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Bonnyville

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Overview

Bonnyville is a town of 6,000 in Lakeland, Alberta. Bonnyville is located on the north shore of Jessie Lake, with Moose Lake and Muriel Lake nearby. Jessie Lake is an important staging area for thousands of migrating bi

Facts

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage

Media

From Wikipedia1,413 words

WBP editorial3

A gateway to the boreal outdoors

Nestled between two larger centres, Bonnyville enjoys a quiet position that makes it an ideal launchpad for exploring Alberta's boreal forest. The town’s proximity to the Beaver River and Moose Lake offers anglers a chance to try for trophy pike and walleye without the crowds of more tourist‑heavy spots. In winter, the frozen waterways become natural highways for snowshoeing and cross‑country skiing, and the surrounding snow‑covered timber provides a backdrop for wildlife spotting, especially elk and boreal owls. Because the town sits at a modest elevation of 564 m, temperature swings are gentle, giving visitors a comfortable climate for day‑long outings whether they’re paddling, hiking or simply picnicking by the water’s edge.

Local flavour beyond the grain elevators

While the historic grain elevators hint at Bonnyville’s agricultural roots, the contemporary town subtly weaves that heritage into its culinary scene. Small family‑run diners serve up regional dishes such as bison burgers and perogies, often sourced from nearby farms. A weekend stop at the local market reveals a surprising variety of artisanal cheeses, smoked fish, and berry preserves, reflecting the mix of cultural influences from the surrounding First Nations and European settlers. For a more immersive experience, ask the staff about the town’s seasonal community events—hockey tournaments, river festivals, and agricultural fairs—where you can mingle with locals who take pride in their multi‑natural landscape and celebrate it with food, music and modest, heartfelt hospitality.

Travel craft: getting there without the rush

Most visitors arrive via Highway 28, but the true pleasure lies in avoiding the main thoroughfare during peak travel times. Departing from Edmonton early on a Saturday morning, for instance, allows you to slip onto the less‑traveled stretch of the Buffalo Trail, a scenic alternative that hugs the river’s edge and offers spontaneous stops at roadside pull‑outs for photography. If you choose to drive through at night, the clear northern sky above the town’s modest lights provides an excellent backdrop for amateur astrophotography. Renting a compact SUV rather than a larger vehicle also makes navigating the town’s tight parking lanes and gravel‑surface country roads more manageable, letting you explore both the urban core and the surrounding countryside with ease.

Introduction

For the municipal district, see Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87. For the provincial electoral district, see Bonnyville (provincial electoral district). Town in Alberta, CanadaBonnyvilleTownTown of BonnyvilleGrain elevators, 1974 FlagMotto: It's Multi-NaturalLocation in the MD of Bonnyville No. 87BonnyvilleLocation of Bonnyville in AlbertaCoordinates: 54°16′05″N 110°43′49″W / 54.26806°N 110.73028°W / 54.26806; -110.73028CountryCanadaProvinceAlbertaRegionNorthern AlbertaPlanning regionLower AthabascaMunicipal districtMunicipal District of Bonnyville No. 87Incorporated  • VillageSeptember 19, 1929 • TownFebruary 3, 1948Government • MayorElisa Brosseau • Governing bodyBonnyville Town Council • MPShannon Stubbs (Conservative)—Lakeland • MLAScott Cyr (United Conservative Party) — Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. PaulArea (2021) • Land14.17 km2 (5.47 sq mi)Elevation564 m (1,850 ft)Population (2021) • Total6,404 • Density452.1/km2 (1,171/sq mi)Time zoneUTC−7 (MST) • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)Forward sortation areaT9NArea codes+1-780, +1-587HighwaysHighway 28Buffalo TrailWaterwaysMoose LakeBeaver RiverWebsiteOfficial website Bonnyville is a town situated in East Northern Alberta, Canada between Cold Lake and St. Paul. The Municipal District (MD) of Bonnyville No. 87 surrounds the community. The community derives its name from Father Bonnin, a French priest.

Demographics

[edit] Federal censuspopulation historyYearPop.±%19915,132—    19965,100−0.6%20015,709+11.9%20065,832+2.2%20116,216+6.6%20165,975−3.9%Source: Statistics Canada In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Bonnyville had a population of 6,404 living in 2,537 of its 2,986 total private dwellings, a change of 7.2% from its 2016 population of 5,975. With a land area of 14.17 km2 (5.47 sq mi), it had a population density of 451.9/km2 (1,170.5/sq mi) in 2021. The population of the Town of Bonnyville according to its 2017 municipal census is 6,422, a change of -7.2% from its 2014 municipal census population of 6,921. In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Bonnyville recorded a population of 5,975 living in 2,281 of its 2,706 total private dwellings, a -3.9% change from its 2011 population of 6,216. With a land area of 14.18 km2 (5.47 sq mi), it had a population density of 421.4/km2 (1,091.3/sq mi) in 2016. Population controversy[edit] The determination of the Town of Bonnyville's population has been subject to controversy since 2006. Statistics Canada's February 2017 release of the population and dwelling counts from the 2016 census reported an overall population of 5,417, which was 1,504 residents fewer than 6,921 permanent residents the municipality counted in its own census conducted in 2014, and 799 less than the 6,216 counted in Statistics Canada's 2011 census. The population count as initially reported by Statistics Canada resulted in a change of -12.9%, which gave Bonnyville the distinction of being the municipality in Canada, among those with at least 5,000 inhabitants, that experienced the greatest percentage loss in population between 2011 and 2016. The Town of Bonnyville disputed the 2016 census results and conducted its own census in 2017 that counted a population of 6,422, which was 1,005 higher than the 2016 population published by Statistics Canada and 499 less than what the town had counted in 2014. Later in 2017, Statistics Canada issued a revised 2016 population count of 5,975 for Bonnyville, 558 higher than the originally reported population of 5,417. Language[edit] Although English is the dominant language in Bonnyville, it is home to a notable Franco-Albertan minority. Its most common non-official mother tongues are Tagalog and Ukrainian. Mother tongue, 2016 census Number of speakers Percentage English 4,390 81.1% French 335 6.2% Tagalog 140 2.6% Ukrainian 60 1.1% Other 370 6.8% Multiple responses 120 2.2% Total responses 5,415 100.0% Visible minorities and Aboriginals[edit] Visible minority and Aboriginal population (Canada 2016 Census) Population group Population % of total population White 4,155 76.8% Visible minority group South Asian 35 0.6% Chinese 2 0% Black 30 0.6% Filipino 255 4.7% Latin American 25 0.5% Arab 110 2% Southeast Asian 0 0% West Asian 0 0% Korean 0 0% Japanese 10 0.2% Visible minority, n.i.e. 0 0% Multiple visible minority 15 0.3% Total visible minority population 545 10.1% Aboriginal group First Nations 270 5% Métis 440 8.1% Inuit 0 0% Aboriginal, n.i.e. 15 0.3% Multiple Aboriginal identity 0 0% Total Aboriginal population 710 13.1% Total population 5,410 100%

