Edson, Alberta

Edson is a town in west-central Alberta, Canada. It is located in Yellowhead County, 192 kilometres (119 mi) west of Edmonton along the Yellowhead Highway and 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east of the intersection with Highway 47.

Edson
Town
Town of Edson
Edson town hall
Motto(s): 
Heart of the Yellowhead
Location in Yellowhead County
Edson
Location of Edson in Alberta
Coordinates: 53°34′54″N 116°26′04″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
Planning regionUpper Athabasca
Municipal districtYellowhead County
Incorporated[1] 
 • Village9 January 1911
 • Town21 September 1911
Government
 • MayorKevin Zahara
 • Governing body
 • ManagerMike Derricott
 • MPGerald Soroka (Cons - Yellowhead)
 • MLAMartin Long (United Conservative Party - West Yellowhead)
Area
 (2016)[3]
 • Land29.72 km2 (11.47 sq mi)
Elevation920 m (3,020 ft)
Population
 (2016)[3]
 • Total8,414
 • Density283.1/km2 (733/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Edsonite[5]
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Forward sortation area
T7E
Area code(s)+1-780
WebsiteOfficial website

History

The town was founded as Heatherwood, but the name was changed around 1911 in honour of Edson Joseph Chamberlin, vice-president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. When Edson was declared the local rail centre, smaller communities such as Rosevear (abandoned), Wolf Creek, Carrot Creek and Niton Junction fell into a decline that continues today. In the 1950s, upgrading of Highway 16 caused a dramatic increase in private, commercial and industrial traffic. Today, the Yellowhead Highway carries some of the heaviest traffic flow in Alberta and has been declared the second Trans-Canada Highway. In the 1970s, a revitalized coal industry launched the Cardinal River Coal and Luscar Sterco mines in the area. In the 1980s Pelican Spruce Mills (now Weyerhaeuser Company Limited) and Sundance Forest Industries (now Edson Forest Products a division of West Fraser Mills Ltd.) became two of Edson's major employers. The former hamlets of Glenwood and Grande Prairie Trail were annexed from Yellowhead County by the Town of Edson on 1 January 1984.[6][7]

Demographics
Population history
YearPop.±%
19967,399—    
20017,585+2.5%
20068,098+6.8%
20118,475+4.7%
20168,414−0.7%
Source: Statistics Canada[8][9][10][11][3]
Downtown Edson (50th Street)

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Edson recorded a population of 8,414 living in 3,359 of its 3,762 total private dwellings, a -0.7% change from its 2011 population of 8,475. With a land area of 29.72 km2 (11.47 sq mi), it had a population density of 283.1/km2 (733.2/sq mi) in 2016.[3]

The Town of Edson's 2012 municipal census counted a population of 8,646.[12]

In the 2011 Census, the Town of Edson had a population of 8,475 living in 3,386 of its 3,701 total dwellings, a 4.7% change from its 2006 population of 8,098. With a land area of 29.58 km2 (11.42 sq mi), it had a population density of 286.5/km2 (742.1/sq mi) in 2011.[11]

Geography

Edson lies in the McLeod River valley, immediately east of the Canadian Rockies foothills. The surrounding landscape consists of primarily taiga forest with sand hills and muskeg. The town is located at an altitude of 925 metres (3,035 ft). Two provincial parks are located west of Edson: Sundance Provincial Park along Sundance Creek and Obed Lake Provincial Park surrounding the three Obed Lakes.

Climate

Due to Edson's high elevation, the community experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc). The highest temperature ever recorded in Edson was 37.2 °C (99 °F) on 2 July 1924.[13] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −48.3 °C (−55 °F) on 22 January 1943,[14] and 14 January 1950.[15] Summers in Edson are generally mild to warm with chilly nights and moderate precipitation. Winters are long and severely cold with relatively high snowfall, higher than surrounding areas due to the town's high elevation.

Economy

The main industries that drive the local economy are resource based – coal, oil, natural gas and forestry products.

Sports

Edson was home to Canada's largest slo-pitch tournament until 2017.[19][20]

Infrastructure

Edson is connected to the Yellowhead Highway from east to west and to Coal Valley via Highway 47 to the south.

Via Rail's The Canadian calls at the Edson railway station three times per week in each direction as a flag stop.

Education
Grande Yellowhead Public School Division No. 77
  • Mary Bergeron Elementary School (K-5)
  • Parkland Composite High School (9-12 English, French)
  • École Pine Grove Middle School (6-8 English, French)
  • Westhaven Elementary School (K-5 English, French)
Living Waters Catholic Regional Division No. 42
Private
  • Yellowhead Koinonia Christian School (K-12)

Media
Newspapers

Edson has one weekly paper, The Weekly Anchor, published every Monday.[21] A second paper, Edson Leader, was established in 1911 before ceasing publication in 2020.[22]

Radio stations

Coat of Arms

On October 15, 2019, the town was granted a coat of arms by the Canadian Heraldic Authority, while the announcement of the Letters Patent was made on March 28, 2020, in Volume 154, page 692 of the Canada Gazette.[23]

Coat of arms of Edson, Alberta
Granted
October 15, 2019
Crest
A great grey owl Azure issuant from a mural crown Argent set with gouttes de poix and flames Azure.
Escutcheon
Per fess Azure and Argent a fess bretessé counterchanged between in chief two lozenges Argent each charged with a pine tree Vert and in base a lozenge Sable.
Supporters
Two red squirrels each holding a pinecone and sejant on a log proper

Notable people
  • In the 2020 Netflix Original series Into the Night, a plane flying west in an attempt to survive a catastrophic solar event that kills all living organisms during daylight hours, lands in Edson during Episode 2.

See also

References
  1. "Location and History Profile: Town of Edson" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. 17 June 2016. p. 225. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  2. "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 22 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  3. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  4. "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)" (PDF) (PDF). Safety Codes Council. January 2012. pp. 212–215 (PDF pages 226–229). Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  5. "Edsonites are recycling champions". Edson Leader. Sun Media Corporation. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  6. "Board Order No. 16195" (PDF). Local Authorities Board. 3 March 1983. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  7. "The Alberta Gazette (O.C. 640/83)" (PDF). Province of Alberta. 15 August 1983. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  8. "Table 10: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions, Census Subdivisions (Municipalities) and Designated Places, 1991 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data". 96 Census. A National Overview – Population and Dwelling Counts. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1997. pp. 136–146. ISBN 0-660-59283-5.
  9. "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  10. Statistics Canada. "Edson - 2006 Community Profiles". Retrieved 11 June 2007.
  11. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  12. "Municipal Census Stats". Town of Edson. 18 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  13. Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Data, accessed 19 May 2016
  14. Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Data, accessed 19 May 2016
  15. Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Data, accessed 19 May 2016
  16. Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 31 August 2009
  17. Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Data, accessed 19 May 2016
  18. Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Data, accessed 19 May 2016
  19. Edson Leader (27 July 2007). "Let's play ball! Kin Slo-pitch ready to roll". Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  20. Rendell-Watson, Emily (4 August 2017). "Bankrupt and dissolved, Edson Kinsmen club forced to cancel annual slo-pitch tournament". CBC News. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  21. The Weekly Anchor
  22. "Postmedia to close Alberta community newspapers in Hinton, Edson and Lacombe". CBC News. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  23. General, The Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "The Town of Edson [Civil Institution]". reg.gg.ca. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
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