FALHER

Located approximately 115 km north-east of Grande Prairie, Alberta is the Town of Falher with a population of approximately 1109 people. (2006 stats) Located north of Highway 49.

MORE PHOTOS: Click on the mini-pictures above to enlarge photo.

The area was known to the missionaries long before it was surveyed by Mr. Selby in 1909 as an Indian Trail that led to British Columbia and later where the railway laid its tracks.

In 1912, the Mission St-Jean Baptiste de Falher was opened 5 km from the current location. When the railway came to the area in 1915, the settlement was named after Father Constant Falher, a Roman Catholic Oblate missionary who was born in the town of Josselin Brittany, France in 1863 and came to Canada in 1887 arriving at Grouard in 1889. He was known for his ability to speak the Cree Language and referred to the area around Falher as the "Happy Hunting Ground" of the Indians. At that time there were a large number of fox in the area.



The colony then divided into what is known as the Village of Donnelly and the Town of Falher. In 1919 the Falher consolidated school district No. 69 and the parish Ste. Anne were established.

The first post office opened in 1923 with P.N. Blais, the first postmaster. Falher became a hamlet in 1923, in 1929 it became a village, and in 1955 was incorporated into a town.

Some of the top industries of Falher are agriculture and related services, retail, health & social services and also education services. There are over 20,000 colonies of bees which produce an average of seven million pounds of honey each year which is 40% of Canadian honey.

Falher is very strong in the agriculture industry with VIterra located on the outskirts of town. Falher Alfalfa was one of North America's largest Alfalfa Processing Plant but closed its doors in 2008, as the result of rising costs. It had employed between 35 full time to 110 empoyees at the busiest time of the season. (picture of Falher Alfalfa)

One of the quiet residential streets in Falher, Alberta.

Events of Falher:
Annual Honey Festival is held in July and pays tribute to the beekeeping industry. Includes live bee-beard demonstrations, live entertainment, the Honeybee Parade, midway childrens games, street market and more. The Smoky River Agriculture Trade Show is held in March at the Falher Arena, Curling Rink, Club Alouette and Knights of Columbus Hall. Includes 200 exhibits and free pancake breakfast.

NOW POSTED 2012 Events of the Peace Country

Retrouvailles 100th Anniversary Homecoming 1912-2012 will take place July 29-July 1, 2012 at the Falher Regional Complex. More info.

Falher is a bilingual town and is evident by the many stop signs.	Ecole Heritage School, Built in 1951 is a Francophone School. (since 1997) K to Grade 12. Located at 110 rue Charbonneau. (enlarge picture)	Centre Chevalier - ACFA - Radio CKRP (Association canadienne francaise de l'Alberta) located next to the Honey Bee just off Main Street.

Home to the Falher Pirates, (Senior Hockey team) NPHL, that challenges other teams in the Peace Country. The 2011-2012 NPHL (Senior Hockey Team) consists of EAST DIVISION: Falher Pirates, Grimshaw Huskies, High Prairie Regals, (Fairview Kings have dropped out), Valleyview Jets and Lakeland Eagles from McLennan. WEST DIVISION: Hythe Mustangs, Dawson Creek Canucks, Spirit River Rangers, Grande Prairie Athletics, Horse Lake Chiefs, Fort St John Flyers. 2011-2012 NPHL Hockey Schedule-Scores-Stats

Introducing The FALHER PIRATES - 2011-2012 Team Players, Coaches introduce themselves on camera. PLAY VIDEO> 4:15 min

Falher Centennial Curling Club has 3 sheets of ice. 030 Central Avenue N.W. Falher. (780) 837-2551.