Wainwright is a town in east-central Alberta, Canada. It is approximately southeast of Edmonton.
Located west of the Alberta–Saskatchewan border, Wainwright is south of Vermilion in the Battle River valley. Highway 41, called the Buffalo Trail, and Highway 14 go through the town.
CFB Wainwright is located in Denwood, southwest of Wainwright.
thumb|255px|An entrance road to Wainwright
History
Originally named Denwood by settler James Dawson in 1905, the town was relocated by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway west-northwest and renamed Wainwright after General William Wainwright, the second vice-president of railway. The original townsite opened with post office in 1907 along with Denwood Hotel and store. The post office and hotel (becoming Wainwright Hotel) relocated to Wainwright in 1908 with the old townsite later becoming CFB Wainwright.
alt=Second Ave. with a focus on a group of people in a motor car in the middle of the street in front of the Wainwright Hotel|none|thumb|299x299px|A view of Second Ave. featuring the Wainwright Hotel pre-1912.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Wainwright had a population of 6,606 living in 2,664 of its 2,914 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 6,285. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Wainwright recorded a population of 6,270 living in 2,524 of its 2,770 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 5,925. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2016.
The Town of Wainwright's 2013 municipal census counted a population of 6,289, an 8.9% increase over its 2008 municipal census population of 5,775.
Arts and culture
Wainwright has the third-largest stampede in Canada. It occurs at the end of June, and includes a rodeo, chuckwagon races, parade, midway, an agricultural fair, and a town wide horse race for anyone over 18.
A Canadian First
On 7 October 2025, Mayor Pugh and the Town Council passed a proclamation condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry, making this the first township in Canada to pass such a resolution. Wainwright has a small but thriving Hindu community.
Education
Buffalo Trail Public Schools Regional Division No. 28
- Wainwright Elementary School
- Wainwright High School
East Central Alberta Catholic Separate Schools Regional Division No. 16
- Blessed Sacrament School
- Blessed Sacrament Outreach School
Greater North Central Francophone Education Region No. 2
- École Saint-Christophe
Transportation
The town is a divisional point on the Canadian National Railway main line. Wainwright railway station is served by Via Rail's The Canadian.
Media
;Radio
- CKKY-FM/K-Rock 101.9 – provides old and new rock music
- CKWY-FM/Wayne-FM – provides a mix of classic hits and top 40 music
;Newspapers
The Edge and The Star (formerly the Star Chronicle) merged to be the Star/Edge in 2013. It is published weekly on Fridays.
Notable people
- Glen Sather, former NHL player, coach, and general manager, and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
- Lynn Seymour, ballerina
- Frank C. Turner, film and television actor, iconographer
- Bobby McMann, NHL player for the Seattle Kraken
- Jacob Middleton, NHL player for the Minnesota Wild
- Keaton Middleton, NHL player for the Colorado Avalanche
- Mason Shaw, AHL player for the Manitoba Moose
- Kim Dorland, contemporary Canadian painter
See also
- List of communities in Alberta
- List of francophone communities in Alberta
- List of towns in Alberta
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File:Park Hotel (Wainwright).jpg|View of the Park Hotel pre-1920.
File:Wainwright, May 26, 1912. Destruction by fire of Small Bro's Block Etc.jpg|Smoke billowing over Wainwright, the aftermath of a fire.
File:Canadian National Station. Wainwright, Alberta, Canada.jpg|A view across the tracks of the Canadian National Station in Wainwright, between 1926 and 1940.
File:Main Street, Wainwright.jpg|Unpaved road in front of businesses with a water tower in the background in 1910.
File:Main Street looking Wainwright.jpg|View of busy commercial street in town with stores and shops in 1930.
File:Part of Main St. looking North. Wainwright. Alberta. Canada.jpg|A view looking north of Main Street showing automobiles and a clock tower as well as some businesses along the street, taken in the 1930s.
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