Leduc, Alberta, a city nestled in the heart of Canada, is a vibrant community that offers a unique blend of history and modern amenities. Located just 33 km south of Edmonton, the provincial capital, Leduc is part of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region.
Leduc's history dates back to 1891 when Robert Telford, a settler, bought land near a lake that would later bear his name. Telford established a stopping place for the stagecoach line connecting Calgary to Edmonton, known as Telford's Place. He served as Leduc's first postmaster, general merchantman, and justice of the peace, and was elected as Leduc's first Member of the Alberta Legislature in 1905.
The establishment of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway, later acquired by the Canadian Pacific Railway, opened the region to settlement. The first train stopped at Leduc in July 1891. The city was named after Father Hippolyte Leduc, a priest who had served the area since 1867. Leduc was incorporated as a village in 1899, became a town in 1906, and was declared a city in 1983 when its population reached 12,000.
The city experienced significant growth following Alberta's historical oil strike on February 13, 1947, at the Leduc No. 1 oil well.
Leduc, Alberta, boasts a wide variety of parks and sports amenities, and more than 35 km of multiuse pathways. The city is home to Telford Lake, located on the east end, and Saunders Lake, just a bit further east. Other notable bodies of water include Alexandra Park Ponds, Coady Lake, Leduc Reservoir, and West Point Lake.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Leduc had a population of 34,094, a 13.7% increase from its 2016 population of 29,993. The city spans a land area of 42.25 km2, resulting in a population density of 807.0/km2 in 2021. The 2019 municipal census reported a population of 33,032, a 1.8% increase from the 2018 census.
Leduc is home to the Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts, a premier performing arts facility with a 460-seat theatre. In 2009, the city opened the Leduc Recreation Centre, a 309,000 sq ft facility that includes three NHL-sized arenas, an aquatic centre, an 8-sheet curling rink, twin multi-use field houses, a fitness center, and a 4-lane running track. In 2022, the city opened Curling Stadium Leduc inside the Leduc Curling Club, offering live broadcasts from all games played.
Adjacent to the Leduc Recreation Centre is William F. Lede Park, a 200-acre park with a variety of amenities including baseball diamonds, beach volleyball courts, a soccer pitch, rugby fields, community gardens, and a 40-acre off-leash dog park. The park also provides access to 8 km of multi-way trails looping around Telford Lake. The Leduc Boat Club, established in 2004, developed Telford Lake for rowing sports and hosted the 2005 World Masters Games.
