View source for Fort Saskatchewan

{{For|the electoral districts named for this city|Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Fort Saskatchewan
| official_name      = City of Fort Saskatchewan
| other_name         = 
| native_name        = <!--for cities with native name not in English-->
| nickname           = 
| settlement_type    = City
| motto              = Gotta Love It!
| image_skyline      = Fort Saskatchewan Downtown.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Downtown Fort Saskatchewan
| image_flag         = 
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = Logo of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta.svg
| seal_size          = 
| image_blank_emblem = Fort Saskatchewan-flag.svg
| shield_size        = 
| image_map          = 
| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = CAN AB Strathcona#Canada Alberta<!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Fort Saskatchewan with [[Strathcona County]]##Location of Fort Saskatchewan in [[Alberta]]
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = Canada
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Alberta]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of regions of Alberta|Region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Edmonton Metropolitan Region]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Alberta Environment and Parks|Planning region]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[North Saskatchewan Region|North Saskatchewan]]
| subdivision_type4  = Adjacent [[List of specialized municipalities in Alberta|Specialized municipality]]
| subdivision_name4  = [[Strathcona County]]
| subdivision_type5  = Adjacent [[List of municipal districts in Alberta|municipal district]]
| subdivision_name5  = [[Sturgeon County]]
| named_for          = North Saskatchewan River
| government_footnotes = <ref>{{AMOS|iso }}</ref>
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = [[Gale Katchur]]<br /><small>([[List of mayors of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta|Past mayors]])</small>
| leader_title1      = Governing body
| leader_name1       = {{Collapsible list|title=Fort Saskatchewan City Council
|1=Ajibola Abitoye |2=Gordon Harris |3=Brian D. Kelly |4=Deanna Lennox |5=Lisa Makin |6=Edward Sperling}}
| leader_title2      = Manager
| leader_name2       = Troy Fleming
| leader_title3      = [[Current members of the Canadian House of Commons|MP]]
| leader_name3       = [[Garnett Genuis]] ([[Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan]]-[[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]])
| leader_title4      = [[Legislative Assembly of Alberta|MLA]]
| leader_name4       = [[Jackie Armstrong Homeniuk]] ([[Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville]]-[[United Conservative Party|UCP]])
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 
| established_title1 = Incorporated<ref name="AMACityProfiles">{{Cite web |date=June 17, 2016 |title=Location and History Profile: City of Fort Saskatchewan |url=http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/MunicipalProfiles/basicReport/CITY.PDF |access-date=June 18, 2016 |publisher=[[Alberta Municipal Affairs]] |page=50}}</ref>
| established_date1  = &nbsp;
| established_title2 = &nbsp;•&nbsp;[[List of villages in Alberta|Village]]
| established_date2  = March 1, 1899
| established_title3 = &nbsp;•&nbsp;[[List of towns in Alberta|Town]]
| established_date3  = July 1, 1904
| established_title4 = &nbsp;•&nbsp;[[List of cities in Alberta|City]]
| established_date4  = July 1, 1985
| area_footnotes     = &nbsp;(2021)<ref name=2021census/>
| area_land_km2      = 56.5
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| population_as_of   = 2021
| population_footnotes = <ref name=2021censuscorrection/>
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 27464 <!-- 2021 StatCan census population only per [[WP:CANPOP]];  do not replace with latest municipal census population count; this municipal census population count can go in the population_blank1_title and population_blank1 parameters further below and can be noted in the article body (so long as it doesn't replace the 2021 StatCan census population in the body). -->| population_density_km2 = 479.4
| population_urban   = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_blank1_title = [[Municipal census in Canada|Municipal census]] (2023)
| population_blank1  = 28624<ref name="2023MunicipalCensusReport"></ref>
| population_blank2_title = 
| population_blank2  = 
| timezone           = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
| utc_offset         = −7
| timezone_DST       = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −6
| coordinates        = {{coord|53|42|46|N|113|12|48|W|type:city_region:CA-AB|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2012 |title=Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town) |url=http://www.safetycodes.ab.ca/Public/Documents/PSSSOP_Handbook_Version_12_Online_Feb_21_2012b.pdf |access-date=October 8, 2013 |publisher=Safety Codes Council |pages=212–215 (PDF pages 226–229) |type=PDF |archive-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016085027/http://www.safetycodes.ab.ca/Public/Documents/PSSSOP_Handbook_Version_12_Online_Feb_21_2012b.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| elevation_m        = 610
| postal_code_type   = [[Canadian postal code#Forward sortation areas|Forward sortation area]]
| postal_code        = [[List of T postal codes of Canada|T8L]]
| area_codes         = [[Area code 780|780]], [[Area codes 587 and 825|587, 825]], [[Area code 368|368]]
| blank_name         = [[List of Alberta provincial highways|Highways]]
| blank_info         = [[Alberta Highway 15|Highway 15]], [[Alberta Highway 21|Highway 21]]
| blank1_name        = Waterways
| blank1_info        = [[North Saskatchewan River]]<br> Pointe-aux-Pins Creek<br> Ross Creek
| blank2_name        = Public Transit Service
| blank2_info        = [[Fort Sask Transit]]
| website            = {{official URL}}
| footnotes          = 
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
}}

'''Fort Saskatchewan''' is a city along the [[North Saskatchewan River]] in [[Alberta]], Canada. It is {{convert|25|km|mi|0}} northeast of [[Edmonton]], the provincial capital. It is part of the [[Edmonton Capital Region#Edmonton CMA|Edmonton census metropolitan area]] and one of 24 municipalities that constitute the [[Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board]]. Its population in the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 federal census]] was 27,464.

The city was founded as a [[North-West Mounted Police]] [[Fortification|fort]] and later home to a large provincial [[Prison|jail]]. The original fort was located across the river from the hamlet of [[Lamoureux, Alberta|Lamoureux]], and Fort Saskatchewan opened a replica of the fort next to its original site in 2011. Fort Saskatchewan is bordered by [[Strathcona County]] to the south and east, [[Sturgeon County]] to the north and west, and the City of Edmonton to the southwest. Sturgeon County is across the North Saskatchewan River.

The city is best known for its proximity to chemical plants, including [[Dow Chemical]], [[Sherritt International]], [[Nutrien]] (formerly [[Agrium]]), Linde (Praxair), and [[Shell Canada]]. It is also known for its flock of 50 sheep that roam the Fort Heritage Precinct throughout the summer months eating the grass.

== History ==
=== Pre-colonization and founding ===
Prior to [[Treaty 6|colonization]] of the region, the area around what is now Fort Saskatchewan was a gathering place and home for many [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]] nations, including the [[Cree]] and [[Métis]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Green |first1=Arthur  |last2=Green |date=January 31, 2019 |title=Here is a sneak peek |url=https://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/news/local-news/here-is-a-sneak-peek |access-date=April 1, 2020 |website=Fort Saskatchewan Record |language=en-US}}</ref> Indigenous peoples of the region commonly travelled the North Saskatchewan River by [[canoe]].<ref name=":guide" /> The mouth of the [[Sturgeon River (Alberta)|Sturgeon River]], located near modern-day Fort Saskatchewan's industrial business park, was an ideal location to gather the materials necessary to construct canoes.<ref name=":guide">{{Cite web |last=City of Fort Saskatchewan |date=January 1, 2020 |title=Your 2020 Guide to Fort Saskatchewan |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/things-to-do/resources/Documents/Your-Guide-to-Fort-Saskatchewan.pdf |access-date=December 26, 2021 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan}}</ref> The Cree name of the area of modern-day Fort Saskatchewan is {{lang|cr-Latn|waskwayâhtik ispatinaw}} (Birch Hills) because [[birch bark]] was an important component for making canoes and scrolls with Cree syllabics inscribed on them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=pipikwan pêhtâkwan |date=September 2023 |title=Fort Saskatchewan Urban Forest Plan: Indigenous Engagement - Interim Report |url=https://pub-cofs.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=25243 |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan}}</ref>

Inspector [[William Drummer Jarvis|William D. Jarvis]], who led a column of [[North-West Mounted Police]] (NWMP) during the [[March West]], established Sturgeon Creek Post in 1875.<ref name=":guide" /> The post was soon renamed "Fort (on the) Saskatchewan", and it became a key northern police garrison.<ref name=":guide" /> Its location caused outrage among residents of Edmonton, who held a meeting voicing their concern that the police garrison was located far from their settlement.<ref name=":peterream" /> [[Factor (agent)|Chief Factor]] [[Richard Hardisty]], in charge of [[Fort Edmonton]], wanted the police garrison to be located across the river and slightly upstream from his fort.<ref name= ":peterream" />  However, Inspector Jarvis preferred the downstream site because he believed that its narrower and shallower river banks were better suited for a future railway crossing.<ref name=":peterream" />

The NWMP made Fort Saskatchewan the headquarters of 'G' Division in 1885, and considered moving it to Edmonton to accommodate an expansion.<ref name=":peterream" /> The residents of Edmonton were enthusiastic about this proposal; they held a meeting to voice their support for the move, and submitted a 250-signature petition to the [[Minister of the Interior (Canada)|Minister of the Interior]].<ref name=":peterream" />  However, the existing (temporary) NWMP barracks in Edmonton were so dilapidated that some officers mutinied in 1886 – an event known among police at the time as "the Big Buck".<ref name=":peterream" /> It was cheaper to expand Fort Saskatchewan at its current location than to rebuild and expand the garrison in Edmonton.<ref name=":peterream" /> Despite the efforts of Edmonton's residents, who would continue to protest and voice their discontent until 1888, Fort Saskatchewan remained where it was.<ref name=":peterream" />

[[File:OriginalFortSask.jpg|alt=|upright|thumb|250px|The interior of Fort Saskatchewan, {{circa|1884}}]]

The [[palisade]] wall surrounding the fort was dismantled in 1886, and the fort was expanded for a second time in 1889.<ref name=":fort">{{Cite web |title=Alberta Register of Historic Places |url=https://hermis.alberta.ca/ARHP/Details.aspx?DeptID=1&ObjectID=4665-0049 |access-date=August 16, 2020 |website=hermis.alberta.ca}}</ref> As headquarters of 'G' Division, it hosted patrols that extended as far as [[Fort Simpson]] and [[Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut|Chesterfield Inlet]].<ref name=":fort" /> The NWMP transferred the property to the Alberta government in 1911 for the construction of a provincial jail, and the fort was soon demolished.<ref name=":fort" /> Artifacts and structural features have been discovered during subsequent digs, including clothing buttons, a possible [[Privy chamber|privy]] deposit, and structural remains of the original palisade wall.<ref name=":fort" /> The site of the fort has been partially damaged by the installation of underground utilities, and the construction of the provincial jail.<ref name=":fort" /> Fort Saskatchewan was incorporated as a [[List of villages in Alberta|village]] in 1899, a [[List of towns in Alberta|town]] in 1904, and a [[List of cities in Alberta|city]] in 1985.<ref name="AMACityProfiles" />

==== Hanging of Swift Runner ====
Five hangings were conducted at the fort between 1879 and 1914.<ref name=":guide" /> On December 20, 1879, Fort Saskatchewan's police garrison conducted the first hanging in the [[Northwest Territories|North-West Territories]] (which included present-day Alberta).<ref name=":swiftrunner">{{Cite web |last=Pruden |first=Jana G. |date=January 1, 2011 |title=Hanged: A special series about the history of capital punishment in Alberta |url=http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/hanged/swiftrunner.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412014324/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/hanged/swiftrunner.html |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |access-date=April 12, 2020 |website=www.edmontonjournal.com}}</ref>

