Alberta History & Heritage Guide 2026

Historical timeline

Key moments that shaped Alberta.

1. 1

   Indigenous Peoples

   10,000+ BCE - Pre-European Contact

   Indigenous peoples have inhabited what is now Alberta for over 10,000 years following the retreat of glaciers. The plains were home to the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksikaitsitapi - Blackfoot, Blood, Peigan peoples), Nakoda (Stoney), and Tsuu T'ina. The parkland and boreal forest were home to Cree and Nakoda peoples. The Métis Nation developed as a distinct people in the 18th-19th centuries from unions of Indigenous women and European fur traders.

2. 2

   European Exploration and Fur Trade

   1690-1850s

   The first recorded European in present-day Alberta was Henry Kelsey of the Hudson's Bay Company, who may have reached the area around 1690-1691. The 1700s saw increasing fur trade activity. Anthony Henday explored Alberta in 1754, becoming the first European to see the Rocky Mountains from the prairies. By the late 18th century, competing fur trade companies (Hudson's Bay Company and North West Company) established posts throughout Alberta.

3. 3

   Confederation and Territorial Period

   1867-1905

   In 1867, Canada confederated and in 1870 the Hudson's Bay Company sold Rupert's Land to Canada, creating the Northwest Territories which included present-day Alberta. The North-West Mounted Police (precursor to the RCMP) was established in 1873 and arrived in Alberta in 1874, establishing Fort Macleod and suppressing the whisky trade. Treaties 6, 7, and 8 were signed with Indigenous nations (1876, 1877, 1899), ceding land rights and confining First Nations to reserves.

4. 4

   Alberta Becomes a Province

   1905

   On September 1, 1905, the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were officially created from the Northwest Territories. Edmonton was named the capital (despite Calgary being larger). The name 'Alberta' honours Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and wife of the Governor General.

5. 5

   Settlement and Ranching Era

   1905-1945

   Massive immigration to the prairies brought settlers from across Canada, the US, Britain, and Central Europe (particularly Ukrainians). Wheat farming dominated the prairies while cattle ranching defined southern Alberta. The 1914 Turner Valley oil discovery hinted at Alberta's energy future. The Great Depression of the 1930s devastated Alberta's farming communities.

6. 6

   Leduc Oil Discovery - Modern Alberta Begins

   1947

   On February 13, 1947, Imperial Oil's Leduc No. 1 well blew in near Leduc, south of Edmonton, triggering the modern Alberta oil boom. This discovery fundamentally transformed Alberta from an agricultural province to an energy powerhouse. Massive infrastructure investment, immigration, and prosperity followed.

7. 7

   Energy Boom and National Tension

   1970s-1980s

   The 1970s oil price shocks made Alberta incredibly wealthy. The National Energy Program (1980) implemented by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was deeply resented by Albertans as federal overreach into provincial resources, creating lasting tension between Alberta and the federal government. The 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics brought global attention to Calgary and Banff.

8. 8

   Southern Alberta Floods

   2013

   In June 2013, southern Alberta experienced catastrophic flooding affecting Calgary, High River, Canmore, and dozens of communities. The floods were the costliest natural disaster in Canadian history to that point, causing $6+ billion in damage. Banff and the Bow Valley were severely impacted. The recovery and rebuilding was exceptional.

9. 9

   Fort McMurray Wildfire

   2016

   In May 2016, a massive wildfire swept through the city of Fort McMurray, forcing the evacuation of 88,000 people. The Fort McMurray wildfire was the largest evacuation in Alberta history and caused over $9 billion in damage. The entire oil sands city was threatened. Remarkably, the vast majority of the city survived and was rebuilt.

Historical sites

Places where Alberta's past comes alive.