Northern Settlement of Garson Lake

Community Highlights

Athabasca Garson Lake is located on the east shore of Garson Lake, around 50 kilometres south- west of . The settlement can be accessed by an all-weather road that stems Boreal off Highway No. 155. Garson Lake is West approximately 100 kilometres north-west of and 500 kilometres north of Prince Albert.1 Churchill River Local Government

Mayor and Council:2  Chairman: Donald Laprise  Member o Casey Laprise o Dora Laprise

Métis Council:3  Northern Region II – Local #127

First Nations Presence:  There are no First Nations (Reserves) in the immediate vicinity of Garson Lake.  Nearest First Nations: o Clearwater River Dene Nation (60 km) o Birch Narrows Dene Nation (110 km)

Tribal Council:  Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC)

Demographics4

Garson Lake North Population 34 36, 557 1, 033, 381 Aboriginal population (%) Not available 86% 15% Youth population, 15 to 29 (%) Not available 9, 620 105, 240 Major Languages Dene, English Cree, Dene, English Michif, English Labour Force Participation Rate, 15+ (%) Not available 50% 68% Northern Settlement of Garson Lake

Garson Lake North Saskatchewan Employment Rate, 15+ (%) Not available 40% 65% Unemployment Rate (%) Not available 20% 6% Median family income: Not available $31,007 $58,563 Median earnings (persons 15+ years): Not available $18,449 $23,025 Population 25+ with a high school diploma (%) Not available 16% 144, 475 Population 25+ with a trades, college, or Not available 36% 303, 440 university certificate, diploma, or degree (%)

Economic Environment5

Key Industries – community  Forestry; Oil Sands; mining and surrounding area Major Employers  None Occupations  Mine labourer  Heavy Equipment Operator  Truck Driver  Construction/Carpentry  Firefighter (seasonal) Local Businesses  None Local Financial Institutions  None Transportation Services – Road  None Air  None Bus Service  None Strengths and Potential  Lake front development  Sport fishing and outdoor adventures Challenges  Lack of infrastructure to support and industry Future Development  Garson Lake is a member of the Dene Suline Regional Development Association (DSRDA) and are a signatory to the Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA) with Oil Sands Quest Inc. La Loche, and the settlements of Black Point, Bear Creek and Descharme Lake are also members of the DSRDA.

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Training and Education

Post-secondary institutions No Career and Employment No Services High School No Elementary Schools No Library No

Infrastructure

Highway Highway 965 (gravel) Airports / Airstrips 1500 ft sod airstrip Municipal Roads gravel Water and Sewer Well water hauled to holding tanks; Individual pit privies for sewer Power and Energy Electric Power: Power Grid Heating Fuels: wood Natural Gas: No Information Technology No Cellular Service No

Housing6

Garson Lake North Saskatchewan Total private dwellings occupied by usual Not available 9,862 409, 645 residents Owned dwellings (%) Not available 36.6% 71.8% Rented dwellings (%) Not available 30% 25.6% Dwellings that require major repair (%) Not available 37.9% 10.5% Average household size Not available 3.7 2.5 Average value of owned dwelling Not available $98,022 $132,111

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Emergency Services

RCMP Patrolled from La Loche Hospital Serviced from La Loche Ambulance No Fire No organized force

Recreational Opportunities7  Outdoor Skating Rink/Curling facility  Basketball Nets (Outdoor)  Ball Diamond  Tennis Court  Lake and Rivers  Playground  Volleyball Net (Outdoor)  Recreation Centre

Distance from Larger Centres8

Garson Fort McMurray Meadow Lake Prince Albert Lake to: km 790 462 364 424 648

1 Wikipedia, “Garson Lake”, available online: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garson_Lake,_Saskatchewan Accessed July 2013. 2 Ministry of Municipal Affairs, “Municipal Directory”, available online: http://www.municipal.gov.sk.ca/Programs-Services/Municipal-Directory-pdf Accessed July 25, 2013. 3 Metis Nation Saskatchewan “Directory of Métis Nation” available online: http://www.mn-s.ca/regions-and- locals.html Accessed July 25, 2013. 4 Statistics Canada, Census 2011, and Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Municipal Directory, available online: http://www.municipal.gov.sk.ca/Programs-Services/Municipal-Directory-pdf Accessed July 25, 2013. 5Northern Saskatchewan Heritage Site, “Garson Lake”, available online: http://www.kayas.ca/communities/garson/garson.html Accessed July 25, 2013. 6 Statistics Canada, Census 2011. 7 Saskatchewan Tourism, Parks, Culture, and Sport, Recreational Facilities in Northern Saskatchewan (April 2013). 8 Google Maps, available online: http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&tab=wl Accessed July 24, 2013.

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