Morinville, a charming town in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region of Alberta, Canada, is located approximately 34 kilometres north of Edmonton along Highway 2. This article explores the rich history, demographics, and attractions of Morinville, Alberta.
Morinville was settled by Jean-Baptiste Morin, a priest and missionary of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. In the late 1800s, he brought many French settlers, followed by several German pioneers. A monument in St. Jean Baptiste Park commemorates these pioneers and settlers. Initially located at the intersection of 100 Avenue and 100 Street, the monument was moved to its current location in 2000 for safety reasons and to make it more accessible to visitors.
Morinville's first post-office opened in 1894, and the Roman Catholic Church of the St. Jean Baptiste Parish was built in 1907. The church and its adjacent, now inoperative, Morinville Convent were declared historical sites in 1975. In 2005, the church grounds were landscaped with a clock tower, new grass, trees, and shrubs to celebrate Alberta's 100th anniversary as a province. Unfortunately, the church was completely destroyed by a suspicious fire on June 30, 2021, which is still under investigation.
Morinville has a long history of successful business ventures. It was one of the first locations in Western Canada to open a Royal Bank of Canada in 1910 and a credit union in 1940. The town is also home to successful international businesses like Champion Pet Foods, which exports globally.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Morinville had a population of 10,385 living in 3,768 of its 3,981 total private dwellings. This represents a 5.5% increase from its 2016 population of 9,848. With a land area of 11.15 km2, it had a population density of 931.4/km2 in 2021. The town's 2020 municipal census reported a population of 10,578, a 6.9% increase from its 2016 municipal census population of 9,893.
Morinville offers a variety of recreational amenities, including walking trails, a splash park, a trout pond, a skateboard park, a hockey arena, a curling rink, numerous parks and playgrounds, and outdoor fitness equipment stations along the trail system and at the splash park. Additional recreational amenities are available in St. Albert and Edmonton to the south.
The Morinville Leisure Centre (MLC), which opened in May 2019, features an arena, a multi-use court space, and a small gym. Future expansion of this facility is currently under consideration.
Whether you're a history enthusiast, a nature lover, or a fitness fanatic, Morinville, Alberta has something for everyone.
