Rainbow Lake
http://www.rainbowlake.ca
Welcome
Welcome! You are in a community that presents itself to visitor and resident alike in a prideful manner. Beautification and the clean-ups have dramatically changed the perception and attitudes of our citizens. Rainbow Lake is permanent home to 1200 people; but they are not always the same 1200 people. There is a core group of pioneers who have lived and worked here for over thirty years - right from the era when the discovery wells were brought on line and people were needed to drill, produce, and develop the infrastructure to one of Alberta’s major petroleum developments of the 60’s. These folks brought their families, spurring the evolution of a camp complex to a modern town, with the cultural, educational, recreational, and municipal services that are expected in a thriving Alberta community today. The next most senior group is the families who moved here in the 80’s, again in response to the need to further develop the patch. These are the people who came here for a job, but stayed here for reasons so much more fundamental: they enjoy the opportunity to work in state of the art technologies: they appreciate living in a community where every single person counts; they love living in an environment where access to wilderness and nature is literally a minute’s walk from any house in town.
People who move to town for career advancement generally stay five or six years. These people bring with them fresh ideas, energy and drive to make the community that they now call home, better.
Some folks who are in non-oil patch related work; commercial, forestry, educational and service sectors choose to live in town These people bring a wider perspective and experience to the community.
Rainbow Lake has a continual flow of people into town, or through town, who are here for a few weeks or a day. They differ from being Engineers who contribute to reservoir development, drilling crews on a rig, or Grandparents up to see the newest addition to their family. All the individuals in town, no matter how long they stay, have the ability to impact the quality of life here. Whatever their passion, there is always the opportunity to contribute to the community.
Area Overview
The Town of Rainbow Lake was incorporated as a “New Town” in 1966. It has grown and developed rapidly over the last few years. It is located 918 km Northwest of Edmonton, and 138 km West of High Level on Highway 58.
Location
Rainbow Lake is located about 138km west of High Level.
Economic Base
Oil and Gas has been a lucrative industry in Northwest Alberta since the discovery of a major oil field in Rainbow Lake in 1965. Husky Oil operates a large natural gas plant near Rainbow Lake and co-owns/operates a co-generation facility with Atco Power. The estimated regional production volumns for 2002 included 11.8 million barrels of oil. This accounted for 5.1 percent of oil production in Alberta.
Utilities
Electrical Power
Atco Electric
Box 298, Rainbow Lake, AB
T0H 2Y0
Phone: 1 (780) 956-8117
24 Hour emergency 1 (800) 668-5506
Customer Billing 1 (800) 668-2248
Natural Gas
Town of Rainbow Lake
Box 49 Rainbow Lake, AB
T0H 2Y0
Phone:1 (780) 956-3934
Telephone
Telus Residential Services
310-2255
Internet Services 310-4638
Water Supply
Surface water is collected in a reservoir that has enough volume for an eighteen-month supply. This reservoir is equipped with aeration to impede stratification and algae bloom. The construction of a new, state of the art membrane plant was completed in 2007 and included treated water storage and delivery pressure stabilization. Current pricing structure for water consumed in town is a monthly fee of $60.00 for metered service and $75.00 for non metered service including 40m3 of water. Each additional cube is $1.95. Bulk water for delivery outside the municipality is $7.25 per cubic meter.
Waste Management
Rainbow Lake is a member of the Mackenzie Regional Waste Commission. Garbage is collected at the local transfer site and trucked to the regional landfill near High Level. Residential pickup is made every Wednesday at the cost of $20.00 per month.
Sewage fees are pegged at 20% of the price of the water invoice. Bulk sewage disposal is $100.00 per truck load up to 10m3 each load.
Recycling initiatives are satisfied by the Bottle Depot located next to the Esso Gas Station.
Taxation
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|
|
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| Municipal Tax Rate |
13.7 |
13.7 |
| Education - Alberta School Foundation Fund Tax Rate |
3.57 |
4.76 |
| Seniors Lodge Accommodation Tax Rate |
.302 |
.302 |
Transportation
The Airport is the hub of quick travel in and out of the community. There are scheduled flights and chartered flights available with direct flights to Edmonton. The schedules change; therefore you are advised to check with the airlines for bookings and reservations well in advance.
Central Mountain Air
Phone: 780 956-3900
or 1 888 865-8585
Highway 58 West joins the rest of the Provincial Highway system at High Level.
Community Lifestyle
Recreation Center
The hub of recreation all year long; The Multi-Use Facility houses the Health and Fitness area, library, curling club, lounge, skating and curling rink, meeting rooms, and large hall with kitchen facilities for meetings, dances, and banquets. The ball diamonds are situated just outside the area complex. In addition to the baseball diamonds and recreation center there is a tennis court and area for shooting baskets with friends. This area is free to use anytime and is maintained by the town. Residents make their own fun as well. This year a beach volleyball area was set up in the parking lot of the Rainbow center. Biking, quading, roller-blading and snowmobiling are some of the activities that you can find for your family to enjoy. There is also a walking path in progress for those who enjoy a leisurely stroll any time of day. There are many different festivities and community planning programs that happen throughout the year in this small community.
