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Cold Lake History

The Cold Lake & District Genealogy Club is looking for stories and articles about the pioneers of the Cold Lake area and the historical events that built this region. If you have a story to share please send email to with details. If your story or article qualifies, it will be posted here with full credit to the author and/or submitter along with other details if available.

Notable Cold Lake & District Residents

Alex Janvier - Artist

Historical Timeline

  • 2000, Oct 01 - Town of Cold Lake becomes City of Cold Lake.
  • 1996, Oct 01 - 4 Wing, Grand Centre, and Cold Lake amalgamate to form the Town of Cold Lake.
  • 1995 - Cold Lake Provincial Park expanded.
  • 1994, Nov 1 - Cold Lake Credit Union Ltd. and Caisse Populaire Bonnyville Credit Union Ltd. amalgamated to form Lakeland Credit Union Ltd.
  • 1993 - 1 Air Maintenance Squadron (1 AMS) replaces Base Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Organization.
  • 1992 - 42 Radar Site closed and moved to the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range.
  • 1989 - Cold Lake Marina established.
  • 1987 - 10 Field Technical Training Squadron (10 FTTS) established.
  • 1985, Aug 26 - Caisse Populaire St. Louis Credit Union Ltd. renamed to Caisse Populaire Bonnyville Credit Union Ltd.
  • 1985 - CFB Cold Lake Savings and Credit Union moved to Grand Centre and merged with CGCL Credit Union to form Cold Lake Credit Union.
  • 1983 - 42 Radar Squadron becomes part of NORAD.
  • 1978 - Red Flag North (now Maple Flag) flight training excersises begin.
  • 1976 - Cold Lake Provincial Park established.
  • 1971 - Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE) established.
  • 1969 - The Book Nook opened by Jim Fitzpatrick.
  • 1967 (year uncertain, after 1967) - Cherry Grove Credit Union moves to Grand Centre and changes name to CGCL Credit Union reflecting the communities of Cherry Grove, Grand Centre, and Cold Lake.
  • 1967 - Station Cold Lake Savings and Credit Union renamed CFB Cold Lake Savings and Credit Union.
  • 1966 - Gordie Howe renames Hospital Beach to Kinosoo Beach.
  • 1965, Aug 20 - St. Louis Savings Credit Union renamed Caisse Populaire St. Louis Credit Union Ltd.
  • 1963 - Alberta Treasury Branch opens in Cold Lake.
  • 1962 - Hamel's Meats opened by Gus Hamel.
  • 1961 - Fountain Tire established by Don Lobe.
  • 1959, Sep - Station Cold Lake Savings and Credit Union established to serve the Military Base.
  • 1959 - Imperial Oil and Bulk Station started operation.
  • 1958 - Grand Centre incorporated as a Town.
  • 1956, May - Greschner Motors Ltd. opened by John G. Greschner.
  • 1955 - Cold Lake incorporated as a Town.
  • 1955 - St. Mark's Protestant Chapel dedicated.
  • 1955 - Ralph Bailey's Creamery sold to Northern Alberta Dairy Pool.
  • 1954, Mar 31 - First personnel arrive at 4 Wing.
  • 1953/4 - RCAF Station Cold Lake (4 Wing) established.
  • 1953 - Grand Centre Hotel started by Steve Dolynny.
  • 1953 - Air Weapons Range established.
  • 1952 - Construction of RCAF Station Cold Lake (4 Wing) begins.
  • 1951 - First plane crash in Cold Lake.
  • 1950's - Mido's mink farm started in southeast corner of peninsula in Cold Lake Provincial Park.
  • 1950's - Sawmill built on site of Catholic Church at the end of Sawmill Road.
  • 1948, Apr - Cherry Grove Credit Union incorporated.
  • 1946 - Public electrical service started.
  • 1940 - Carl Olsen builds the Grand Centre Hotel.
  • 1940, May 7 - St. Louis Savings Credit Union incorporated to serve members of St. Louis Parish.
  • 1937 - Tony Lefebvre lived in cabin at Willow Point until 1952.
  • 1934 - Town of Grand Centre formed.
  • 1934 - Creamery established by Ralph Bailey.
  • 1932 - First local newspaper, the "Herald" was published.
  • 1930's - Catholic Church built at the end of Sawmill Road.
  • 1930's - Hall settled at what is now the day use area of Cold Lake Provincial Park. His cabin remains are there.
  • 1930's - John Lund took over Tremblay's land. Probable origin of the name "Lund's Point".
  • 1930's - J.B. Lefebvre bought Fontaine land. Tony Lefebvre took it over in 1937.
  • 1930's - Trestle bridge built across the Beaver River with a span of 450 feet.
  • 1930 - First car arrives in the Cold Lake area.
  • 1929 - United Church Dedicated.
  • 1929 - Mary Bohme arrived in the Cold Lake Area.
  • 1928 - First airplane, the Vidette flying boat, arrives in Cold Lake.
  • 1928 - First gas pump installed next to the old Belleview Hotel.
  • 1922 - Population of the Cold Lake Area was around 50 people.
  • 1922 - Edgar Duckett arrived in the Cold Lake Area.
  • 1921 - Cold Lake Missionary Hospital opens.
  • 1919 - General Store (now Clark's General Store) was built.
  • 1918 - Influenza epidemic hits Cold Lake.
  • 1918 - Martin Nyhus starts tourist business.
  • 1917 - Cold Lake School opens.
  • 1915 - One room school house is built.
  • 1913 - Charlie Morris bought land which is now the day use area of Cold Lake Provincial Park.
  • 1913 - Fontaine Brothers settled west of maintenance area on Tee Inlet.
  • 1912 - Tremblay settled in what is now the campsite area of Cold Lake Provincial Park.
  • 1911 - Cold Lake Indian Reserve #149B established.
  • 1910's - Eugene Lefebvre built home near Willow Point.
  • 1909 - Cold Lake Indian Reserve #149A established.
  • 1909 - First homesteaders arrived.
  • 1907 - Mr. Soucy builds first log house in the Cold Lake area.
  • 1885 - Northwest Rebellion massacre at Frog Lake.
  • 1876 - Cold Lake Indian Reserve #149 established just south of Beaver Crossing as part of Treaty #6.
  • 1844, Oct 2 - M. L'Abbe Jean Baptist Tibault visits Cold Lake for 16 days.
  • 1821 - North West Company merges with Hudson Bay Company and trading post is now a Hudson Bay Company post.
  • 1811 - North West Company trading post established near Beaver Crossing.
  • - Aboriginal Peoples were in the Cold Lake area for the past 10,000 years.

