Whitecourt
Template:About Template:Infobox settlement
Whitecourt is a town in Northern Alberta, Canada that is surrounded by Woodlands County.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is approximately Template:Convert northwest of Edmonton and Template:Convert southeast of Grande Prairie at the junction of Highway 43 and Highway 32. It has an elevation of Template:Convert.
Whitecourt is also located at the confluence of four waterways – the Athabasca River, McLeod River, Sakwatamau River and Beaver Creek.<ref name=WctHist>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A Canadian National rail line runs through the town.
The Town has branded itself as the Snowmobile Capital of Alberta<ref name=snowmobile/> and its motto is Let's Go....<ref name=motto/> The Whitecourt meteor impact crater is found on nearby Whitecourt Mountain.
History
The community was formed in the place known by the Cree as Sagitawah (the place where the rivers meet). The first Hudson's Bay Company trading post was established at the site in 1897, and Klondike gold rush-ers used the place as a way station on the overland trek to the goldfields. The first permanent resident on the present day townsite was HBC employee and farmer John Goodwin, who settled there in 1905.<ref>"Whitecourt history heritage" https://www.whitecourt.ca/your-town/history-heritage accessed July 21, 2025</ref> A post office was established in 1910, and Walter Hartwell White, who carried the mail from nearby Greencourt, was honored with the name Whitecourt. The name "Whitecourt" was chosen in 1909 by Walter White, the postmaster of the young community. White was the son-in-law of former Kansas governor John W. Leedy who also settled in the community. The name conformed to the style of the name of Green Court, White's previous hometown, located nearby.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
In early 1910, MLA Peter Gunn announced that a government wagon road had been opened from Entwistle to Whitecourt.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> With the expansion of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1910, immigrants were encouraged by Premier Arthur Lewis Sifton to settle in the vast scarcely inhabited area between Edmonton and the Peace River Country.<ref name="Sagitawah">Olecko, Doreen - Sagitawah Saga - The story of Whitecourt, 2006, University of Calgary, Université Laval</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref>
With the growth of settlement in the area and as it was on the route to the Pine Pass through the Rockies, the Canadian Northern Railway line was planned to be completed to Whitecourt in 1913.<ref name=":0" /> But it was not until after that railway company was rolled into the Canadian National that a railway was built to Whitecourt.<ref name=":0" />
Geography
Whitecourt has three identifiable geographic components:
- the Valley that includes the town centre, the Athabasca Flats residential area, Millar Western's sawmill and pulp mill, and three manufactured home parks;
- the Hilltop that includes the Hilltop and Southlands Estates residential areas, the Hilltop industrial area, a 2.5 km highway commercial strip along Highway 43 and two manufactured home parks; and
- West Whitecourt, between the McLeod and Athabasca Rivers, includes an industrial area, a 1.0 km highway commercial strip along Highway 43, and a manufactured home park.
Climate
Whitecourt has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc), falling just short of a humid continental climate (Dfb) due to May and September having mean average temperatures just below Template:Convert. Winters are long and cold (though milder than many areas farther east, even at lower latitudes), and summers are fairly short and relatively warm.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Whitecourt had a population of 9,927 living in 3,876 of its 4,341 total private dwellings, a change of Template:Percentage from its 2016 population of 10,209. With a land area of Template:Cvt, it had a population density of Template:Pop density in 2021.<ref name=2021census>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Whitecourt recorded a population of 10,204 living in 3,743 of its 4,253 total private dwellings, a Template:Percentage change from its 2011 population of 9,605. With a land area of Template:Convert, it had a population density of Template:Pop density in 2016.<ref name=2016censusABmunis>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The population of the Town of Whitecourt according to its 2013 municipal census is 10,574,<ref name=2013census>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> a 14.9% increase over its 2008 municipal census population of 9,202.<ref name=2011pop>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At its current population, Whitecourt is one of the largest towns in the province and is eligible for city status. According to Alberta's Municipal Government Act, a town is eligible for city status when it reaches 10,000 residents.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Economy
Whitecourt's economy is largely driven by three major industries – forestry, oil and gas industry and tourism.<ref name=AB1stEconBase>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> With some farm land to the south and east of Whitecourt, agriculture plays a minor role in the town's economy.
