Wainwright, Alberta

{{Short description|Town in Alberta, Canada}} {{About||the municipal district|Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61|other uses|Wainwright (disambiguation){{!}}Wainwright}} {{Use Canadian English|date=October 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox settlement |name = Wainwright |official_name = Town of Wainwright |other_name = |native_name =  |nickname = Buffalo Capital of Canada |settlement_type = Town |motto = |image_skyline = Wainwright sign.JPG |imagesize = |image_caption = Welcome sign |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |city_logo = |citylogo_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map = Alberta#Canada |pushpin_label_position = none |pushpin_map_caption = Location of Wainwright in Alberta |pushpin_mapsize = 220 |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Canada |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = Alberta |subdivision_type2 = Region |subdivision_name2 = Central Alberta |subdivision_type3 = Census division |subdivision_name3 = No. 7 |subdivision_type4 = Municipal district |subdivision_name4 = Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61 |government_footnotes = <ref>{{AMOS}}</ref> |government_type = |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = Bruce Pugh |leader_title1 = Governing Body |leader_name1 = Wainwright Town Council |leader_title2 = MP |leader_name2 = Pierre Poilievre |leader_title3 = MLA |leader_name3 = Garth Rowswell |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title = Founded |established_date = |established_title1 = Incorporated<ref name=AMATownProfiles>{{cite web | url=http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/MunicipalProfiles/basicReport/TOWN.PDF | publisher=Alberta Municipal Affairs | title=Location and History Profile: Town of Wainwright | page=723 | date=October 7, 2016 | access-date=October 11, 2016}}</ref> |established_date1 =   |established_title2 =  • Village |established_date2 = March 25, 1909 |established_title3 =  • Town |established_date3 = July 14, 1910 | area_footnotes =  (2021)<ref name=2021census/> | area_land_km2 = 12.17 | area_urban_km2 = | population_as_of = 2021 | population_footnotes = <ref name=2021census/><ref name=2021censusPC>{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810001101 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada and population centres | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=February 13, 2022}}</ref> | population_note = | population_total = 6606  | population_density_km2 = 543 | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_blank1_title = | population_blank1 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi = |timezone =MST |utc_offset = −7 |timezone_DST = MDT |utc_offset_DST = −6 |coordinates = {{coord|52|50|N|110|52|W|region:CA-AB_type:city_scale:60000|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.safetycodes.ab.ca/Public/Documents/PSSSOP_Handbook_Version_12_Online_Feb_21_2012b.pdf | title=Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town) | publisher=Safety Codes Council | type=PDF | pages=212–215 (PDF pages 226–229) | date=January 2012 | access-date=October 9, 2013 | archive-date=October 16, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016085027/http://www.safetycodes.ab.ca/Public/Documents/PSSSOP_Handbook_Version_12_Online_Feb_21_2012b.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref> |elevation_m = 675 |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = Forward sortation area |postal_code = T9W |area_codes = +1-780, +1-587 |blank_name = Highways |blank_info = Highway 14<br>Highway 41 |blank1_name = Waterways |blank1_info = Battle River |website = {{official website|www.wainwright.ca}} |footnotes = }}

'''Wainwright''' is a town in east-central Alberta, Canada. It is approximately {{convert|206|km}} southeast of Edmonton.

Located west of the Alberta–Saskatchewan border, Wainwright is {{convert|61|km|mi}} south of Vermilion in the Battle River valley. Highway 41, called the Buffalo Trail, and Highway 14 go through the town. CFB Wainwright is located in Denwood, southwest of Wainwright. thumb|255px|An entrance road to Wainwright

== History == Originally named Denwood by settler James Dawson in 1905, the town was relocated by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway {{convert|5|km}} west-northwest and renamed Wainwright after General William Wainwright, the second vice-president of railway. The original townsite opened with post office in 1907 along with Denwood Hotel and store. The post office and hotel (becoming Wainwright Hotel) relocated to Wainwright in 1908<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://albertashistoricplaces.com/2017/09/06/wainwright-hotel-2/|title = Wainwright Hotel|date = 6 September 2017}}</ref> with the old townsite later becoming CFB Wainwright.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wainwright.ca/visiting/heritage/history-of-wainwright/#:~:text=The%20original%20townsite%20was%20established,was%20named%20Wainwright%20after%20Mr.|title = History of Wainwright - Town of Wainwright}}</ref>

alt=Second Ave. with a focus on a group of people in a motor car in the middle of the street in front of the Wainwright Hotel|none|thumb|299x299px|A view of Second Ave. featuring the Wainwright Hotel pre-1912.

