Brooks, Alberta
| Brooks | |||
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| — City — | |||
| City of Brooks | |||
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| Nickname(s): Alberta's Centennial City | |||
| Motto: Beautiful and Bountiful | |||
 Brooks
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| Coordinates: 50°33′51″N 111°53′56″W / 50.56417°N 111.89889°WCoordinates: 50°33′51″N 111°53′56″W / 50.56417°N 111.89889°W | |||
| Country | Canada | ||
| Province | Alberta | ||
| Region | Southern Alberta | ||
| Census division | 2 | ||
| Incorporated [1] - Village |
July 14, 1910 |
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| - Town | September 8, 1911 | ||
| - City | September 1, 2005 | ||
| Government[2] | |||
| • Mayor | Martin Shields | ||
| • Governing body |
Brooks City Council
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| • CAO | Alan Martens (acting) | ||
| • MP | LaVar Payne (Cons - Medicine Hat) | ||
| • MLA | Arno Doerksen (PC - Strathmore-Brooks) | ||
| Area (2011)[3] | |||
| • Total | 18.19 km2 (7.02 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation[4] | 758 m (2,487 ft) | ||
| Population (2011)[3][5] | |||
| • Total | 13,676 | ||
| • Density | 751.9/km2 (1,947/sq mi) | ||
| • Agglomeration | 23,430 | ||
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) | ||
| Postal code span | T1R | ||
| Area code(s) | +1-403 | ||
| Highways | Trans-Canada Highway Highway 36 |
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| Website | City of Brooks | ||
Brooks is a city in southeast Alberta, Canada surrounded by the County of Newell. It is located on Highway 1 (Trans Canada Highway) and the Canadian Pacific Railway, approximately 186 km (116 mi) southeast of Calgary, and 110 km (68 mi) northwest of Medicine Hat. The city has an elevation of 760 m (2,490 ft).
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[edit] History
The area that is now Brooks was originally used as a bison hunting ground for the Blackfoot and Crow. After Treaty 7 was signed in 1877, homesteaders moved into the area to begin farming. Before 1904, the area still did not have a name. Through a Canada Post sponsored contest, the area was named after Noel Edgell Brooks, a Canadian Pacific Railway Divisional Engineer from Calgary.
On July 14, 1910, the Village of Brooks was created, which became a town a year later. In the late 20th century, Brooks experienced growth thanks to the oil and gas industry.[citation needed] In the early 1980s, its population grew from 5,000 to 8,000. In 1996, the population exceeded 10,000 due to expansion at Lakeside IBP meat packing plant.[citation needed] In 2005, Brooks became a city, with a population of about 13,000.
In 2010, Brooks celebrated its 100th year as a municipality since originally incorporating as a village on July 14, 1910.[1][6]
[edit] Geography
Brooks is located in the Grassland Natural Region of Alberta. The area surrounding Brooks is dry mixed grass/shortgrass prairie.[7]
[edit] Climate
Located in the steppe region known as the Palliser's Triangle, Brooks has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk).[8] Winters are long, dry and cold, with little snowfall compared to the rest of Canada.[9] Chinook winds, though less common than in areas west and especially southwest of Brooks, are not uncommon, and ameliorate the cold winter temperatures temporarily when they pass over. Summers are short, with average daytime highs that are warm to hot, though nighttime lows are cool. Spring and autumn are quite short, essentially transition periods between winter and summer. Wide diurnal temperature ranges are regular, due to the aridity and moderately high elevation. Low humidity is prevalent throughout the year. Most of the relatively scant annual precipitation occurs in late spring and summer, often in the form of thunderstorms. On average, the coldest month is January, with a mean temperature of −11.3 °C (11.7 °F), while the warmest is July, with a mean temperature of 18.3 °C (64.9 °F). The driest month is February, with an average monthly precipitation of 12.2 mm (0.48 in), while the wettest month is June, with an average of 58.8 mm (2.31 in). Annual precipitation is low, with an average of 348 mm (13.7 in).[4]
| Climate data for Brooks | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.8 (64.0) |
17.2 (63.0) |
25.0 (77.0) |
31.1 (88.0) |
35.6 (96.1) |
37.2 (99.0) |
40.0 (104.0) |
38.9 (102.0) |
35.6 (96.1) |
31.1 (88.0) |
23.5 (74.3) |
17.2 (63.0) |
40.0 (104.0) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −5.6 (21.9) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
3.7 (38.7) |
12.7 (54.9) |
18.9 (66.0) |
23.1 (73.6) |
25.7 (78.3) |
25.0 (77.0) |
