Fort Vermilion

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{{stack|File:The Hudson's Bay Company tug Messenger at the Saint Henri Mission, Fort Vermilion.jpg}}

The area was inhabited by Dane-zaa (Beaver), Dene and later Cree First Nations long before the arrival of European traders and settlers.

Named for the vermilion coloured clays lining the river banks, Fort Vermilion started as a trading community for the North West Company, upstream of the impassible Vermilion Chutes.{{cite news|url=http://www.bchistory.ca/awards/article/Affleck.pdf|title=Steamboating on the Peace River|publisher=British Columbia History|author=Edward L. Affleck|archive-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054140/http://www.bchistory.ca/awards/article/Affleck.pdf|url-status=dead|quote=The brothers built a fleet of small primitive steamers, extending by 1903 to the waters of the Peace above the Vermilion Chutes. In that year the pint—sized sternwheeler St. Charles began to work the 526 mile stretch from Fort Vermilion to Hudson’s Hope, carrying lumber and supplies for the Mission at Fort St. John in British Columbia, as well as goods for the North-West Mounted Police.|access-date=6 December 2012}}

The fort was established in 1788, following the expeditions of Alexander MacKenzie. Winter residents would trade furs with the native trappers, then send the furs by river during the summer to exchange points to the east and then to Montreal. The fort was later transferred to the Hudson's Bay Company after the 1821 merger. By 1830, it was a prosperous fur trading post.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fvsd.ab.ca/stm/All%20about%20our%20School.htm|title=About Fort Vermilion|author=St. Mary's School|access-date=2008-02-16|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228050808/http://www.fvsd.ab.ca/stm/All%20about%20our%20School.htm|archive-date=28 December 2007|df=dmy-all}} The first Anglican church was built in 1877.{{cite book|last=Clark|first=Edith J. Lawrence|title=Fort Vermilion before Alberta : an early history of the Ft. Vermilion district|year=1982|publisher=Pioneers of Ft. Vermilion|location=Erskine, Alberta|page=14|url=http://www.ourfutureourpast.ca/loc_hist/page.aspx?id=3598390|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113135955/http://www.ourfutureourpast.ca/loc_hist/page.aspx?id=3598390|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-01-13}}

The main access to the settlements was by means of the river, using river boats and then ferries to haul materials in the summer months, when the water was not frozen. In 1903 the first steam-powered vessel to serve Fort Vermilion was the St. Charles built to navigate the {{convert|526|mi|abbr=on}} to the upper reaches of the Peace River, from Hudson's Hope to Fort Vermilion. In 1974, a bridge was built over the Peace River immediately west of Fort Vermilion, effectively ending the winter isolation of the community.

The original Old Bay House, home of the chief factor, still exists and is now part of the Fort Vermilion National Historic Site. It was listed as such in 1968, for its importance as site of North West Company and Hudson's Bay Company posts.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/lhn-nhs/det_E.asp?oqSID=0025&oqeName=Fort+Vermilion&oqfName=Fort+Vermilion|title=Fort Vermilion National Historic Site of Canada|author=Parks Canada|author-link=Parks Canada|access-date=2008-02-16}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The visitor centre is hosted in a 1923 dovetailed log house. Built on the banks of the Peace River, it was moved to its current location in 1983. Another heritage building is the 1907 Clark House, built for the Hudson's Bay clerk quarters, and moved in 1994 to the present location near the visitor centre. The Trappers Shack, built in 1912, is another dovetailed log house. It was listed as a provincial historic site.{{Cite web| url= http://www.discoverthepeacecountry.com/htmlpages/fortvermilion.html |author= Discover the Peace Country |author-link= Peace Country| title= Hamlet of Fort Vermilion| access-date=2007-02-13}}

In 2018, the airport was named after Canadian Wop May, former bush pilot and WW1 flying ace. It was to Fort Vermilion that May flew to in 1929 with lifesaving drugs.

