| Official Name: | Retlaw |
| Settlement Type: | Unincorporated community |
| Pushpin Map: | Canada Alberta |
| Pushpin Label Position: | none |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Retlaw in Alberta |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 220 |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Canada |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Alberta |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Southern Alberta |
| Subdivision Type3: | Census division |
| Subdivision Name3: | 2 |
| Subdivision Type4: | Municipal district |
| Leader Title: | Governing body |
| Leader Name: | Municipal District of Taber[1] Retlaw Historical Society |
| Leader Title1: | MP |
| Leader Name1: | Jim Hillyer |
| Leader Name2: | Gary Bikman |
| Established Title: | Post Office Founded |
| Established Date: | Barney 1910 |
| Established Title2: | Incorporated (village) |
| Established Date2: | 1913 |
| Established Title3: | Dissolved |
| Established Date3: | March 1, 1939 |
| Timezone: | MST |
| Utc Offset: | −7 |
| Timezone Dst: | MDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −6 |
| Coordinates: | 50.0689°N -112.2633°W |
| Elevation M: | 778 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code span |
| Postal Code: | ? |
| Area Code: | +1-403 |
| Blank Name: | Highways |
| Blank Info: | Highway 524 Highway 864 |
| Blank1 Name: | Railways |
| Blank1 Info: | Canadian Pacific Railway (defunct) |
Retlaw is an unincorporated community located in the Municipal District of Taber, Alberta, Canada. The community once had a peak population of over 250 citizens and was even incorporated under the status of a village until it was dissolved to become under the jurisdiction of Improvement District No. 96 on March 1, 1939.[2] Retlaw is located 2 km (1 mi) west of Highway 864, 6 km (3 mi) west of Vauxhall, 42 km (26 mi) northwest of Taber, and 75 km (46 mi) southwest of Brooks.
In 1910, the original post-office in the region was originally called "Barney." Three years later, when the Canadian Pacific Railway station arrived, however, it was dubbed "Retlaw". The name was selected as a tribute to Walter R. Baker, a CPR official,[3] as "Retlaw" is "Walter" spelled backwards.[4]
Retlaw was expected to be a large community in its area, with features of similarly sized communities of its time including four grain elevators, a pool hall, hotel, CPR railway station, churches, blacksmith, and a number of other businesses.[5] Due to the Province of Alberta bringing an irrigation canal that passed the nearby Town of Vauxhall in the 1920s, Retlaw was left in a dry land state causing the community to die off. By 1925 most of the Retlaw's inhabitants moved out into neighbouring communities, searching for a better way of life, some even bringing their homes and business with them. By 1957, only two families were left. Today very little is left of Retlaw. Only the restored Retlaw Union/United Church, a community centre, two houses, the blacksmith shop and a few foundations remain.
Retlaw Church is an old Victorian style church located in the hamlet of Retlaw, Alberta. The church was built in the 1910s. The church, like the town, had sat empty and neglected for many years until the 1980s when local farmers came together and restored the church to its former glory. Every year the church holds family events such as Christmas dinners, plays, and church services on Sunday.