Chestermere

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Chestermere
Chestermere Lake (1977–1993)
City
City of Chestermere
Aerial view of Chestermere
Aerial view of Chestermere
Chestermere is located in Alberta
Chestermere
Chestermere
Location of Chestermere in Alberta
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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
Chestermere City Council
  • Heather Davies
  • Stu Hutchinson
  • Jennifer Massig
  • Gail Smith
  • Christopher Steeves
  • Patrick Watson
 • 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 (2014) 17,203[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[citation needed] 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.[4] In late 2014, town council voted in favour of pursuing city status, which became effective January 1, 2015.[12]

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.[12]

Geography

Neighbourhoods

The city is organized into fifteen neighbourhoods.[13]

Demographics

The population of Chestermere according to its 2014 municipal census is 17,203, a 9.1% change from its 2013 municipal census population of 15,762.[4] 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,[20] 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.[21]

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).[22] 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.[23]

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

  • 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.[24] 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,[25] 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

  • Lake Ridge Community Church
  • Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and School
  • Chestermere Christian Fellowship
  • St. Gabriel the Archangel Roman Catholic Parish
  • Canadian Reformed Church of 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.[26]

Meanwhile, Chestermere's March 2007 Growth Study proposed annexation of, among other areas, the intervening land between Chestermere and the newly expanded Calgary boundaries.[27] On March 13, 2009, Chestermere's annexation was approved resulting in a shared municipal boundary with Calgary.[28]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Jennifer Peddlesden, “Chestermere Lake and Its Beginnings” in Chestermere, A Home for All Seasons, (Chestermere, Town of Chestermere, 2005), 3-5.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Audrey McDonald, “Chestermere Cabin Owners Association” in Chestermere, A Home for All Seasons, (Chestermere, Town of Chestermere, 2005), 18.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Town of Chestermere Website. http://chestermere.ca/living_in_chestermere/history_of_chestermere
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Town of Chestermere. Chestermere Regional Recreation Centre
  25. ↑ Municipal District of Rockyview. Chestermere High School
  26. ↑ Province of Alberta Order in Council 333/2007 (Calgary 2007 Annexation)
  27. ↑ Town of Chestermere Growth Study March 2007, p. 26. Accessed July 5, 2008
  28. ↑ Province of Alberta Order in Council 130/2009 (Chestermere 2009 Annexation)

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