== Demographics == In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Wainwright had a population of 6,606 living in 2,664 of its 2,914 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:6606-6285}}|6285|1}} from its 2016 population of 6,285. With a land area of {{cvt|12.17|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|6606|12.17|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name=2021census>{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000202&geocode=A000248 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=February 9, 2022}}</ref>

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Wainwright recorded a population of 6,270 living in 2,524 of its 2,770 total private dwellings, a {{percentage|{{#expr:6270-5925}}|5925|1}} change from its 2011 population of 5,925. With a land area of {{convert|9.1|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|6270|9.1|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2016.<ref name=2016censusABmunis>{{cite web | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=86&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 8, 2017 | access-date=February 8, 2017}}</ref>

The Town of Wainwright's 2013 municipal census counted a population of 6,289,<ref name=2013census>{{cite web | url=http://www.wainwright.ca/business/statistics/population/ | title=Population: Town of Wainwright Population Growth | publisher=Town of Wainwright | access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref> an 8.9% increase over its 2008 municipal census population of 5,775.<ref name=2011pop>{{cite web | url=http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/documents/msb/2011_pop.pdf | title=2011 Municipal Affairs Population List | publisher=Alberta Municipal Affairs | date=October 5, 2010 | access-date=December 12, 2011}}</ref>

== Arts and culture == Wainwright has the third-largest stampede in Canada. It occurs at the end of June, and includes a rodeo, chuckwagon races, parade, midway, an agricultural fair, and a town wide horse race for anyone over 18.

== A Canadian First == On 7 October 2025, Mayor Pugh and the Town Council passed a proclamation condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry, making this the first township in Canada to pass such a resolution. Wainwright has a small but thriving Hindu community.

== Education == '''Buffalo Trail Public Schools Regional Division No. 28''' *Wainwright Elementary School *Wainwright High School '''East Central Alberta Catholic Separate Schools Regional Division No. 16''' *Blessed Sacrament School *Blessed Sacrament Outreach School<ref>{{cite web | url=http://outreach.ecacs16.ab.ca/ | title= Welcome... | publisher=Blessed Sacrament Outreach School | access-date=2012-01-19}}</ref> '''Greater North Central Francophone Education Region No. 2''' *École Saint-Christophe

== Transportation ==

The town is a divisional point on the Canadian National Railway main line. '''Wainwright railway station''' is served by Via Rail's ''The Canadian''.

{{Collapsible list | expand = | framestyle = | titlestyle = | title = Services | liststyle = | hlist = | bullets = | 1 = {{anchor|Railway station}}{{Adjacent stations|noclear=y|system=Via Rail|line=Canadian|left=Viking|right=Unity|header2 = Former services | system3=Canadian National Railway|line3=Main|left3=Fabyan|right3=Greenshields}} }}

== Media == ;Radio *CKKY-FM/K-Rock 101.9 – provides old and new rock music<ref>[http://www.krock1019.com/ www.krock1019.com]</ref> *CKWY-FM/Wayne-FM – provides a mix of classic hits and top 40 music<ref>[http://www.waynefm.ca WayneFM.ca]</ref>

;Newspapers The ''Edge'' and ''The Star'' (formerly the ''Star Chronicle'') merged to be the ''Star/Edge'' in 2013. It is published weekly on Fridays.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.starnews.ca/site/about/|title = About 900 attend annual Wainwright Arts Festival | STAR EDGE NEWS| date=3 March 2017 }}</ref>

== Notable people == *Glen Sather, former NHL player, coach, and general manager, and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame *Lynn Seymour, ballerina *Frank C. Turner, film and television actor, iconographer *Bobby McMann, NHL player for the Seattle Kraken *Jacob Middleton, NHL player for the Minnesota Wild *Keaton Middleton, NHL player for the Colorado Avalanche *Mason Shaw, AHL player for the Manitoba Moose *Kim Dorland, contemporary Canadian painter

== See also == *List of communities in Alberta *List of francophone communities in Alberta *List of towns in Alberta <gallery> File:Park Hotel (Wainwright).jpg|View of the Park Hotel pre-1920. File:Wainwright, May 26, 1912. Destruction by fire of Small Bro's Block Etc.jpg|Smoke billowing over Wainwright, the aftermath of a fire. File:Canadian National Station. Wainwright, Alberta, Canada.jpg|A view across the tracks of the Canadian National Station in Wainwright, between 1926 and 1940. File:Main Street, Wainwright.jpg|Unpaved road in front of businesses with a water tower in the background in 1910. File:Main Street looking Wainwright.jpg|View of busy commercial street in town with stores and shops in 1930. File:Part of Main St. looking North. Wainwright. Alberta. Canada.jpg|A view looking north of Main Street showing automobiles and a clock tower as well as some businesses along the street, taken in the 1930s. </gallery>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{commons category|Wainwright, Alberta}} *{{official website}}

{{Geographic location | Centre = Wainwright | North = Vermilion | Northeast = Paradise Valley | East = North Battleford | Southeast = Edgerton | South = Czar | Southwest = Hardisty | West = Irma | Northwest = Innisfree }} {{Subdivisions of Alberta|towns=yes}} {{Authority control}}

Category:1909 establishments in Alberta Category:Towns in Alberta