Historical References: Municipal District of Bonnyville

Historical References: Lakeland County

  • Birkland Lake - named after Flight Lieutenant H. Birkland, M.I.D. (died a prisoner of war)
  • Brown Lake - named after Flight Lieutenant W.W.I. Brown, M.I.D.
  • Dabbs Lake - named after Pilot Officer H.F. Dabbs, D.F.C. of Daysland, Alberta.
  • Honey Lake - named after Leading Sargeant H.A. Honey, M.I.D. of Edmonton, Alberta
  • Horne Lake - named after Warrant Officer A.M. Horne, D.F.C. of Edmonton, Alberta
  • Kirby Lake - named after Flight Seargeant E.E. Kirby of Waskatenau, Alberta
  • Mathews Lake - named after Flying Officer D.W. Matthews, D.F.M.
  • McGuffin Lake - named after Squadron Leader W.C. McGuffin, D.F.C. of Calgary, Alberta
  • Mellstrom Lake - named after Flight Lieutenant M.I. Mellstrom, D.F.C. of Calgary, Alberta
    - Also known as Woycenko's Lake
  • Munro Lake - named after Lieutenant C.S. Munro, M.I.D. of Calgary, Alberta
  • Pullar Lake - named after Flight Lieutenant W.S. Pullar, D.F.C. of Delia, Alberta
  • Roseland Lake - named after Flight Lieutenant A.W. Roseland of Black Diamond, Alberta
  • Spankie Lake - named after Flight Lieutenant E. Spankie of Bowden, Alberta
  • Zeer Lake - named after Lance Bombardier E. Zeer of Calgary, Alberta

Historical References: County of St. Paul

Historical References: County of Smoky Lake

This page last updated on Sunday, 19-Nov-2006 23:21:16 MST