Swift Runner (Ka-Ki-Si-Kutchin), a Cree man, was considered by locals to be smart and trustworthy, and he had previously served as a guide for local police.<ref name=":swiftrunner" /> He was expelled from Fort Saskatchewan, and later his tribe as well, after developing a severe addiction to whisky.<ref name=":swiftrunner" /> After he eventually arrived back at Fort Saskatchewan alone, it was discovered that he killed and ate his six children, his wife, his brother, and his mother.<ref name=":swiftrunner" /> Possible motives for his acts have been proposed, such as trauma from previously being forced to eat a deceased hunting partner out of necessity, or being possessed by [[Wendigo]] – a flesh eating spirit in some Indigenous cultures.<ref name=":swiftrunner" />

Charged for murder and cannibalism, Swift Runner was sentenced to death in August 1879 by a jury consisting of three Métis residents, four locals who knew the Cree language, and a Cree translator.<ref name=":swiftrunner" /> Scaffolding was built for his hanging in December, and an [[Canadian Army|army]] pensioner was paid $50 to act as the hangman.<ref name=":swiftrunner" /> Local Indigenous Chiefs were also invited to observe the execution to pacify rumours of unnecessary cruelty inflicted upon the condemned.<ref name=":swiftrunner" /> The hanging was delayed after locals used the trap from the scaffolding as fire kindling, and the hangman forgot straps to bind Swift Runner's arms.<ref name=":swiftrunner" /> At 9:30 am, Swift Runner was hanged in front of 60 onlookers and pronounced dead shortly after.<ref name=":swiftrunner" /> Within an hour, his body was cut from the rope and buried in the snow outside the fort walls.<ref name=":swiftrunner" />

=== Early growth ===
==== Arrival of the railway ====
Prior to the arrival of the railway, travellers to and from Edmonton had to traverse a dirt trail that wound around woods and swamps.<ref name=":guide" />

The [[Canadian Northern Railway]] (CNR) reached Fort Saskatchewan in 1905, placing the town on what would eventually become a transcontinental rail line.<ref name=":peterream">{{Cite book |last=Ream |first=Peter |title=The Fort on the Saskatchewan |publisher=Metropolitan Printing |year=1974}}</ref> The [[Fort Saskatchewan station|CNR station]] is a modified third-class station design (100-19 plan); a "special station" that was used by CNR at the most significant stops along their line.<ref name=":cnrstation2">{{Cite web |date=September 30, 2008 |title=Canadian Northern Railway Station |url=https://hermis.alberta.ca/ARHP/Details.aspx?DeptID=1&ObjectID=4665-0701 |access-date= December 26, 2021 |website=Heritage Resources Management Information System}}</ref> It has several unique features, such as a longer footprint than other third-class stations, and a freight shed; these reflected Fort Saskatchewan's status as the centre of an agricultural district and the largest community on the CNR line between Edmonton and [[North Battleford]], Saskatchewan.<ref name=":cnrstation2" /><ref name=":cnrstation1">{{Cite web |last=Leonard |first=David |date=June 28, 2011 |title=Canadian Northern Railway Station, Fort {{typo|Saskatchwan}} |url=https://albertashistoricplaces.com/2011/06/28/canadian-northern-railway-station-fort-saskatchwan/ |access-date=August 13, 2020 |website= Alberta's Historical Places |language=en}}</ref> A second freight shed was built on the west side of the station in 1911; a sign of the growth in population and rail traffic that Fort Saskatchewan experienced.<ref name=":cnrstation2" /> The station is the only surviving model 100-19 railway station in Alberta.<ref name=":cnrstation2" /> In the decade after the railway arrived, the town's population nearly doubled to 993.<ref name=":peterream" />

[[File:Fort Sask Bridge.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A colour postcard showing a train crossing the CNR bridge into Fort Saskatchewan. The wooden car deck can be seen below.]]

The first bridge leading to Fort Saskatchewan, crossing the North Saskatchewan River, was also built at this time; CNR paid for it in exchange for free land for its station.<ref name=":peterream" /> It had a railway deck on its upper level and a wooden road deck on its lower level.<ref name=":peterream" /> Previously, the only method to cross the river at Fort Saskatchewan was via ferry.<ref name=":peterream" /> At the time of the bridge's construction, the ''[[Edmonton Bulletin]]'' described it as the second largest bridge in the CNR.<ref name=":peterream" /> The road deck was too narrow to allow more than one-way traffic, and traffic lights were later installed on each side of the bridge to help prevent collisions.<ref name=":peterream" /> Some drivers ignored the traffic lights at night, and proceeded if they did not see any oncoming headlights; even if they had a red light.<ref name=":peterream" /> A heavy vehicle struck the bridge in 1950, and a girder was forced {{Convert|18|in|cm|abbr=}} out of alignment by the impact.<ref name=":peterream" /> The safety concerns illustrated by these two factors caused the province to open a new two-lane bridge downstream of the railway bridge.<ref name=":peterream" /> After it opened in 1957, the railway bridge's lower traffic deck was dismantled.<ref name=":peterream" />

The railway station and line through Fort Saskatchewan were in use until the late 1980s.<ref name=":cnrstation1" /> Declining rail traffic and safety concerns regarding the transportation of dangerous goods prompted the [[Canadian National Railway]] to divert the line away from the city's non-industrial areas.<ref name=":cnrstation1" /> The station and its property, including the railway track directly in front of it, were sold to the Province of Alberta, which immediately re-sold it to Fort Saskatchewan.<ref name=":cnrstation1" /> The 1905 bridge was demolished soon after the railway was diverted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramsay |first=Caley |date=September 13, 2013 |title=Fort Saskatchewan residents question safety of Highway 15 bridge |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/840487/fort-saskatchewan-residents-question-safety-of-highway-15-bridge/ |access-date=August 13, 2020 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Myroon |first=Alex |date=July 9, 2018 |title=Pedestrian bridge design phase currently underway |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/new-pedestrian-bridge-design-underway |access-date=August 13, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> The old piers still stand in the river as of 2022.

As of 1987, all freight and passenger rail connections occur in Edmonton, and a new bridge, downstream and northeast of Fort Saskatchewan's downtown, carries a rail line that goes through Fort Saskatchewan's industrial area without going through residential areas.<ref name=":cnrstation1" />

==== Combined fire and town hall ====
[[File:Fort Saskatchewan Fire Department in 1910.jpg|alt=|thumb|250px|The Fort Saskatchewan Fire Department gathered outside of the combined fire/town hall in 1910.]]

Town council, meeting in the [[Independent Order of Odd Fellows|Odd Fellows]] Hall, approved the construction of a combined fire and town hall in 1905.<ref name=":peterream" /> The building would also contain two cells for police use.<ref name=":peterream" /> Council originally voted to purchase land for the building behind the Queen's Hotel for $675, but a public petition successfully persuaded council to instead purchase land on the north-west corner of 100 Avenue and 103 Street for $1,250.<ref name= ":peterream" /> Local taxpayers voted for $6000 to be spent on the construction of the building, and $7000 on fire-fighting equipment.<ref name=":peterream" />

The fire and town hall was completed in 1906; the fire department occupied the bottom level, and the town hall and council chamber were located on the upper floor.<ref name=":peterream" /> The fire department occupied the bottom floor until 1958, while the town hall was located in the building until 1970.<ref name=":peterream" /> The building is now privately owned and used as commercial space.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2019 |title=Business Directory |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/inc/business-directory.aspx |access-date=April 28, 2020 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan |language=en}}</ref>

==== Hydroelectric dam ====
After purchasing the Fort Electric Company in 1910, Town Council voted to purchase land near the mouth of the Sturgeon River, and construct a $30,000 wooden hydroelectric dam and power plant which were expected to last approximately 20 years.<ref name=":peterream" /> The town had to take over construction of the dam and plant in 1911 after the contracted firm went bankrupt.<ref name=":peterream" />  There were two separate instances in June 1911 where water rose above the dam and flooded the construction area.<ref name=":peterream" /> By its completion in December 1911, Fort Saskatchewan had spent $80,000 on the project.<ref name=":peterream" /> Minor leaks were detected throughout the next few months, and the plant was shut down in April 1912 after a washout at the [[penstock]] damaged the canal, a bulkhead, and parts of the natural riverbank.<ref name=":peterream" /> This incident was blamed on faulty construction.<ref name=":peterream" />

The town decided in September 1912 that there was no cost-effective way to repair the dam.<ref name=":peterream" /> It instead retrofitted its old power house for $3000, and absorbed the financial losses associated with prematurely decommissioning the dam.<ref name=":peterream" /> The power plant on the grounds of the gaol supplied the entire town for eight years, during-which Fort Saskatchewan faced numerous issues with residents neglecting to pay their power bills.<ref name=":peterream" /> The town finalized an agreement for [[TransAlta|Calgary Power]] to purchase the town's equipment for $26,000 in June 1928, and supply the town with power for ten years.<ref name=":peterream" />

==== Public emergencies ====
===== Downtown fire =====
[[File:Fort Saskatchewan Fire Insurance Map.png|thumb|250px|A fire insurance map for Fort Saskatchewan published in 1912, but revised in 1913 after the downtown fire. The darker patches indicate the extent of the damage caused by the fire, because the revisions were pasted on top of the original map.]]

A fire swept through a large portion of the town's business section on January 21, 1913.<ref name=":peterream" /> It is thought to have started in the Queen's hotel, before quickly leaping across the street to nearby buildings.<ref name= ":peterream" /> The fire department struggled to start their engine, and their hose froze; by the time they fixed their equipment, the fire was too large to be contained.<ref name=":peterream" /> Five businesses, primarily located in the Fetherstonhaugh Block, were lost to the fire — costing a total of $24,000 in damages.<ref name=":peterream" /> In the spring of 1913, construction began on $69,500 worth of buildings in the business section.<ref name=":peterream" /> These new buildings included the Williamson Block, which replaced the Fetherstonhaugh Block, and a new Queen's Hotel.<ref name=":peterream" />

===== Influenza epidemic of 1918–1919 =====
In response to the worsening [[Spanish flu|Spanish Influenza]] outbreak, the local Board of Health placed Fort Saskatchewan under quarantine on October 30, 1918.<ref name=":flu">{{Cite web |last=Graf |first=Jasmine |date=May 9, 2020 |title=A look back at the 1918 flu pandemic in Fort Saskatchewan |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/a-look-back-at-the-1918-flu-pandemic-during-covid-19 |access-date=December 10, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> Guards were placed at all roads leading into the town, and nobody could enter or leave without a pass from the health board.<ref name=":flu" /> The town reached 86 cases of the Spanish Flu in November 1918, representing approximately nine percent of its total population.<ref name=":flu" /> Fort Saskatchewan did not have its own hospital, so a local home owner, Mrs. Graham, donated her house to be used as a temporary medical facility; four residents were treated there.<ref name=":flu" /> Three residents died from the Spanish Flu.<ref name=":flu" /> The town's quarantine lasted for three weeks, and was lifted on November 17, 1918.<ref name=":flu" />

