Lighthouses are a prominent feature of Canada’s West Coast, often seen strategically positioned along the ocean waters near Vancouver Island.
You might not expect to see one in land-locked Alberta, but this sleepy town near Calgary has a lighthouse of its own to brag about.
The town of Sylvan Lake is a little over an hour and a half drive from Edmonton and Calgary, located in Central Alberta, just 24 km west of Red Deer.
Positioned along the lakefront walking path, this red and white lighthouse is an eclectic feature on Sylvan Lake’s tree-lined horizon.
It was built in 1988 to commemorate the town’s 75th birthday, and replaced by Sylvan Lake Rotary with an updated version in 2013.
Here’s everything you need to know about this charming feature and the whimsy it’s brought to the town for 35 years and counting.
The town on the lake
French, Finnish, and American settlers started migrating to Sylvan Lake at the turn of the 20th century. These prairie pilgrims participated in early logging, pulling stones from the lake to build the first homes.
They were drawn to the area’s abundant forests, which helped the town earn its name after the Latin word “sylvanus,” meaning “wooded.”
Sylvan Lake achieved official town status in 1946 with a population of 900. Today, just under 16,000 residents call it home, a demographic that’s been steadily climbing since 2001 with ~8 per cent growth each year.
Could the town’s lighthouse be the thing attracting new residents?
A charming addition
The original lighthouse was built in 1988 to commemorate the town’s 75th birthday, but it was plagued with deficiencies that led to its eventual demolition.
With the town’s centennial birthday on the horizon in 2013, its residents were looking for a way to mark this important event.
The Sylvan Lake Rotary took on the challenge of building another lighthouse in the same location as the original.
Partnering with the Town of Sylvan Lake, they raised $240,000 for the project, as well as an additional $100,000 through the Sylvan Lake Lighthouse Flow Through Fund.
That partnership initiative eventually led to the reconstruction of the lighthouse in 2013.
The community rallied behind the common goal of seeing the lighthouse once again brighten Sylvan Lake’s skyline. Today, it stands as a symbol of the community, welcoming visitors and residents alike.
You’ll have to journey to the lighthouse yourself to see this iconic structure bring a sense of magnetism to the town of Sylvan Lake.
Where: Sylvan Lake, Alta.
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Em Medland-Marchen
Em is a Staff Writer for Curiocity Calgary. They are passionate about live music, rose gardens, iced coffee, their dogs Bandit and Stanley, and walks along the Bow River.
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