Slave Lake

History

The first European known to visit the area of the present-day Town of Slave Lake was the British explorer David Thompson, who arrived in 1799. Following his brief visit, other British agents established several fur trading posts around Slave Lake, including a Hudson's Bay Company post at the mouth of the lake. A settlement developed around the post and became known as Sawridge. It was renamed as Slave Lake in 1923. After a flood in the 1930s destroyed much of the town, it was relocated and rebuilt at its current location on higher ground. It was incorporated as a town in 1965. The Town of Slave Lake was inundated by a flood of Sawridge Creek in July 1988. On May 15, 2011, large parts of the town were affected by wildfires in the area. Winds pushed the flames into town, destroying many houses and businesses. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued, but highways had been closed and residents were urged to seek refuge at beaches, large parking lots, and open spaces. Highway 2 had been closed at the outset of the fire, but eventually re-opened for evacuation. Full evacuation of all residents was ordered for Slave Lake. On May 16, 2011, provincial officials said that 40% of the town had been destroyed or damaged by the fires, including the town hall, the library, a radio station, a mall, and a significant number of homes and other buildings. No injuries or deaths were reported. On May 17, 2011, Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee indicated one-third of the town had been destroyed by the wildfire. On May 20, 2011, a firefighting helicopter crashed into the Lesser Slave Lake near Canyon Creek; its pilot died at the scene. It crashed about off shore into water that was deep. On July 6, Prince William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited the town to offer…

Geography

Slave Lake experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc) that borders on a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb). Summers tend to be mild with cool nights, while winters are long and severely cold.

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  432
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  362
• Common Raven

  Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  350
• White-throated Sparrow

  Zonotrichia albicollis (J.F.Gmelin, 1789) · Aves
  342
• Black-billed Magpie

  Pica hudsonia (Sabine, 1823) · Aves
  324
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  296
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  265
• Yellow-rumped Warbler

  Setophaga coronata (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  245

Most recent

• M 4 — 2026-02-01
  40 km NW of Swan Hills, Canada