Whitecourt is the site of four forestry-related mills:
- Blue Ridge Lumber Sawmill / Ranger Board MDF (owned by West Fraser)
- Millar Western Pulp Mill (owned by Atlas Holdings)
- Canfor Sawmill
- Alberta Newsprint Company Pulp & Paper Mill.
Due to Whitecourt and area's forestry heritage, the Canadian Forestry Association named Whitecourt and Woodlands County the "Forest Capital of Canada 2013".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Whitecourt is also home to many service companies in the oil and gas industry.
Attractions
Attractions within Whitecourt include the Allan & Jean Millar Centre, Festival Park, the Forest Interpretive Centre and Heritage Park, and a variety of other facilities and parks.<ref name=attractions>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Allan & Jean Millar Centre consists of both an aquatic facility, a fieldhouse, a fitness facility, a children's indoor playground area, and boardroom and classroom rental spaces. The aquatic facility comprises a main pool, a children's pool, a leisure pool, a lazy river, a water slide, a hot tub, and a steam room. The fieldhouse includes a configurable multi-sport area, a track, and racquetball and squash courts. The fitness centre provides cardio training equipment, weight training equipment, and a fitness studio. Overall, this recreation venue also provides a variety of programming including lessons, classes, and personal training.<ref name=AJMC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Festival Park, located in the river valley adjacent to downtown, is a multi-use outdoor park facility consisting of a pond stocked with fish that is cleared for skating in the winter, trails, sports fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, an off-leash dog park, and a river slide attraction featuring two flowing artificial creeks with drops for tubing.<ref name=attractions/> A splash park with 19 water features opened within Festival Park in 2012.<ref name=splash>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The park was originally known as Rotary Park, but the name was changed to Festival Park in 2023 when Rotary International updated their policies on how facilities can be named after themselves.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The town also features several bike trails, as well as a professionally designed bike park.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Forest Interpretive Centre includes a multi-media museum that presents the forestry industry's role in Whitecourt's history.<ref name=attractions/> It also features meeting rooms and hosts the local chamber of commerce, a tourist information centre, and town council meetings.<ref name=attractions/><ref name=councilmeetings>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Forest Interpretive Centre's associated Heritage Park includes antique vehicles and farm equipment, a barn, and an interpretive trail among other features.<ref name=attractions/>
Sports
| Club | League | Sport | Venue | Years active | League championships | Provincial championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitecourt Wolverines | {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | Ice hockey | JDA Place | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} |
| Whitecourt Wolverines | {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | Ice hockey | JDA Place | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} |
Travis Roche and Rocky Thompson are current and former professional hockey players that were raised in Whitecourt.<ref name=Roche>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Thompson>Template:Cite news</ref> Roche played 60 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) between the Minnesota Wild and Phoenix Coyotes and now plays for SC Bern in Switzerland's National League A.<ref name=RocheHDB>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has represented Team Canada at the Spengler Cup on numerous occasions, winning gold at the 2012 tournament.<ref name=2012Spengler>Template:Cite news</ref> Thompson played 25 games in the NHL between the Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers and was an assistant coach for the Edmonton Oilers in the National Hockey League.<ref name=ThompsonTSN>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Normand Lacombe is the strength and conditioning coach for the Whitecourt Wolverines of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and was the head coach of the predecessor Wolverines of the North West Junior Hockey League prior to the AJHL's arrival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Lacombe played 319 games in the NHL for the Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers,<ref name=LacombeHDB>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> winning the Stanley Cup with the Oilers in 1988.
