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Chestermere

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Cydebot (talk | contribs) at 00:49, 9 May 2014 (Robot - Speedily moving category Rocky View County, Alberta to Category:Rocky View County per CFDS.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Chestermere
Chestermere Lake (1977–1993)
Town
Town of Chestermere
Aerial view of Chestermere in winter
Aerial view of Chestermere in winter
Flag of Chestermere
Flag
Official seal of Chestermere
Seal
Country Canada
Province Alberta
RegionCalgary Region
Census division6
Municipal districtRocky View County
Founded1884
Summer villageApril 1, 1977
Town and
name change		March 1, 1993
Government
[1]
 • MayorPatricia Matthews
 • Governing body
Chestermere Town Council
  • Heather Davies
  • Stu Hutchinson
  • Jennifer Massig
  • Gail Smith
  • Christopher Steeves
  • Patrick Watson
 • CAORandy Patrick
 • MPKevin Sorenson
 • MLABruce McAllister
Area
 (2011)[2]
 • Total
32.64 km2 (12.60 sq mi)
Elevation
1,030 m (3,380 ft)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total
14,824
 • Density454.1/km2 (1,176/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
Area code+1-403
HighwaysTrans-Canada Highway
Highway 1A
WebsiteOfficial website

Chestermere, originally named Chestermere Lake, is a town adjacent to the City of Calgary in the Province of Alberta, Canada within Rocky View County. It is largely a bedroom community of Calgary and is a member municipality of the Calgary Regional Partnership. The town, which surrounds Chestermere Lake, was known as the Summer Village of Chestermere Lake from 1977 to 1993.[3]

History

Early settlement

Prior to the 20th century, the area around what is now Chestermere Lake was settled by only a few farmers. When the Canadian Pacific Railway was established in the 1880s, more and more people came to settle in the west. To make farming more productive, settlers began to determine ways to irrigate their land. As a natural wetland, Chestermere Lake was considered to be perfect for use as a balancing pool for the Western Irrigation Block.[4] By 1907, a dam and canal system had been built, the wetland developed into a lake, and farmers began using the water for irrigation.

Summer village

Following the irrigation development, the lake began to be used for recreation. People would lease land from the Western Irrigation District (WID) (which took control of the land from CPR in 1944),[5] build cabins and stay on the lake during the summer months. In 1959, the Chestermere Cabin Owners Association (CCOA) was incorporated with approximately 50 members.[6] The CCOA held events, bought a fire truck for the community, worked to reduce pollution in the lake, planted trees, and arranged for electricity and natural gas for the cabins.

As more people began to live around Chestermere Lake, residents wanted to secure long-term leases. In 1975, the CCOA bought the land from the WID and then transferred it to the residents. By 1977, the lake boasted 120 permanent homes[citation needed] and gained official status as the Summer Village of Chestermere Lake on April 1, 1977.[7][8] As a summer village, the residents of Chestermere gained more political influence and were able to begin adding services and amenities or encouraging infrastructure and developments such as fire and protection services, improved roads, a community hall, street lights, a recreation centre, local businesses and a golf course.

Town

By 1992, Chestermere’s population had increased to 1,043 permanent residents. On March 1, 1993, the Summer Village of Chestermere Lake officially changed its status and name to the Town of Chestermere.[9] Becoming a town gave the residents more local and political authority. The town continued developing amenities and services for residents and its population has grown to 15,352 residents as recorded by its 2012 municipal census.[10]

Geography

Neighbourhoods

The town is organized into fifteen neighbourhoods.[11]

Demographics

The Town of Chestermere's 2013 municipal census counted a population of 15,762,[18] a 2.7% increase over its 2012 municipal census population of 15,352.[10] At its current population, Chestermere is one of the largest towns in the province and is eligible for city status. According to Alberta's Municipal Government Act, a town is eligible for city status when it reaches 10,000 residents.[19]

In the 2011 Census, the Town of Chestermere had a population of 14,824 living in 4,635 of its 4,858 total dwellings, a 49.4% change from its 2006 adjusted population of 9,923. With a land area of 32.64 km2 (12.60 sq mi), it had a population density of 454.2/km2 (1,176.3/sq mi) in 2011.[2] The 2011 census also indicated that Chestermere was ranked as the municipality with the fifth-highest population growth between 2006 and 2011.[20]

In 2006, according to Statistics Canada census data, Chestermere had a population of 9,564 living in 3,165 dwellings, a 148.0% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of 8.91 km2 (3.44 sq mi) and a population density of 1,073.4/km2 (2,780/sq mi).[21] The 2006 census also indicated that Chestermere was ranked as the municipality with the highest population growth among municipalities in Canada with a population of 5,000 and over between 2001 and 2006.[22]

Transportation

Chestermere is accessible on land through Trans-Canada Highway and Alberta Highway 1A. By air, the town is accessible through Chestermere (Kirkby Field) Airport.

Attractions

  • Chestermere Lake – Chestermere is well known for its lake. In the summer, it is used for waterskiing, wakeboarding, fishing and a variety of other water sports. It also provides day use parks for launching boats and family areas for the enjoyment of the outdoors.[23] Chestermere Lake is also home to the Calgary Yacht Club.
  • Chestermere Water Festival – The Chestermere Water Festival is an annual celebration of summer at the lake.
  • Biking and skateboarding – Chestermere is connected to the Calgary bicycle pathway system at the south end of West
  • Chestermere Winter Festival – The Chestermere Winter Festival is an annual celebration of Winter in a small town.

