Slave Lake, Alberta

It's no surprise that the town of Slave Lake, set amidst a landscape of gorgeous lakes and forests, is known as The Jewel of the North. Lesser Slave Lake, with its clear and shallow waters, is perfect for swimming, kayaking, water-skiing, and windsurfing during summer months when temperatures rise to an average 14C (57F). Warm weather also means superb fishing: Walleye, perch and jack species are just some of the fish available in Lesser Slave Lake's waters. If you're not a fishing expert, don't worry. McGrath Fish 'n Cruise will teach you the tricks and get you the equipment you need.

And if you're a novice to the idea of wilderness activities and adventures, you'll find that it's easy to get started around Slave Lake. The Trans Canada Trail runs through Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park, offering hikers chances to sight otters, lynx, wolves, and bears. And if you're up to a bigger challenge, groups like Wildside Wilderness Connection provide wilderness survival tours as well as training in kayaking.

And you needn't sit at home during the long, cold winters, during which the average temperature is -25C (-13F). The colder months are filled with opportunities for downhill skiing at nearby Grizzly Ridge, while excellent cross-country skiing and snowmobiling can be found everywhere.

The community of Slave Lake, located in north-central Alberta, 251 kilometers (157 miles) north of Edmonton, is the principal town of the Big Lake Country region. As a result, this town of 6,600 offers an array of services and activities – such as the Northern Lights Aquatic Centre, the Arctic Ice Centre, and the Northern Lakes College climbing wall. And the town is prosperous, due to the plentiful jobs in the forestry and oil industries.

Of course, the best part of life in Slave Lake is the people. Warm and welcoming and full of a volunteer spirit, the people here will quickly make you feel at home.

See our 0 Jobs in Slave Lake, Alberta