{{stack|{{Historical populations

| title = Population history
of Fort Vermilion

| type = Canada

| align = left

| width =

| shading =

| percentages =

| state =

| footnote =

| source = Statistics Canada
{{1951CDNcuipr}}{{1956CDNcuipr}}{{1961CDNcuipr}}{{1966CDNcuipr}}{{1971CDNcuipr}}{{1976CDNcuipr}}{{1981CDNcuipr}}{{1986CDNcuipr}}{{1991CDNcuipr}}{{1996CDNcdplr}}{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census01/products/standard/popdwell/Table-CSD-D.cfm?PR=48 | title=Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Alberta) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=August 15, 2012 | accessdate=September 19, 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-550/Index.cfm?TPL=P1C&Page=RETR&LANG=Eng&T=1302&SR=1&S=1&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48&CMA=0 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Alberta) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=July 20, 2021 | accessdate=September 19, 2024}}{{cite web | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=1302&PR=48&S=51&O=A&RPP=25 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 8, 2012 | access-date=September 19, 2024}}

|1941|292

|1951|1413

|1956|631

|1961|768

|1966|971

|1971|740

|1976|729

|1981|752

|1986|823

|1991|782

|1991{{abbr|A|adjusted}}|802

|1996|775

|2001|818

|2006|714

|2011|727

|2016|639

|2021|753

}}}}

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Fort Vermilion had a population of 753 living in 257 of its 292 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:753-639}}|639|1}} from its 2016 population of 639. With a land area of {{cvt|5.36|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|753|5.36|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=9810001201 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada and designated places | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=February 10, 2022}}

The population of Fort Vermilion according to the 2018 municipal census conducted by Mackenzie County is 763.{{cite web | url=http://mackenziecounty.com/images/Census/2018_Census_Results_-_Mackenzie_County.pdf | title=Mackenzie County Municipal Census 2018 | publisher=Mackenzie County | access-date=September 25, 2021 | archive-date=24 February 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224021032/http://mackenziecounty.com/images/Census/2018_Census_Results_-_Mackenzie_County.pdf | url-status=dead }}

As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Fort Vermilion had a population of 639 living in 224 of its 294 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:639-727}}|727|1}} from its 2011 population of 727. With a land area of {{convert|5.8|km2|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|639|5.8|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=1301&SR=1&S=45&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48&CMA=0#tPopDwell | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 8, 2017 | access-date=February 13, 2017}}

Two schools are located in Fort Vermilion, both administered by the Fort Vermilion School Division No. 52.{{Cite web| url= http://www.fvsd.ab.ca/ | title= Fort Vermilion School District|access-date=2007-02-13 }}

Fort Vermilion Public is part of the public school system and offers education from grade 6 to grade 12. Approximately 150 students attend this school. St. Mary's Elementary functions in the Catholic school system and is a kindergarten to grade 6 school. It has approximately 145 students.

The Northern Lakes College, established in 1999, has one of its 26 campuses in Fort Vermilion. It was previously known as Alberta Vocational Centre Grouard, and offered education to First Nations students.{{Cite web|url=http://www.northernlakescollege.ca/about/about_college_history.cfm |title=Northern Lakes College |access-date=2008-02-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070921102332/http://www.northernlakescollege.ca/about/about_college_history.cfm |archive-date=2007-09-21 |url-status=dead }}

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Fort Vermilion is located approximately {{convert|85|km|abbr=on}} southeast of High Level and {{convert|661|km|abbr=on}} northwest of Edmonton on the Highway 88 (Bicentennial Highway). The hamlet of La Crete is located approximately {{convert|47|km|abbr=on}} southwest of Fort Vermilion on Highway 697.

The hamlet is one of the northernmost communities in the Peace River Country. Peace Country, in the aspen parkland biome, is Canada's northernmost land suitable for agriculture. The landscape is dominated by aspen, poplars and spruce, occasionally interspersed with areas of grasslands. Wildlife is abundant in the area, and includes bears, moose, deer, beavers, foxes, coyotes and Canada geese and Sandhill cranes

The hamlet is situated on the southern banks of the Peace River, with an elevation ranging from {{convert|255|to|282|m|abbr=on}} and the Indian reserve of Fort Vermilion 173B is about a kilometre east. The North Vermilion Settlement lies on the opposite (northern) shore of the river, while Fort Vermilion (Wop May Memorial) Aerodrome is located directly beside the hamlet on the north east side.