Economy

[edit] Bonnyville's economy is founded on its nearby petroleum reserves as well as its agricultural sector which consists mostly of grain farming and livestock. As Bonnyville sits on the edge of the Athabasca and Cold Lake Tar Sands, among Canada's largest crude oil reserves, petrol companies like Imperial Oil and Canadian Natural Resources Limited have invested significantly to tap resources in the area. Besides the aforementioned agricultural sectors, the municipality has seen increases in game farming, as well as specialty crop output. It is also home to one of the largest tree nurseries in Alberta, the Bonnyville Tree Nursery, with an area of around 52000 square feet dedicated to its operation. Its location between the markets of St. Paul and Cold Lake drives much of its commercial activity, especially due to the latter's air force base.

Government

[edit] MLAs representing Bonnyville Assembly Years Member Party Part of St. Paul 6th 1926–1930 Laudas Joly United Farmers 7th 1930–1935 Joseph Dechene Liberal 8th 1935–1940 Joseph Beaudry Social Credit 9th 1940–1944 10th 1944–1948 11th 1948–1952 Part of Bonnyville 12th 1952–1955 Laudas Joly Social Credit 13th 1955–1959 Jake Josvanger Liberal 14th 1959–1961 Karl Nordstrom Social Credit 1961 Vacant 1961–1963 RomeoLamothe Social Credit 15th 1963–1967 16th 1967–1971 17th 1971–1975 Donald Hansen Progressive Conservative 18th 1975–1979 19th 1979–1982 Ernie Isley 20th 1982–1986 21st 1986–1989 22nd 1989–1993 23rd 1993–1997 Leo Vasseur Liberal Part of Bonnyville-Cold Lake 24th 1997–2001 Denis Ducharme Progressive Conservative 25th 2001–2004 26th 2004–2008 27th 2008–2012 Genia Leskiw 28th 2012–2015 29th 2015–2017 Scott Cyr Wildrose 2017–2019 United Conservative Part of Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul 30th 2019– TBD Bonnyville Town Council is composed of a mayor and six councilors, all directly elected at large. The current mayor, as of the 2021 election, is Elisa Brosseau. The offices of the Municipal District of Bonnyville are located within the town. Bonnyville is located within the Bonnyville-Cold Lake provincial electoral district. The current MLA is Scott Cyr, the United Conservative Party, elected in 2023. Previous MLAs include Genia Leskiw and Denis Ducharme. Federally, Bonnyville falls within the electoral district of Lakeland, a newly re-created riding which is currently held by Shannon Stubbs of the Conservative Party, also first elected in 2015.

Education

[edit] Lakeland Catholic School District No. 150 and Northern Lights School Division No. 69 operate public schools within Bonnyville. Lakeland Catholic School District No. 150 École Notre Dame Elementary School (offering kindergarten through grade 4 English and French programming) École Dr. Bernard Brosseau School (offering grade 5 through grade 8 English and French programming) École Notre Dame High School (offering grade 9 through grade 12 programming and a great handball team) Northern Lights School Division No. 69 Duclos School (offering kindergarten through grade 4 programming) H.E. Bourgoin School (offering grade 5 through grade 8 programming) Bonnyville Centralized High School (offering grade 9 through grade 12 programming) Bonnyville Outreach School (offering grade 9 through grade 12 programming) Conseil scolaire Centre-Est École des Beaux-Lacs (French school offering kindergarten through grade 12 programming)

Media

[edit] Bonnyville is served by CKSA-TV-2 (VHF channel 9), a rebroadcaster of Citytv affiliate CKSA-DT in Lloydminster. Bonnyville is home to 2 FM radio stations, Hot 101.3 FM (CJEG-FM), owned by Stingray Digital with a CHR/Top 40 format, and Country 99 (CFNA-FM) at 99.7 with a Country format, owned by Vista Radio. Bonnyville is served by two local newspapers: the Bonnyville Nouvelle, which recently became a regional paper under the name of Lakeland This Week, features news from Bonnyville, St. Paul, Cold Lake, Lac La Biche, and Elk Point. Respect, launched in 2018, is a locally owned regional newspaper "for seniors (and seniors-to-be)."