Tillicum Beach
Hamlet in Alberta, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tillicum Beach is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within Camrose County.[2] It is 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) west Highway 56, approximately 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) southeast of Camrose.[3] It is located along Driedmeat Lake.[3]
Tillicum Beach | |
|---|---|
  Tillicum Beach Location of Tillicum Beach  Tillicum Beach Tillicum Beach (Canada) | |
| Coordinates: 52°52′38″N 112°45′16″W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Central Alberta |
| Census division | 10 |
| Municipal district | Camrose County |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unincorporated |
| • Governing body | Camrose County Council |
| Area (2021)[1] | |
| • Land | 0.4 km2 (0.15 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 130 |
| • Density | 324.8/km2 (841/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (Alberta Time) |
| Area codes | 780, 587, 825 |
Toponymy
Tillicum Beach is likely named after a settlement of the same name in British Columbia,[4][5] itself derived from the word tilikum in Chinook Jargon (meaning "people" or "friend").[6]
Topography
Tillicum Beach is located on the eastern shore of Driedmeat Lake, part of the Battle River network.[7] The water around Tillicum has a maximum depth of 3.7 metres, and may contain flukes during the summer.[7][8] North of Tillicum Beach is Beesley’s Spring, a natural freshwater spring that flows throughout the year.[3][9][10]
Flora and fauna
Saskatoon berry shrubs grow in the area, though their abundance has been impacted by the presence of a gravel mine.[10]
Tillicum Beach's lake is home to fish species such as the northern pike, longnose dace, lake chub, white sucker, and brook stickleback.[11] It also contains emerald and spot tail shiners.[11] Migratory birds, including snow geese and swans, use the lake as a rest stop and are protected by a Restricted Wildlife Area Designation.[3] White pelicans, bald eagles, and double-crested cormorants also frequent the area.[11]
History
Pre-hamlet
The river beside Tillicum Beach marked a traditional division of territory between the Cree in the east and the Blackfoot in the west.[3] Saskatoon berries growing in the area were traditionally used by Cree people to make pemmican.[12][10] From the early 1900s until the 1940s, settlers established several farms in the area.[3]
Tillicum Beach: 1940-present
The origins of Tillicum Beach as a permanent settlement lie in the late 1940s,[13][14] when Edmonton-based developers operating as the Tillicum Development Corporation attempted to establish a resort there.[4][15] The development centred on an artificial beach, constituted of 15,000 cubic feet of sand.[14]
By the end of the decade, the corporation included lawyer Joseph Shoctor and Tom Cleary of the Edmonton Eskimos.[15][16][17] A dance hall opened in early 1950, followed soon after by a miniature golf course in June.[15][18] The corporation sold waterfront properties,[19] and also planned to introduce amenities including a private runway.[15][16]
Although the corporation's ambitious plans did not come to fruition, a hamlet developed in the area nonetheless.[4] By 1958, Tillicum Beach was an established attraction for camping, swimming, and fishing.[20] In 2005, Tillicum Beach reportedly had a permanent population of around 112 residents.[21] A $1.75 million paving project to reinforce the roads around Tillicum Beach was completed in 2014,[22] and further upgrades were undertaken by Camrose County in 2025.[23]
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Tillicum Beach had a population of 130 living in 58 of its 70 total private dwellings, a change of −32.6% from its 2016 population of 193. With a land area of 0.4 km2 (0.15 sq mi), it had a population density of 325.0/km2 (841.7/sq mi) in 2021.[1]
As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Tillicum Beach had a population of 179 living in 69 of its 85 total private dwellings, a change of 70.5% from its 2011 population of 105. With a land area of 0.48 km2 (0.19 sq mi), it had a population density of 372.9/km2 (965.8/sq mi) in 2016.[24]
Amenities
As of 2026, Tillicum Beach offers facilities for camping, boating, and playing outdoor sports.[11][3] It is a popular destination for anglers.[11] The locality also contains a ball diamond, playground, and picnic shelter.[3]