Despite being so high in latitude, Fort Vermilion experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), though bordering closely on subarctic (Dfc), with long, frigid, exceedingly variable wintersSee {{cite book|last=Szeto |first=Kit K. |date=2008 |chapter=Variability of Cold-Season Temperatures in the Mackenzie Basin |editor-last=Woo |editor-first=M. |title=Cold Region Atmospheric and Hydrologic Studies. The Mackenzie GEWEX Experience |pages=61–82 |publisher=Springer Berlin |location=Heidelberg |doi=10.1007/978-3-540-73936-4_4|isbn=978-3-540-73935-7 }} and brief but fairly warm summers. Temperatures during the winter can drop to {{convert|-40|C}} to {{convert|-50|C}}. Summer days benefit from long hours of daylight due to its northern location.

Fort Vermilion holds the record for the coldest temperature in Alberta as well as any Canadian province, when on 11 January 1911, the temperature dropped down to {{convert|-61.2|C}}, which is the coldest official temperature recorded in Canada outside Yukon. However, an unofficial temperature of {{convert|−61.7| °C|°F|1|disp=or}} was recorded in Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories less than two weeks previously on 31 December 1910.{{Citation| last1 = Columbo | first1 = John Robert |title = The 1996 Canadian Global Almanac |publisher = Macmillan Canada |place = Toronto, Ontario |year = 1995 |page = 22}}

The highest temperature recorded was 39.4 °C (103 °F) on 15 May 1912. This gives a temperature range of {{convert|100.6|C-change}}, one of only a handful locations in the world, and the only permanently inhabited place outside Sakha, to have a temperature amplitude of over {{convert|100|C-change|F-change|disp=or}}. Recorded temperature amplitudes for each winter month approach or exceed {{convert|75|C-change|F-change|0|disp=or}}, and are probably the largest monthly amplitudes anywhere in the world.

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{{Fort Vermilion weatherbox}}

File:Peace River Bridge .jpg

The Fort Vermilion Community and Cultural Complex includes a hockey rink and concession, community hall/dance hall/stage with commercial kitchen and a curling rink. The Fort Vermilion Heritage Centre manages 25 sites (listed as both provincial and national historic sites), including the old log houses, the Dominion Experimental Farm, First Nations and natural history exhibits.{{Cite web|url=http://www.albertasource.ca/spiritofthepeace/collections/collections_fort_vermilion.htm|title=Fort Vermilion Heritage Centre|author= Alberta Online Encyclopedia|access-date=2008-08-16}} Also located at the community complex is a RV waste dumping site and potable water refill location. The community complex also boasts workout facilities, a splash park, ball diamonds and playground - making it a great stop to relax and cool off on hot summer days.

St. Theresa General Hospital is a building built in 1983, offering 26 acute-care beds and 8 long-term-care beds, as well as an emergency department. It employs approximately 76 health workers, and is administered by Alberta Health Services.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nlhr.ca/Hospitals_Facilities/Clinics_Facilities_community.aspx?id=130|title=St. Theresa General Hospital|author=Northern Lights Health Region|author-link=Northern Lights Health Region|access-date=2008-02-16}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} The Provincial Court of Alberta maintains a circuit court in Fort Vermilion,{{Cite web|url=http://www.albertacourts.ab.ca/ProvincialCourt/LocationsSittings/Detail/tabid/257/loc/Fort%20Vermilion/Default.aspx|title=Provincial Court Fort Vermilion|author=Provincial Court of Alberta|author-link=Provincial Court of Alberta|access-date=2008-02-16}} with the base point located in High Level. The court used to reside in the old hospital building but now has a modern facility beside west of St. Henry's Roman Catholic Church. The old hospital building (aka old court house) has now been re-purposed and relocated as an office place for MARA (Mackenzie Applied Research Association) at the Fort Vermilion Experimental Farm.

The Fantasy North Golf & Country Club is a 9-hole golf course with a 150-year history. Additional facilities include a mini golf park, driving range and clubhouse. The course closed in spring 2020 following the flooding of the Peace River and remains inoperational due to extensive flood damage to clubhouse and course watering system.