Children’s Center
This brand new facility was constructed by the Town to provide a dedicated building for child and youth programs. Its unique construction provides toddler through pre-teen space and furnishings on one side of the facility, and an area more suited to older youth on the other side. The Nursery School and the Youth Center are the prime tenants, with every child-oriented program encouraged to cooperate in using the structure.
Golf Course
This is more than just a place for golfers. The clubhouse is open for public dining in their lounge. It is a comfortable place for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a coffee or cool one with friends. The 9-hole course is always well maintained and a significant amount of work has been done over the last few years. It is situated on municipal land but is operated by a volunteer executive.
Education
The school provides education for ECS to grade 12. Classroom teachers teach all students the basic subjects’ areas. Correspondence courses are taken only by choice. Currently, teleconferencing is offered to extend the course selection beyond what we would be able to offer a small student population. Videoconferencing is targeted to replace teleconferencing in the upcoming fall.
School facilities include a library, gymnasium, science lab, computer lab, small kitchen/concession, outdoor track and ball diamond, soccer field and playground. We maintain an annual calendar, newsletter and web site, which includes the monthly staff list which can be accessed through www.fvsd.ab.ca
Mr Kevin Pittman is the Principal for the Rainbow Lake School and may be reached at:
Rainbow Lake School
P.O. Box 116
Rainbow Lake, AB
T0H 2Y0
Phone: (780) 956-3851
Fax: (780) 956-2352
Rainbow Lake Nursery School
Phone: (780) 956-3990
Rainbow Lake Nursery School is Society operated and held in the Community Center.
This School gives three & four year olds an opportunity to interact with other children with games, crafts, and story time.
Summer Fun programs as well as the Youth Center provide supervised entertainment and recreation for our young people. The Youth Center is open year round for after school and evening early intervention and supervised fun.
Rainbow Lake Youth Center
10 Commercial Rd P.O. Box 184
Rainbow Lake, AB
T0H 2Y0
Phone: (780) 956-3228
Fax: (780) 956-3678
Community Services
There are a number of community facilities and organizations available in Rainbow Lake. The Multi-Use Facility was opened in 1994 and houses the Dance Hall, Public Library, Health & Fitness Club, Curling Lounge, Concession Stand, Meeting Rooms, three (Seasonal) curling sheets and a new Ice Arena. The Multi-Use Facility is located at 1 Atco Road. A Youth Group is currently being operated out of the Youth Center.
In The Rainbow Center you will find hotel rooms, a large coffee shop, lounge, tavern, laundry mat, and gift/drugstore where prescriptions are sent out from High Level, photo developing, the Sears depot, magazines, school and office supplies, etc. Rainbow Transport and a 2 bay car wash.
Rainbow Lake has a variety of businesses. A majority are home based, including candle sales, incense, beauty products, crafts, fabrics, quilting classes, kitchen and household utensils. We are lucky to have massage therapy and wellness therapies available here as well. There are also several bookkeepers, tax preparers and an accountant in town.
The industrial area is a hub of oilfield related businesses, like camps, heavy equipment, and construction businesses, trucking companies, welders, sandblasting and painting, landscapers, plumbers, electricians, gas fitters, home repair and much more. It may look like a small town at first glance but you will find as you spend a bit of time here that there is really not a lot missing in terms of necessary services.
Communities in Bloom
Congratulations! We became a Two-Bloom Community. This first year of Communities in Bloom in Rainbow Lake was learning and growing experience for the whole town. In the past the community has done some clean-up including;
- Spruce trees along Rainbow Drive
- Increased community participation
- Addition of more planters
- Beautification of Devonian park
- Christmas Lighting program
- Recycling depot and program
- Reduction of the fire hazard through the cleanup of all green zones
Religious Services
Rainbow Lake has many unique features. One is the use of one church for all fellowships and denominations. The building is owned by the Catholic Diocese and designated as a community church. The building was rebuilt in 1999 after a fire destroyed the original building. You will find yourself welcome at any of the services.
