Tofield, a charming town nestled in central Alberta, Canada, is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Located approximately 68 km east of Edmonton, Tofield is conveniently situated at the junction of Highway 14, Highway 834, and Highway 626. The picturesque Beaverhill Lake is located immediately northeast of the community, adding to the town's natural allure.
Before 1865, the area that is now Tofield was home to the Cree, an Aboriginal people. The region was abundant with fish and wildfowl from Beaverhill Lake, then known as Beaver or Beaver Hills Lake. The area was also rich in wild fruits and big game animals, including herds of bison, which provided food and clothing.
Tofield's Aboriginal legacy is evident in the names of local creeks: Maskawan, Amisk, and Ketchamoot. The latter is named after Chief Ketchamoot, who came from Ft. Pitt in 1860 to aid the local Crees against their traditional Blackfoot enemies. After a victorious battle, he remained in the area and is buried on the bank of the Ketchamoot Creek.
Tofield's first school, McKenzie School, was organized in 1890 and named in honor of the first postmaster in the area. The Tofield Post Office was established in 1897, located at the south end of Beaverhill Lake.
The town of Tofield began to take shape in 1906 when Morton and Adams built a General Store near the Post Office. By the spring of 1906, other businesses, including a lumber yard, hardware store, another general store, a drug store, a blacksmith shop, and a hotel, had been founded. The town moved to its present location when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway decided on a route south of the second townsite. Tofield was proclaimed a village on September 9, 1907, and became a town just two years later in 1909.
Tofield is named after the pioneer medical man, Dr. J.H. Tofield, who came to the area in 1893 from England. Born in Yorkshire and educated in Oxford as a doctor and an engineer, Tofield arrived in Edmonton in 1882 and served as an army doctor in the Riel Rebellion. The name Tofield was first applied to the school district and in March 1898 to the post office.
Tofield experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb), offering four distinct seasons for residents and visitors to enjoy.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Tofield had a population of 2,045 living in 807 of its 871 total private dwellings, a change of -1.7% from its 2016 population of 2,081. With a land area of 8.21 km2, it had a population density of 249.1/km2 in 2021.
Tofield is home to the beautiful Beaverhill Lake and the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, offering a blend of natural beauty and cultural richness.
The town is served by the Tofield Airport, operated by the Town of Tofield, ensuring easy access for visitors and residents alike.
