Northern Alberta - Fabulous Western Canada: Capture the Excitement of the Great West! - page 186

the need for a mission dedicated to the
Metis population, and St. Albert thus
came into existence.

The Heritage Musem is located in
an interesting, contoured brick build-
ing called St. Ann Place. The museum
houses an exceptional exhibit of arti-
facts and objects related to the history
of the fi rst citizens of St. Albert, includ-
ing the Metis, First Nations people, mis-
sionaries and pioneers.

Father Lacombe only stayed at the
new mission for four years, and then
continued his work throughout the
prairies. Bishop Vital Grandin moved
his headquarters to St. Albert in 1868
and brought a group of skilled Oblate
Brothers with him, making St. Albert the
centre of missionary work in Alberta.
Grandin played an important role in
lobbying Ottawa for fair treatment of
Aboriginal people, Metis and French
Canadian settlers.

Athabasca

The town of Athabasca is located near
the geographic centre of Alberta. The
Athabasca River, which fl ows through
the town, was the main corridor to the
north, and the town of Athabasca was
once a candidate for provincial capital.

The town was known as a jumping-off
point for traders and adventurers head-
ing north, and to this day, it is still a
good starting point for outdoor adven-
turers as it lies right on the fringe of the
northern hinterland, yet is only 1.5hrs
north of Edmonton. Athabasca is also
home to Athabasca University, Canada's
most northerly university, reputed for
its distance-education programs.

6 Father Lacombe Chapel in St. Albert.

© iStockphoto.com / Jason Kasumovic

Lac La Biche

Lac La Biche (lake) is located on a divide
separating the Athabasca River system,
which drains into the Pacifi c, and the
Churchill River system, which drains
into Hudson Bay. Portage La Biche was
a vital link on the transcontinental fur-
trading route and was used by voya-
geurs to cross the 5km between Beaver
Lake and Lac La Biche.

Fort McMurray

Fort McMurray was developed around
the Athabasca oil sands, the largest sin-
gle oil deposit in the world. The oil is