The hamlet also has a public library{{Cite web|url=http://www.fortvermilioncommunitylibrary.com/|title=Fort Vermilion Community Library|access-date=2008-02-16|archive-date=12 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512092603/http://www.fortvermilioncommunitylibrary.com/|url-status=dead}} and four churches: St. Theresa Catholic Church, Church of God in Christ Mennonite, Faith Gospel Fellowship and St. Luke's Anglican Church. The St. Luke's Anglican Church Cemetery dates back to 1877.

Located east of the settlement is the Fort Vermilion (Wop May Memorial) Aerodrome {{Airport codes||||CEZ4}}, administered by Mackenzie County. It is an airport that serves the area with Provincial Air Ambulance services, as well as aerial firefighting. CanWest Air operates a base here with a charter and medevac aircraft, mostly unitizing the Cessna 206 for their charter work. There is also a small heliport, Fort Vermilion/Country Gardens B&B Heliport.

The Rodeo Grounds are located {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} southwest of the community, and hosts a rodeo every year in July (check for dates). The event features cattle roping and bucking broncos along with other competition.

Other events and festivals held in Fort Vermilion include Canada Day celebrations, Town and Country Fair, River Daze and Arts and Crafts Show. A Farmer's Market is organized periodically based on interest. The yearly

Get to Know You Night is held in mid September to promote services and organizations is popular with northern residents.

DA Thomas Park is a grassed day use area in Fort Vermilion that provides picnic tables with campfire spots overlooking the river with a boat launch and dock to access the river.

There are a number of beaches along the Peace River that are accessible only by boat (upstream and downstream). In North Vermilion (Buttertown) there is a beach accessible by road.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

Fort Vermilion is in the federal riding of Peace River—Westlock, represented by MP Arnold Viersen. Prior to the 2012 redistribution of federal electoral riding boundaries, the land was part of the Peace River electoral district.

Fred Brick, husband to Sarah Lendrum (formerly of the Strathcona area), was an early businessman, farmer and trader at Fort Vermilion. Sarah came to join Fred at Fort Vermilion in 1896.{{cite web | url=https://www.ancestry.ca/genealogy/records/rita-florence-brick-24-5txkz6 | title=Rita Florence Brick 1897-1976 - Ancestry® }}Monto, Old Strathcona, Edmonton's Southside Roots, p. 163

Fort Vermilion was home to cowboy Kenton Randle, known as "Rugged". Born 1960 and deceased 23 November 2003. Kenton was the bareback bronc rider who represented Canada at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. In November 2015 he was inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame as a Legend of Rodeo.

Fort Vermilion was the childhood home of writers and brothers Will Ferguson and Ian Ferguson. Will vividly describes his childhood there in his memoirs Beauty Tips from Moose Jaw. He mentions that the town was included in the 1976 version of Ghost Towns of Alberta, much to the chagrin of its residents at that time.

Dave Hancock, named 15th premier of Alberta on 23 March 2014 following the resignation of Alison Redford, grew up in Fort Vermilion.{{Cite web |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/Thomson+consolation+prize+veteran+cabinet+minister+leader+2006/9643298/story.html |title=Thomson: New job a consolation prize for veteran cabinet minister who ran for leader in 2006 |access-date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140501134420/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Thomson+consolation+prize+veteran+cabinet+minister+leader+2006/9643298/story.html |archive-date=1 May 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

Gloria Chomiak Atamanenko, a social worker, writer, and translator, was born in Fort Vermilion.

• List of communities in Alberta
• List of designated places in Alberta
• List of hamlets in Alberta

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{{Geographic location

| Centre = Fort Vermilion

| North = Hay River

| Northeast = Wood Buffalo National Park

| East = Wood Buffalo National Park

| Southeast = Wabasca

| South = Slave Lake

| Southwest = La Crete
Manning

| West = High Level

| Northwest =

}}

{{Alberta|hamlets=yes}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Hamlets in Alberta

Category:Hudson's Bay Company forts

Category:Designated places in Alberta

Category:National Historic Sites in Alberta

Category:Mackenzie County

Category:Fur trade National Historic Sites of Canada

Category:Forts or trading posts on the National Historic Sites of Canada register

Category:Forts in Alberta