Beginning around 1916, later than in regions further south, settlers began arriving by water and along the rutted trails. Many fished, trapped, hunted, farmed and learned how to live in this northern climate, aided in many cases by the First Peoples already here, who knew the land and how to thrive in it. 

While gathering information about the people and events of note as settlers took root in and around Calling Lake, we are inspired by other work that touches on our region. The book Reflections From Across the River, a history of settlement just north of Athabasca, offers a glimpse of the stories we can gather. Many of those stories intersect with the history of our community. Click on the cover image to open or check out the Library for a summary of the book as it connects to Calling Lake.