=== Provincial jail===
[[File:Fort Saskatchewan Gaol.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|The Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Institute in 1982]]

A $200,000 provincial [[Prison| jail]] opened in 1915 on the site of the old fort, to replace the 34-cell guard house that had been used since the NWMP fort was constructed in 1875.<ref name=":peterream" /> This was necessary because by the early 1900s, the guard house was often filled beyond capacity; in August 1912, it held up to 71 prisoners at one time.<ref name=":peterream" /> The fort was demolished after the gaol opened, and in 1927 the prison's warden unveiled a [[cairn]] on the site of the old guard room, made from stones taken from its foundation, to commemorate the old fort.<ref name=":peterream" />

There were various additions to the jail throughout the next 70 years, including more cell blocks, a gymnasium, a stand-alone power plant, and carpentry, auto body, and license plate shops.<ref name=":peterream" /> The prison grew food for inmates on a nearby 324 hectare (800 acre) farm.<ref name=":guide" /> A new house for the warden and his family was completed in 1937, replacing the commanding officer's quarters of 1889.<ref name=":peterream" /> The warden's house was symbolically constructed on municipal grounds near the prison, rather than on the prison grounds themselves — providing convenient access to the prison for the warden while normalizing life for his wife and children.<ref name=":gaol">{{Cite web|date=March 2, 2016|title=Fort Saskatchewan Historic Buildings|url=https://www.davidmurrayarchitect.ca/fort-saskatchewan-historic-buildings/|access-date=April 1, 2020|website=David Murray Architect|language=en-US}}</ref> The warden's house was converted into office space in early 1973.<ref name=":guide" />[[File:Wardens House Painted.jpg|alt=|thumb|The warden's house shortly after being repainted to its original colour scheme]]The prison was primarily used to house people awaiting their trials or serving sentences of under two years, and 29 prisoners were hanged on-site between 1914 and 1960.<ref name=":guide" /> Noteworthy prisoners who were executed include [[Florence Lassandro]] (the only woman hanged in Alberta), and [[Robert Raymond Cook]] (the last man to be hanged in Alberta).<ref name=":florence">{{Cite web |last=Pruden |first=Jana G. |title=Hanged: A special series about the history of capital punishment in Alberta |url=http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/hanged/lassandro.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223081618if_/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/hanged/lassandro.html |archive-date=February 23, 2020 |access-date=August 14, 2020 |website=www.edmontonjournal.com}}</ref><ref name=":robert">{{Cite web |last=Pruden |first=Jana G. |title=Hanged: A special series about the history of capital punishment in Alberta |url=http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/hanged/cook.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823060626if_/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/hanged/cook.html |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |access-date=August 14, 2020 |website=www.edmontonjournal.com}}</ref> By 1973, the jail employed 220 people and housed 300 male and female offenders.<ref name=":peterream" /><ref name=":gaol" /> The jail was replaced in 1988 when a new provincial [[prison|correctional centre]], which houses 546 inmates,<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 1, 2020 |title=Adult correctional and remand centres |url=https://www.alberta.ca/adult-correctional-remand-centres.aspx |access-date=April 25, 2020 |website=Government of Alberta |language=en-CA}}</ref> was built south of Highway 15 (Veterans Way) on 101 Street.<ref name=":guide" /><ref name=":transportplan">{{Cite web |last=ISL Engineering and Land Services |date=May 2018 |title=Transportation Master Plan |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/your-city-hall/resources/Documents/Report-Plans-Studies/Transportation-Master-Plan.pdf |access-date=May 2, 2020 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan}}</ref> The cell blocks were demolished in 1992.<ref name=":guide" /> The warden's house is the only remaining structure linked to the old gaol; the last building on the actual prison grounds, the facility workshop, was demolished in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Tingley|first1=Ken|last2=Johnston|first2=David|date=June 1, 2014|title=Statement of Significance and Integrity for Fort Saskatchewan Provincial Gaol 1937 Warden's House and Yard|url=https://pub-cofs.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=1752|access-date=December 27, 2021|website=City of Fort Saskatchewan}}</ref>

==== Riot ====
96 inmates rioted in the prison dining room on January 19, 1955, led by 12 ringleaders who barricaded themselves in the prison's bakery.<ref name="riot">{{Cite web |last=Zdeb |first=Chris |date=January 19, 2016 |title=Day in History, Jan. 19, 1955: Tear gas used to quell riot at Fort jail |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/day-in-history-jan-19-1955-tear-gas-used-to-quell-riot-at-fort-jail |access-date=April 3, 2020 |website=Edmonton Journal |language=en-CA}}</ref> The riot started only 24 hours after the chief guard and two other guards were dismissed.<ref name="riot" /> Dishes and furniture were thrown and smashed, and a store room in the bakery was destroyed by fire after the ringleaders torched clothing, boots, and other supplies that they found.<ref name="riot" /> Prisoners in a cell block believed to contain rioters shouted phrases such as "get the story straight" to nearby reporters.<ref name="riot" /> They claimed that they rioted because of the food at the gaol.<ref name="riot" /> The fire was doused by the local fire department, and the riot was put down by 50 [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] officers from Edmonton, who were armed with tear gas and smoke grenades.<ref name="riot" /> After the ringleaders were pulled from the bakery, they were returned to their cells.<ref name="riot" /> The prison had previously seen an inmate [[Sitdown strike|sit-down]] in October 1950, and a small disturbance in March 1949, but this was the most significant act of aggression by inmates that the prison had seen.<ref name="riot" /> The riot caused $10,000 worth of damage.<ref name="riot" />

=== 1950–present ===
[[Sherritt Gordon Mines]] started construction on a $25-million nickel [[refinery]] in 1952, which started production in 1954.<ref name=":peterream" /> As a result, more industries constructed plants in Fort Saskatchewan. Between 1951 and 1956, the town's population doubled from 1,076 to 2,582.<ref name=":peterream" /> Dow Chemical acquired 700 acres in Fort Saskatchewan in 1959, opening its plant in 1961 and further expanding it in 1967.<ref name=":peterream" /> The population increased from 2,972 in 1961, when operations at Dow began, to 4,152 in 1966.<ref name=":peterream" />

[[File:Fort Saskatchewan 1980.jpg|thumb|left|Fort Saskatchewan in 1980]]
The Fort Saskatchewan Town Police force (est. 1904) was disbanded in 1972, and the RCMP resumed policing duties in the town for the first time since 1917.<ref name=":guide" /> As part of a [[Royal tours of Canada by the Canadian Royal Family|royal tour]] during the [[1978 Commonwealth Games|XI Commonwealth Games]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Her Majesty's Royal Tours to Canada |url=https://www.lieutenantgovernor.ab.ca/news/her-majesty-s-royal-tours-to-canada/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326152630/https://www.lieutenantgovernor.ab.ca/news/her-majesty-s-royal-tours-to-canada/ |archive-date=March 26, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2020 |website=www.lieutenantgovernor.ab.ca}}</ref> [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]] arrived in Fort Saskatchewan from [[Vegreville]] via a special train on August 2, 1978.<ref name=":royalvisit">{{Cite web |date=September 28, 2013 |title=1978: Fort Saskatchewan |url=https://diamondjubileeproject.wordpress.com/2013/09/28/1978-the-queen-visits-fort-saskatchewan/ |access-date=April 3, 2020 |website=Sixty Years: Edmonton & the Diamond Jubilee |language=en}}</ref> The royal couple met with then-Premier [[Peter Lougheed|Lougheed]] on the platform of the CNR station, gave a speech to local residents at Turner Park, and then traveled to Edmonton in a limousine.<ref name=":royalvisit" />

[[Muriel Abdurahman]] was elected as Fort Saskatchewan's first female mayor in 1980.<ref name=":abdurahman">{{Cite web |last=Stolz |first=Hannah |title=Historical Society tells story of Fort Saskatchewan's first female mayor |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/historical-society-tells-story-of-fort-saskatchewan-s-first-female-mayor |access-date=April 4, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621161810/https://fortsaskonline.com/local/historical-society-tells-story-of-fort-saskatchewan-s-first-female-mayor |url-status=dead }}</ref> Abdurahman was elected for a second term in 1983, and she became the first mayor of the City of Fort Saskatchewan after it gained official city status in 1985. She later resigned as mayor to pursue a career in provincial politics, and was succeeded by Pryce Alderson.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 30, 2013|title=Remembering the life of Muriel Abdurahman|url=http://edmontonjournal.remembering.ca/obituary/muriel-abdurahman-1065346904/|access-date=April 4, 2020|website=Edmonton Journal|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":mayors">{{Cite web |date=January 20, 2020 |title=Mayors and Members of Council from 1904 – Present |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/your-city-hall/resources/Documents/Council/History-of-Mayors-Council-Members.pdf |access-date=April 4, 2020 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan |language=en}}</ref>

Fort Saskatchewan annexed {{Convert|952|hectare|acre}} of land from Strathcona County on January 1, 2020.<ref name=":annexation">{{Cite web |last=Janzen |first=Cody |date=December 4, 2019 |title=Province approves Fort Saskatchewan-Strathcona County annexation |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/province-approves-fort-saskatchewan-strathcona-county-annexation |access-date=March 29, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> The land is mainly located south of the city's old boundaries. Fort Saskatchewan originally requested {{Convert|2,000|hectare|acre}} from Strathcona County, including industrial land to the north, but the two municipalities negotiated an agreement involving less land.<ref name=":annexation" />

Since Fort Saskatchewan was incorporated as a town in 1904, it has had [[List of mayors of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta|30 residents]] serve as its mayor as of 2021.<ref name=":mayors" />

==== Annexation dispute ====
Fort Saskatchewan submitted a bid to annex {{Convert|784|hectare|acre}} of industrial land to its east from Strathcona County in 1988.<ref name=":annexation1">{{Cite web |last=Staples |first=David |date=May 23, 2014 |title=The Great Edmonton Annexation Debate, Part 1: Ft. Saskatchewan vs. Sherwood Park |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/the-great-edmonton-annexation-debate-round-1-ft-saskatchewan-vs-sherwood-park/ |access-date=May 12, 2020 |website=Edmonton Journal}}</ref> Dow Chemical was constructing a [[Chemical plant|plant]] on some of this land, and the refinery was expected to generate $4 million in tax revenues once it was complete.<ref name=":annexation1" /> After Fort Saskatchewan declined to split Dow's taxes between the two municipalities, and in protest over being "chiseled away" by its urban neighbours, Strathcona County submitted a counter-bid to the Local Authorities Board in 1989 to retake {{Convert|1400|hectare|acre}} of land from Fort Saskatchewan.<ref name=":annexation1" /> The claim encompassed most of Fort Saskatchewan's tax-rich industrial land, which had been ceded to the city in 1959.<ref name=":annexation1" /> In the late 1980s, Fort Saskatchewan had the richest tax base in the Edmonton Area, with 74% involving commercial or industrial properties, and it had the lowest homeowners tax in the region.<ref name=":annexation1" /> After the provincial government tried unsuccessfully to mediate an agreement between the two sides in late 1989, the Edmonton Metropolitan Regional Planning Commission voted in 1990 in favour of Fort Saskatchewan's bid, and rejected Strathcona County's counter-bid.<ref name=":annexation1" />

