- Chestermere
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Chestermere — Town — Town of Chestermere Aerial view of Chestermere in winter
LogoLocation of Chestermere in Alberta
ChestermereCoordinates: 51°03′00″N 113°49′21″W / 51.05°N 113.8225°WCoordinates: 51°03′00″N 113°49′21″W / 51.05°N 113.8225°W Country 
CanadaProvince 
AlbertaRegion Calgary Region Census division 5 Municipal District Rocky View County Founded 1884 Incorporated Village: 1977 Town: 1993 Government[1] - Mayor Patricia Matthews - Governing body Chestermere Town Council- Patrick Bergen
- Heather Davies
- Stu Hutchinson
- Kelsey Johnson
- Terry Leighton
- Christopher Steeves
- CAO Terry Hurlbut - MP Kevin Sorenson - MLA Rob Anderson Area (2006)[2] - Total 8.91 km2 (3.4 sq mi) Elevation 1,030 m (3,379 ft) Population (2006)[2] - Total 9,564 - Density 1,073.4/km2 (2,780.1/sq mi) Time zone MST (UTC-7) Area code(s) +1-403 Highways Trans-Canada Highway
Highway 1AWebsite Town of Chestermere Chestermere 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 surrounds Chestermere Lake.
Contents
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.[3] 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) 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.[4] 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.[5][6] 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.[7] 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 14,285 residents as recorded by its 2010 municipal census.[8]
Demographics
The population of the Town of Chestermere according to its 2011 municipal census is 14,682,[9] a 2.8% increase over its 2010 municipal census population of 14,285.[8][10]
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).[2]
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.[11] 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.
- Golf Course – Lakeside Greens Golf Course in Chestermere is a semi-private 18 hole golf course.
- Camp Chestermere – Camp Chestermere is a Christian camp located on the southeast end of Chestermere Lake.
Neighbourhoods
- Rainbow Falls
- Paradise Meadow
- Westmere Estates
- Lakeview
- The Cove
- Westcreek
Education
The public schools in the town are Chestermere High School,[12] 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.
Most educational needs beyond this (e.g. post-secondary education) are met within Calgary.
Churches
- Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and School
- Chestermere Christian Fellowship
- House of Prayer Alliance Church
- Friday Prayer for the Muslim Community
- St. Gabriel the Archangel Roman Catholic Parish
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.[13]
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.[14] On March 13, 2009, Chestermere's annexation was approved resulting in a shared municipal boundary with Calgary.[15]
New developments
- Bayside Community – The Bayside Community is a proposed new neighbourhood that would include both residential and commercial areas.[16]
- Spray Park – The town is currently investigating the development of a spray park.[17]
See also
- List of communities in Alberta
- List of towns in Alberta
References
- ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs: Municipal Officials Search
- ^ a b c Statistics Canada (Census 2006). "Chestermere - Community Profile". http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4806017&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Chestermere&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=4806017. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
- ^ Jennifer Peddlesden, “Chestermere Lake and Its Beginnings” in Chestermere, A Home for All Seasons, (Chestermere, Town of Chestermere, 2005), 3-5.
- ^ Audrey McDonald, “Chestermere Cabin Owners Association” in Chestermere, A Home for All Seasons, (Chestermere, Town of Chestermere, 2005), 18.
- ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs. "Order in Council (O.C.) 298/77". http://www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0356/Chestermere_OC_298_77_1977_No13.pdf. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
- ^ Town of Chestermere Website. http://chestermere.ca/living_in_chestermere/history_of_chestermere
- ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs. "Order in Council (O.C.) 115/93". http://www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0356/Chestermere_OC_115_93_1993_No6.pdf. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
- ^ a b Town of Chestermere. "Town of Chestermere – Census 2010". http://chestermere.ca/images/uploads/TOCcensus2010Tally.pdf. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
- ^ "News In Brief". The Anchor Weekly. 2011-06-22. http://www.theanchor.ca/2011/news-in-brief-6/. Retrieved 2011-06-26.
- ^ "2010 Official Population List". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 2010-09-15. http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/documents/msb/2010pop.pdf. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
- ^ Town of Chestermere. Chestermere Regional Recreation Centre
- ^ Municipal District of Rockyview. Chestermere High School
- ^ Province of Alberta Order in Council 333/2007 (Calgary 2007 Annexation)
- ^ Town of Chestermere Growth Study March 2007, p. 26. Accessed July 5, 2008
- ^ Province of Alberta Order in Council 130/2009 (Chestermere 2009 Annexation)
- ^ http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Chestermere+growing+fast+hard/2787224/story.html
- ^ http://chestermere.ca/living_in_chestermere/hot_topics_in_town/spray_park
External links
- Town of Chestermere - official website
- Chestermere Minor Hockey Association
- Chestermere Cadets
- Calgary Yacht Club
- Camp Chestermere
- Chestermeres Official Events and Festivals Page
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LangdonCategories:- Rocky View County, Alberta
- Towns in Alberta
- Calgary Region
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