Opal, Alberta
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, grain elevator, general store, International Harvester Company dealership, hardware store, lumber yard, blacksmith, Massey-Harris dealership, meat market, hotel, community hall, pool hall, railway station and school. In November 1954 the Opal Church was moved to Redwater.