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This is the view of the Innisfail area from the top of Antler Hill, just north of the town. This is likely where Anthony Henday caught his first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains.

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Innisfail was predominantly settled by people of British origin. During the first half of the 20th century the people of Innisfail and the surrounding area retained a strong identity with Britain. Consequently when the call went out for people to join in the war effort during World War I, a proportionately large fraction of the male population answered the call. As a result a large number (at least 55) of young men from Innisfail died relative to the population of the area at the time.

For similar reasons a relatively high proportion of young men from the region enlisted to fight in World War II. However the death toll was not nearly as severe in WWII as in WW I. Thirty one service personnel from Innisfail died in WW II but that was a much smaller proportion of the total population than in WW II.

Innisfail society was affected by WW II in other ways as well. There were three pilot training facilities in the Innisfail area: Penhold, Big Bend (a rural district about 15 km NW of Innisfail) and the Bowden Air Base about ten km south of Innisfail. Immediately after WWII, the Bowden base was turned into a correctional facility. Today it is a Federal Penitentiary that employees a significant number of people from the area. The Big Bend air field has become the Innisfail Airport, used primarily for recreational flying. The Penhold base, located about half way between Innisfail and Red Deer retained its training function for more than 25 years after the end of WW II. It has become the Red Deer Municipal Airport.

After WW II many soldiers returned with new brides that they had met overseas, mostly in Britain. These 'war brides' settled into the community and had a significant impact on the local social structure.