Roughly 143 kilometres east of Red Deer, the small town of Castor sits at the crossroads of Highway 12 and Highway 861 on the Alberta prairies, at an elevation of 816 metres above sea level. The name Castor comes from both French and Latin, meaning beaver – a fitting choice for a community whose surrounding landscape is well-travelled by wildlife. The area began attracting settlers shortly after the turn of the century, and Castor was officially incorporated on July 13, 1910. Its main industries have long been rooted in agriculture, mining, and oil and gas services, while healthcare is anchored locally by Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital. The town is also home to two schools: the public Gus Wetter School and the Catholic Theresetta Catholic School. Notably, the men’s sports teams at Gus Wetter School go by the name the Castor Raiders – a combination that has provided no small amount of amusement to those familiar with the town’s name. The local newspaper, the Castor Advance, ran for many years before ceasing publication in 2024.
Castor recorded a population of 803 residents in the 2021 Census, spread across a land area of 2.61 square kilometres, giving the town a population density of roughly 308 people per square kilometre. That figure represents a decline from 929 residents counted in the 2016 Census. The town draws visitors throughout the year, with tourism peaking in summer around a lake-like creek that curves along the north-east edge of town. Framed by sandstone cliffs, the creek supports kayaking, paddle-boarding, motor-boating, and swimming, and in drier years natural beaches form at the base of the cliffs. The fall season brings its own draw, as the town sits within a corridor of wetlands and stopping points used heavily by migrating ducks and geese. For those interested in local history, Castor offers an impressive collection of museums, including the original town hospital dating to 1911, the Machine Shed Museum, the Pharmacy Museum, the Beaver School Museum, the historic All Saints Anglican Church, the Grain Elevator Historical Site, and the Train Station Museum. The town also holds a notable literary connection – author W. O. Mitchell was teaching in Castor when he wrote Who Has Seen the Wind. Former professional hockey player Darcy Tucker is among the town’s most recognized notable people.