The County of Barrhead is the centre of one of Alberta's richest agriculture areas, located approximately 100 km northwest of Edmonton. Agriculture remains the mainstay of the local economy, and the business community includes a number of new, value-added processors. Other economic bases include forestry, oil and gas, manufacturing and retail services.

The County of Barrhead includes the Town of Barrhead and the Hamlets of Neerlandia, Manola, Thunder Lake and Campsie, and serves a trading area of more than 20,000 people.

Rich in history, the County of Barrhead served two main access roads to the City of Edmonton in the early 20th Century. The Klondike Trail headed northwest and was used by gold prospectors, and the Athabasca trail headed northeast to the trading area of Athabasca. Settlement took place in the early 1900's with pioneers and farmers from Europe and the U.S.A.

The County of Barrhead offers a terrific array of recreational opportunities, with beautiful lakes, scenic byways and special events that attract visitors to the Barrhead area from around the world. Facilities include one of the province's best golf courses, a busy ice arena, a bowling alley, numerous ball diamonds, an indoor swimming pool, and indoor and outdoor rodeo facilities.

5306-49 Street
Barrhead, AB T7N 1N5
T: (780) 674-3331
F: (780) 674-2777

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The County of Thorhild is uniquely situated between Edmonton and Fort McMurray, only a stone's throw from the significant uprgading activity in Alberta's Industrial Heartland. With competitive tax rates and a supportive climate for entreprenuers, Thorhild is geared for growth and actively pursuing new business investment for the community.

Part of the County as of 2009, the Hamlet of Thorhild is home to an Annual Sunflower Festival that attracts visitors to a variety of sunflower-themed events every August, including contests for smallest, largest, and tallest sunflowers, tastiest sunflower granola and baked goods, and best sunflower-inspired art and quiltwork.

Residents of the County value the exceptional education and health care facilities, low crime rates, active business sector and numerous recreational activities, including beautiful lakes, numerous summer festivals, and a popular ski hill.

Box 10
Thorhild, Alberta T0A 3J0
T: (780) 398-3741
F: (780) 398-3748

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Evergreen Catholic Separate Regional Division No. 2 (ECSRD) operates one school in the GROWTH Alberta region: St. Mary School serves approximately 340 students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 from the Town of Westlock and surrounding areas.

Besides offering an excellent academic program, including french as a second language and religious studies, St. Mary School features a strong extra-curricular program. St. Mary's teams have enjoyed successful records in volleyball, basketball, and golf at local and provincial competitions. Another highlight, the St. Mary band program includes both junior high and high school bands that have won numerous competitions at the local, provincial, and national levels.

Box 4265
Spruce Grove, AB T7X 3B4
T: (780) 962-5627
F: (780) 962-4664
Toll Free: 1-800-825-7152

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Pembina Hills Regional Division No.7 (PHRD) provides education to students in a significant portion of north central Alberta, and distance education to students throughout Alberta, Canada and the world via the Alberta Distance Learning Centre (ADLC). In addition to a regional office and the ADLC in Barrhead, PHRD operates 19 community schools and 3 ADLC satellite centres (Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge).

Pembina Hills students enjoy smaller class sizes, a comprehensive academic program, and a wide variety of career training options and extra-curricular pursuits. French Immersion programs are available at both Barrhead Elementary School and Westlock Elementary School, and Neerlandia Public Christian School has a strong Christian education program.

5310 - 49 Street
Barrhead, AB T7N 1P3
Phone: (780) 674-8500
Fax: (780) 674-3262
Toll Free: 1-877-693-1333

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A short drive northwest of Edmonton, the Town of Barrhead provides a wonderful quality of life and all of the advantages of urban living in a scenic rural setting. Situated at the centre of one of the most productive agricultural regions in the province, Barrhead is surrounded by significant oil, natural gas, and forestry activities, including a bourgeoning coalbed methane industry.

Barrhead is located on Highway 33 "The Grizzly Trail"; the shortest route to the Peace River region. Being on a major north-south corridor and near the intersection of two primary highways and three secondary highways, the Town of Barrhead has strategic importance as a regional transportation hub. The area's well-maintained highways facilitate rapid distribution to Edmonton in the south, Swan Hills to the north, east to Westlock and west to Whitecourt.

The St. Andrew's Cross in the town crest hearkens to Barrhead's Scottish connection. The picturesque town of 4,200 an hour and 10 minutes northwest of Edmonton is named after Barrhead, Scotland, the birthplace of James McGuire, one of the area's earliest settlers.

The Barrhead trading area represents over 20,000 people and supports nearly 500 businesses. Downtown Barrhead is a popular regional shopping destination and local companies are active in manufacturing, food-processing and agri-services. Regional exports are strong with over a dozen local firms offering regional, national and international freight and air transport services.

See Barrhead's "Your Town" video (part of a series broadcast the first Wednesday of each month at 6pm during the News Hour on Global Edmonton).

5014 - 50 Avenue
Barrhead, AB T7N 1A2
T: (780) 674-3301
F: (780) 674-5648

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The Town of Swan Hills was incorporated in 1967 as Canada's first Centennial Municipality, approximately 10 years after oil deposits were first discovered in the region. Businesses in the town site serve the area's strong, resource-based economy, and residents enjoy a variety of outdoor pursuits that make Swan Hills "Alberta's Wilderness Playground".