As the dispute continued into late 1990, Fort Saskatchewan purchased a full-page advertisement in the ''[[Edmonton Journal]]'', urging the provincial government to respect the Local Authorities Board's "non-political decision", regardless of what its verdict was.<ref name=":annexation1" /> The province announced that Fort Saskatchewan's bid was successful in 1991, stating that the city would annex {{Convert|1144|hectare|acre}} of land from Strathcona County on December 31, 1991.<ref name=":annexation1" /> In turn, the county would be protected from further annexations for 20 years, and the two municipalities would have to reach an agreement on tax-sharing.<ref name=":annexation1" /> The two sides continued to face difficulties negotiating with one another, and neither believed that an arbitration process could be agreed upon.<ref name=":annexation1" /> In March 1992, a Court of Queen's Bench judge ruled in favour of Strathcona County.<ref name=":annexation1" /> He declared that over the next 19 years, the county was to receive approximately $27 million in tax revenue from the land annexed by Fort Saskatchewan, while the city would receive about $55 million of tax revenue over that same period.<ref name=":annexation1" /> Mayor Pryce Alderson of Fort Saskatchewan, and Reeve Iris Evans of Strathcona County, issued a joint statement that welcomed the decision, stating that they would work together moving forward.<ref name=":annexation1" />

== Geography ==

=== Climate ===
Fort Saskatchewan has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dfb'') with warm summers and cold winters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fort Saskatchewan climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Fort Saskatchewan weather averages - Climate-Data.org |url=https://en.climate-data.org/north-america/canada/alberta/fort-saskatchewan-949/ |access-date=August 19, 2020 |website=en.climate-data.org}}</ref> Precipitation peaks during summer time, and snowfall peaks from November to January.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Environment and Climate Change |date=September 25, 2013 |title=Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 Station Data – Climate – Environment and Climate Change Canada |url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?stnID=1886&autofwd=1 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |website=climate.weather.gc.ca |language=en}}</ref>
{{Weather box
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
<!--|collapsed = yes-->| location = Fort Saskatchewan
| Jan record high C = 10.0
| Feb record high C = 15.0
| Mar record high C = 18.9
| Apr record high C = 31.1
| May record high C = 33.5
| Jun record high C = 33.4
| Jul record high C = 36.5
| Aug record high C = 36.0
| Sep record high C = 33.3
| Oct record high C = 29.5
| Nov record high C = 19.0
| Dec record high C = 12.5
| year record high C = 36.5
| Jan high C = −6.5
| Feb high C = −3.6
| Mar high C = 1.7
| Apr high C = 11.3
| May high C = 17.9
| Jun high C = 21.2
| Jul high C = 23.3
| Aug high C = 22.4
| Sep high C = 17.2
| Oct high C = 10.3
| Nov high C = −0.4
| Dec high C = −5.1
| year high C = 9.1
| Jan mean C = −11.9
| Feb mean C = −9.3
| Mar mean C = −3.7
| Apr mean C = 4.9
| May mean C = 11.1
| Jun mean C = 15.0
| Jul mean C = 17.1
| Aug mean C = 15.9
| Sep mean C = 10.9
| Oct mean C = 4.4
| Nov mean C = −5.3
| Dec mean C = −10.4
| year mean C = 3.2
| Jan low C = −17.3
| Feb low C = −15.0
| Mar low C = −9.0
| Apr low C = −1.5
| May low C = 4.3
| Jun low C = 8.8
| Jul low C = 10.8
| Aug low C = 9.4
| Sep low C = 4.5
| Oct low C = −1.6
| Nov low C = −10.2
| Dec low C = −15.7
| year low C = −2.7
| Jan record low C = −45.0
| Feb record low C = −47.5
| Mar record low C = −45.6
| Apr record low C = −28.0
| May record low C = −9.5
| Jun record low C = −3.3
| Jul record low C = 0.5
| Aug record low C = −1.0
| Sep record low C = −10.0
| Oct record low C = −24.5
| Nov record low C = −38.5
| Dec record low C = −43.9
| year record low C = −47.5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 24.0
| Feb precipitation mm = 12.4
| Mar precipitation mm = 18.7
| Apr precipitation mm = 24.3
| May precipitation mm = 43.1
| Jun precipitation mm = 80.0
| Jul precipitation mm = 92.0
| Aug precipitation mm = 55.4
| Sep precipitation mm = 40.8
| Oct precipitation mm = 20.6
| Nov precipitation mm = 23.3
| Dec precipitation mm = 20.2
| year precipitation mm = 454.6
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 0.6
| Feb rain mm = 0.8
| Mar rain mm = 0.5
| Apr rain mm = 16.2
| May rain mm = 41.1
| Jun rain mm = 80.0
| Jul rain mm = 92.0
| Aug rain mm = 55.4
| Sep rain mm = 40.8
| Oct rain mm = 14.3
| Nov rain mm = 2.8
| Dec rain mm = 0.7
| year rain mm = 345.2
| Jan snow cm = 23.4
| Feb snow cm = 11.6
| Mar snow cm = 18.1
| Apr snow cm = 8.1
| May snow cm = 2.0
| Jun snow cm = 0.0
| Jul snow cm = 0.0
| Aug snow cm = 0.0
| Sep snow cm = 0.0
| Oct snow cm = 6.3
| Nov snow cm = 20.5
| Dec snow cm = 19.8
| year snow cm = 109.7
| unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 6.6
| Feb precipitation days = 5
| Mar precipitation days = 4.3
| Apr precipitation days = 6.3
| May precipitation days = 10.2
| Jun precipitation days = 13.3
| Jul precipitation days = 14.2
| Aug precipitation days = 13.5
| Sep precipitation days = 10.2
| Oct precipitation days = 6.8
| Nov precipitation days = 6.4
| Dec precipitation days = 5.9
| year precipitation days = 102.6
| unit rain days = 0.2 mm
| Jan rain days = 0.14
| Feb rain days = 0.21
| Mar rain days = 0.66
| Apr rain days = 5.1
| May rain days = 10.1
| Jun rain days = 13.3
| Jul rain days = 14.2
| Aug rain days = 13.5
| Sep rain days = 10.2
| Oct rain days = 6
| Nov rain days = 1.5
| Dec rain days = 0.18
| year rain days = 75
| unit snow days = 0.2&nbsp;cm
| Jan snow days = 6.5
| Feb snow days = 4.8
| Mar snow days = 3.7
| Apr snow days = 1.5
| May snow days = 0.35
| Jun snow days = 0
| Jul snow days = 0
| Aug snow days = 0
| Sep snow days = 0.07
| Oct snow days = 1
| Nov snow days = 4.9
| Dec snow days = 5.8
| year snow days = 28.6
| source 1 = [[Environment Canada]]<ref name="climate">{{Cite web |date=November 25, 2021 |title=Fort Saskatchewan |url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?searchType=stnProv&lstProvince=AB&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=1886&dispBack=0 |access-date=December 27, 2021 |website=Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 |publisher=Environment Canada |language=en, fr}}</ref><ref name="low">{{Cite web |title=Daily Data Report for February 2019 – Fort Saskatchewan |url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1958-03-01%7C2019-10-17&mlyRange=1958-01-01%7C2007-11-01&StationID=1886&Prov=AB&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnProx&optLimit=specDate&Month=2&Day=1&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2019&Year=2019&selRowPerPage=25&Line=2&txtRadius=25&optProxType=navLink&txtLatDecDeg=53.65&txtLongDecDeg=113.35&timeframe=2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020023406/https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1958-03-01%7C2019-10-17&mlyRange=1958-01-01%7C2007-11-01&StationID=1886&Prov=AB&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnProx&optLimit=specDate&Month=2&Day=1&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2019&Year=2019&selRowPerPage=25&Line=2&txtRadius=25&optProxType=navLink&txtLatDecDeg=53.65&txtLongDecDeg=113.35&timeframe=2 |archive-date=October 20, 2019 |access-date=October 19, 2019 |website=Environment Canada | date=October 31, 2011 }}</ref>
| source 2 = Precipitation Days Only<ref name="envcan">{{Cite web |title=Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000 |url=http://climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?stnID=1886&lang=e&dCode=0&province=ALTA&provBut=Search&month1=0&month2=12 |access-date=August 19, 2012 |publisher=Environment Canada}}</ref>
}}

=== Neighbourhoods ===
[[File:Downtown Fort Saskatchewan.jpg|thumb|100th Avenue in downtown Fort Saskatchewan]]
Fort Saskatchewan is divided into seven residential neighbourhoods and two industrial parks.<ref name=":map">{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2020 |title=Maps |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/living-here/maps.aspx |access-date=April 1, 2020 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan |language=en}}</ref> Downtown is the city's oldest neighbourhood, and currently experiencing a larger commercial vacancy rate than the local average due to its low catchment area.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 6, 2021 |title=Fort Saskatchewan's New Land Use Bylaw |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/your-city-hall/new-land-use-bylaw.aspx |access-date=December 26, 2021 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":retailgap" /> Bridgeview, Clover Park, Pineview, and Sherridon are mature residential neighbourhoods, and Westpark and Southfort — the city's newest neighbourhoods — are still under development as of 2021.<ref name=":map" /> Eastgate Business Park and the Industrial Business Park both sit on the eastern edge of the city.<ref name=":map" />

