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White Spruce Forest
St. Albert
Other Names:
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Grey Nuns White Spruce Forest
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Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
The area commonly referred to as the White Spruce Forest is a natural stand of forest approximately 9.25 hectares in area that has escaped fire and logging for over 170 years and is today one of the last known native Spruce Forests of any significance within an urban municipality in North America. The White Spruce Forest is one of the last natural features that predates the settlement of St. Albert. This forest features a variety of flora , including white spruce, balsam poplar, aspen poplar, red-osier dogwood, beaked hazelnut, bunchberry and strawberry.
Heritage Value
The heritage value of the White Spruce Forest lies in its preservation of one of the few extant stands of White Spruce within an urban municipality in Alberta. The stand of trees is a first growth forest that is approximately 170 years old which predates the settlement of St. Albert.
White spruce is a characteristic tree of the Boreal Forest and although it can be found almost everywhere in Canada in most communities there are no natural forest remaining. White spruce is a main source of pulpwood and construction grade lumber throughout Canada. Its long, tough fibres produce superior pulp which is made into a wide range of papers, fibre moulded products , insulating boards and particle board. White Spruce have historically been logged throughout the province of Alberta in support of urbanization and first growth forest that predates the settlement of a city the size of St. Albert is extremely rare.
Character-Defining Elements
White Spruce Forest includes the following features:
- location in proximity to the Sturgeon River and Big Lake;
- variety of flora;
- extant first growth White Spruce; and
- environment conducive to the continuing preservation of the White Spruce trees.
Location
| Street Address: |
16 Hogan Road |
| Community: |
St. Albert |
| Boundaries: |
2MR, 3MR and Part of 1ER and 5ER, Block 1, Plan 1025668 |
| Contributing Resources: |
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ATS Legal Description:
PBL Legal Description (Cadastral Reference):
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Plan |
Block |
Lot |
Parcel |
1025668
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1
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2MR, 3MR and Pt. 1ER and 5ER
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Latitude/Longitude:
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Latitude |
Longitude |
CDT |
Datum Type |
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53.624 |
-113.659 |
Digital Maps |
NAD83 |
UTM Reference:
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Northing |
Easting |
Zone |
CDT |
Datum Type |
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Recognition
| Recognition Authority: |
Local Governments (AB) |
| Designation Status: |
Municipal Historic Resource |
| Date of Designation: |
2011/09/20 |
Historical Information
| Built: |
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| Significant Date(s) |
N/A |
| Theme(s) |
Building Social and Community Life : Education and Social Well-Being
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| Historic Function(s): |
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| Current Function(s): |
Environment : Nature Element
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| Architect: |
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| Builder: |
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| Context: |
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Additional Information
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