Chipewyan Lake

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Chipewyan Lake had a population of 72 living in 22 of its 28 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 86. With a land area of 4.29 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.

As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Chipewyan Lake had a population of 0 living in 2 of its 6 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2011 population of 38. With a land area of 2.39 km2, it had a population density of in 2016.

History

Chipewyan Lake was likely established in 1902 as an outpost of Wabasca Hudson's Bay Company. It was located on the south shore of Chipewyan Lake, Alberta, about 120 miles northeast of Wabasca. The Hudson’s Bay Company and the Revillon Frerès Trading Company operated sites at Chipewyan Lake in very close proximity to each other until 1935-36, when the HBC took over the Revillon Frerès Trading Company buildings. The HBC did not own the land upon which they operated the Chipewyan Lake post and attempted to apply for license of occupation in 1950 but never obtained it.

It is likely that Chipewyan Lake operated as an outpost for Wabasca from inception to the early 1950s. In 1950 a new store was erected at the post as an outpost of Wabasca and terminated operation by 1954.  Ref: Manitoba Archives “Chipewyan Lakes – Fur Dealers Returns”

In1959, a community development missionary from Calling Lake, Mr. Isaac Glick, along with an entrepreneur, Mr. James McIntosh arranged to lease and later purchase (June 1960) the HBC store, house and buildings and arrange to have a teacher come to the community on the request and commitment from the trappers that they would bring their children back and attend school in their home community.  In 1960, Fred and Elsie Gingerich arrived in Chipewyan Lakes as teachers under contract to the newly formed Northland School Division.  They taught in the main store building and operated the store out of the nearby original log store.  By 1962, a new school building had been brought in over winter roads and assembled on site.  A second school building was brought in a few years later.

Currently (2024), the community does not have a store but has a private road build by logging and oil-companies that is sand and gravel and roughly maintained, giving year-round access to Wabasca about 145 km south.  There is electrical power from a local power plant and a local water purification plant where water is transported by vehicle to each home.  A well-equipped, modern two-room school with gym together with a community hall acts as a hub for community activities.

References

References

1. (2019-05-30). "Wildfires force more evacuations in remote northern Alberta communities". CBC News.
2. "This is an Alberta Emergency Alert. Chipewyan Lake has issued an Evacuation Order due to wildfire.".
3. (February 9, 2022). "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and designated places". [[Statistics Canada]].
4. (February 8, 2017). "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". [[Statistics Canada]].
5. Glick, Isaac. (2016). "Risk & adventure: community development in northern Alberta (1955-1970)". Isaac Glick.