Cold Lake, Alberta has a rich history tracing back to the fur trade in 1821 when a trading post was established on the shores of the Beaver River by the Hudson’s Bay Company. Depending on their livelihoods, homesteaders from Britain, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and France settled in the Cold Lake area either along the Beaver River or closer to Cold Lake.

While two vibrant communities were growing in what is now Cold Lake North and Cold Lake South, the area then saw a unique development with the creation of the Air Force Base in 1954.

This unique history has led to the creation of Cold Lake South the home to Cold Lake’s business community, Cold Lake North a residential community nestled along the lake, and 4 Wing, Canada’s largest fighter jet base making up the City of Cold Lake.

Today, Cold Lake attracts many new and return visitors from Alberta and all over the world because of Cold Lake’s active oil industry, dynamic fighter jet base and air weapons range, growing retail trade, and year-round tourism highlighted by the stunning Lake. The Lake is large, deep and clear, perfect for fishing, sea doing, boating and water sports, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and stand up paddle boarding. Visitors marvel at the beautiful beaches, hard sand bottom lake which is perfect for small children, families, and recreational sports alike.