Garden River is an unincorporated community in northern Alberta, Canada within Wood Buffalo National Park. It is located on the north shore of the Peace River.
The community is at the terminus of Garden River Road, an extension of Highway 58 approximately 190 km (120 mi) east of the Town of High Level.
Lying 5 kilometers inside the original 1922 boundary of Wood Buffalo National Park, this predominantly First Nations community was never officially recognized by the federal government, until a special amendment to the Canada National Parks Act removed the community from the park on June 19, 2017.
Garden River became the third reserve of the Little Red River Cree Nation, after Fox Lake 162 and John D’Or Prairie 215.
The population of Garden River is over 1,000 strong is Little Red River Cree Nation’s “newest” community.
The sacred animal of the community is the Buffalo.
The community has the following services and resources:
- Garden River Nursing Station/Health Centre in Community
- Public Works Center in Community
- Fifth Meridian Market Ltd. Store – Grocery and General Goods
- Multiple privately owned businesses
- Jean Baptiste Church
Little Red River Board of Education maintains the following:
- Sister Gloria School