Government
Whitecourt Town Council consists of a mayor and six councillors that were elected in the 2021 municipal election. Template:As of the members of town council are Mayor Tom Pickard and councillors Tara Baker, Paul Chauvet, Braden Lanctot, Serena LaPointe, Bill McAree, and Derek Schlosser.<ref name=council/> The town's chief administrative officer is Peter Smyl.<ref name=council/>
The Northern Gateway Public Schools division office is in Whitecourt. The school division is responsible for public schools within the geography comprising Lac Ste. Anne County and portions of Woodlands County and the Municipal District of Greenview No. 16, including the towns of Fox Creek, Mayerthorpe, Onoway and Valleyview in addition to Whitecourt.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Whitecourt is within the West Yellowhead provincial electoral district, which Template:As of is represented by Martin Long of the United Conservative Party. Progressive Conservative George VanderBurg was a four-term MLA for the Whitecourt area until 2015. A resident of Whitecourt, VanderBurg was a businessman and the mayor of the town for nine years prior to his entry into provincial politics.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
At the federal level, Whitecourt is within the Peace River—Westlock electoral district, which Template:As of is represented by Conservative Arnold Viersen. Conservative Rob Merrifield was a four-term MP for the Whitecourt area until 2014. Merrifield is a resident of Whitecourt and a farmer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Other former politicians who lived in Whitecourt include Raj Pannu, Allen Sulatycky and Rod Fox. Pannu, former MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona and former leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party, taught high school in Whitecourt between 1962 and 1964.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Sulatycky, judge and former MP for Rocky Mountain, was a lawyer and was elected the first Liberal to represent Whitecourt's constituency in 1968.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Fox, former Wildrose Party MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka, was born and raised in Whitecourt.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Infrastructure
Health care
Acute and non-acute medical care is provided at the Whitecourt Healthcare Centre.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Transportation
- Air
The full air-service Whitecourt Airport is located west of Whitecourt on the north side of Highway 32, approximately Template:Convert from Highway 43. It is Alberta's ninth busiest airport with up to 32,000 aircraft using the airport annually. The airstrip is Template:Convert in length and Template:Convert wide and can accommodate 737 jets. Numerous carriers offer scheduled charter flights out of the airport.<ref name=EDconnected>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Bus
Red Arrow and Northern Express offer service to Edmonton and Grande Prairie.
- Rail
The CN Sangudo Subdivision provides rail service through Whitecourt from Edmonton to numerous gas plants south of Fox Creek. The Millar Western Sawmill / Pulp Mill and the Alberta Newsprint Company Pulp & Paper Mill are both served by rail.<ref name=MDPpt1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Roads
The Town of Whitecourt is served by two highways. Highway 43, which is part of the CANAMEX Corridor, is a twinned highway that provides connection to Edmonton to the southeast and Grande Prairie to the northwest.
Highway 32 provides Whitecourt with a direct link to the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16) to the south, which connects the town to Edson and Hinton to the southwest. Another segment of Highway 32 begins approximately Template:Convert northwest of the town, providing a link from Highway 43 to Swan Hills and Slave Lake.
Numerous local roads provide connections from Whitecourt to surrounding rural areas within Woodlands County. Within the McLeod River valley, Govenlock Road feeds two rural roads – West Mountain Road (Range Road 122) and Tower Road (Range Road 121A) – that provide access to numerous country residential subdivisions and some agricultural operations to the south.
Within the Athabasca River valley, Flats Road (Township Road 600), which exits the town following its northern boundary, serves numerous agricultural operations to the east.
On the Hilltop, 41 Avenue (Township Road 594A), which was the original highway alignment into Whitecourt, exits the town eastbound for the Hamlet of Blue Ridge. This road is commonly referred to as Blue Ridge Road.
Education
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
- Northern Gateway Regional Division No. 10<ref>{{#invoke
- citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Central Elementary School (K-5)
- Pat Hardy Elementary School (K-5)
- Percy Baxter Middle School (6-8)
- Hilltop Jr/Sr High School (9-12)
- Living Waters Catholic Regional Division No. 42<ref>{{#invoke
- citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- St. Anne's School (K-3)
- St. Mary's School (4-6)
- St. Joseph School (7-12)
Media
- Newspapers
Whitecourt is served by two news outlets: the Postmedia owned Whitecourt Star (which became digital-only in 2023)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the independent weekly Whitecourt Press.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The monthly Community Advisor ceased publication in 2018.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Radio
Two FM radio stations broadcast from Whitecourt.
- Boom 96.7 (FM 96.7, CFXW-FM)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> is owned by Stingray Radio and broadcasts a classic hits format.
- XM 105 FM (FM 105.3, CIXM-FM)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> is owned by Pattison Media and broadcasts a country radio format.
The CKUA Radio Network also has a repeater broadcasting from Whitecourt at FM 107.1.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Sister cities
Whitecourt has been twinned with Yūbetsu, Hokkaido, Japan, since 1998.<ref name=twin2>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=twin3>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
See also
References
Template:Notelist Template:Reflist
External links
Template:Subdivisions of Alberta Template:Alberta Regions Upper Athabasca Template:Authority control