Edson, Alberta

The town was founded as Heatherwood, but the name was changed around 1911 in honour of Edson Joseph Chamberlin, vice-president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. When Edson was declared the local rail centre, smaller communities such as Rosevear (abandoned), Wolf Creek, Carrot Creek and Niton Junction fell into a decline that continues today. In the 1950s, upgrading of Highway 16 caused a dramatic increase in private, commercial and industrial traffic. Today, the Yellowhead Highway carries some of the heaviest traffic flow in Alberta and has been declared the second Trans-Canada Highway. In the 1970s, a revitalized coal industry launched the Cardinal River Coal and Luscar Sterco mines in the area. In the 1980s Pelican Spruce Mills (now Weyerhaeuser Company Limited) and Sundance Forest Industries (now Edson Forest Products a division of West Fraser Timber) became two of Edson's major employers. The former hamlets of Glenwood and Grande Prairie Trail were annexed from Yellowhead County by the Town of Edson on 1 January 1984.{{cite web | url=http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0100/Edson_BO_16195_1984_No4.pdf | title=Board Order No. 16195 | publisher=Local Authorities Board | date=3 March 1983 | access-date=2012-11-20}}{{cite web | url=http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0100/Edson_Gaz_OC_640_83_1984_No2.pdf | title=The Alberta Gazette (O.C. 640/83) | publisher=Province of Alberta | date=15 August 1983 | access-date=2012-11-20}} In 2023, Edson was evacuated due to wildfires, a few weeks later, Edson declared another state of emergency due to floods.

{{stack|{{Historical populations

| title = Population history

| type = Canada

| align =

| footnote = Source: Statistics Canada{{cite book | title=96 Census | volume=A National Overview – Population and Dwelling Counts | year=1997 | publisher=Statistics Canada | location=Ottawa | pages=136–146 | chapter=Table 10: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions, Census Subdivisions (Municipalities) and Designated Places, 1991 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data | isbn=0-660-59283-5}}{{cite web | title=Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data (Alberta) | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census01/products/standard/popdwell/Table-CSD-D.cfm?PR=48 | publisher=Statistics Canada | access-date=2012-04-02}}{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4814024&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Edson&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=4814024 |title=Edson – 2006 Community Profiles |author=Statistics Canada |author-link=Statistics Canada |access-date=2007-06-11}}{{cite web | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=51&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48&CMA=0 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=8 February 2012 | access-date=2012-02-08}}

|1996|7399

|2001|7585

|2006|8098

|2011|8475

|2016|8414

}}}}

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Edson had a population of 8,374 living in 3,386 of its 3,768 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:8374-8414}}|8414|1}} from its 2016 population of 8,414. With a land area of {{cvt|29.43|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|8374|29.43|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.{{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}}

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Edson recorded a population of 8,414 living in 3,359 of its 3,762 total private dwellings, a {{percentage|{{#expr:8414-8475}}|8475|1}} change from its 2011 population of 8,475. With a land area of {{convert|29.72|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|8414|29.72|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2016.{{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=8 February 2017 | access-date=8 February 2017}}

The Town of Edson's 2012 municipal census counted a population of 8,646.{{cite web |url=http://www.edson.ca/town/town-news/post/1200 |title=Municipal Census Stats |publisher=Town of Edson |date=18 July 2012 |access-date=2012-07-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202034053/http://www.edson.ca/town/town-news/post/1200 |archive-date=2 February 2013 }}

Edson lies in the McLeod River valley, immediately east of the Canadian Rockies foothills. The surrounding landscape consists of primarily taiga forest with sand hills and muskeg. The town is located at an altitude of {{convert|925|m|ft}}. Two provincial parks are located west of Edson: Sundance Provincial Park along Sundance Creek and Obed Lake Provincial Park surrounding the three Obed Lakes.

