Lake Louise, Alberta

History

Prior to the arrival of Europeans, local indigenous peoples were the only inhabitants of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains—including what is today Lake Louise—where they hunted the once-widespread bison, as well as elk, moose and other big and small game animals, in addition to fishing the rich waterways and foraging off of the many species of edible and medicinal plants in the region. In the language of the Nakoda people, Lake Louise is called Ho-run-num-nay, meaning "lake of the little fishes".

During the 1870s, construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) began, with the route going through Bow Valley. A Nakoda guide took CPR workman Tom Wilson to the site in 1882, and Wilson named it 'Emerald Lake'. The community was later called 'Holt City', and then 'Laggan', before being renamed Lake Louise. A ca. 1890 CPR station was replaced in 1910, but continued to be used by the railway company for other purposes until it was donated to Heritage Park Historical Village, Calgary, in 1976. The depot was moved to the park, where it was restored in the style of the era when the village was called Laggan. The 1910 station was declared a heritage railway station by the federal government in 1991, having been well-preserved and operating today as a restaurant.

Lake Louise was added to Rocky Mountains Park in 1892, and has subsequently become an international tourist destination, made more accessible by its location near the Trans-Canada Highway.

Geography

The community is in Division No. 15, one of 19 census divisions of Alberta and the federal riding of Banff—Airdrie. It is beside the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1), 180 km west of Calgary.

Climate

Lake Louise experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc). Annual snowfall averages 279.1 cm and although winter temperatures can fall below −50 C in January and February the averages are -18.4 C and -17.6 C respectively. Summers consist of frosty mornings and crisp, cool days. Snow can occur in any month of the year. Since lower elevations on said latitude have humid continental climates instead, it may also be described as a subalpine climate. Because of its high diurnal air temperature variation and high altitude, the frost-free period averages only 14 days.

Demographics

of Lake Louise

|1941|172 |1951|175 |1956|56 |1961|178 |1966|121 |1971|165 |1976|140 |1981|355 |1986|688 |1991|500 |2011|691

Lake Louise recorded a population of 691 in the 2011 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada.

Government

Lake Louise is administered by Improvement District No. 9.

Infrastructure

The Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) runs adjacent to the community while Highway 1A begins at the entrance to the community. The southern terminus of the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) is just north of the community.

References

References

1. {{cite cgndb
2. (January 2012). "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)". Safety Codes Council.
3. "Lake Louise".
4. (August 2024). "Laggan Station".
5. "Heritage Railway Station of Canada Lake Louise, Alberta". Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
6. "The Station Restaurant". Laggan Developments Ltd.
7. {{1951CDNcuipr
8. {{1956CDNcuipr
9. {{1961CDNcuipr
10. {{1966CDNcuipr
11. {{1971CDNcuipr
12. {{1976CDNcuipr
13. {{1981CDNcuipr
14. {{1986CDNcuipr
15. {{1991CDNcuipr
16. (January 11, 2017). "Evaluation of Parks Canada's Townsite Management Sub-Program". [[Parks Canada]].
17. Calgary Heritage Park. "Laggan Station".
18. [http://www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/cfml/profiles/data/0164_1.htm Improvement District No. 9 (Banff)] {{Webarchive. link. (2007-09-15 - Alberta Municipal Affairs)