 166B - 216
* Wabasca 166C - 173
* Wabasca 166D - 863

Amenities

The community is home to four churches (St. Charles Catholic Church, St .Martins Catholic Church, St. John's Anglican Church and Wabasca Revival Center), a library, [Cite web| url= http://www.mdopportunity.ab.ca/community_services.aspx | title= Community Services | author= The Municipal District of Opportunity 17 | authorlink= Opportunity No. 17, Alberta| accessdate= 2007-06-23] a health care centre managed by Aspen Regional Health Authority [Cite web| url= http://www.aspenrha.com/images/stories/pdf/Community_Info_Sheets/wabasca.pdf| title= Community profile of Wabasca-Desmarais| author= Aspen Regional Health Authority| authorlink= Aspen Regional Health Authority | accessdate= 2007-06-23] and a community center.

Recreational activities

Fishing, ice fishing, hunting, trapping, quadding and snowmobiling are traditional and recreational activities in the area.

Industry

The settlement of Wabasca-Desmarais serves the Wabasca Oil Field along with the smaller settlements of Sandy Lake, Trout Lake, Peerless Lake, and Chipewyan Lake. Proposed tar sands developments [ [http://www.eenews.net/special_reports/tar_sands/ Energy News] - SURE Northern purchase of Oil sands lease] north of the settlement by SURE Northern Energy (a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell) may increase the population of Wabasca-Desmarais in a very short period.

Community events

Each year the community of Wabasca-Desmarais is host to several events such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Annual Fish Derby, Wabasca Road Relay Race, and the Lions Club Snowmobile Poker Rally.

References

External links

* [http://www.wabasca.com/ Wabasca Website]

Canadian City Geographic Location (8-way)
Centre = Wabasca-Desmarais
Northwest =

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