A Story Shaped by the Shore
If you’ve ever wandered through downtown Sylvan Lake and stopped at the mermaid and baby fountain on 50th Avenue, you’re not alone. It’s eye-catching, a little unexpected, and guaranteed to spark the same question every visitor eventually asks: Why a mermaid?
The short answer? Because Sylvan Lake has always been a place shaped by water, celebration, and community spirit. The mermaid has been swimming through that story for more than a century!
Where it All Started: Life at the Lake
Sylvan Lake Archives 2000.4 Regatta Float from 1925
Long before paddleboards and patio hopping, Sylvan Lake was already known as a place to gather. In 1907, locals hosted the town’s very first regatta. Simply started with a picnic and a single swimming competition. It didn’t stay small for long!
By 1913, the regatta had grown into a full two-day lakeside event organized by the Sylvan Lake Board of Trade. Think boat races cutting across the water, swim and canoe races, tennis matches, banquets, and evening dances. It was equal parts sport, spectacle, and summer social calendar. This event put Sylvan Lake firmly on the map as a destination built around the lake.
A Lake That Made Waves
As the regatta grew, organizers realized the community needed a symbol. Something that captured the lake’s energy, personality, and sense of fun. The choice was easy: A mermaid!
She began appearing everywhere, quickly becoming shorthand for Sylvan Lake’s identity: playful, proud, and inseparable from the water. In 1975, the Sylvan Lake Chamber of Commerce officially revived the mermaid as a community symbol, and soon after, Town Council adopted her as the town’s official emblem.
She wasn’t just a logo, she was a personality.
Swimming Through Town History
Sylvan Lake Archives 2001.1.177 Miss Mermaid Boat and Lighthouse
Over the years, the mermaid has popped up in several forms and locations around Sylvan Lake. Earlier sculptures once stood downtown and inside the former town office, each reflecting the era that created them. Today, those earlier versions are preserved at the Sylvan Lake and District Archives, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the symbol has evolved.
At one point, the mermaid even took to the water herself. Visitors could dine and cruise around the lake aboard the Miss Mermaid, blending lake views, local hospitality, and a little nautical flair into one unforgettable experience.
The mermaid didn’t disappear when the regattas came to an end. Over the years, she became a part of community traditions that celebrated Sylvan Lake’s people and accomplishments, like the Mermaid Ball hosted by the Sylvan Lake Chamber of Commerce. This event recognized local businesses and leader who helped shape the town.
Sylvan Lake Archives 2013.95.9 Mermaid Ball Program c. 1994
A Modern-Day Moment of Magic in the Heart of Downtown
The life-size Mermaid and Baby fountain, titled Birth, arrived in 2000 as a Millennium Project commissioned by the Heart of Town. Unveiled during the 1913 Days celebrations, the sculpture symbolizes renewal, continuity, and the next generation—perfectly fitting for a town that keeps reinventing itself while staying rooted in its past.
Today, the fountain is one of downtown Sylvan Lake’s most photographed landmarks and a must-stop moment for visitors exploring!
More Than a Myth
The mermaid isn’t just about the past. She represents everything Sylvan Lake continues to be: a place where people gather, celebrate, and make memories by the water. So next time you pass the fountain, take a second look. You’re not just seeing a sculpture, you’re standing in the middle of a story that’s still being written!