Opal is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within Thorhild County. It is located north of Highway 28, approximately northeast of Edmonton. Originally named Rutherford after Alberta's first premier, Alexander Cameron Rutherford but was renamed to the unique "Opal" when the first post office opened on November 15, 1912.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Opal had a Roman Catholic Church (built in 1915), grain elevator (built 1918 by the Gillespie Grain Company), general store,Main Street Opal International Harvester Company dealership, hardware store, lumber yard, blacksmith, Massey-Harris dealership, meat market, hotel (built in 1938), community hall, pool hall, railway station and school. In November 1954 the Opal ChurchOpal Church was moved to Redwater.
Demographics The population of Opal was 24, as of a 2009 census conducted by Thorhild County.
Notable residents
Joe Yamauchi
See also List of communities in Alberta List of hamlets in Alberta
References