FALHER

Located approximately 115 km north-east of Grande Prairie, Alberta is the Town of Falher with a population of approximately 1109 people. (2004 stats) Located north of Highway 49.

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 two Alfalfa Plants located by the outskirts of town. (North America's largest Alfalfa Processing Plant.) Falher Alfalfa Ltd. and Rainbow Alfalfa Farms produce over 120,000 tones of alfalfa pellets each year used as a protein supplement. The plants employ 150 people during the peak season. (780) 837-2244. (780) 837-2271.

The Falher Medical Clinic provides the medical services necessary. There is no hospital in Falher so therefore, residents have to travel to McLennan as well as for RCMP services. Falher has a modern shopping centre located in the centre of town.

Events: 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.

2008 EVENTS OF THE PEACE COUNTRY

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. (780) 837-3266.	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 including the Manning Comets, Fairview Kings, Lakeland Eagles (from McLennan) High Prairie Regals, the Spirit River Rangers, Peace River Stampeders, Fort St John Flyers, Grimshaw Huskies, Grande Prairie Athletics and the Valleyview Jets..
2007-2008 NPHL Hockey Schedule

The Falher Honey Bee is the largest man made honey bee in the world. It cost about $25,000 to make with an overall length of 22' 8" and a diameter of 7' 7". It was built in 1990. Located just off Main Street downtown. A salute to the Honey Bee Industry.

The 51 year old Falher Memorial Arena that was used for skating, hockey and broomball was demolished in May 2005. 32 Central Avenue NW. (780) 837-2675.
Demolition of arena picture.

The Falher Regional Recreational Complex is scheduled to open November 15, 2006.

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

Falher Smoky River Express.
Weekly newspaper established in 1966. Distributes 2,100 copies each Wednesday. 217 Main St. S.W. Falher. (780) 837-2585.

Radio stations include CKRP 95.7 Radio FM. 308 Main Street. SE. (780) 837-2346. Also CREF Radio. (780) 837-3400.

Falher Town Office (780) 837-2247.

Falher Chamber of Commerce (780) 837-2364.

The 1st Falher Church at the St. Jean Baptiste Mission is now a Historical Site and is open to the public for viewing.

Falher's Railway Station was built in 1930. Located on the east side of town along Hiighway 49 next to the Falher Campground. It is now the Visitor information Centre. Tourisme Smoky River Tourism. (780) 837-4690.