Athabasca is a prominent town in northern Alberta. With a population of 2,759, it is located 145 km north of Edmonton on the banks of the Athabasca River. It is the centre of Athabasca County. The town is home to Athabasca University, a major centre for distance education and the town’s second largest employer.
The town describes itself as the modern gateway to the new north country, its economic prospects, natural resource industries, tourism opportunities, natural beauty, and lifestyle choices. Modern Athabasca provides an important gateway to the emerging world of Internet communications, electronic information and services, e-commerce, and smart communities. The world’s largest and most technologically sophisticated bleached kraft pulp mill is also located nearby. I was amazed how developed and significant this town is despite the low population.
My oldest sister lives outside a village near Athabasca, so we headed north for a few day’s visit.
The Lookout at Athabasca Centennial Park
We followed a long and winding path up a hillside which brought us to a wonderful hilltop overlooking the town and river of Athabasca.
Picnic tables and benches are placed along the Park, making it an ideal stopping place for nature appreciation or picnics. Plant beds of local shrubs, wildflowers, and boreal trees dot the area as well:
Athabasca Riverfront Park
Opened in late 2007 the Athabasca Riverfront also includes a spray park donated by the Athabasca Rotary Club, a skateboard park donated by the Athabasca Skateboard Association, a playground donated by the Athabasca Lion’s Club and outdoor fitness equipment donated by Athabasca Rotary Club:
Taken from Athabasca Riverfront Park
Taken from Athabasca Riverfront Park
The Athabasca Archives
The Athabasca Archives were established for the purpose of preserving and making available research materials containing historical evidence about the Town of Athabasca and Athabasca County. As Vince, Norma and I poured over some of the archival material, I became amazed at the voluminous content and level of detail in the archival content, and by the commitment of the Archive workers; this was a system to be proud of:
Around Town
Norma told us that, at one point, the long steps to the church were painted in the official rainbow colours of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Due to an uproar from the congregation, however, the steps were returned to their original colour. I guess it was a move far too bold for life in the north.
In 2021, the Athabasca Public School building was designated a Provincial Historic resource and is now listed on the Alberta Register of Historic Places. The school is designed in the Collegiate Gothic style, which is based on the architecture of historic European universities, notably Oxford and Cambridge.
St. Anthony’s of Kyik Parish
Catholic Church & New Pine Creek Cemetery
On the corner of New Pine Creek Road and Highway 827 stands this lonely little Ukrainian church and graveyard. The church is in the municipality of Meanook,40 kilometres from Athabasca and 22 kilometres from the village of Colinton.
The church was built in 1945 on the 2-acre parcel donated by Anton Nalesnyk in 1933. Over time, the church went into decline – several times a year the services had to be cancelled due to poor road conditions. The younger generation left the district in great numbers, and the community rapidly diminished. I don’t know if there is still service here these days, but I understand the grave services in the church cemetery continue to this day.
Country Walk
A little spin around the rural roads in northern Alberta:
Athabaska is nice but Kelowna was on another level. You guys sure do walk a lot.
How cool that you went to an archives! Love it!
And what archives they were, too! I was impressed – they have extensive documentation and photos from the late 1890s forward. Kudos to the archive Admins there – they do a great job.
Hey Marvin. I found this quite interesting! I never realized a small town like Athabasca would have a university . The town looks quite lovely and it seems like the various clubs are helping with donations to beautifying this community.
Yes, I was amazed when we took a drive around that town. They have so much there – I kick myself now for not getting shots of their MASSIVE arena/sportsplex building and the university, among other things. Growing up in Alberta I’d always heard about Athabasca, but had never been until now. I was impressed.