Lac La Biche County

Lac La Biche County is a specialized municipality within Division No. 12 in northern Alberta, Canada. It was established through the amalgamation of the Town of Lac La Biche and Lakeland County in 2007.

Lac La Biche County
Specialized municipality
Lac la Biche
Lac la Biche
Official seal of Lac La Biche County
Logo
Motto: 
Welcoming By Nature
Location within Alberta
Location within Alberta
Coordinates: 54°46′7″N 111°58′50″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionNorthern Alberta
Planning regionLower Athabasca
Incorporated[1] 
 • Municipal districtAugust 1, 2007
 • Specialized municipalityJanuary 1, 2018
Government
[2]
 • MayorPaul Reutov
 • Governing body
  • Darlene Beniuk
  • Colette Borgun
  • Sterling Johnson
  • George L'Heureux
  • Omer Moghrabi
  • Charlyn Moore
  • Jason Stedman
  • Lorin Tkachuk
Colin Cote
 • CAODan Small
 • Administrative officeLac La Biche
Area
 (2021)[3]
 • Land12,528.25 km2 (4,837.18 sq mi)
Elevation
574 m (1,882 ft)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total7,673
 • Density0.6/km2 (2/sq mi)
 • Municipal census (2016)
8,544[4]
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Area code780
Websitelaclabichecounty.com

History

Lac La Biche County was originally established as a municipal district on August 1, 2007 through the amalgamation of Lakeland County with the Town of Lac La Biche. Its predecessor municipal district, Lakeland County, was originally incorporated on July 1, 1998, formed from the northwestern part of the Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87.[5] Lac La Biche County converted from municipal district status to specialized municipality status on January 1, 2018.[6]

Geography

Lac La Biche County is in northeast Alberta.[7] It borders the Regional Municipality (RM) of Wood Buffalo to the north; the Municipal District (MD) of Bonnyville No. 87 to the east (including the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range); the County of St. Paul No. 19 and Smoky Lake County to the south; the Kikino Metis Settlement and the Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement to the southwest; and Athabasca County and the MD of Opportunity No. 17 to the west.[7] The eponymous lake, Lac la Biche, is in the southwest portion of Lac La Biche County while the Athabasca River forms the municipal boundary between it and the MD of Opportunity No. 17.[7] Other water bodies include Beaver Lake, Pinehurst Lake, Seibert Lake, Touchwood Lake, and Winefred Lake (also partially within the RM of Wood Buffalo and the MD of Bonnyville No. 87).[7]

Communities and localities

The following localities are located within Lac La Biche County.[9]

Localities

The Lac La Biche Settlement is also within Lac La Biche County.[7]

First Nations have the following Indian reserves within Lac La Biche County.[7]

Indian reserves

Demographics
Federal census
population history
YearPop.±%
20069,123—    
20118,402−7.9%
20168,330−0.9%
20217,673−7.9%
Source: Statistics Canada[10][11][3]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Lac La Biche County had a population of 7,673 living in 2,949 of its 3,777 total private dwellings, a change of -7.9% from its 2016 population of 8,330. With a land area of 12,528.25 km2 (4,837.18 sq mi), it had a population density of 0.6/km2 (1.6/sq mi) in 2021.[3]

The population of Lac La Biche County according to its 2019 municipal census is 8,654,[12] a 1.3% change from its 2016 municipal census population of 8,544.[4] The 2019 and 2016 municipal censuses also counted temporary residents. In 2019, 982 temporary residents were counted in comparison to 987 in 2016.[12][4]

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Lac La Biche County had a population of 8,330 living in 3,076 of its 3,998 total private dwellings, a -0.9% change from its 2011 population of 8,402. With a land area of 12,572.29 km2 (4,854.19 sq mi), it had a population density of 0.7/km2 (1.7/sq mi) in 2016.[11]

Economy

Lac La Biche County's economy is based on the oil and gas industry, agriculture, and tourism. Some sawmills are also present.

Attractions

The following provincial protected areas are within Lac La Biche County.[7]

Other attractions include Lac La Biche Mission, the Lac La Biche Golf and Country Club, and the following campgrounds.

Community halls in Lac La Biche County include Craigend, Hylo, Owl River, Plamondon, and Rich Lake.

Infrastructure

Transportation
Air

The full air-service Lac La Biche Airport is located west of the Hamlet of Lac La Biche, 0.7 km (0.43 mi) north of Highway 55. The airstrip is 5,700 ft (1,700 m) in length and 100 ft (30 m) wide and can accommodate 737 jets. Numerous carriers offer scheduled charter flights out of the airport. Alberta Air Spray Wildfire protection also uses the airstrip as a base accommodating large water tankers.

Rail

A rail line bisects Lac La Biche County, running through the hamlets of Hylo, Venice, and Lac La Biche.[7] The rail line is operated by Canadian National.

Roads

The following provincial highways service Lac La Biche County.[7]

Education

Northern Lights School Division No. 69

  • Vera M Welsh Elementary (K-3)
  • Aurora Middle School (4-8)
  • J.A. Williams High School (9-12)
  • Off Campus High School
  • Portage College

Lakeland Catholic Schools

  • Light of Christ Catholic School

Conseil Centre-Est

  • École Sainte-Catherine (K-3)

Media
Newspapers

Lac La Biche County is served by the weekly Lac La Biche Post and the Town and Country.

Radio

Two FM radio stations broadcast out of Lac La Biche – BOOM (CILB FM 103.5) and Aboriginal Radio (CFWE FM 89.9).

See also

References
  1. "Location and History Profile: Lac La Biche County" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. December 29, 2017. p. 166. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  2. "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  3. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  4. 2016 Municipal Affairs Population List (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. ISBN 978-1-4601-3127-5. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  5. "Lac La Biche County". Alberta Municipal Affairs. August 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
  6. "O.C. 259/2017". Government of Alberta. September 14, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  7. 2021 Provincial Base Map: Municipalities (PDF) (Map). Alberta Environment and Parks. July 26, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  8. "Specialized and Rural Municipalities and Their Communities" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  9. "Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2006, Economic Regions: 4812005 - Lakeland County, geographical codes and localities, 2006". Statistics Canada. 2010-03-05. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  10. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  11. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  12. 2019 Municipal Affairs Population List (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. December 2019. ISBN 978-1-4601-4623-1. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
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