Due to Edson's high elevation, the community experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc). The highest temperature ever recorded in Edson was {{convert|38.9|C|0}} on 30 June 2021, with the humidex reaching 41. The coldest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|-48.3|C|0}} on 22 January 1943, and 14 January 1950. Summers in Edson are generally mild to warm with chilly nights and moderate precipitation. Winters are long and severely cold with relatively high snowfall, higher than surrounding areas due to the town's high elevation.

{{Weather box

| collapsed = yes

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Edson Airport, 1971–2000 normals, extremes 1914–present

| Jan record high C = 15.6

| Feb record high C = 19.4

| Mar record high C = 22.2

| Apr record high C = 30.0

| May record high C = 33.3

| Jun record high C = 38.9

| Jul record high C = 37.2

| Aug record high C = 33.4

| Sep record high C = 33.0

| Oct record high C = 28.9

| Nov record high C = 20.6

| Dec record high C = 16.7

| year record high C = 38.9

| Jan high C = −5.2

| Feb high C = −2.2

| Mar high C = 3.6

| Apr high C = 10.6

| May high C = 16.2

| Jun high C = 19.4

| Jul high C = 21.6

| Aug high C = 20.6

| Sep high C = 15.7

| Oct high C = 10.3

| Nov high C = 0.1

| Dec high C = −5.0

| year high C = 8.8

| Jan mean C = −11.8

| Feb mean C = −9.2

| Mar mean C = −3.3

| Apr mean C = 3.5

| May mean C = 8.9

| Jun mean C = 12.6

| Jul mean C = 14.6

| Aug mean C = 13.7

| Sep mean C = 8.8

| Oct mean C = 3.4

| Nov mean C = −6.0

| Dec mean C = −11.2

| year mean C = 2.0

| Jan low C = −18.2

| Feb low C = −16.1

| Mar low C = −10.2

| Apr low C = −3.7

| May low C = 1.4

| Jun low C = 5.7

| Jul low C = 7.6

| Aug low C = 6.8

| Sep low C = 1.8

| Oct low C = −3.5

| Nov low C = −12.1

| Dec low C = −17.5

| year low C = −4.8

| Jan record low C = −48.3

| Feb record low C = −47.3

| Mar record low C = −41.1

| Apr record low C = −34.4

| May record low C = −13.3

| Jun record low C = −6.7

| Jul record low C = -3.9

| Aug record low C = −3.9

| Sep record low C = −18.3

| Oct record low C = −34.6

| Nov record low C = −39.2

| Dec record low C = −47.8

| year record low C = −48.3

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 26.4

| Feb precipitation mm = 14.2

| Mar precipitation mm = 20.0

| Apr precipitation mm = 23.6

| May precipitation mm = 57.9

| Jun precipitation mm = 106.7

| Jul precipitation mm = 106.2

| Aug precipitation mm = 82.2

| Sep precipitation mm = 62.6

| Oct precipitation mm = 23.2

| Nov precipitation mm = 18.5

| Dec precipitation mm = 20.9

| year precipitation mm = 562.4

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 1.4

|Feb rain mm = 0.5

|Mar rain mm = 3.0

|Apr rain mm = 12.9

|May rain mm = 52.2

|Jun rain mm = 106.7

|Jul rain mm = 106.2

|Aug rain mm = 82.2

|Sep rain mm = 56.7

|Oct rain mm = 11.4

|Nov rain mm = 2.5

|Dec rain mm = 0.7

|year rain mm = 436.3

|Jan snow cm = 35.8

|Feb snow cm = 22.3

|Mar snow cm = 25.8

|Apr snow cm = 13.8

|May snow cm = 6.4

|Jun snow cm = 0.0

|Jul snow cm = 0.0

|Aug snow cm = 0.1

|Sep snow cm = 6.7

|Oct snow cm = 13.4

|Nov snow cm = 22.3

|Dec snow cm = 30.0

|year snow cm = 176.5

|Jan sun = 84.5

|Feb sun = 112.1

|Mar sun = 155.3

|Apr sun = 210.2

|May sun = 243.2

|Jun sun = 251.5

