The community of Wabasca is located on a point of land jutting into the south end of North Wabasca Lake in northern Alberta.(see map) Scroll down for an annotated aerial view.

Catholic Church- (The "father's" church) on the tip of the point.
The Sisters of Providence-Residence for the nuns.
St. Theresa School- K-6, with two portable classrooms.
The Ghetto- Five 16 x 70 mobiles in a row, one for the social services program director and the others for teachers.
The Centre- Large building, former Anglican Residential School. Used as a meeting area, Post Office, building for social programs offices and shops. Wood heated.
Nursing Station- Office and residence for three public health nurses who served the local area and flew to clinics in the northern settlements. Trout Lake, Peerless Lake, Fort Chipweyan. The station was across the road from more teachers residences, one duplex and three mobiles.
The Anglican (Rev. Bell's) Church- Log built and painted white, with a bell tower.
Ranger Station (just out of the picture)- Very modern when we were there, garages and shops for Alberta Forestry, residences, helicopter landing pads. Central area for forest fire fighting in the area. During fire season choppers were in and out day and night for refuelling and carrying firecrews and supplies to the firelines.
There were about twenty other houses along the road around the point.
The Hudson's Bay Store and residences for the manager and "Bay Boys" are just out of the picture to the south east. They still traded for furs.
Just around the corner and a short walk up the road was Jackson's Store and garage.
This comprised the commercial district of Wabasca

This was considered to be "downtown" Wabasca in our time. There were houses along the other side of the bay, (top of the picture), a log Pentecostal tabernacle at the head of the bay and houses along the road to Desmarais, and along sideroads in the bush.

We had some great times in the four years we lived there, good friends, good parties, some tragedies. All coming in the next installment. Look for it soon.

Should you wonder how to get there, just follow the Wabasca Road.

Most of Wabasca-looking North-West

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