Strathmore, Alberta

Strathmore
Town
Town of Strathmore
Flag of Strathmore Flag
Motto: Where Quality of Life is a Way of Life
Strathmore
Coordinates:
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Calgary Region
Census division	5
Municipal district	Wheatland County
Railway siding established	1883
Incorporated (Town)	1911
Government
• Mayor	Michael Ell
• Governing body	Strathmore Town Council Rocky Blokland Pat Fule Denise Peterson John Rempel Bob Sobol Brad Walls
• Manager	Dwight Stanford
• MP	Kevin Sorenson (Crowfoot)
• MLA	Derek Fildebrandt (Strathmore-Brooks)
Area (2011)
• Total	27.28 km2 (10.53 sq mi)
Elevation	973 m (3,192 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	12,305
• Density	450/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
• Municipal census (2012)	12,352
Time zone	MST (UTC-7)
• Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
Postal code span	T1P
Area code(s)	403, 587
Highways	Trans-Canada Highway Highway 817
Waterways	Eagle Lake WID Canal
Website	Official website

Strathmore is a town located along the Trans-Canada Highway in southern Alberta, Canada within Wheatland County. It is approximately 50 kilometres (30 mi) east of the City of Calgary.

History

The town began as a hamlet for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) lines that were built in the area in 1883. The CPR named the town after one of its benefactors: Claude Bowes-Lyon, the Earl of Strathmore. The Earl's granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth – as consort to King George VI – later passed through the community on the "Royal Train" in late May 1939.

A track laying record was made between Strathmore and Cheadle when the railroad was built. In one hour one mile (1.6 km) of steel was laid and – at the end of the ten-hour working day – the rails were laid to Cheadle, 9 miles (14 km) for a record. Efforts by the Canadian government to develop western Canada led to increases in Strathmore's population and its importance as a rail supply stop.

In 1905 the CPR moved the Hamlet of Strathmore 4 miles (6.4 km) north to its current location. The first school opened in 1908.

The CPR railroad tracks are now gone, the land having been subdivided.

In 2011, the Town of Strathmore celebrated its centennial – and will release the book 100 Years of Memories: Celebrating Strathmore’s Centennial through Polished Publishing Group in early 2012.

Demographics

Population history
Year	Pop.	±%
1911	531	—
1916	551	+3.8%
1921	584	+6.0%
1926	540	−7.5%
1931	523	−3.1%
1936	531	+1.5%
1941	560	+5.5%
1946	603	+7.7%
1951	704	+16.7%
1956	727	+3.3%
1961	924	+27.1%
1966	994	+7.6%
1971	1,148	+15.5%
1976	1,561	+36.0%
1981	2,986	+91.3%
1986	3,544	+18.7%
1991	4,185	+18.1%
1996	5,282	+26.2%
2001	7,621	+44.3%
2006	10,225	+34.2%
2011	12,305	+20.3%
Source: Statistics Canada

The Town of Strathmore's 2012 municipal census counted a population of 12,352, a 5.7% increase over its 2010 municipal census population of 12,139. At its current population, Strathmore 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.

In the 2011 Census, the Town of Strathmore had a population of 12,305 living in 4,577 of its 4,930 total dwellings, a 19.7% change from its 2006 adjusted population of 10,280. With a land area of 27.28 km² (10.53 sq mi), it had a population density of 451.1/km² (1,168.2/sq mi) in 2011.

In 2006, Strathmore had a population of 10,225 living in 3,943 dwellings, a 34.2% increase from 2001. The town had a land area of 15.59 km² (6.02 sq mi) and a population density of 655.7/km² (1,698/sq mi). The 2006 census also indicated that Strathmore was ranked as the municipality with the ninth-highest population growth among municipalities in Canada with a population of 5,000 and over between 2001 and 2006. `

Economy

Today, the town is an important agricultural community. Oil and gas exploration is also a growing interest in the area. It is the headquarters of Golden Hills School Division No. 75.

Many residents commute daily from Strathmore to Calgary. Over the past three years the town has seen a major growth in commercial development, with many franchise restaurants and a few big-box chain stores opening in the community.

Sports

Strathmore was the home of the Strathmore Rockies, a team in the WWHL. It is currently home to the Strathmore Wheatland Kings of the Heritage Junior "B" league; as well as the UFA Bisons of the AMHL, who have helped produce NHL players Zach Boychuk and Mason Raymond among others.

The Strathmore Spartans football team has alumni players throughout the CJFL and Canadian University system.

The Strathmore Venom Junior "B" lacrosse team won the provincial title in 2010 for the first time since the team was founded in 2004.

Strathmore was one of the hosts for the 2013 Tour of Alberta Pro Cycling Festival.

Every year Strathmore holds its Heritage Days celebrations, which include the Strathmore Stampede, Canada's third largest rodeo.

Education

Strathmore is part of the Golden Hills School Division.

Strathmore has three elementary schools (Wheatland, Westmount, and Brentwood), one junior high school (Crowther Memorial Junior High School), one high school (Strathmore High School) and a Catholic School providing Kindergarten through grade 6 (Sacred Heart Academy) as well as a grade 7 to 12 Catholic school (Holy Cross Collegiate).

Strathmore was the home of Covenant Bible College Canada. The CBC-C campus relocated in 1995 from its prior home in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. In Covenant Bible College, students took a course in religious studies. It was closed in 2007 due to dropping student enrollment and other fiscal problems. The former CBC campus was sold for $5.5 million to another Christian organization, EnCharis.

In September 2008 Strathmore's newest school, Trinity Christian Academy, opened at the former Covenant Bible College property. Trinity Christian is a Christian school providing Kindergarten through grade 9 and is publicly funded.

See also

• List of communities in Alberta
• List of towns in Alberta