Chestermere

Chestermere, originally named Chestermere Lake, is a city in the Canadian province of Alberta, within Rocky View County. It is largely a commuter town of Calgary and is a member municipality of the Calgary Regional Partnership. The city, which surrounds Chestermere Lake, was known as Chestermere Lake from 1977 to 1993.[5]

Chestermere

Chestermere Lake (1977–1993)
City
City of Chestermere
Aerial view of Chestermere
Location within Rocky View County
Chestermere
Location of Chestermere in Alberta
Coordinates: 51°03′00″N 113°49′21″W
Country Canada
Province Alberta
RegionCalgary Region
Census division6
Adjacent municipal districtRocky View County
Founded1884
Incorporated[1] 
 • Summer villageApril 1, 1977
 • TownMarch 1, 1993
 • CityJanuary 1, 2015
Government
 • MayorMarshall Chalmers
 • Governing body
 • CAOBernie Morton
 • MPMartin Shields
 • MLALeela Aheer
Area
 (2016)[3]
 • Land32.94 km2 (12.72 sq mi)
Elevation
1,030 m (3,380 ft)
Population
 (2016)[3]
 • Total19,887
 • Density603.8/km2 (1,564/sq mi)
 • Municipal census (2016)
19,715[4]
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
Forward sortation area
T1X
Area code(s)403, 587, 825
HighwaysTrans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1)
WebsiteOfficial website

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.[6] 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),[7] 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.[8] 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 and gained official status as the Summer Village of Chestermere Lake on April 1, 1977.[9][10] 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.[11] 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 17,203 residents as recorded by its 2014 municipal census.[12] In late 2014, town council voted in favour of pursuing city status, which became effective January 1, 2015.[13]

City

Chestermere's town council voted to apply for city status on September 29, 2014 when it was the fastest growing Town in Alberta.[14] It became Alberta's 18th city on January 1, 2015.[13]

Geography

Neighbourhoods

The city is organized into fifteen neighbourhoods.[15]

Demographics

The population of the City of Chestermere according to its 2017 municipal census is 20,331,[23] a change of 3.1% from its 2016 municipal census population of 19,715.[4]

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the City of Chestermere recorded a population of 19,887 living in 6,112 of its 6,250 total private dwellings, a change of 34.2% from its 2011 population of 14,824. With a land area of 32.94 km2 (12.72 sq mi), it had a population density of 603.7/km2 (1,563.7/sq mi) in 2016.[3]

In the 2011 Census, the City of Chestermere had a population of 14,824 living in 4,635 of its 4,858 total dwellings, a change of 49.4% 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.[16] The 2011 census also indicated that Chestermere was ranked as the municipality with the fifth-highest population growth between 2006 and 2011.[24]

Transportation

Chestermere is accessible on land through Trans-Canada Highway (Alberta Highway 1) and Chestermere Boulevard / 17 Avenue SE (formerly signed as Alberta Highway 1A). By air, the city 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.[25] 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 city.
  • Chestermere Drive (by the canal) and has bike trails surrounding the lake, a BMX park and a skate park.
  • Lakeside Greens Golf Course in Chestermere is a semi-private 18 hole golf course.
  • Camp Chestermere is a Christian camp located on the southeast end of Chestermere Lake.

Education

The public schools in the city are Chestermere High School,[26] Chestermere Lake Middle School, Prairie Waters Elementary School, East Lake School and Rainbow Creek Elementary School. Public schools in the city are run by the Rocky View School Division, which includes several other communities surrounding Calgary.

For publicly funded Catholic education, the city falls within the jurisdiction of the Calgary Catholic School District, which runs the St. Gabriel the Archangel school for grades 7-12 and Our Lady of Wisdsom school for grade K-6.

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

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 city limits.[27]

Meanwhile, Chestermere's March 2007 Growth Study proposed annexation of, among other areas, the intervening land between Chestermere and the newly expanded Calgary boundaries.[28] On March 13, 2009, Chestermere's annexation was approved resulting in a shared municipal boundary with Calgary.[29]

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See also

References
  1. "Location and History Profile: City of Chestermere" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. April 17, 2020. p. 36. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  2. "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  3. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  4. "2016 Municipal Affairs Population List" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. ISBN 978-1-4601-3127-5. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  5. "Location and History Profile: Town of Chestermere". Alberta Municipal Affairs. June 14, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  6. Jennifer Peddlesden, "Chestermere Lake and Its Beginnings" in Chestermere, A Home for All Seasons, (Chestermere, Town of Chestermere, 2005), 3-5.
  7. Read, Tracy (1983). Acres and Empires : a history of the Municipal District of Rocky View no. 44. p. 64. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  8. Audrey McDonald, "Chestermere Cabin Owners Association" in Chestermere, A Home for All Seasons, (Chestermere, Town of Chestermere, 2005), 18.
  9. Alberta Municipal Affairs. "Order in Council (O.C.) 298/77" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  10. Town of Chestermere Website. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-03-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Order in Council (O.C.) 115/93" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  12. "Demographics & Population". Town of Chestermere. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  13. Markusoff, Jason (December 19, 2014). "Chestermere to uncork city status on January 1". Calgary Herald. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  14. Bergen, Patrick. "Where Are The Top Ten Most Expensive Average House Prices in Alberta Canada?". TheTopTen.ca. www.URTech.ca. Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  15. "Town Map". Town of Chestermere. March 30, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  16. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  17. "Table 4: Population and Total Occupied Dwellings, for Census Divisions and Subdivisions, 1976 and 1981". 1981 Census of Canada. Volume II: Provincial series, Population, Geographic distributions (Alberta). Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1982. p. 4.1–4.10. ISBN 0-660-51095-2.
  18. "Table 2: Census Divisions and Subdivisions – Population and Occupied Private Dwellings, 1981 and 1986". Census Canada 1986. Population and Dwelling Counts – Provinces and Territories (Alberta). Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1987. p. 2.1–2.10. ISBN 0-660-53463-0.
  19. "Table 2: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 and 1991 – 100% Data". 91 Census. Population and Dwelling Counts – Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1992. pp. 100–108. ISBN 0-660-57115-3.
  20. "Table 10: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions, Census Subdivisions (Municipalities) and Designated Places, 1991 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data". 96 Census. A National Overview – Population and Dwelling Counts. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1997. pp. 136–146. ISBN 0-660-59283-5.
  21. "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  22. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. January 6, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  23. "2017 Municipal Affairs Population List" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. ISBN 978-1-4601-3652-2. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  24. "Table 6: Municipalities (census subdivisions) with the highest population growth between 2006 and 2011". Statistics Canada. May 30, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  25. Town of Chestermere. Chestermere Regional Recreation Centre Archived November 24, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  26. Municipal District of Rockyview. Chestermere High School Archived November 4, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  27. Province of Alberta Order in Council 333/2007 (Calgary 2007 Annexation)
  28. Town of Chestermere Growth Study Archived August 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine March 2007, p. 26. Accessed July 5, 2008
  29. Province of Alberta Order in Council 130/2009 (Chestermere 2009 Annexation)
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