High Level

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High Level
Town
Town of High Level
Flag of High Level
Flag
Motto: Gateway to the South
High Level is located in Alberta
High Level
High Level
Location of High Level in Alberta
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Country  Canada
Province  Alberta
Region Northern Alberta
Census division 17
Specialized municipality Mackenzie County
Settled 1947
Town 1965
Government[1]
 • Mayor Crystal McAteer
 • Governing body High Level Town Council
 • MP Chris Warkentin (Peace River-Conservative)
 • MLA Debbie Jabbour (Peace River-NDP)
Area (2011)[2]
 • Total 31.99 km2 (12.35 sq mi)
Elevation[3] 320 m (1,050 ft)
Population (2011)[2]
 • Total 3,641
 • Density 113.8/km2 (295/sq mi)
Time zone MST (UTC-7)
Postal code span T0H 1Z0
Area code(s) +1-780
Website Official website

High Level is a town in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located at the intersection of the Mackenzie Highway (Highway 35) and Highway 58, approximately 733 kilometres (455 mi) north of Edmonton and 725 kilometres (450 mi) south of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. It is located within Mackenzie County and was founded in 1947.

History

The name High Level originated from the height of the land that separates the Peace River and the Hay River. The original location was about 3.5 miles north of present spot and along the old Fort Vermilion/Meander River freighting trail, serving as a stopping place, not a town. The original High Level Sports Grounds were at this location and the old trail was still visible there in the mid-1960s. The High Level Golf & Country Club currently occupies this approximate location. For many years, High Level was known as Tloc Moi (Hay Meadow).[4] The first fur traders arrived to this area in 1786, but it was not until 1947 that High Level was settled, with development of road access to Fort Vermilion being the primary factor in determining the Town's present location. High Level's first power plant was established in 1957, and a year later the first post office was built. The oil fields were discovered in the 1960s, and a railway was run to the area in 1963.[4]

Geography

High Level marks the northern extent of the Peace River Country, and has one of the northernmost lands suited for agriculture in Canada. It is surrounded to the north and west by muskeg tundra. Being located in the far north of Alberta and with the vast majority of Canada's population living much further south, it can still be noted that High Level is on the same latitude as the northern tip of Great Britain and further south than the capitals of Norway, Sweden and Finland, all located in areas where marine winds moderate cold extremes.

Climate

High Level has a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc), with precipitation falling chiefly during the spring and summer, and wide temperature variations, rendering warm summers for the classification. The hottest recorded temperature 35.2 °C (95.4 °F) was on August 9, 1985, with the coldest recorded temperature -50.6 °C (-59.1 °F) on January 13, 1972. The name notwithstanding, this town lies at a low elevation for an Alberta community and the regional topography contributes to the extremes of temperature. In winter, very cold air often pools over the area. In summer, air masses originating from higher elevations warm by compression as they descend to High Level. Summer temperatures render that High Level is well within the vegetation zone, and winter average temperatures are less severe than further east in Canada even on lower latitudes.

Wildlife

High Level has a variety of wildlife, including wolves, coyotes, ravens, and many types of insects. Hunters can find moose, deer, bear and geese. There are over 150 species of birds known to nest in the area.[4]

Demographics

The population of the Town of High Level according to its 2015 municipal census is 3,823,[6] a −0.7% change from its 2004 municipal census population of 3,849.[7]

In the 2011 Census, the Town of High Level had a population of 3,641 living in 1,272 of its 1,463 total dwellings, a -6.3% change from its 2006 population of 3,887. With a land area of 31.99 km2 (12.35 sq mi), it had a population density of 113.8/km2 (294.8/sq mi) in 2011.[2] Of its population in 2011, 50.3% (1,830) were male and 49.7% (1,810) were female.[8]

According to the 2006 census, High Level had a:

  • population of 3,887 living in 1,519 dwellings, a 12.9% increase from 2001;
  • land area of 31.99 km2 (12.35 sq mi); and
  • population density of 131.3/km2 (340/sq mi).[9]

Economy

The area surrounding High Level is known for its oil reserves and forests. Two large oil and gas fields, Rainbow Lake and Zama, are located west of the town, which provides services to the oil patch. One OSB mill (which closed in 2007) is located south of High Level and a dimensional lumber mill is located in the town's industrial area. The mill is estimated to be reopened this fall, work is underway revamping the mill and preparing for a milling season this winter.

Government

The town has a council consisting of a mayor (Crystal McAteer) and six councillors (Scott Chandler, Ellis Forest, Chris MacLeod, Stephanie Milton, Michael Morgan, and Jacy Rapke).[1]

Infrastructure

Both airplane and helicopter services are available in High Level. Due to the 'remote' or northern location, medevac and chartered services, provided by Nor-Alta Aviation, Gemini Helicopters and Delta Helicopters, are offered to serve the surrounding communities.

Medevac and air charter company Airborne Energy Solutions provides fixed-wing and rotary services internationally.

Telephone service is provided by the incumbent carrier Telus as well as Northwestel.

Education

High Level has three public schools and one private school.

  • High Level Public School was the first school built in High Level and had all grades, K-12, until Florence MacDougall Community School opened. It now goes from grade 7-12.
  • Spirit of the North Community School is the newest school in High Level and opened in 2000; it houses grades 4-6.
  • Florence MacDougall Community School goes from kindergarten through third grade.
  • High Level Christian Academy goes from kindergarten through grade 9, after which students transfer to High Level Public School.

Media

The local radio station is CKHL-FM 102.1, part of the YL Country network of stations based at CKYL in Peace River. In addition, two radio services have repeaters: CBXL 99.5 FM, carrying CBC Radio One as a repeater of CBX Edmonton, and CFKX-FM 106.1, repeating CKKX-FM from Peace River. The local newspaper is The Echo.

Television is available by way of locally-owned low-powered analogue repeaters of CITV-DT Edmonton (CH2807 channel 10) and CHAN-DT Vancouver (CH2808 channel 12),[10] both owned by the High Level Community Hall Society.[11][12]

The cable television system, in operation for 25 years as High Level Cable, was purchased in August 2006 by Northwestel Cable. Both analog and digital formats are available for television service. High-speed Internet service is also available from Northwestel.

See also

References

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  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 High Level's History
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  10. w9wi.com: TV stations in Alberta
  11. REC Broadcast Query: CH2807
  12. REC Broadcast Query: CH2808

External links

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