18.8 (65.8) |
13.6 (56.5) |
1.9 (35.4) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
10.9 (51.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −11.3 (11.7) |
−8.4 (16.9) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
5.5 (41.9) |
11.6 (52.9) |
16.0 (60.8) |
18.3 (64.9) |
17.4 (63.3) |
11.5 (52.7) |
6.3 (43.3) |
−4 (24.8) |
−9.9 (14.2) |
4.2 (39.6) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −17 (1.4) |
−14.1 (6.6) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
4.2 (39.6) |
8.8 (47.8) |
10.9 (51.6) |
9.7 (49.5) |
4.2 (39.6) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−9.7 (14.5) |
−15.7 (3.7) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −46.7 (−52.1) |
−43.9 (−47.0) |
−37.8 (−36.0) |
−25 (−13.0) |
−10 (14.0) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
1.7 (35.1) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−10.6 (12.9) |
−24.4 (−11.9) |
−36.1 (−33.0) |
−47.2 (−53.0) |
−47.2 (−53.0) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 14.7 (0.579) |
12.2 (0.48) |
19.5 (0.768) |
27.9 (1.098) |
44.1 (1.736) |
58.8 (2.315) |
41.7 (1.642) |
39.3 (1.547) |
39.4 (1.551) |
17.0 (0.669) |
14.7 (0.579) |
18.9 (0.744) |
348.0 (13.701) |
| Rainfall mm (inches) | 1.1 (0.043) |
0.6 (0.024) |
2.7 (0.106) |
20.2 (0.795) |
42.6 (1.677) |
58.8 (2.315) |
41.7 (1.642) |
39.3 (1.547) |
38.9 (1.531) |
11.5 (0.453) |
2.0 (0.079) |
0.9 (0.035) |
260.3 (10.248) |
| Snowfall cm (inches) | 14.9 (5.87) |
12.8 (5.04) |
17.9 (7.05) |
8.0 (3.15) |
1.5 (0.59) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.5 (0.2) |
5.5 (2.17) |
14.0 (5.51) |
20.3 (7.99) |
95.4 (37.56) |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 5.8 | 4.8 | 6.8 | 8.9 | 12.2 | 13.1 | 11.9 | 10.9 | 9.8 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 6.5 | 103.6 |
| Avg. rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 0.7 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 8.2 | 12.1 | 13.1 | 11.9 | 10.9 | 9.8 | 5.8 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 78.0 |
| Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 5.4 | 4.6 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 4.7 | 5.9 | 30.1 |
| Sunshine hours | 8.3 | 10.0 | 11.6 | 13.6 | 15.2 | 15.5 | 15.6 | 14.5 | 12.7 | 10.6 | 9.6 | 7.9 | 136.8 |
| Source: Environment Canada[4] | |||||||||||||
[edit] Demographics
| Census History [citation needed] |
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| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1911 | 486 |
| 1941 | 888 |
| 1951 | 1,648 |
| 1961 | 2,827 |
| 1971 | 3,986 |
| 1981 | 9,421 |
| 1991 | 9,433 |
| 2001 | 11,604 |
| 2006 | 12,498 |
| 2011 | 13,676 |
In the 2011 Census, the City of Brooks had a population of 13,676 living in 5,037 of its 5,509 total dwellings, a 9.3% change from its 2006 population of 12,508. With a land area of 18.19 km2 (7.02 sq mi), it had a population density of 751.84/km2 (1,947.3/sq mi) in 2011.[3]
The population of the City of Brooks according to its 2007 municipal census is 13,581.[10]
In 2006, Brooks had a population of 12,498 living in 5,051 dwellings, a 7.7% increase from 2001. The city has a land area of 17.70 km2 (6.83 sq mi) and a population density of 706.0 /km2 (1,829 /sq mi).[11]
A multicultural community, Brooks has been referred to as "The City of 100 Hellos" as a result of a documentary by Brandy Yanchyk profiling the community's significant immigrant, refugee and temporary foreign worker populations. The documentary was called "Brooks - The City of 100 Hellos" and was created in 2010 for OMNI Television. .[12] [1]
[edit] Culture
Brooks has won the Communities in Bloom competition four times in a row. Brooks has won Tidiness and Community Involvement Awards at a national level.[citation needed]
The Brooks Public Library, with a collection of over 50,000 items, serves both the City of Brooks and the County of Newell.[citation needed]
[edit] Attractions
The Lakeside Leisure Centre is the area's main recreation centre. It includes two arenas, a curling rink, an aquatic centre with a waterslide and wave pool, a gymnasium, a fitness centre, and multipurpose rooms. The complex was renovated in 2005.
In 2010, the Duke of Sutherland Park was redeveloped. It features baseball diamonds, a soccer field, a playground and a 3,200 ft (980 m)² waterpark with spray features for toddlers and a play structure for older children.
Also in 2010, the Centennial Regional Arena was completed after nearly a decade of planning and 18 months of construction. The multi-purpose facility seats 1,704 people. It includes corporate boxes, a running track, concessions, and a 200 × 85 ft (61 × 26 m) surface. The arena is home to several user groups, including the Brooks Bandits.
