Sylvan Lake Archives
5012 - 48 Avenue, Lower Level MGB T4S 1G6 Sylvan Lake, AB, Canada

Who remembers how full our little library space was back in the early 80s? The stacks were so full there were even books in the washroom. Since those days the Town Office was expanded and included a much larger space for the library. Some years later the existing library next to the tracks was built and the library space was converted into the Council Chambers.

Spending more time at home going through old records and photos. The Archives is always interested in acquiring photos, old documents that tell the story of Sylvan Lake in days gone by. Although we are only having people come into the Archives by appointment we are still here Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Would love to hear from you.

Sylvan Lake Regatta, 1925 Waterslides have long been a feature on the landscape of Sylvan Lake....read more about the slides of the 20s, 30s, and 40s. https://www.sylvanlake.ca//Doc/2020-02-Spring-Archives.pdf

The Sylvan Lake & District Archives will continue to be closed to the public except by appointment. To make an appointment contact us at [email protected] or call us at 403-887-1185, extension 262.

If you are traveling along 50th Avenue west of main street you can still see the gateway to the Ozarks. This is a picture of Mrs. Jaminette taken in front of her home which she and her husband had named the Ozarks after the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas where Mrs. Jaminette grew up.

The Archives has many pictures of people enjoying the lake during the summer....winter not so much. In the early 1900's life was pretty brutal and cold winters would make it even more so. Heating depended on wood burning stoves. This photo of main street depicts two teams of horses and a flat bed used to haul wood. For other winter photos check out the Archives article in the 2020 Winter Community Guide.

From all of us at the Archives we would like to wish you the best during the holiday season. The Archives will be closed for the holidays from December 17 to January 7.

The first skating rink and curling rink were located where the Lion's Park and Municipal Government Building now stand. The land was bought by the Curling Club in 1928 from Alexander Loiselle, one of Sylvan Lake's earliest settlers. The curling club helped to finance and build the skating rink and shelter. Around 1930 the Town purchased additional land for tennis courts. Curling moved to the "new" site in the mid-50's. The arena was built in 1972. In 2017 both facilities were incorporated into the new Nexsource Complex. Photograph show the curling rink, skating rink and the grain elevators in the background.

Does anyone know anything about this ornament...who produced it, when it was produced? A friend of the Archives has recently found it and we are wanting more information. Judging by the lighthouse being included it would have been produced after 1988.

Like many other community traditions Sylvan Lakers are missing their annual celebrations. Follow the link to see more pictures of parades of the past - https://www.sylvanlake.ca//Docum/2020-03-Fall-Archives.pdf

Don't forget to put on your flannel and join us at the Viewpoint Lounge at the Nexsource Centre on Saturday, September 28 from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. for Pub Trivia Night as part of the Flannel and Feast activities.

In addition to the Flannel and Feast activities you may want to check out the movie "Sylvan Lake Summer" filmed in 1998 showing Saturday at 10 a.m. at Landmark Cinema. Free tickets can be picked up Sylvan Lake Municipal Library.

The Archives was pleased to host a group from Bethany today.

Join us for a fun night out with friends for our second Pub Trivia Night on September 28 at the View Point Lounge. Trivia questions will be of a general nature as well as interesting facts about Sylvan Lake then and now. Hope to see you there.

A series of Sylvan Lake historical photographs are now available for purchase at the Tourist Information at the Nexsource Centre. Featured are the boathouse and pier c. 1936, Main Street c.1930's, the pier and beach c. 1940 and the pier and waterslide 1920s. Cost is $2 per postcard or $8 for a set of 5.

We recently received a request from a member of the Rosse family regarding Joseph Rosse and his wife Alice Flore, early Sylvan Lake settlers and owner of Rosse's Store. Here is a photo of a hockey team that Gaston Rosse (son of Joseph - first row on the left) played on in 1947. Could the family members please email or phone the archives so we can relay additional information.

The next historical marker planned by the Archives is for the skating rink and curling rink originally located on the site of the Lions Park and Municipal Government Building in the 40's. If anyone has pictures or information we would sure be interested in having what ever you can provide us.

Save the date. The Annual General Meeting of the Sylvan Lake and District Archives will be Wednesday, April 24 at 2 p.m. Guest speaker Graham Parsons, owner of Sylvan Lake Hockey School will talk about the hockey school and its contribution to the community. As a longtime resident and municipal councilor he will reminisce about the many changes to the community over the years.