Chestermere Drive (by the canal) and has bike trails surrounding the lake, a BMX park and a skate park.

Education

The public schools in the town are Chestermere High School,[24] Chestermere Lake Middle School, Prairie Waters Elementary School, and Rainbow Creek Elementary School. Public schools in the town are run by the Rocky View School Division, which includes several other communities surrounding Calgary.

For publicly funded Catholic education, the town falls within the jurisdiction of the Calgary Catholic School District, which runs the St. Gabriel the Archangel school for grades K-12 and Our Lady of Wisdsom school for grade K-6.

Most educational needs beyond this (e.g. post-secondary education) are met within Calgary.

Churches

  • Lake Ridge Community Church
  • Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and School
  • Chestermere Christian Fellowship
  • House of Prayer Alliance Church
  • St. Gabriel the Archangel Roman Catholic Parish
  • Canadian Reformed Church of Calgary- www.calgarycanrc.com

Contemporary issues

Although Chestermere is considered a separate municipality in its own right, its proximity to Calgary has led to occasional questions regarding possible future absorption by Calgary as it grows.

On August 1, 2007, the City of Calgary annexed an extensive tract of land from Rocky View County, which placed Calgary's eastern city limits one section (1.6 km or 1 mi) from the Chestermere's western town limits.[25]

Meanwhile, the Town of Chestermere's March 2007 Growth Study proposed annexation of, among other areas, the intervening land between Chestermere and the newly expanded Calgary boundaries.[26] On March 13, 2009, Chestermere's annexation was approved resulting in a shared municipal boundary with Calgary.[27]

New developments

  • Bayside Community – The Bayside Community is a proposed new neighbourhood that would include both residential and commercial areas.[28]
  • Spray Park – The town is currently investigating the development of a spray park.[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  3. ^ "Location and History Profile: Town of Chestermere". Alberta Municipal Affairs. June 14, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  4. ^ Jennifer Peddlesden, “Chestermere Lake and Its Beginnings” in Chestermere, A Home for All Seasons, (Chestermere, Town of Chestermere, 2005), 3-5.
  5. ^ Read, Tracy (1983). Acres and Empires : a history of the Municipal District of Rocky View no. 44. p. 64.
  6. ^ Audrey McDonald, “Chestermere Cabin Owners Association” in Chestermere, A Home for All Seasons, (Chestermere, Town of Chestermere, 2005), 18.
  7. ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs. "Order in Council (O.C.) 298/77" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  8. ^ Town of Chestermere Website. http://chestermere.ca/living_in_chestermere/history_of_chestermere
  9. ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs. "Order in Council (O.C.) 115/93" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  10. ^ a b "Census 2012" (PDF). Town of Chestermere. Retrieved 2012-06-22.
  11. ^ "Town Map". Town of Chestermere. March 30, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  12. ^ "Table 4: Population and Total Occupied Dwellings, for Census Divisions and Subdivisions, 1976 and 1981". 1981 Census of Canada. Vol. Volume II: Provincial series, Population, Geographic distributions (Alberta). Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1982. p. 4.1–4.10. ISBN 0-660-51095-2. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |volume= has extra text (help)
  13. ^ "Table 2: Census Divisions and Subdivisions – Population and Occupied Private Dwellings, 1981 and 1986". Census Canada 1986. Vol. Population and Dwelling Counts – Provinces and Territories (Alberta). Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1987. p. 2.1–2.10. ISBN 0-660-53463-0. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  14. ^ "Table 2: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 and 1991 – 100% Data". 91 Census. Vol. Population and Dwelling Counts – Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1992. pp. 100–108. ISBN 0-660-57115-3. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  15. ^ "Table 10: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions, Census Subdivisions (Municipalities) and Designated Places, 1991 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data". 96 Census. Vol. A National Overview – Population and Dwelling Counts. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1997. pp. 136–146. ISBN 0-660-59283-5. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  16. ^ "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  17. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  18. ^ "2013 Census: April 15 - May 31, 2013". Town of Chestermere. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  19. ^ "Municipal Government Act". Alberta Queen's Printer. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  20. ^ "Table 6: Municipalities (census subdivisions) with the highest population growth between 2006 and 2011". Statistics Canada. 2012-05-30. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  21. ^ Statistics Canada (Census 2006). "Chestermere - Community Profile". Retrieved 2007-06-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  22. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada and census subdivisions (municipalities) with 5,000-plus population, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data". Statistics Canada. 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  23. ^ Town of Chestermere. Chestermere Regional Recreation Centre
  24. ^ Municipal District of Rockyview. Chestermere High School
  25. ^ Province of Alberta Order in Council 333/2007 (Calgary 2007 Annexation)
  26. ^ Town of Chestermere Growth Study March 2007, p. 26. Accessed July 5, 2008
  27. ^ Province of Alberta Order in Council 130/2009 (Chestermere 2009 Annexation)
  28. ^ http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Chestermere+growing+fast+hard/2787224/story.html
  29. ^ http://chestermere.ca/living_in_chestermere/hot_topics_in_town/spray_park
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