OGO Camrose | OGO Wetaskiwin | OGO Alberta North West
Wetaskiwin - “the hills where peace was made” - The city that offers big city amenities with small town values and lifestyle.
Wetaskiwin is a picturesque community that offers something for everyone. Located just 35 minutes south of Edmonton, the City of Wetaskiwin provides all of the amenities and quality of life of a modern urban-rural centre.
With a population of 12,000, Wetaskiwin is truly the “best place to be”. Rich in history and culture Wetaskiwin is home to numerous parks, a great trail system, active service clubs and activities, first class recreation facilities, two golf courses, a local and provincial museum, hotels, bed & breakfasts and full service campsites.
Downtown Wetaskiwin features thirteen, turn-of-the-century buildings restored to their original splendor. A self-guided walking tour is available between May – September where you can visit each building and read about the history.
Wetaskiwin is especially proud of two spectacular historic gems. The Old Courthouse, built in 1907, and designated a provincial and federal historic site has been renovated and includes an impressive glass addition. It is now one of the most spectacular buildings in our city and we are proud to have it as our new Wetaskiwin City Hall.
The local water tower, Wetaskiwin’s most famous landmark since 1906, is the Oldest Functioning Water Tower in Canada. Refurbished in 2005, the tower continues to serve as part of the water system for the City.
It has been said that Wetaskiwin is central Alberta’s best-kept secret!! Well, everyone likes to know what secrets are about so we encourage you to make a visit to Wetaskiwin.
Wetaskiwin abounds with museums starting with the local Wetaskiwin & District Heritage Museum, which celebrates the early history of Wetaskiwin and area.
www.wetaskiwinmuseum.com
The Reynolds-Alberta Museum, a provincial museum, contains some of the finest restored vintage vehicles found anywhere. The Reynolds-Alberta Museum celebrates the spirit of the machine through lively interpretation of an outstanding collection of vehicles, aircraft, tractors and industrial machines. www.reynoldsalbertamuseum.com
Located adjacent to Reynolds-Alberta Museum is Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame, where the pioneers of aviation, and the aircraft they flew, are celebrated and honored. www.cahf.ca
Lastly, located just southeast of Wetaskiwin is the Alberta Central Railway Museum telling you the story of train travel in Canada and the importance of the railway to Western Canada.
www.abcentralrailway.com
The Edmonton International Raceway is a ¼ mile paved oval and is one of western Canada’s premier motor sports facilities. The raceway features a great variety of race classes and is sanctioned with NASCAR, IMCA Canada, INEX (Legend Cars) and BGSCA (Baby Grand Stock Car Association).
www.edmontonraceway.com
Museums, festivals, fairs, rodeos, farmers’ markets and a variety of sporting events all make Wetaskiwin an ideal travel destination. From May to December, Wetaskiwin has something for everyone to do.
Annual events include Snow Drags, Pioneer Days, Gingerbread and Glitter, various Christmas craft sales, the Chamber of Commerce Trade Show, the Rawhide Rodeo, the North Central Alberta Poultry Association Chicken & Rabbit Show, History Road, Harvest Festival, Canada Day celebrations, dinner theatres, art shows, and much, much more.
One of the biggest events for 2008 is our bi-annual Air Show. Be prepared to watch the skies again on July 26 & 27, 2008 as we will bring you a spectacular two-day show at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum. Mark your calendars; you will not want to miss this fantastic show, once again featuring the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and numerous civilian air performers! Watch the website for complete details on the 2008 Air Show www.wetaskiwinairshow.com.
If you prefer more tranquil activities, there are two golf courses to choose from. The Wetaskiwin Golf Club is a picturesque 18-hole course, and the Loons Golf & RV Resort is a nine-hole course that also features a full-length driving range.
Ever heard of Disc Golf? Using a frisbee type object you work your way around the course trying to get it into a basket to score points. The course is one of the premiere disc golf courses in Alberta and is located at Peace Hills Park.
Wetaskiwin has great recreation facilities for all sporting activities. These include ball diamonds, tennis courts, a pool, skateboard park, curling rink, lighted football field, outdoor running track, horseshoe pits, twin arenas, and soccer fields.
If you like to stay active summer and winter, we have over 400 acres of park space, connected by walking trails and bike paths, there is no shortage of places to stroll to on a warm summer night. Along your journey, you may end up at the scenic By-the-Lake Park where you can sit and enjoy a picnic, children can visit the play area, or you can just watch the Canada geese as they make this their summer home.
Whether you enjoy an active or a passive lifestyle, Wetaskiwin offers something for everyone.
With a full range of first-class recreation facilities, numerous service clubs, and arts and culture activities, there is something for all ages in Wetaskiwin.
Located within the city limits is an indoor swimming centre, twin arenas, curling rinks, ball diamonds, skate park, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, lighted football fields, and soccer fields. Wetaskiwin also boasts two 18-hole golf courses, with an additional seven courses surrounding the city within a 30 min drive. There are over 400 acres of parks connected by walking/biking paths leading to a large urban park area; a great way to enjoy the sights and sounds of our fair city.
For those wanting to stay active in the community, there are several associate services clubs, children’s groups, theatre groups, and art and culture organizations that welcome new members with open arms.
Since 1999, the City of Wetaskiwin has been competing provincially, nationally, and internationally in the Communities in Bloom program. We continue to compete successfully and are very proud of how our community has been transformed over the past number of years. We truly are a “Community In Bloom”.
A vibrant community Wetaskiwin has something for everyone. It is a great place to live, work, raise a family, operate a business, or to retire and enjoy the peaceful nature of this lovely community.
We invite you to visit Wetaskiwin for a day, a week, or a lifetime.
For further information on the City of Wetaskiwin view our website at
www.wetaskiwin.ca; or www.albertafirst.com.