B L U F F T O N
Bluffton is notably home to the Monastery of the Holy Protection, the longest continuously functioning Orthodox Christian monastery in Canada, which adds a significant spiritual and cultural dimension to the area. The hamlet's history traces back to early 20th-century settlement, with the Bluff Centre School District established in 1907 to serve surrounding farms amid the bluffs that define the landscape. The arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1922 marked a pivotal moment, as the new station was named Bluffton, leading the community and school to adopt this moniker over time. Originally known as Riverside School due to its proximity to a local waterway, the area's development reflected the broader influx of settlers drawn to Alberta's prairies for homesteading and agriculture during that era. The Post Office opened July 15, 1924. The first postmaster was C. Montalbetti, who held the position until 1932.