Wetaskiwin - American Courthouses

Wetaskiwin is named for the Cree word “witaskiwin-ispatinaw” meaning “the hills where peace was made”.

Location: Wetaskiwin is located in the west central part of the Provincer.

Judicial District: Wetaskiwin Judicial District

Old Courthouse – Wetaskiwin

Location: 4705 50th Avenue / 47th Street

Built: 1907 – 1908

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: Allan Merrick Jeffers of Edmonton

Contractor: D J McLaughlin of Edmonton

Description: The building faces north and is a three story red coloured brick structure. The north front has a large portico supported by two columns and two red coloured brick pillars rising to a wide pediment at the roof line. Above the pediment is a raised section on the third story. There is a stone pediment above the arched entrance and a fan light window above on the second story. The east and west wings have glass walls. The roof line is flat. The building now serves as the City Hall.

Note: This was the first courthouse designed by Allan Merrick Jeffers. Other courthouses designed by Allan Merrick Jeffers are located in Calgary and Fort Saskatchewan.

Courthouse – Wetaskiwin

Location: 4605 51st Street / 46th Avenue

Built: 1980 – 1982

Style: Modern

Architect: Alberta Department of Public Works

Contractor: Ed Penner Construction Ltd.

Description: The building faces west and is a two story buff coloured brick, concrete and glass structure. The west front has a one story wing on the north side with the entrance. A triangular section is located in the centre and the south wing has horizontal glass windows on the first and second stories. The roof line is flat. The building houses the Court of King’s Bench and the Alberta Court of Justice.

History: The first courthouse was constructed in 1907 to 1908 at a cost of $80,000 and is still standing. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1980 to 1982 at a cost of $3,677,907.

See: Within the Wetaskiwin Judicial District are Provincial Courthouses located at Camrose, Killam and Ponoka.