Regional Highlights > Town of Barrhead
 

Regional Highlights

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

"Great people and great recreation in a beautiful rural setting."

Exceptional Lifestyle
Barrhead is a great place to raise a family, Barrhead offers a charming country atmosphere just 75 minutes from the Alberta provincial capital.  Only 117 km northwest of Edmonton, Barrhead's location is ideal for those who travel to and from the capital region or to north-central Alberta.

Barrhead has all the desirable qualities of a rural community and many benefits found only in larger centres.  Affordable and safe, the community offers something for everyone with a quality of life that is second to none.  Residents enjoy an enviable variety of restaurants, stores and municipal services.  The Barrhead detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police provides police services and a well-quipped Emergency Response Centre supports our fire protection and ambulance services.

Aerial Photo
Below is the aerial photo of Barrhead in 2001.   

 
Health Care
Residents have access to an impressive array of health services through Aspen Regional Health Authority, which is responsible for delivering acute care, long-term care and community care.  The local hospital provides everything from general services to high-tech specialist services, including general surgery, physiotherapy, rehab, obstetrics, emergency care, diagnostics, ultrasound and much more.  In addition to the hospital, seniors can access a wide range of services and support programs, including senior lodges like Hillcrest Lodge, the Keir Care Centre, Sheppard's Care Centre and Continuing Care Centre.  Barrhead is home to a world-class cancer centre, as well as a long-term care centre that is staffed by an exceptional group of dedicated health professionals.  There are two medical clinics in the community, three dental clinics, a physiotherapy clinic, optometrist and optician, massage therapists, orthodontist, denturist, chiropractors, acupuncturists and a psychologist.   For more information see Health Services.

Education
The community has a first-class education system, which is administered by the Pembina Hills Regional School Division and the Barrhead & District Adult Learning Council.  Northern Lakes College has a campus in the community as well.  Pembina Hills operates five schools in the area and offers an incredible range of courses for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12.  It also operates the Alberta Distance Learning Centre, the oldest and most respected distance education institution in Alberta.  The Barrhead & District Adult Learning Council offers basic literacy skills, adult literacy, English As A Second Language, high school upgrading, professional development, general interest courses and courses to enhance employment skills.  For more information see Education.

Recreation
The Barrhead region offers some of the best recreational opportunities in Alberta.  During our long summer days, our many lakes are popular with cottage owners, campers and water sport enthusiasts.  In winter, our region attracts ice-fishers, skiers and snowmobilers who enjoy access to vast wilderness and established trails.  Some near-by attractions include:

Klondike Trail Viewpoint
West of the "Two Mile Corner" (Intersection of Highways 18 and 33 directly north of Barrhead), known as the shortest route to the Yukon.  Old Barrhead was a key stopover for the settlers of the Peace River region and the Klondikers of the Yukon Gold Rush.
 
Area Parks and Campgrounds 
Click here to see the complete list with all details for:  Area Parks and Campgrounds

The Vega Sand Hills
A protected natural area, the Vega Sand Hills is a unique and dune formation with miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding.  Several outfitters operate in the area and trail rides are available.

Klondike (Vega) Ferry
 
The Klondike (Vega) Ferry on the Athabasca River is one of only 7 remaining ferries in the Province of Alberta.  The ferry operates from April to October.  An ice bridge serves the crossing during the winter months.

Barrhead Centennial Museum
Open from Tuesday to Saturday and the hours are from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The Barrhead & District Historical Society operates the museum on a volunteer basis.  A museum curator is hired on a part-time basis.  The museum features a vast collection of artifacts depicting the pioneering lifestyle of the settlers in Barrhead.

A complete collection of the local newspaper and an archive is housed at the museum.

The museum also houses the third largest display of African exhibits in Canada.

A very interesting map shows the meandering of the Klondike Trail through the County of Barrhead.

 The museum operates the Barrhead Visitor Information Centre from May to September.  The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday and the hours are from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

 

Every year in the middle of May the Barrhead Historical Society along with other sponsors put together the Antique Car Run.   It starts off at the Fort Assiniboine Museum and ends at the Barrhead Museum.  This is a great place for owners of vintage vehicles and visitors to meet, view and discuss the cars of old as well as stroll through the museum.

 Antique Car owned by Bob Tarbet Ashley Kenyon's Car

 

 

 back to top