Falher, Alberta, nestled in the Peace Country area of Canada, is a town with a rich history and vibrant culture. Known for its significant francophone population, Falher is one of the earliest agricultural communities in the Peace River Country. It is situated in the Municipal District of Smoky River No. 130, along Highway 49.
Before being surveyed in 1909, the area that is now Falher, Alberta was known to missionaries as an Indian trail leading to British Columbia. This trail later became the path for the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway. In 1912, the settlement of Mission St-Jean Baptiste de Falher was established just 5 km from the current location of the town.
The town was named after Father Constant Falher, a Roman Catholic Oblate missionary from Josselin, France, who arrived at Grouard in 1889. The majority of the early settlers were from Quebec, with some arriving via the United States, such as the family of Robert Goulet, who settled in Girouxville.
The settlement eventually split into two: the Village of Donnelly and the Town of Falher. In 1919, the town established a school district and the first parish of Ste. Anne. The first post office opened in 1923 when the settlement became a hamlet. It was incorporated as a village in 1929 and then as a town in 1955. In 1963, a celebration of the 50-year anniversary of the settlement of Falher was organized, attracting more than 5000 attendees.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Falher, Alberta had a population of 1,001 living in 408 of its 474 total private dwellings. This represented a change of -4.4% from its 2016 population of 1,047. With a land area of 2.83 km2, it had a population density of 353.7/km2 in 2021.
Falher, Alberta is known for its annual Honey Festival, which began in 1970. Held each June, the festival pays tribute to the beekeeping industry, which has significantly impacted the Smoky River region and beyond. The honey in the area, derived largely from clover seed operations, is known worldwide.
In 2006, Falher attracted national attention due to its high standing in the "Kraft Hockeyville" contest, a competition to elect the municipality that most embodies the spirit of Canada's national pastime.
Main Street in Falher, Alberta is home to a large honey bee statue, a testament to the town's reputation as the "Honey Capital of Canada". The statue, built by local welder Richard Ethier, measures 22 feet 8 inches in height and 7 feet 7 inches in diameter.
The Falher Recreational Complex, boasting a hockey arena, a private gym, and a curling rink, is another notable attraction. The arena is home to the Falher Pirates, a team within the East Division of the North Peace Hockey League.
