Cold Lake Military Relocation

The history of the Cold Lake area can be traced back to 1821 when the Hudson’s Bay Company established the Beaver Crossing trading post on the shores of the Beaver River. This trading post was part of a network used to transport furs from Lac La Biche to the east, serving an important role in the country’s early fur trade industry. However, it was not until 1905 that the first British, Swedish, Norwegian, Swiss and French-speaking homesteaders arrived and settled the area. While some families settled close to Beaver River, many homesteaders decided to settle closer to the lake as livelihoods were based on farming, ranching, trapping, fishing and logging. In order to meet these needs, two separate small settlements evolved: Beaver Crossing and Cold Lake, which are now known as Cold Lake South and Cold Lake North respectively. The subsequent years saw the beginnings of a community as a schoolhouse, missionary hospital and a general store (now Clark’s General Store) were created. By the mid 1920’s, the population of Cold Lake was estimated at 50 people.

Cold Lake is situated  in Alberta’s Lakeland district.  The city of Cold Lake named after the 7th largest lake in Alberta was formed in 2000, in 1996 the three communities of the Town of Cold Lake, Town of Grand Centre and 4Wing Cold Lake were amalgamated; which now has a population of approximately 15,000 people.  The Cold Lake Weapons range is located to the North of the city and is the equivalent to the US Nellis Air Force Range, and is the only Live Fire Range for aircraft in Canada.

In 1952 the federal government secured 11,700 square kilometers of land from both the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments. Today the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR) is the only tactical bombing range in Canada.

4 Wing Cold Lake and the CLAWR play a significant role in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) training missions. Home to two CF-18 operational Tactical Fighter Squadrons, one Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron and a number of operational and support squadron units, 4 Wing is the largest employer in the Cold Lake area with approximately 2,000 military members and 250 civilians.   Maple Flag is an annual NATO air combat training exercise hosted by 4 Wing Cold Lake. During the 4-6 week period allied participants engage in realistic air combat, special forces, transport, electronic warfare, and air-to-air refueling training.

Countries involved include:

United States   Sweden   France  Italy   Germany   Denmark   United Kingdom   New Zealand  Belgium Israel   Netherlands   Australia

Cold Lake is situated near a large number of campgrounds due to its proximity to the lake. The M.D. campground has powered sites, shower facilities with flush toilets, a covered camp picnic area, and a lookout. The Cold Lake Provincial Park has a large number of sites, and is more secluded than the M.D. site (which is surrounded by development). The Provincial campground boasts a wilderness trail system, a beach, boat launch and a powered section. Nearby Meadow Lake Provincial Park to the east, across the border in Saskatchewan, has facilities similar to Cold Lake Provincial Park.