At a 4000 foot elevation, Swan Hills is the highest Canadian municipality east of the Rockies, and is situated in a naturally rich recreational playground. The town overlooks pristine forest, and has numerous lakes - even a few ecological reserves - in its "backyard". Not content as just the ATV Capital of Alberta, Swan Hills has a variety of other outdoor recreation opportunities and excellent indoor sporting facilities.

The Swan Hills area has nearly 2,000 oil and gas wells yielding a total of 260,000 barrels of oil and 250 million cubic feet of gas daily.  The world class Swan Hills Special Waste Treatment Center is North America's first (and Canada's only) fully integrated special waste treatement facility.

Box 149
Swan Hills, Alberta  T0G 2C0
T: (780) 333-4477
F: (780) 333-4547

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The Town of Westlock is a thriving community at the crossroads of two busy highways in north central Alberta, with a strong agricultural base and several small industries, including a busy retail and service sector.

The Town of Westlock takes pride in its beautification program and its recycling program, both of which help to keep the community attractive and tidy.

Westlock has extensive sports and recreation programs for people of all ages. The spacious and modern Westlock Recreation Center is a well-used facility housing a zero-depth pool with slide, a hot tub, racquetball courts, a weight room, and an exercise room. Outdoor sports facilities including ball diamonds, tennis courts, a race track and horseshoe pits are grouped in one area alongside a municipal campground, curling rink and arena, facilitating various family activities in the vicinity.

Cultural programs such as live theatre (featuring both local talent and professional actors), a live music series, and various art classes and shows are well attended and enjoyed by the citizens of the Town and surrounding area.

With a variety of employment opportunities, top quality education and health care services, and a high quality of life, residents continue to recognize Westlock as the place to raise a family for generations.

See Westlock's "Your Town" video (part of a series broadcast the first Wednesday of each month at 6pm during the News Hour on Global Edmonton).

10003 - 106 Street
Westlock, AB  T7P 2K3
T: (780) 349-4444
F: (780) 349-4436
Toll Free: 1-866-349-4445

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Clyde was incorporated as a municipality in 1914. The village's early history was linked with the fur trade because of its proximity to the famous Athabasca Landing Trail, an historic trail extending between Edmonton and Athabasca.

Today, Clyde offers residents a friendly, low-cost community with easy access to amenities in nearby Westlock and the City of Edmonton.

Clyde is close to everything! With its strategicy location, residents are only 40 minutes north of Edmonton, 40 minutes south of Athabasca, 45 minutes north west of Ft. Saskatchewan and a stone's throw from several major highways that make Clyde part of the gateway to Northern Alberta.

Although most of the retail businesses, professional and protective services that service the Village are located ten minutes west in the Town of Westlock, Clyde has evolved into a healthy bedroom community. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the Village office for more information about real estate opportunities in Clyde.

Box 190
Clyde, AB T0G 0P0
T: (780) 348-5356
F: (780) 348-5699

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Westlock County covers some of the most productive and prosperous land for mixed farming in Alberta. Major crops include wheat, barley, oats, canola and hay; and livestock operations include cattle, hogs, poultry, dairy, sheep and lambs. The County is also known for its fresh produce, grown in both fertile fields and modern greenhouses.

An excellent transportation network positions the County as a gateway to resource extraction, forestry and tourism activities in Alberta's North. The County is transected by three major highways, enjoys scheduled bus and railway freight service, and has an airport with an all-weather, 3400 foot runway that is jointly operated by the County and the Town of Westlock.

The industrial and commercial sector in Westlock includes sheet metal and rolled pipe manufacturing, feed milling, agricultural equipment sales, livestock auctioneering, transport trucking and oilfield services.

With good campgrounds, unique sand hills and lakes, rivers and streams teeming with jack pine, Westlock County offers a warm welcome to visitors - and great opportunities for residents.

The picturesque 6,537-yard par 71, 18-hole golf course near the Town of Westlock is considered one of the most challenging in northern Alberta. Trails adjacent to the course are open for hiking and cross-country skiing.

10336 106 Street
Westlock, AB  T7P 2G1
T: (780) 349-3346
F: (780) 349-2012

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Woodlands County is a diversified district of agriculture, oil and gas, and forestry activities located 1.5 hours northwest of Edmonton. The County incorporates approximately 7500 square km of land and a rural population of over 4000. The County is home to the geographical Center of Alberta, The Town of Whitecourt, and the Hamlets of Blue Ridge, Goose Lake and Fort Assiniboine.

Fort Assiniboine, the second oldest Fort remaining in Alberta, is home to the World's Largest Wagon Wheel and Pick. The 7-meter high roadside attraction was constructed to honor the travelers who journeyed through the area on their way to Dawson City during the gold rush. While you're there, be sure to travel back in time by visiting the Fort Assiniboine Friendship Museum.

Whatever season you visit Woodlands County you will find the outdoors to be unbelievably beautiful and the communities warm. For the outdoor enthusiast, there is something to do all year long. Woodlands is home to an abundance of hiking trails, picnic areas, campgrounds and many rivers and lakes for fishing or boating. Big game hunting is excellent in the fall, and the 220 mile groomed Golden Triangle trail winds it way through forested lands and uncut terrain for snowmobiles and quadders of all ages.

See Fort Assiniboine's "Your Town" video (part of a series broadcast the first Wednesday of each month at 6pm during the News Hour on Global Edmonton).

Box 60
Whitecourt, AB T7S 1N3
T: (780) 778-8400
F: (780) 778-8402

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View Woodlands County's Complete Profile on Albertafirst.com