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations
|title       = Federal census<br/>population history
|type        = Canada
|align       = right
|width       = 
|state       = 
|shading     = 
|percentages = 
|footnote    = ''Sources: [[Statistics Canada]] and <br />City of Fort Saskatchewan''<br /><ref name="1906census">{{Cite book |title=Census of the Northwest Provinces, 1906 |publisher=[[Government of Canada]] |year=1907 |volume=Sessional Paper No. 17a |location=Ottawa |page=100 |chapter=Table IX: Population of cities, towns and incorporated villages in 1906 and 1901 as classed in 1906}}</ref><ref name="1911census">{{Cite book |title=Census of Canada, 1911 |publisher=[[Government of Canada]] |year=1912 |volume=I |location=Ottawa |pages=2–39 |chapter=Table I: Area and Population of Canada by Provinces, Districts and Subdistricts in 1911 and Population in 1901}}</ref><ref name="1916census">{{Cite book |title=Census of Prairie Provinces, 1916 |publisher=[[Government of Canada]] |year=1918 |volume=Population and Agriculture |location=Ottawa |pages=77–140 |chapter=Table I: Population of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta by Districts, Townships, Cities, Towns, and Incorporated Villages in 1916, 1911, 1906, and 1901}}</ref><ref name="1921census">{{Cite book |title=Census of Canada, 1921 |publisher=[[Government of Canada]] |year=1922 |location=Ottawa |pages=169–215 |chapter=Table 8: Population by districts and sub-districts according to the Redistribution Act of 1914 and the amending act of 1915, compared for the census years 1921, 1911 and 1901}}</ref><ref name="1926census">{{Cite book |title=Census of Prairie Provinces, 1926 |publisher=[[Government of Canada]] |year=1927 |volume=Census of Alberta, 1926 |location=Ottawa |pages=565–567 |chapter=Table 7: Population of cities, towns and villages for the province of Alberta in census years 1901–26, as classed in 1926}}</ref><ref name="1931census">{{Cite book |title=Census of Canada, 1931 |publisher=[[Government of Canada]] |year=1932 |location=Ottawa |pages=98–102 |chapter=Table 12: Population of Canada by provinces, counties or census divisions and subdivisions, 1871–1931}}</ref><ref name="1936census">{{Cite book |title=Census of the Prairie Provinces, 1936 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada|Dominion Bureau of Statistics]] |year=1938 |volume=I: Population and Agriculture |location=Ottawa |pages=833–836 |chapter=Table 4: Population in incorporated cities, towns and villages, 1901–1936}}</ref><ref name="1941census">{{Cite book |title=Eighth Census of Canada, 1941 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada|Dominion Bureau of Statistics]] |year=1944 |volume=II: Population by Local Subdivisions |location=Ottawa |pages=134–141 |chapter=Table 10: Population by census subdivisions, 1871–1941}}</ref><ref name="1946census">{{Cite book |title=Census of the Prairie Provinces, 1946 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada|Dominion Bureau of Statistics]] |year=1949 |volume=I: Population |location=Ottawa |pages=401–414 |chapter=Table 6: Population by census subdivisions, 1926–1946}}</ref><ref name="1951census">{{Cite book |title=Ninth Census of Canada, 1951 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada|Dominion Bureau of Statistics]] |year=1953 |volume=I: Population, General Characteristics |location=Ottawa |page=6.73–6.83 |chapter=Table 6: Population by census subdivisions, 1871–1951}}</ref><ref name="1956census">{{Cite book |title=Census of Canada, 1956 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada|Dominion Bureau of Statistics]] |year=1957 |volume=Population, Counties and Subdivisions |location=Ottawa |page=6.50–6.53 |chapter=Table 6: Population by sex, for census subdivisions, 1956 and 1951}}</ref><br />
<ref name="1961census">{{Cite book |title=1961 Census of Canada |publisher=[[Statistics Canada|Dominion Bureau of Statistics]] |year=1963 |series=Series 1.1: Historical, 1901–1961 |volume=I: Population |location=Ottawa |page=6.77–6.83 |chapter=Table 6: Population by census subdivisions, 1901–1961}}</ref><ref name="1966census">{{Cite book |title=Census of Canada, 1966 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada|Dominion Bureau of Statistics]] |year=1968 |volume=Population, Specified Age Groups and Sex for Counties and Census Subdivisions, 1966 |location=Ottawa |page=6.50–6.53 |chapter=Population by specified age groups and sex, for census subdivisions, 1966}}</ref><ref name="1971census">{{Cite book |title=1971 Census of Canada |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |year=1973 |volume=I: Population, Census Subdivisions (Historical) |location=Ottawa |page=2.102–2.111 |chapter=Table 2: Population of Census Subdivisions, 1921–1971}}</ref><ref name="1976census">{{Cite book |title=1976 Census of Canada |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |year=1977 |series=Census Divisions and Subdivisions, Western Provinces and the Territories |volume=I: Population, Geographic Distributions |location=Ottawa |page=3.40–3.43 |chapter=Table 3: Population for census divisions and subdivisions, 1971 and 1976}}</ref><ref name="1981census">{{Cite book |title=1981 Census of Canada |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |year=1982 |isbn=0-660-51095-2 |volume=II: Provincial series, Population, Geographic distributions (Alberta) |location=Ottawa |page=4.1–4.10 |chapter=Table 4: Population and Total Occupied Dwellings, for Census Divisions and Subdivisions, 1976 and 1981}}</ref><ref name="1986census">{{Cite book |title=Census Canada 1986 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |year=1987 |isbn=0-660-53463-0 |volume=Population and Dwelling Counts – Provinces and Territories (Alberta) |location=Ottawa |page=2.1–2.10 |chapter=Table 2: Census Divisions and Subdivisions – Population and Occupied Private Dwellings, 1981 and 1986}}</ref><ref name="1991census">{{Cite book |title=91 Census |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |year=1992 |isbn=0-660-57115-3 |volume=Population and Dwelling Counts – Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions |location=Ottawa |pages=100–108 |chapter=Table 2: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 and 1991 – 100% Data}}</ref><ref name="1996census">{{Cite book |title=96 Census |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |year=1997 |isbn=0-660-59283-5 |volume=A National Overview – Population and Dwelling Counts |location=Ottawa |pages=136–146 |chapter=Table 10: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions, Census Subdivisions (Municipalities) and Designated Places, 1991 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data}}</ref><ref name="2001census">{{Cite web |title=Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Alberta) |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census01/products/standard/popdwell/Table-CSD-D.cfm?PR=48 |access-date=April 2, 2012 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]]}}</ref><ref name="2006census">{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2010 |title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-550/Index.cfm?TPL=P1C&Page=RETR&LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=1&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48&CMA=0 |access-date=April 2, 2012 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 27, 2019 |title=Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/as-sa/fogs-spg/Facts-csd-eng.cfm?LANG=Eng&GK=CSD&GC=4811056 |access-date=December 25, 2021 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 8, 2017 |title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=86&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48 |access-date=February 8, 2017 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]]}}</ref><ref name=2021censuscorrection/>
|1901|306
|[[Canada 1906 Census|1906]]|585
|[[Canada 1911 Census|1911]]|782
|1916|993
|1921|982
|1926|943
|1931|1001
|1936|899
|1941|903
|1946|921
|1951|1076
|1956|2582
|1961|2972
|1966|4152
|1971|5726
|1976|8304
|1981|12169
|1986|11983
|1991|12078
|[[Canada 1996 Census|1996]]|12408
|[[Canada 2001 Census|2001]]|13121
|[[Canada 2006 Census|2006]]|14957
|[[Canada 2011 Census|2011]]|19051
|[[Canada 2016 Census|2016]]|24149
|[[Canada 2021 Census|2021]]|27464}}

In the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 Census of Population]] conducted by [[Statistics Canada]], the City of Fort Saskatchewan had a population of 27,464 living in 10,570 of its 11,046 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:27464-24169}}|24169|1}} from its 2016 population of 24,169. With a land area of {{cvt|56.5|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|27464|56.5|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name=2021censuscorrection>{{2021CDNcc}}</ref><ref name=2021census>{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000202&geocode=A000248 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities) | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=February 9, 2022}}</ref>

According to its 2023 municipal census, the population of Fort Saskatchewan is 28,624, representing an increase of 6.24% from the 2019 municipal census.<ref name="2023MunicipalCensusReport">{{Cite web |title=2023 Municipal Census Report |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/your-city-hall/resources/Documents/Census/2023-Municipal-Census-Report.pdf |access-date=January 18, 2024}}</ref>

Fort Saskatchewan's population, according to its [[2019 Alberta municipal censuses|2019 municipal census]], is 26,942;<ref name="Municipalcensus">{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2019 |title=2019 Municipal Census Results |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/your-city-hall/resources/Documents/Census/2019-Report-Final-Public-Aug_19.pdf |access-date=December 25, 2021 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan}}</ref> a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:26942-26328}}|26328|1}} from its [[2018 Alberta municipal censuses|2018 municipal census]] population of 26,328.<ref name="2018MAPL">{{Cite book |url=http://municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/documents/2018_MAPL_web.pdf |title=2018 Municipal Affairs Population List |date=December 2018 |publisher=[[Alberta Municipal Affairs]] |isbn=978-1-4601-4254-7 |access-date=July 18, 2019}}</ref>

In the [[Canada 2016 Census|2016 Census of Population]] conducted by Statistics Canada, the City of Fort Saskatchewan had a population of 24,149 living in 9,261 of its 9,939 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:24149-19051}}|19051|1}} from its 2011 population of 19,051. With a land area of {{convert|48.18|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|24149|48.18|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2016.<ref name="2016censusABmunis">{{Cite web |date=February 8, 2017 |title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=86&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48 |access-date=February 8, 2017 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]]}}</ref>

As of 2016, the top three areas of employment are: Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (3,140 residents), sales and service occupations (2,685), and business, finance and administration occupations (1,915 residents).<ref name=":2016census" /> The three most common levels of education are: Post secondary certificate, diploma or degree (10,420 residents), secondary (high) school diploma or equivalency certificate (5,735 residents), and college, [[CEGEP]] or other non-university certificate or diploma (4,565 residents).<ref name=":2016census" />

=== Ethnicity ===
According to the 2016 census, the largest visible minority populations in the community are Filipino with 535 residents, followed by South Asian with 350 residents.<ref name=":2016census">{{Cite web |last=Statistics Canada |date=August 9, 2019 |title=Census Profile, 2016 Census |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=POPC&Code1=1546&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&SearchText=Fort%20Saskatchewan&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |access-date=April 1, 2020 |website=Statistics Canada}}</ref> 1,390 residents identified as Aboriginal in 2016: 415 as [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]], 965 as [[Métis]], and 15 as [[Inuit|Inuk (Inuit)]].<ref name=":2016census" /> 15 residents also claimed multiple Aboriginal identities, bringing the total number of Aboriginal identity claims to 1,410.<ref name=":2016census" /> 
{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable"
|+ [[Panethnicity|Panethnic]] groups in the City of Fort Saskatchewan (2001−2021)
! rowspan="2" |[[Panethnicity|Panethnic]] group
! colspan="2" |2021<ref name="2021censusB">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-10-26 |title= Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Fort%20Saskatchewan&DGUIDlist=2021A00054811056&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2016<ref name="2016censusB">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2021-10-27 |title= Census Profile, 2016 Census |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4811056&Geo2=CD&Code2=4811&SearchText=Fort%20Saskatchewan&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011<ref name="2011censusB">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2015-11-27 |title= NHS Profile |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4811056&Data=Count&SearchText=Fort%20Saskatchewan&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2006<ref name="2006censusB">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-08-20 |title= 2006 Community Profiles |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4811056&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Fort%20Saskatchewan&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2001<ref name="2001censusB">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-07-02 |title= 2001 Community Profiles |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4811056&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Fort%20Saskatchewan&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
| [[European Canadians|European]]{{efn|Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.|name=euro}}
| 22,200
| {{Percentage | 22200 | 26565 | 2 }}
| 20,795
| {{Percentage | 20795 | 23770 | 2 }}
| 16,965
| {{Percentage | 16965 | 18795 | 2 }}
| 14,005
| {{Percentage | 14005 | 14760 | 2 }}
| 12,490
| {{Percentage | 12490 | 12905 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]]
| 1,915
| {{Percentage | 1915 | 26565 | 2 }}
| 1,420
| {{Percentage | 1420 | 23770 | 2 }}
| 1,105
| {{Percentage | 1105 | 18795 | 2 }}
| 440
| {{Percentage | 440 | 14760 | 2 }}
| 240
| {{Percentage | 240 | 12905 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Southeast Asia]]n{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.|name=SoutheastAsian}}
| 990
| {{Percentage | 990 | 26565 | 2 }}
| 570
| {{Percentage | 570 | 23770 | 2 }}
| 260
| {{Percentage | 260 | 18795 | 2 }}
| 55
| {{Percentage | 55 | 14760 | 2 }}
| 20
| {{Percentage | 20 | 12905 | 2 }}
|-
| [[South Asian Canadians|South Asian]]
| 505
| {{Percentage | 505 | 26565 | 2 }}
| 350
| {{Percentage | 350 | 23770 | 2 }}
| 95
| {{Percentage | 95 | 18795 | 2 }}
| 25
| {{Percentage | 25 | 14760 | 2 }}
| 40
| {{Percentage | 40 | 12905 | 2 }}
|-
| [[African-Canadian|African]]
| 410
| {{Percentage | 410 | 26565 | 2 }}
| 180
| {{Percentage | 180 | 23770 | 2 }}
| 215
| {{Percentage | 215 | 18795 | 2 }}
| 45
| {{Percentage | 45 | 14760 | 2 }}
| 30
| {{Percentage | 30 | 12905 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Latin American Canadians|Latin American]]
| 175
| {{Percentage | 175 | 26565 | 2 }}
| 70
| {{Percentage | 70 | 23770 | 2 }}
| 45
| {{Percentage | 45 | 18795 | 2 }}
| 50
| {{Percentage | 50 | 14760 | 2 }}
| 30
| {{Percentage | 30 | 12905 | 2 }}
|-
| [[East Asian Canadians|East Asian]]{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.|name=EastAsian}}
| 155
| {{Percentage | 155 | 26565 | 2 }}
| 210
| {{Percentage | 210 | 23770 | 2 }}
| 85
| {{Percentage | 85 | 18795 | 2 }}
| 120
| {{Percentage | 120 | 14760 | 2 }}
| 50
| {{Percentage | 50 | 12905 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Middle Eastern Canadians|Middle Eastern]]{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.|name=MiddleEastern}}
| 70
| {{Percentage | 70 | 26565 | 2 }}
| 95
| {{Percentage | 95 | 23770 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 18795 | 2 }}
| 10
| {{Percentage | 10 | 14760 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 12905 | 2 }}
|-
| Other/[[Multiracial people|multiracial]]{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, {{abbr|n.i.e.|not included elsewhere}}" and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.|name=Other}}
| 160
| {{Percentage | 160 | 26565 | 2 }}
| 70
| {{Percentage | 70 | 23770 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 18795 | 2 }}
| 15
| {{Percentage | 15 | 14760 | 2 }}
| 10
| {{Percentage | 10 | 12905 | 2 }}
|-
! Total responses
! 26,565
! {{Percentage | 26565 | 27088 | 2 }}
! 23,770
! {{Percentage | 23770 | 24169 | 2 }}
! 18,795
! {{Percentage | 18795 | 19051 | 2 }}
! 14,760
! {{Percentage | 14760 | 14957 | 2 }}
! 12,905
! {{Percentage | 12905 | 13121 | 2 }}
|- class="sortbottom"
! Total population
! 27,088
! {{Percentage | 27088 | 27088 | 2 }}
! 24,169
! {{Percentage | 24169 | 24169 | 2 }}
! 19,051
! {{Percentage | 19051 | 19051 | 2 }}
! 14,957
! {{Percentage | 14957 | 14957 | 2 }}
! 13,121
! {{Percentage | 13121 | 13121 | 2 }}
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="11" | {{small|Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses}}
|}

