On Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, members of the Bigstone Cree Nation, the Municipal District of Opportunity, and members of the nearby communities joined the Alberta RCMP to celebrate the grand opening and official renaming of the Desmarais detachment to the Wabasca detachment. The name Wabasca is taken from the Cree word wâpaskâw which means "white grass", the traditional name for the Wabasca River.
The decisions to change the name of the detachment was done in consultation with the leaders of the Bigstone Cree Nation and local Elders and received support from the Municipal District Council of Opportunity.
The Alberta RCMP is committed to building strong lasting relationships with the communities they serve and to move forward with Truth and Reconciliation efforts with the Indigenous peoples of Alberta. The decision to change the name of the detachment to Wabasca was made to better reflect the culture and values of the local community.
The Wabasca Detachment is located at 2140 Airport Road, Wabasca-Desmarais, and is responsible for law enforcement in the following areas: Bigstone First Nation, Chipewyan Lake, Desmarais, Rock Island Lake, Sandy Lake, and Wabasca areas.