Wetaskiwin, Alberta

OFFERING GREAT THINGS Alberta AT A GLANCE WETASKIWIN, ALBERTA WHAT: Progressive western Canadian city, population approx. 13,000 WHERE: 45 minutes from Edmonton, AB WEBSITE: www.wetaskiwin.ca H undreds of years before settlers ar- rived, the land now known as the City of Wetaskiwin was home to the Plains Cree peoples. Legend has it, that a peace pipe was smoked there “acciden- tally,” by two young Chiefs whose tribes were at war, making it compulsory upon them to fight no more and become friends. Thus, the name “Wetaskiwin” (wītaskiwinihk) is Cree for “the hills where peace was made.” Situated approximately 43 miles south of the provincial capital of Edmonton, Wetaskiwin is one of Alberta’s oldest cities. At one time, it served as a stage coach stop between Edmon- ton and Calgary, some 150 miles to the south. It became a whistle stop known as Siding 16 in 1890, when the Calgary and Edmonton Railway was built. Founded in 1892, the community grew quickly to become a town in 1902 and a city in 1906. Today, with a population of approximately 13,000, Wetaskiwin is a growing community set amidst some of central Alberta’s rich- est agricultural lands. A very active CP Rail freight line runs directly through the city, and Highway 2, the second busiest highway in Canada, is only nine miles away, making Wetaskiwin an attractive location for busi-