There are three provincial parks in the area: Dinosaur Provincial Park, a World Heritage Site, to the northeast, Tillebrook Provincial Park to the east and Kinbrook Island Provincial Park to the south. In addition, there are several other recreational sites in the area including the Rolling Hills Reservoir, Crawling Valley Reservoir, and Emerson Bridge.
The Brooks Aqueduct south-east of Brooks was built to transport irrigation water across the Eastern Irrigation District. It spans across a 3.2 km (2.0 mi) valley, about 20 m (66 ft) above the ground.
[edit] Sports
During the winter months, the Brooks Bandits play in the Alberta Junior Hockey League They joined the league in 2000 and have become more and more popular over the years. During the spring of 2005, The AJHL's Brooks Bandits advanced to the playoffs for the first time, but lost to the Camrose Kodiaks.
There are two football teams in Brooks: the Roadrunners and the Buffalos, which are made up of players from the local junior and senior high schools respectively. Brooks has had a lot of success in the past in football. The Buffalos have had four teams go to provincials, in 1989, 1995, 1997, and 2009 winning in 1995, 1997, and 2009. The Roadrunners have gone to provincials three times, in 1995, 2004 and most recently, 2007.
[edit] Government
Brooks City Council consists of one mayor and six councillors.[1] The last election was held in October 2010.
- Mayor Martin Shields
- Councillor Norman Gerestein
- Councillor Barry Morishita
- Councillor Noel Moriyama
- Councillor Bill Prentice
- Councillor Kimberly Sharkey
- Councillor Ronald Yewchuk
[edit] Education
Brooks has two high schools, two junior high schools, three elementary schools, and two primary schools. It also has a satellite campus of the Medicine Hat College.
[edit] Media
Brooks is served by two radio stations, CIBQ-FM (Q105.7FM), and CIXF-FM (The One at 101.1). Both stations are owned by Newcap Broadcasting.
Brooks has two distinct newspapers. The Brooks Bulletin is published every Tuesday, and has served Brooks and the County of Newell since 1910. It has a weekly circulation of 4,332 and is a paid subscription product.[13] The Brooks and County Chronicle is published Sundays. It is a free, total market coverage product established in 1995 with a weekly circulation of 11,628.[13]
The Weekend Regional is a second paper the Bulletin established in 2004 and it is published on Fridays. As of January 2010, it became a total market coverage product with a weekly circulation of 11,235.[13]
[edit] Notable residents
- Sheri Forde, TSN Toronto reporter[14]
- Ryan Peake, lead guitarist of Nickelback[15]
- Sherraine Schalm, Olympic fencer[16]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Alberta Municipal Affairs (2010-09-17). "Municipal Profile – City of Brooks". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/MunicipalProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=BasicReport&MunicipalityType=CITY&stakeholder=43&profileType=HIST&profileType=CONT&profileType=STAT&profileType=FINA&profileType=GRAN&profileType=TAXR&profileType=ASSE. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
- ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs: Municipal Officials Search
- ^ a b c "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=51&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48&CMA=0. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
- ^ a b c "Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000". Environment Canada. http://www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?stnID=2196&lang=e&dCode=0&province=ALTA&provBut=Search&month1=0&month2=12. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for census agglomerations, 2011 and 2006 censuses". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=206&S=3&RPP=125. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
- ^ "2010 Centennial". City of Brooks. http://www.brooks.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=292&Itemid=344. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
- ^ "Map: Natural Regions and Subregions of Alberta". http://www.globalforestwatch.ca/WBWL/atlasofalberta/maps-partI/A1c_AB_NaturalRegions.png. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
- ^ "Köppen Climate Classification Map of North America". http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/North-America_Koppen_Map.png. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
- ^ "Atlas of Canada Map: Annual Average Snowfall in Canada". http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/peopleandsociety/nunavut/land/snowfall. Retrieved 2010-08-16.[dead link]
- ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs (2009-09-15). "Alberta 2009 Official Population List". http://municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/documents/LGS/2009pop.pdf. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
- ^ Statistics Canada (Census 2006). "Brooks - Community Profile". http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4802034&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Brooks&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=4802034. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
- ^ "Brooks Hosts Premiere of Documentary". City of Brooks. 2011-08-26. http://www.brooks.ca/index.php?option=com_msnnews&id=43&Itemid=18. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- ^ a b c Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association
- ^ "Sheri Forde official bio". TSN. 2009-11-08. http://www.tsn.ca/tsn_talent/bio/?fid=10123. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ^ "Ryan Peake". Perfect People. http://www.perfectpeople.net/celebrity-star/8363/ryan-peake.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
- ^ "Schalm anything but calm after Olympic fencing loss". CBC Olympics. 2008-08-13. http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/fencing/story/2008/08/13/olympics-fencing-schalm.html. Retrieved 2009-07-07.[dead link]
[edit] External links
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Calgary | Duchess | Dinosaur Provincial Park | |
| Bassano |  |
Tilley | ||
 Brooks  |
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| Lomond | Vauxhall | Medicine Hat |
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