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Whenever Wainwright is spoken of in the outside world, the town is recalled, for since the early days of the town it has been known and widely advertised as the home of the largest herd of buffalo in the world, hence the name by which it has become accustomed to be termed, “The Buffalo Town”.
About the time that the steel was going through this section of Alberta, the Dominion Govt. conceived an idea. The country should have a park in which these former monarchs of the plains could be preserved. The bargain between Michel Pablo and the government was struck and the task of transporting the animals from Montana to Canada was begun. Wainwright was selected as the home of these animals, and one hundred and ten thousand acres of land, two miles from town were fenced off. The first shipment consisted of several hundred and until a year ago the balance of the contract number were being brought here.
At the present time there are no less than twelve hundred bison in the local park. The animals have increased at a remarkably rapid rate since the original herd was unloaded. Last year the increase amounted to nearly two hundred, while during 1912 the increase was more than this number. Deer, moose, elk and antelope are also to be found within the confines of the park.
Commissioner of Dominion Parks, Mr. Howard Douglas, was instrumental in having the animals brought to Canada, but who is responsible for having them located near Wainwright is something no one in the vicinity of Wainwright shows any inclination to take credit for, Mr. Edward Ellis, who was stationed at Banff, wherea few animals were in captivity, was transferred here and took over the position of superintendent. With a change in government last year both he and his chief were removed from office and were succeeded by the present superintendent, Mr. W. E. D. McTaggart and Commissioner P. C. B. Hervey.
An agitation is at present on foot to have the animals removed from Wainwright, for it is admittedly evident that the park cuts off an area from the district which is altogether too large. The only way in which Wainwright has profitted through the animals being here lies in the publicity the town has received.
Supt. W. E. McTaggart states that the buffalo this year have very short hair and in fact so little of the winter growth has yet appeared that it is questionable whether or not the doomed animals will be killed off. Mr. McTaggart cites this is a sign of an open winter and states the sign has not been observed for years.