=== Language ===
Regarding the [[Official bilingualism in Canada|official languages of Canada]], 22,160 residents are proficient only in English, 15 are only proficient in French, 1,385 residents are bilingual, and 60 residents are not proficient in either official language.<ref name=":2016census" />

== Economy ==
{{See also|Heartland Petrochemical Complex}}
Fort Saskatchewan's main industries are commercial and heavy industry. It is part of [[Alberta's Industrial Heartland]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Association |url=https://industrialheartland.com/association/ |access-date=March 29, 2020 |website=Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association |language=en-US}}</ref> the largest Canadian industrial area west of [[Toronto]]. Companies with operations in the area include Dow Chemical, Sherritt International, Nutrien (formerly Agrium) and Shell Canada. These plants are major employers for residents of Fort Saskatchewan and the surrounding area.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=November 27, 2018 |title=Major Employers |url=https://investfortsask.ic11.esolg.ca/en/facts-and-figures/major-employers.aspx |access-date=March 29, 2020 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan |language=en}}</ref>

The city has attracted a number of major retailers including [[Walmart Canada|Wal-Mart]], [[The Home Depot]], [[Canadian Tire]], [[Safeway Inc.|Safeway]], [[Federated Co-operatives|Federated CO-OP]], and [[Freson Bros.|Freson Bros]].<ref name=":0" /> Fort Saskatchewan has also developed as a regional hub for stores and services; in 2019 it served a catchment area of approximately 75,000 people, both locally and from communities to its north and east, including [[Lamont, Alberta|Lamont]], [[Bruderheim]], and [[Redwater, Alberta|Redwater]].<ref name=":retailgap" />

=== Fort Station Mall ===
[[File:Fort Station Mall Building.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|A commercial building at the Fort Station Mall]]
The original Fort Mall was located on a {{convert|12|acre|m2|adj=on|disp=flip}} parcel on the east side of downtown, and contained {{convert|16000|m2|sqft}} of retail space.<ref name="fort1-courtaccepts">{{Cite news |last=Conal MacMillan |date=April 22, 2010 |title=Court accepts offer on mall |work=[[Fort Saskatchewan Record]] |url=http://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2546123 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123144740/http://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2546123 |archive-date=January 23, 2013}}</ref><ref name="fort2-interest">{{Cite news |last=Conal MacMillan |date=March 11, 2010 |title=Fort Mall draws some interest |work=[[Fort Saskatchewan Record]] |url=http://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2487438 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123104244/http://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2487438 |archive-date=January 23, 2013}}</ref> On September 15, 2015, Haro Developments opened phase one of its redevelopment of the site, which it renamed Fort Station Mall.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 13, 2013 |title=Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening at Fort Station Mall |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/ribbon-cutting-and-grand-opening-at-fort-station-mall |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329075046/https://fortsaskonline.com/local/ribbon-cutting-and-grand-opening-at-fort-station-mall |archive-date=March 29, 2020 |access-date=March 29, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> The majority of the old mall was demolished and replaced with outward-facing commercial units.<ref name=":retailgap" /> Future plans for development include the construction of additional commercial units, apartments, and an assisted-living facility for seniors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 1, 2018 |title=Fort Station Mall – Retail – Services – and more |url=https://www.fortstationmall.com/services |access-date=March 29, 2020 |website=Fort Station Mall |language=en-US}}</ref> A report commissioned by the City of Fort Saskatchewan noted: "As of 2019, there is another phase of the site, yet to be redeveloped, but the project continues to progress towards completion."<ref name=":retailgap">{{Cite web |last=Key Planning Strategies |date=July 2019 |title=Retail Market & Gap Analysis |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/your-city-hall/resources/Documents/Report-Plans-Studies/Retail-Market-and-Gap-Analysis-Study-2019.pdf |access-date=March 29, 2020 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan}}</ref>

== Attractions ==
=== Recreational ===
[[File:Dow Centennial Centre.jpg|thumb|The Dow Centennial Centre|alt=]]
The centerpiece of Fort Saskatchewan's recreation and culture is the [[Dow Centennial Centre]], a multi-use facility that includes an ice arena, gymnasium, field house, indoor track and fitness centre.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 24, 2020 |title=Recreation & Culture Centre |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/things-to-do/recreation-centre.aspx |access-date=March 30, 2020 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan |language=en}}</ref> The facility, which opened in September 2004, also features a 550-seat performing arts theatre, a permanent art gallery with monthly shows, a banquet hall and the local pottery guild.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Infrastructure Canada |date=September 3, 2004 |title=Funding Paves The Way For New Cultural & Recreational Facility |url=https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=169992BE46AAD-8367-471A-92E1EB2BC4A4093F |access-date=April 24, 2020 |website=Government of Alberta}}</ref>

The city has two other indoor ice arenas the Jubilee Recreation Centre and the Sportsplex, that are used during the winter months by hockey, [[ringette]] and figure skating associations. In the summer months, the [[lacrosse]] association uses them. Fort Saskatchewan also has Harbour Pool: An indoor [[swimming pool]] with a hot tub, sauna, and slide. The city opened Taurus Field in 2018 – a [[FIFA]]-certified artificial turf field for soccer and football matches.<ref name=":tarus" /> It features seating for more than 1000 people, a press box, four large dressing rooms, and lights surrounding the field.<ref name=":tarus">{{Cite web |date=July 5, 2019 |title=MySports |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/things-to-do/mysports.aspx |access-date=March 30, 2020 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan |language=en |archive-date=March 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330022753/https://www.fortsask.ca/en/things-to-do/mysports.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

There is one nine-hole golf course located within the city's boundaries, and a six-sheet curling club; they are both operated by the Fort Golf and Curling Club.<ref name=":guide" /> The city's west end features a boat launch into the North Saskatchewan River, called Red Coat Landing, and a provincially preserved natural area called the Fort Saskatchewan Prairie. [[Elk Island National Park]] is located southeast of the city.

==== Trail network ====
[[File:Sunset near Fort Saskatchewan.jpg|thumb|The Heritage Precinct Loop crosses the site of the original N.W.M.P. fort, whose original gateways and corners are indicated by wooden markers]]
Fort Saskatchewan has over  {{convert|75|km|mi|abbr=on}} of paved multi-use trails as of 2021, including approximately {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} throughout the river valley and the city's parks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 16, 2020 |title=Home |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/index.aspx |access-date=April 29, 2020 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 14, 2020 |title=River Valley |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/things-to-do/river-valley.aspx |access-date=March 30, 2020 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan |language=en}}</ref> A pedestrian bridge crossing the North Saskatchewan River has been under construction since 2019; once completed it will connect Fort Saskatchewan's trail network to Sturgeon County's trails.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Labine |first=Jeff |date=June 28, 2018 |title=$4.5M pedestrian bridge en route |url=https://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/2018/06/28/45m-pedestrian-bridge-en-route/wcm/970ae872-e272-2c87-8a6b-1f69b1f51ce9 |access-date=April 25, 2020 |website=Fort Saskatchewan Record |language=en-US}}</ref> This is part of the [[Trans Canada Trail]] network, reflecting Fort Saskatchewan's status as a hub for numerous provincial and national trails.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Myroon |first=Alex |date=July 9, 2018 |title=Pedestrian bridge design phase currently underway |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/new-pedestrian-bridge-design-underway |access-date=March 30, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 9, 2014 |title=Fort Saskatchewan Hub of the Trans Canada Trail |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/fort-saskatchewan-hub-of-the-trans-canada-trail |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408004240/https://fortsaskonline.com/local/fort-saskatchewan-hub-of-the-trans-canada-trail |archive-date=April 8, 2020 |access-date=December 27, 2021 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>

=== Cultural ===
The 11 hectare (27 acre) Fort Heritage Precinct is a municipally operated museum and historic site.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About – Fort Heritage Precinct |url=https://www.historycentre.ca/about/ |access-date=May 3, 2020 |website=Fort Heritage Precinct |language=en-CA}}</ref> It contains a variety of historically significant buildings from the area which form a historical village.<ref name=":peterream" /><ref name=":sheep">{{Cite news |last=Lamb |first=Adrienne |date=July 29, 2017 |title=Fort Saskatchewan's famed flock of sheep marks milestone |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/fort-saskatchewan-sheep-marking-milestone-1.4226740 |access-date=May 3, 2020}}</ref> The Fort Heritage Precinct features a full-scale replica of the original NWMP fort, which can be explored in guided tours.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tours – Fort Heritage Precinct |url=https://www.historycentre.ca/plan-your-visit/tours/ |access-date=March 29, 2020 |website=Fort Heritage Precinct |language=en-CA}}</ref> Phase one of the replica fort, which included the Men's Quarters and the Officers' Quarters, opened in 2011.<ref name=":guide" /> The fort also features a horse stable, a guard room with jail cells, and an ice house which was completed in the summer of 2015.<ref name=":sheep" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Morey |first=Lindsay |date=August 18, 2016 |title=Historical horse finds home at NWMP Fort |work=Fort Saskatchewan Record}}</ref>

