Скачать или смотреть City of Cold Lake - Encounter the Unexpected - 2

The city of Cold Lake, Alberta, is nestled along the shore of its namesake just a few hours northeast of Edmonton. Here, in this four-season playground, you'll find all the amenities of a larger centre without the traffic or crowds. They say Cold Lake's easy to get to, but it can be hard to leave. Why is that? Chances are it's not what you'd expect. It's a place where you can go your own way, Let go, Lose yourself, Or find what you've been looking for. It's a place where nature thrives, Creativity flourishes, History lives, And the future is in good hands. But there's more to Cold Lake than endless recreational opportunities, a vibrant arts and culture scene and awe-inspiring sunsets at the end of a busy day... you have to experience it yourself to understand. Come to Cold Lake and encounter the unexpected.



The history of the Cold Lake area can be traced back to 1821 when the Hudson's Bay Company established the Beaver Crossing trading post on the shores of the Beaver River. This trading post was part of a network used to transport furs from Lac La Biche to the east, serving an important role in the country's early fur trade industry. However, it was not until 1905 that the first British, Swedish, Norwegian, Swiss and French-speaking homesteaders arrived and settled the area. While some families settled close to Beaver River, many homesteaders decided to settle closer to the lake as livelihoods were based on farming, ranching, trapping, fishing and logging. In order to meet these needs, two separate small settlements evolved: Beaver Crossing and Cold Lake, which are now known as Cold Lake South and Cold Lake North respectively. The subsequent years saw the beginnings of a community as a schoolhouse, missionary hospital and a general store (now Clark's General Store) were created. By the mid 1920's, the population of Cold Lake was estimated at 50 people.



With the creation of the Air Force Base in 1954, the Towns of Cold Lake and Grand Centre emerged as two separate municipalities with diverse economic interests. The chosen location for the airbase near Grand Centre was based on factors such as low population density, accessibility, weather, suitable terrain, and available land for air weapons training. As such, Grand Centre became more of a regional centre with close ties to 4 Wing. Comparatively, the Town of Cold Lake's economy focused more on tourism as a result of its proximity to the lake. Due to their close proximity, economic influences often overlapped. This relationship has shaped the development patterns of the area, and in 1996, the three communities were amalgamated as the Town of Cold Lake. In 2000, the Town became the City of Cold Lake. The City of Cold Lake now has a population of nearly 14,000 according to the 2009 Municipal Census.