The Canadian Pacific Railway assumed responsibility for naming the sidings which had been settled along the newly constructed railroad line. In August 1891, our area – originally known as Poplar Grove – was renamed Innisfail, after the island of “lnishail”, located in Loch Awe, Argyllshire County in Scotland.

About a decade after the renaming, the Town took its first steps towards incorporation.

On July 23, 1903, the Innisfail Freelance reported that ” … Last Thursday night, when in response to a call from overseer Kremer, some 40 residents attended a meeting to discuss the advisability of incorporation as a town. After discussion, the question was put to the meeting and the motion carried. The vote was 18 to 5.”

Pictured is the Innisfail townsite in 1900, just a few years before incorporation.

November 20, 2023 is Innisfail’s official 120th Anniversary; the town was incorporated on this day in 1903. Throughout the year, we have celebrated this milestone by providing you with some of the significant aspects of our shared history, and we optimistically look forward to the next 120 years.

To see all our 120th Anniversary historical posts, scroll through our News page or use the hashtag #Innisfail120 on Facebook or X.