|Jul sun = 278.1

|Aug sun = 245.8

|Sep sun = 169.2

|Oct sun = 148.0

|Nov sun = 95.1

|Dec sun = 73.7

|year sun = 2066.8

|Jan percentsun = 33.7

|Feb percentsun = 40.6

|Mar percentsun = 42.3

|Apr percentsun = 50.1

|May percentsun = 49.4

|Jun percentsun = 49.5

|Jul percentsun = 54.4

|Aug percentsun = 53.6

|Sep percentsun = 44.3

|Oct percentsun = 45.0

|Nov percentsun = 36.6

|Dec percentsun = 31.4

|year percentsun = 44.2

| source 1 = Environment CanadaEnvironment Canada—[http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1914-02-01%7C1960-01-31&mlyRange=1914-01-01%7C1960-12-01&StationID=2505&Prov=AB&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=2&searchMethod=contains&txtStationName=edson&timeframe=2&Year=1924&Month=7# Canadian Climate Data], accessed 19 May 2016Environment Canada—[http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1914-02-01%7C1960-01-31&mlyRange=1914-01-01%7C1960-12-01&StationID=2505&Prov=AB&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=2&searchMethod=contains&txtStationName=edson&timeframe=2&Year=1943&Month=1# Canadian Climate Data], accessed 19 May 2016Environment Canada—[http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1914-02-01%7C1960-01-31&mlyRange=1914-01-01%7C1960-12-01&StationID=2505&Prov=AB&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=2&searchMethod=contains&txtStationName=edson&timeframe=2&Year=1950&Month=1# Canadian Climate Data], accessed 19 May 2016{{cite web

| url = https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=2010-09-20%7C2021-07-09&dlyRange=2010-09-23%7C2021-07-09&mlyRange=%7C&StationID=48948&Prov=AB&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnProx&optLimit=specDate&Month=6&Day=1&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2021&Year=2021&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&txtRadius=25&optProxType=navLink&txtLatDecDeg=53.580279722222&txtLongDecDeg=-116.45333527778&timeframe=2

| title = Daily Data Report for June 2021

| work = Canadian Climate Data

| date = 31 October 2011

| publisher = Environment and Climate Change Canada

| access-date = 10 July 2021}}Environment Canada—[http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?Province=ALTA&StationName=&SearchType=&LocateBy=Province&Proximity=25&ProximityFrom=City&StationNumber=&IDType=MSC&CityName=&ParkName=&LatitudeDegrees=&LatitudeMinutes=&LongitudeDegrees=&LongitudeMinutes=&NormalsClass=A&SelNormals=&StnId=2507& Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000], accessed 31 August 2009Environment Canada—[http://climate.weather.gc.ca/historical_data/search_historic_data_stations_e.html?searchType=stnName&timeframe=1&txtStationName=edson&searchMethod=contains&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=1920&Year=2016&Month=5&Day=19&selRowPerPage=25 Canadian Climate Data], accessed 19 May 2016Environment Canada—[http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=1996-06-07%7C2016-05-18&dlyRange=1996-03-01%7C2016-05-18&mlyRange=1996-04-01%7C2007-11-01&StationID=27213&Prov=AB&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=6&searchMethod=contains&Month=8&Day=1&txtStationName=edson&timeframe=2&Year=1998 Canadian Climate Data], accessed 19 May 2016

| date = August 2010

}}

The main industries that drive the local economy are resource based – coal, oil, natural gas and forestry products.

