Mackenzie County CIAM Radio Fort Vermilion School Division Canadian Heritage Information Network Spirit of the Peace Museums Mighty Peace Tourist Association Travel Alberta
	Sister fur-trade posts, Fort Chipewyan (1788) and Fort Vermilion (Boyers Post - 1788) are the earliest settlements in the Province of Alberta (1905). Thriving settlement of the Peace River country as far north as Fort Vermilion was a strong factor in deciding to strike the new province's northern boundary along the 60th parallel. Were it not, this resource rich area would not have been part of Alberta.       Aurora Borealis   Travellers of Mackenzie Highway 35, Bicentennial Highway 88, Highway 58 and other northern routes have been awed by the rippling, dancing northern lights. Light shows of aurora borealis in this region can number about 300 per year, compared with 160 between Peace River and Edmonton and 30 further south. Colours of red, blue, green, and yellow flow across these magical skies and are particularly prominent during the clear nights of winter. Willow creek imaging specializes in aurora photography.  Contact [email protected] for order details Web site www.willowcreekphoto.com       Unique Shell Pendant Uncovered by archeological digs, artifacts such as the shell pendant seen here suggest that the Fort Vermilion area has been inhabited for over 3000 years! Photo by Jordan Ronald Lambert, Fort Vermilion The Peace - It's Rapids and Chutes The Peace River, from its headwaters in the Rocky Mountains flows 700 miles (1167 kilometres) northeast joining the Slave and Mackenzie River systems on route to the Arctic Ocean. Only the Vermilion Rapids and Chutes interrupt navigation on the Peace. 'The Rapids' are 78 kilometres (49 miles) downstream form Fort Vermilion. They're not visible from afar, but canoeists should hear their distant roar. They are about a mile wide and the roughest part is only 1/2 mile in length. Running parallel to the south bank, is a trail that is about 8 kilometres (5 miles) long. You can disembark at the Upper Landing where an old storage shed reveals names of travellers who portaged in days gone-by. Provincial Archives of Alberta E. Brown Collection B 3015              Accession No. 990.4.74.50CP                               'The Chutes' look like a series of "fan-shaped, stone steps" made of limestone rock and shale. They are approximately 4 kilometres (2.4 miles) below 'The Rapids'. 'The Chutes' range from 15 to 25 feet in height. In low water they are dangerous and could cause a shake up if you try to go over them. In high water, with proper experience, they are navigable. Little Red River Post The old Hudson's Bay Post at Little Red River is approximately 6 kilometres (3.75 miles) downstream on the south side. After 'The Chutes', the nearest settlement is Fox Lake, about 21 kilometres (12.6 miles) downstream on your right. Birds Birders will enjoy looking for 33 waterfowl, 17 waders, 3 grouse species, 8 aerialists, 22 predators, 12 non-perching, and 98 perching birds as well as 8 winter only residents.  Occasionally Irregular visitors and migrants are added to the roster. For a complete bird listing click here for page 1 and  here for page 2 or Contact Us Wood bison (Bison athabasca) and woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are considered to be endangered mammal species. The northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) is also considered to be threatened or of special concern. The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum), trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator), whooping crane (Grus americana) and perhaps the short-eared owl are the bird species at risk in the region. Oldest Building! Mission House In 1876, Reverend A.C. Garrioch arrived at Fort Vermilion. He built this mission house downstream from the location of St. Luke's Cemetery. It had 3 ground level and 2 upstairs rooms. Photo by Marilee Cranna Toews, Fort Vermilion Around 1943 the house was taken apart, the logs numbered and moved by horse and wagon to Lambert Point. In 1944, the house was rebuilt as the home (1944-1962) of Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Campbell. The shed dormers were added during reconstruction. The house is located on the Bittman farm and is the oldest dove-tailed log structure in the Mackenzie County. Weather On January 11, 1911 the temperature drops to -78° Fahrenheit or -61.1° Celsius, in Fort Vermilion. This is the second coldest day in Canada's recorded history.                WHY?   Why do we live in this frozen land? Where the frost comes to bite Your nose and your hand…   Where the day’s just begun, And it’s suddenly night, But you can’t go to sleep The sky’s all alight   It’s dancing and twisting And turning with glee, Then reverses itself Like a shawl on a spree…   "Aurora", they say, And it comes in the night With green, reds and purple That fringes the white   Then on comes the brightness Of day if you please, And there are stanchions of grandeur Where once there were trees.   Photo by Marilee Cranna Toews, Fort Vermilion   They’re covered with diamonds Of hoarfrost and snow, They transform the landscape Wherever you go.   But your car won’t start, So you have to stay home And play with your kids Give neighbours a phone.   Photo by Marilee Cranna Toews, Fort Vermilion   You just step outside And the air takes your breath, But once you’re back in You’re all filled with zest.   Winter’s a time To look in and look out The earth disappears There are tracks all about.   On Earth, in the sky Peace and quiet are here, Along with the grouse The rabbit, the deer.   If people could come From the rush and the fray They would see for themselves, Why we stay and we stay.   By Eugene Dextrase     Click here to return to home page   Acknowledgements: Summer Career Placement Program staff, Keith Klassen (2004/2005) & Jordan Lambert (2006) and Marilee Cranna Toews of the Fort Vermilion Agricultural Society