Climate
Residents enjoy some of the most spectacular displays of the northern lights during winter months, scenic snowfalls, and extended daylight hours in the summer, rainbows, and a fairly moderate climate throughout most of the year. To see what the weather conditions are in Rainbow Lake today visit:
Rainbow Lake weather
Key Contacts
Municipal
Town of Rainbow Lake
PO Box 149
Rainbow Lake AB
T0H 2Y0
Tel: (780)956-3934
Fax: (780)956-3570
rainbowlake@telusplanet.net
Mayor: Kelly Drover
Box 149
Rainbow Lake, AB
T0H 2Y0
kdrover1@telus.net
Chief Administrative Officer: Terry Broome
Box 149
Rainbow Lake, AB
T0H 2Y0
(780) 956-3934
tbroome@rainbowlake.ca
Rainbow Lake Chamber of Commerce
Box 272
Rainbow Lake, Alberta
T0H 2Y0
Phone: 780-956-3030
Fax: 780 956-3882
www.rlchamber.com
Regional
Community Futures Northwest Alberta
Box 210
High Level, Alberta
T0H 1Z0
Tel: (780) 926-4233
or 1-888-922-4233
Fax: (780) 926-2162
info@cfnwa.ab.ca
www.cfnwa.ab.ca
Regional Economic Development Initiative for Northwest Alberta
Box 210
High Level, Alberta
T0H 1Z0
Tel: (780) 926-7314
Fax: (780) 926-2161
info@rediregion.ca
www.rediregion.ca
Provincial
Michael Cheeks, Regional Manager
Alberta Economic Development Postal Bag 900 - 3
105 Provincial Building
9626 - 96 Avenue
Peace River, Alberta
T8S 1T4
Tel: (780) 624-6114
Fax: (780) 624-6490
michael.cheeks@gov.ab.ca
Frank Oberle
Member of the Legislative Assembly [MLA]
Peace River Constituency
Constituency Office
P.O. Box 6299
10003 - 99 Avenue
Peace River, AB
T8S 1S2
Phone: (780) 624-5400
Fax: (780) 624-5464
peace.river@assembly.ab.ca
Legislature Office
132 Legislature Building
10800 - 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T5K 2B6
Phone: (780) 427-1879
Fax: (780) 15-0951
Federal
Chris Warkentin
Member of Parliament
Peace River Constituency
Parliamentary Address
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Telephone: (613) 992-5685
Fax: (613) 947-4782
E-Mail: Warkentin.C@parl.gc.ca
Constituency Address
201 - 10605 West Side Drive
Grande Prairie, Alberta
T8V 8E6
Telephone: (780) 538-1677
Fax: (780) 538-9257
Community Groups and Contacts
§ Chamber of Commerce - Tony Schulter: (780) 956-3030
§ Rainbow Lake Anglican Church - Stephanie Kelly: (780) 956-3382
§ Co-ed Volleyball - Tanya Woods & Greg Downer: (780) 956-3076
§ Girl Guides of Canada - Yvonne Halfacre: (780) 956-3869
§ Husky Social Committee - Jennifer Flesher: (780) 956-8031
Craig Pardy: (780) 956-8044
§ R L Young Anglers - Nancy Tower: (780) 956-3375
§ R L Christian Fellowship - James Barnhill: (780) 956-3389
§ R L Communities in Bloom - Grace Dimond: (780) 956-3691
§ R L Curling Association - Penny Murray: (780) 956-3099
§ R L Dart Club - Jason Whey: (780) 956-3233
§ R L Duck Unlimited - Matt Taylor: (780) 956-3090
§ R L Golf & Country Club - Kelly Drover: (780) 956-3060
§ R L Health Club - Rob & Amanda Baird: (780) 956-4012
§ R L Minor Hockey - Derek Harper: (780) 956-2244
§ R L Nursery School - Alicia Hughes: (780) 956-3990
§ R L Oilmen’s Association - Chad Doepker: (780) 956-2407
§ R L Rec Hockey - Trevor Lennie: (780) 956-3302
§ R L Skating Club - Margaret Huberdeau: (780) 956-5652
§ R L Youth Center - Emily Driedger: (780) 956-3228
§ St Peter & St Paul Catholic Church - Bert & Gigi Alarcon Phone: 780-956-3432
§ Steamblowers - Rachael Doepker: (780) 956-2407
§ Imperial Oil Pegasus Club - Bonnie Morrison: (780) 956-8547
Annual Events
- Annual Christmas tree Lighting
- Annual town clean-up
- Boxing Day family fun spiel
- Canada Day parade and celebration Church of Hope flea market
- Community Night
- Duck Unlimited supper and auction
- Figure skating carnival
- Glow ball tournaments
- Hockey tournaments
- Ladies Night out
- Annual Father’s Day fish derby
- Men’s ladies and junior golf tournament
- Oilmen’s curling bonspiel Oilmen’s golf tournament
- RCMP regimental ball
- Red eye slow pitch tournament
- School Christmas concert
- School craft and bake sale
- Snowmobile rally
In Closing
“Whether you are planning to move here, or just coming for a visit, come with your eyes and mind open. It is with this attitude that you will see ALL that is here just for the asking. Rainbow Lake is a place of beauty, abundance and strength that I had never found in the many communities I lived in prior to this one.” Julie Melville
Google Map
Rainbow Lake, Alberta, Canada