Edson was home to Canada's largest slo-pitch tournament until 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.edsonleader.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=1909997 |title=Let's play ball! Kin Slo-pitch ready to roll |author=Edson Leader |date=27 July 2007 |access-date=2010-11-20}}{{cite news | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edson-kinsmen-slo-pitch-tournament-cancelled-1.4233763 | title=Bankrupt and dissolved, Edson Kinsmen club forced to cancel annual slo-pitch tournament | first=Emily | last=Rendell-Watson | publisher=CBC News | date=4 August 2017 | access-date=11 May 2019 }}

The Galloway Station Museum, established in 1981, explores the history of Edson and the surrounding area. It contains an original Canadian Northern Railway station used by several communities around Edson as well as large modern gallery spaces, an archives and public events space.{{cite web |url=https://www.gallowaystationmuseum.com/history-of-galloway-station-museum-1 |title=History of the Galloway Station Museum" |website=Galloway Station Museum |access-date=December 31, 2023}} The museum is located in RCMP Centennial Park, a large park at the centre of town created in 1974 to honour the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta. The park, run by the Town of Edson, also contains an event pavilion, a Canadian National Railway caboose, a preserved RCAF Lockheed T-33 Silver Star aircraft, and giant squirrel statue that depicts the town's mascot, "Eddie the Squirrel".{{cite web |url=https://www.gallowaystationmuseum.com/rcmp-centennial-park |title=RCMP Centennial Park |website=Galloway Station Museum |access-date=December 31, 2023}}

Edson is connected to the Yellowhead Highway from east to west and to Coal Valley via Highway 47 to the south.

Via Rail's The Canadian calls at the Edson railway station twice per week in each direction as a flag stop.

;Grande Yellowhead Public School Division No. 77

• Mary Bergeron Elementary School (K-5)
• Parkland Composite High School (9-12 English, French)
• École Pine Grove Middle School (6-8 English, French)
• Westhaven Elementary School (K-5 English, French)

;Living Waters Catholic Regional Division No. 42

• Holy Redeemer Junior Senior Catholic High School (7-12)
• Vanier Community Catholic School (K-6)

;Private

• Yellowhead Koinonia Christian School (K-12)

;Newspapers

Edson has one weekly paper, The Weekly Anchor, published every Monday.[http://www.weeklyanchor.com/ The Weekly Anchor] A second paper, Edson Leader, was established in 1911 before ceasing publication in 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edson-hinton-lacombe-weekly-newspapers-postmedia-1.5418450|title=Postmedia to close Alberta community newspapers in Hinton, Edson and Lacombe|date=8 January 2020|website=CBC News|access-date=23 March 2020}}

;Radio stations

• CBXD 1540 CBC Radio One
• CFXE 94.3 Newcap Broadcasting
• CKUA-FM-8 103.7 CKUA Radio Network

{{main|Coat of arms of Edson, Alberta}}

On 15 October 2019, the town was granted a coat of arms by the Canadian Heraldic Authority, while the announcement of the Letters Patent was made on 28 March 2020, in Volume 154, page 692 of the Canada Gazette.{{Cite web|last=General|first=The Office of the Secretary to the Governor|title=The Town of Edson [Civil Institution]|url=https://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=3166&ShowAll=1&fbclid=IwAR1BHXZuC2jTnwIMMMdWvvwdhSe8nx9KnyCdn-KNWoliEkUhSwSSzyo5S-c|access-date=2020-12-23|website=reg.gg.ca|date=12 November 2020|language=EN}}{{Infobox COA wide|escutcheon=Per fess Azure and Argent a fess bretessé counterchanged between in chief two lozenges Argent each charged with a pine tree Vert and in base a lozenge Sable.|crest=A great grey owl Azure issuant from a mural crown Argent set with gouttes de poix and flames Azure.|supporters=Two red squirrels each holding a pinecone and sejant on a log proper|year_granted=15 October 2019}}

• George VanderBurg, Canadian politician, Progressive Conservative MLA (2001-2013)

• Edson Airport
• List of communities in Alberta
• List of towns in Alberta

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Edson, Alberta}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Subdivisions of Alberta|towns=yes}}

{{Alberta Regions Upper Athabasca}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1911 establishments in Alberta

Category:Towns in Alberta