Duhamel

History

An early trading post was situated 2–3 miles northwest of the hamlet's current site, directly on a well-used ford of the Battle River. The trading post was a key point for exchange between the First Nations people, fur traders, and the Hudson's Bay Company. The establishment of the Metis Settlement dates back to early 1800s. The settlement that grew around the post took the names Battle River Crossing and Salois's settlement or Abraham's settlement, after Abraham Salois, a prominent Metis farmer and freighter. It was also known as Laboucane, after the Laboucane brothers and their families, who were among the first local residents. A church was built in 1883 for the service of Father Bellevaire, and was visited by Bishop Grandin, who named the settlement after Joseph-Thomas Duhamel. Around 1886, the post was moved to the site where Highway 21 now crosses the river (). In 1910, Duhamel moved to its present location on the newly constructed Grand Trunk Pacific rail line from Tofield to Calgary. The Duhamel/Battle River rail bridge was one of the largest wooden rail bridges ever constructed, at 3,972 feet (1210 m) in length and 120 feet (32 m) in height.

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  1,583
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,500
• Red-breasted Nuthatch

  Sitta canadensis Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  1,185
• Hairy Woodpecker

  Leuconotopicus villosus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  948
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  932
• Common Raven

  Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  899
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  845
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  755

Most recent

• M 2.5 — 2026-04-21
  23 km NE of Saint-André-Avellin, Canada
• M 2.7 — 2026-01-20
  26 km N of L'Orignal, Canada
• M 2.9 — 2025-09-22
  22 km NW of Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, Canada
• M 3.7 — 2025-03-19
  17 km W of Rivière-Rouge, Canada
• M 2.6 — 2024-10-02
  7 km ENE of Chertsey, Canada
• M 2.7 — 2024-05-15
  11 km NW of L'Orignal, Canada