Chestermere

Chestermere
Chestermere Lake (1977–1993)
City
City of Chestermere

Aerial view of Chestermere
Chestermere

Location of Chestermere in Alberta

Coordinates: 51°03′00″N 113°49′21″W / 51.05000°N 113.82250°W / 51.05000; -113.82250Coordinates: 51°03′00″N 113°49′21″W / 51.05000°N 113.82250°W / 51.05000; -113.82250
Country  Canada
Province  Alberta
Region Calgary Region
Census division 6
Municipal district Rocky View County
Founded 1884
Summer village April 1, 1977
Town and
name change		 March 1, 1993
City[1] January 1, 2015
Government[2]
 • Mayor Patricia Matthews
 • Governing body
 • CAO Randy Patrick
 • MP Kevin Sorenson
 • MLA Leela Aheer
Area (2011)[3]
 • Total 32.64 km2 (12.60 sq mi)
Elevation 1,030 m (3,380 ft)
Population (2011)[3]
 • Total 14,824
 • Density 454.1/km2 (1,176/sq mi)
 • Municipal census (2015) 18,496[4]
Time zone MST (UTC-7)
Area code(s) +1-403
Highways Trans-Canada Highway
Highway 1A
Website Official website

Chestermere, originally named Chestermere Lake, is a city in the Canadian province of Alberta, within Rocky View County. It is largely a bedroom community 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]

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. It became Alberta's 18th city on January 1, 2015.[13]

Geography

Neighbourhoods

The city is organized into fifteen neighbourhoods.[14]

Northeast
  • The Cove
Northwest
  • Westmere
  • Westmere Commercial
  • Lakepointe
Southwest
  • Chesterview Estates
  • The Beaches
  • Lakeside Greens
  • Lakeview Landing
  • Rainbow Falls
  • West Creek
Southeast
  • Chestermere Estates
  • East Lakeview Shores
  • Estates of Chestermere
  • Kinniburgh North
  • Kinniburgh South
  • Lake Ere Estates

Demographics

The population of Chestermere according to its 2015 municipal census is 18,496,[4] a 7.5% change from its 2014 municipal census population of 17,203.[12] At that population, Chestermere was one of the largest towns in the province. According to Alberta's Municipal Government Act, a town is eligible for city status when it reaches 10,000 residents,[21] Chestermere became a city January 1, 2015.

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 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.[3] The 2011 census also indicated that Chestermere was ranked as the municipality with the fifth-highest population growth between 2006 and 2011.[22]

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. Chestermere had a land area of 8.91 km2 (3.44 sq mi) and a population density of 1,073.4/km2 (2,780/sq mi).[23] 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.[24]

Transportation

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

Attractions

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 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

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]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "O.C. 499/2014". Government of Alberta. December 19, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. April 15, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "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.
  4. 1 2 "2015 Municipal Affairs Population List" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. ISBN 978-1-4601-2630-1. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  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.
  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. http://chestermere.ca/living_in_chestermere/history_of_chestermere
  11. ↑ "Order in Council (O.C.) 115/93" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  12. 1 2 "Demographics & Population". Town of Chestermere. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  13. 1 2 Markusoff, Jason (December 19, 2014). "Chestermere to uncork city status on January 1". Calgary Herald. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Town Map". Town of Chestermere. March 30, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  15. ↑ "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.
  16. ↑ "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.
  17. ↑ "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.
  18. ↑ "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.
  19. ↑ "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.
  20. ↑ "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.
  21. ↑ "Municipal Government Act". Alberta Queen's Printer. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Table 6: Municipalities (census subdivisions) with the highest population growth between 2006 and 2011". Statistics Canada. May 30, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  23. ↑ Statistics Canada (2006). "Chestermere - Community Profile". Retrieved June 10, 2007.
  24. ↑ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada and census subdivisions (municipalities) with 5,000-plus population, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data". Statistics Canada. January 6, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  25. ↑ Town of Chestermere. Chestermere Regional Recreation Centre
  26. ↑ Municipal District of Rockyview. Chestermere High School
  27. ↑ Province of Alberta Order in Council 333/2007 (Calgary 2007 Annexation)
  28. ↑ Town of Chestermere Growth Study March 2007, p. 26. Accessed July 5, 2008
  29. ↑ Province of Alberta Order in Council 130/2009 (Chestermere 2009 Annexation)

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