Setting the Stage: Before 1947

Before the discovery of oil in Leduc in 1947, Leduc was a town focused more on agriculture than anything else. Oil was the farthest thing from the minds of people living in the Leduc area. There had been oil discoveries in Turner Valley, but no one could predict the huge boom and frenzy that followed the discovery of Leduc No.1—Canada's largest oil strike in history.

Before Leduc No.1, Canada relied almost fully on oil imports from other countries. Drilling technology was not that advanced, but the discovery at Leduc would inspire scientists to invest more time and money into what would turn into Alberta's largest resource industry.