The replica fort was constructed beside the site of the original fort to preserve the original site's archaeological integrity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=The Fort Heritage Precinct |url=https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1011549763866 |access-date=April 8, 2020 |website=CBC News}}</ref> The city has placed eight wooden markers to show the position of the original fort: one marker is at each of the four corners where the wall once stood, and two sets of markers indicate the positions of the original east and west gates (which provided access to the settlement and to the river respectively).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eidos |first=Marshall Tittemore Architects |date=March 2014 |title=Historic Precinct Site Master Plan |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/your-city-hall/resources/Documents/Report-Plans-Studies/2014-Historic-Precinct-Site-Master-Plan.pdf |access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref>

{{Multiple image|total_width=330|align=left|direction=horizontal
|image1=Shell Theatre Stage.jpg
|alt1=
|caption1=The Shell Theatre inside the Dow Centennial Centre
|image2=Fort Saskatchewan replica exterior.jpg
|alt2=Markers indicate the original west entrance to the old North-West Mounted Police Fort, with the replica fort in the background.
|caption2=The replica of the original Fort Saskatchewan
}}

The historical society hosts a two-day event called "The Peoples of the North Saskatchewan" every May, which educates students about Métis and settler cultures.<ref name=":peoplesofnorthsask">{{Cite web |last=Stolz |first=Hannah |date=May 14, 2019 |title=Peoples of the North Saskatchewan event back for 11th year |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/peoples-of-the-north-saskatchewan-event-back-for-11th-year |access-date=March 29, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> A flock of sheep are kept at the Heritage Precinct every summer to maintain the grass, and members of the public are allowed to interact with them.<ref name=":guide" /> The city's mascot is a sheep mascot named Auggie, which is a reference to the [[North West Company]]'s Fort Augustus which was located nearby.<ref name=":guide" />

Fort Saskatchewan is served by a public library located in the same building as City Hall.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Proulx|first=Ben|date=December 26, 2013|title=City Hall open to city staff April 8|language=en-gb|work=Fort Saskatchewan Record}}</ref> The city is also home to a local theatre group, called The Sheeptown Players Drama Society, which regularly performs throughout the community.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Jennifer  |date=March 5, 2020 |title=Sheeptown Players Society offers Fort's Got Talent and Murder Mystery |url=https://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/entertainment/local-arts/sheeptown-players-society-offers-forts-got-talent-and-murder-mystery |access-date=March 30, 2020 |website=Fort Saskatchewan Record |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Sports ==
The Pyramid Corp. Hawks of the [[Capital Junior Hockey League]] play out of the Jubilee Recreation Centre.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Janzen |first=Cody |date=February 7, 2020 |title=Hawks lose season finale on home ice |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local-sports/hawks-lose-season-finale-on-home-ice |access-date=March 31, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> The [[Fort Saskatchewan Traders]], of the [[Alberta Junior Hockey League]], relocated to [[St. Albert, Alberta|St. Albert]] in 2007, and renamed the [[St. Albert Steel]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Tim |date=April 26, 2017 |title=Traders might be coming back to Fort Sask |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/traders-might-be-coming-back-to-fort-sask |access-date=March 31, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>

Fort Saskatchewan is home to the Heartland Roller Derby Association, a flat-track roller-derby league formed in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pohl |first=Matt |date=April 12, 2016 |title=Heartland Roller Derby rolls into action |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local-sports/heartland-roller-derby-rolls-into-action |access-date=March 31, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> There are youth sports associations for hockey, soccer (indoor and outdoor), baseball, ringette, indoor lacrosse, and figure skating, and sports associations for cross-country skiing and swimming.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 13, 2018 |title=Sports Groups |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/living-here/sports-groups.aspx |access-date=March 31, 2020 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan |language=en}}</ref>

== Infrastructure ==
=== Emergency services ===

==== Policing ====
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police's [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police#Divisions|K Division]] maintains a detachment which serves Fort Saskatchewan and the surrounding region.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 14, 2015 |title=Fort Saskatchewan detachment – Alberta |url=https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/detach/en/d/552 |access-date=April 25, 2020 |website=Government of Canada}}</ref> In 2015, the detachment moved into a new {{convert|55,000|sqft|adj=on|disp=flip|abbr=on}} station, which also houses the city's protective services and municipal enforcement personnel.<ref name=":rcmp">{{Cite web |last=Kamba |first=Craig |date=July 23, 2015 |title=RCMP move into new home |url=https://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/2015/07/23/rcmp-move-into-new-home/wcm/c9643651-4646-74d5-95ff-436e8960f5a2 |access-date=April 2, 2020 |website=Fort Saskatchewan Record |language=en-US}}</ref> A local police official predicted that the new location, which provides direct access to Highway 21 (Veterans Way), would allow officers to cut emergency response times by 60–90 seconds.<ref name=":transportplan" /><ref name=":rcmp" /> The station features a boardroom that local organizations are able to use.<ref name=":rcmp" /> The Families First Society, a local not-for-profit resource centre for families, parents, and children, moved into the old police station in April 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stoyko |first=Trevor |date=January 31, 2019 |title=Families First Society providing hope |language=en-gb |work=Fort Saskatchewan Record}}</ref>

==== Fire department ====
[[File:Walter Thomas Station Fort Saskatchewan.jpg|thumb|Fort Saskatchewan Fire Department's Walter Thomas Station|alt=]]
The Fire Department (est. 1906), based at the Walter Thomas Fire Station, is staffed by 14 full-time firefighters who are supported by part time firefighters and three full-time administrative staff.<ref name=":firedept">{{Cite web |last=Philpott |first=Emma |date=February 6, 2020 |title=New fire department model cuts response time drastically |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/new-fire-department-model-cuts-response-time-drastically |access-date=April 2, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> The full-time firefighters rotate between a 10-hour day shift and a 14-hour night shift.<ref name=":firedept" />

The full-time staffing model was introduced in early 2020.<ref name=":firedept1">{{Cite web |last=Bonnell |first=James |date=October 10, 2019 |title=Staffing model changes at the Fort Sask Fire Hall |url=https://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/news/local-news/staffing-model-changes-at-the-fort-sask-fire-hall |access-date=April 2, 2020 |website=Fort Saskatchewan Record |language=en-US}}</ref> Prior to its introduction, the fire station was vacant every evening, and paid on-call volunteers would have to travel to the station before they could respond to an emergency.<ref name=":firedept1" /> The introduction of full-time staff has reduced response times from up to 15 minutes, to a standard of 105 seconds in 2019.<ref name=":firedept1" /> New sleeping quarters were constructed at the fire station to accommodate the full-time staff.<ref name=":firedept" />

The city purchased property for a second fire station in 2017, reflecting the increase in call volumes coming from its newer neighbourhoods.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Tim |date=May 12, 2017 |title=Second fire station coming to Fort |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/second-fire-station-coming-to-fort |access-date=April 2, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>

Fort Saskatchewan was also home to Canada's longest serving firefighter: Walter Thomas (1922–2017).<ref name=":walterthomas">{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Tim |date=November 21, 2017 |title=Firefighting "legend" Walter Thomas passes away at 95 |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/walter-thomas-passed-away-at-95 |access-date=April 2, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Walter joined the department on May 1, 1947, and served until May 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Tim |title=Fort firefighter retiring after storied 70 years of service |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/fort-firefighter-retiring-after-storied-70-years-of-service |access-date=April 2, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> a few months before he died. Walter's last position in the department was as its official [[historian]].<ref name=":walterthomas" />

=== Public health ===
[[File:Fort Sask Community Hospital.jpg|alt=|thumb|The Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital]] Fort Saskatchewan has one hospital — the 38-bed [[Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital]].<ref name="new_hospital">{{Cite web |title=Fort Saskatchewan health services |url=http://fortsask.ca/ftsk_Community_Services/Health.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617105816/http://www.fortsask.ca/ftsk_Community_Services/Health.aspx |archive-date=June 17, 2012 |access-date=July 20, 2012 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan}}</ref> It opened in 2012 to replace the city's aging health centre.<ref name=":hospital">{{Cite web |date=June 27, 2012 |title=Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital |url=http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2186.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627092252/http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2186.asp |archive-date=June 27, 2012 |access-date=April 25, 2020 |website=Alberta Health Services}}</ref> It is attached to a new health facility that provides home care, mental health, rehabilitation, community health, and child and family services.<ref name=":hospital" />

The city also has a 58-bed, publicly operated, supportive-living seniors lodge, called Dr. Turner Lodge. Southfort Bend, a privately operated facility, also has supportive living for seniors. The lone assisted-living facility in Fort Saskatchewan, the Rivercrest Care Centre, is also home to a [[hospice]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Labine |first=Jeff  |date=August 9, 2018 |title=Hospice officially opens at Rivercrest |url=https://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/news/local-news/hospice-officially-opens-at-rivercrest |access-date=March 30, 2020 |website=Fort Saskatchewan Record |language=en-US}}</ref>

Fort Air Partnership (FAP) monitors the air quality of the {{convert|4500|sqkm|sqmi|adj=on}} [[airshed]] located immediately north and east of Edmonton.<ref name=":air">{{Cite web |title=Organization |url=http://www.fortair.org/about-us/organization/ |access-date=April 2, 2020 |website=Fort Air Partnetship |language=en-US}}</ref> FAP maintains 10 continuous monitoring stations — three of which are located in Fort Saskatchewan — and 47 passive monitoring stations.<ref name=":air" />

=== Public transit ===
{{Main|Fort Sask Transit}}
[[Fort Sask Transit]] (FST) operates two daily routes, which mostly traverse the same parts of the city but go in opposite directions.<ref name=":transit">{{Cite web |date=January 1, 2021 |title=Transit |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/living-here/transit.aspx |access-date=December 27, 2021 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan |language=en}}</ref> To help facilitate regional travel, [[Strathcona County Transit]] is contracted by Fort Saskatchewan to provide peak-hour service between Fort Saskatchewan and the Bethel Transit Terminal in [[Sherwood Park]].<ref name=":transit" /> All three routes terminate at the FST [[park and ride]] at the [[Dow Centennial Centre]].<ref name=":transit" /> All of FST's buses are accessible to riders with mobility issues, and the Special Transportation Service Society, a volunteer service operated by the Fort Saskatchewan [[Lions Clubs International|Lions Club]], offers a specialized minivan service for people who cannot use regular transit options because of physical disabilities.<ref name=":transit" />

=== Utilities ===
Fort Saskatchewan's water is supplied by the Capital Region Northeast Water Services Commission.<ref name=":water">{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://crnwsc.ca/about/ |access-date=May 26, 2020 |website=Capital Region Northeast Water Services Commission |language=en-CA}}</ref> The commission purchases water from the Edmonton-based utilities company [[EPCOR Utilities|EPCOR]], which supplies treated water from the North Saskatchewan River.<ref name=":water" /> Waste water is treated at a facility in Strathcona County, which is owned by the Alberta Capital Region Wastewater Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About ACRWC  |url=https://acrwc.ab.ca/about-acrwc/ |access-date=May 26, 2020 |website=Alberta Capital Region Wastewater Commission |date=March 13, 2017 |language=en-CA}}</ref> EPCOR provides the Regulated Retail Offering for electricity in Fort Saskatchewan, and the wire service (distribution and transmission) is provided by [[Fortis Inc.|Fortis Alberta]].<ref name=":power">{{Cite web |date=November 23, 2018 |title=Utility Services and Providers |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/living-here/utility-providers.aspx |access-date=May 26, 2020 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan |language=en}}</ref> [[Direct Energy|Direct Energy Regulated Services]] provides regulated natural gas to the city, and its distribution is provided by [[ATCO]].<ref name=":power" />

=== Waste management ===
Fort Saskatchewan's residents separate their household waste into three categories: organic waste is put into green bins, garbage is picked up in black bins, and recycling is collected in blue bags.<ref name=":waste">{{Cite web |date=April 3, 2020 |title=Waste and Recycling |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/living-here/waste-and-recycling.aspx |access-date=April 6, 2020 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan |language=en}}</ref> The three-stream system was introduced in June 2018, after a successful pilot program.<ref name=":waste1" /> Garbage is collected bi-weekly, organics are collected weekly or bi-weekly depending on the time of year, and recycling is collected weekly.<ref name=":waste" /> Blue bins were used for recycling in the pilot program, but the city reverted to blue bags when launching the new waste system city-wide.<ref name=":waste1">{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Tim |date=January 11, 2018 |title=Spring changes coming for the Fort's waste collection |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/spring-changes-coming-for-waste-collection-in-fort |access-date=April 7, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> This was because objects could get jammed in the blue bins, and crews could not easily tell if the loads inside blue bins were contaminated like they could with blue bags.<ref name=":waste1" /> Prior to the introduction of this system, the municipality contracted out collection of garbage and recycling only; recycling was collected in blue bags, but garbage cans were not regulated by the city.

== Government ==
[[File:Fort Saskatewan Public Library and City Hall - 31-Dec-2016.jpg|alt=|thumb|Fort Saskatchewan City Hall and Public Library]]
Fort Saskatchewan is directly governed by a city council consisting of one mayor and six councillors.<ref name=":citycouncil" /> Municipal elections, which are non-partisan, occur every four years on the third Monday in October.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 21, 2009 |title=Laws Online Results |url=https://www.qp.alberta.ca/570.cfm?frm_isbn=9780779814350&search_by=link |access-date=May 26, 2020 |website=Government of Alberta |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Lisa |date=February 4, 2020 |title=Minister begins consultations on changes to municipal elections |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/minister-to-consult-on-upcoming-legislation-after-taking-heat-from-mayors-embargoed-till-tuesday-morning/ |access-date=May 26, 2020 |website=edmontonjournal.com}}</ref> The last election was held on [[2021 Alberta municipal elections#Fort Saskatchewan|October 18, 2021]], where [[Gale Katchur]] was re-elected for a fourth term as [[Mayor]]; becoming the [[List of mayors of Fort Saskatchewan|longest-serving Mayor]] in Fort Saskatchewan's history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=England |first=Luke |date=October 19, 2021 |title=Gale Katchur becomes longest-serving mayor of Fort Saskatchewan |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/gale-katchur-becomes-longest-serving-mayor-of-fort-saskatchewan |access-date=October 20, 2021 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> The mayor is elected separately from the councilors, who are elected at-large (as opposed to the ward system).<ref name=":citycouncil">{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2021 |title=City Council |url=https://www.fortsask.ca/en/your-city-hall/city-council.aspx |access-date=December 27, 2021 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan |language=en}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="float:right; width:400; font-size:90%; margin-left:1em;"
|+'''Fort Saskatchewan federal election results'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=rep/off/44gedata&document=bypro&lang=e |title=Official Voting Results Raw Data (poll by poll results in Fort Saskatchewan)|date=April 7, 2022 |publisher=Elections Canada |access-date=March 7, 2023}}</ref>
! colspan="2" scope="col" | Year
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[New Democratic Party|New Democratic]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Green Party of Canada|Green]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="width: 0.25em; background-color: {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}|
! [[2021 Canadian federal election|2021]]
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal|background}} | 8%
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"| ''1,149''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|background}} | '''59%'''
| style="text-align:right; background:#6495ED;"| ''8,197''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|background}} | 22%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''3,016''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Green|background}} | 1%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''154''
|-
! [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019]]
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal|background}} | 7%
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"| ''1,064''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|background}} | '''76%'''
| style="text-align:right; background:#6495ED;"| ''10,750''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|background}} | 12%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''1,762''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Green|background}} | 2%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''299''
|-
|}

{|class="wikitable" style="float:right; width:400; font-size:90%; margin-left:1em;"
|+'''Fort Saskatchewan provincial election results'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://officialresults.elections.ab.ca/orResultsPGE.cfm?EventId=60 |title=Official Voting Results by polling station (poll by poll results in Fort Saskatchewan)|publisher=Elections Alberta |access-date=March 7, 2023}}</ref>
! colspan="2" scope="col" | Year
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[United Conservative Party|United Cons.]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Alberta New Democratic Party|New Democratic]]
|-
| style="width: 0.25em; background-color: {{Canadian party colour|AB|UCP}}|
! [[2019 Alberta general election|2019]]
| {{Canadian party colour|AB|UCP|background}} |<span style="color:#FFFFFF"> '''47%'''</span>
| style="text-align:right; background:#005D7C;"|<span style="color:#FFFFFF"> ''5,477''</span>
| {{Canadian party colour|AB|NDP|background}} | 36%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''4,191''
|-
|}

At the provincial level of government, Fort Saskatchewan is part of the [[Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville]] [[List of Alberta provincial electoral districts|riding]], which has been represented by [[Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk]] ([[United Conservative Party]]) since 2019.<ref name="Connop">{{Cite web |last=Connop |first=Ryan |date=March 27, 2020 |title=MP, MLA and mayor answer questions from residents |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/mp-mla-and-mayor-answer-questions-from-residents |access-date=March 29, 2020 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>

At the federal level, Fort Saskatchewan is part of the [[Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan]] [[Electoral district (Canada)|riding]] and is represented by [[Garnett Genuis]] ([[Conservative Party of Canada]]).<ref name="Connop" />

In 2024, Mayor Gale Katchur made headlines when she advocated for the killing of feral cats at a televised committee meeting. She claimed that in the past, farmers in Fort Saskatchewan would "drown cats in the river" or "burn them on exhaust pipes". She later apologized.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/put-them-on-the-exhaust-pipes-alberta-mayor-appears-to-advocate-for-the-killing-of-feral-cats-1.7044190 | title=Alberta mayor apologizes for comments about killing feral cats | work=Edmonton | date=September 19, 2024 }}</ref>

== Education ==
Fort Saskatchewan has no post-secondary schools that are open to the public, but its corrections centre partners with [[NorQuest College]] to provide academic upgrading, personal development courses, and employment training courses to inmates.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 1, 2020 |title=Correctional Campuses |url=https://www.norquest.ca/about-us/campuses-maps/correctional-campuses.aspx |access-date=April 24, 2020 |website=Norquest College}}</ref> Most residents of Fort Saskatchewan commute or move to Edmonton to attend post-secondary classes at the University of Alberta, [[MacEwan University]], or NAIT.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 23, 2018 |title=Educational Institutions |url=https://investfortsask.ic11.esolg.ca/en/fort-sask-lifestyle/educational-institutions.aspx |access-date=March 31, 2020 |website=City of Fort Saskatchewan |language=en}}</ref>

Fort Saskatchewan's schools are governed by two different school boards – [[Elk Island Public Schools Regional Division No. 14|Elk Island Public Schools]] and [[Elk Island Catholic Separate Regional Division No. 41|Elk Island Catholic Schools]]. Both school boards have their head offices located in Sherwood Park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Contact Us |url=https://www.eips.ca/contact |access-date=April 25, 2020 |website=Elk Island Public Schools}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Departments |url=https://www.eics.ab.ca/about-us/departments |access-date=April 25, 2020 |website=Elk Island Catholic Schools |language=en}}</ref> Fort Saskatchewan's elected trustees on the EIPS board are Heather Wall and Harvey Stadnick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trustees |url=https://www.eips.ca/trustees |access-date=November 1, 2020 |website=Elk Island Public Schools}}</ref> Al Stewart is the lone Fort Saskatchewan trustee on the EICS board.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet our EICS Trustees |url=https://www.eics.ab.ca/trustees |access-date=March 31, 2020 |website=Elk Island Catholic Schools |language=en}}</ref>

== Media ==
{{see also|Media in Edmonton}}

Fort Saskatchewan has two local newspapers. The ''[[Fort Saskatchewan Record]]'' (''The Fort Record'') is a weekly home-delivered newspaper published on Thursdays. It took over the offices and plant of ''The Conservator'', the previous weekly newspaper, and was first published on April 5, 1922.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Strathern |first=Gloria Margaret |title=Alberta newspapers, 1880–1982 : an historical directory |date=1988 |publisher=University of Alberta Press |isbn=0-88864-137-0 |location=Edmonton [Alta.] |oclc=243592334}}</ref> The ''Sturgeon Creek Post'', established in 1996, is a weekly newspaper published on Wednesdays that is available at local businesses and newsstands. The ''Edmonton Journal'' and the ''[[Edmonton Sun]]'' are also distributed in the community.

Fort Saskatchewan has one local radio station that broadcasts live. It is branded [[CKFT-FM|Mix 107.9 FM]], and owned by Kenner Media Ltd.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2012 |title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2012-9 |url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2012/2012-9.htm |access-date=October 8, 2012 |publisher=[[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2023/2023-152.htm?_ga=2.117421121.691237128.1688226031-395920854.1688226031 | title=CKFT-FM Fort Saskatchewan - Acquisition of assets | date=May 23, 2023 }}</ref> Fort Saskatchewan had an internet radio station named FortRadio.com, which came online in November 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Milke |first=Jonathan |date=November 11, 2010 |title=New internet radio station for the Fort |work=Fort Saskatchewan Record |url=http://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/2010/11/11/new-internet-radio-station-for-the-fort |url-status=dead |access-date=June 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612024015/http://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/2010/11/11/new-internet-radio-station-for-the-fort |archive-date=June 12, 2015}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of communities in Alberta]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
*{{official|http://www.fortsask.ca}}

{{Geographic location | state=expanded
 | Centre = Fort Saskatchewan
 | North = [[Gibbons, Alberta|Gibbons]]
 | Northeast = [[Bruderheim]]
 | East = [[Lamont, Alberta|Lamont]]
 | Southeast = [[Tofield, Alberta|Tofield]]
 | South = [[Sherwood Park]]
 | Southwest = [[Edmonton]]
 | West = [[CFB Edmonton]]<br />[[St. Albert, Alberta|St. Albert]]
 | Northwest = [[Morinville]]
}}
{{Subdivisions of Alberta}}
{{Alberta Regions North Saskatchewan}}

{{good article}}

[[Category:Fort Saskatchewan| ]]
[[Category:1899 establishments in the Northwest Territories]]
[[Category:Cities in Alberta]]
[[Category:Edmonton Metropolitan Region]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1875]]
[[Category:Populated places on the North Saskatchewan River]]