Strathmore, Alberta

Strathmore
—  Town  —
Town of Strathmore
Motto: Where quality of life is a way of life
Location of Strathmore in Alberta
Coordinates: 51°02′16″N 113°24′01″W
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Calgary Region
Census division	5
County	Wheatland
Railway siding established	1883
Incorporated (town)	1911
Government
• Mayor	Steve Grajczyk
• Governing body	Strathmore Town Council Earl Best Rocky Blokland Pat Fule Dave Hamilton John Rempel Bob Sobol
• Manager	Dwight Stanford
• MP	Kevin Sorenson (Crowfoot)
• MLA	Arno Doerksen (Strathmore-Brooks)
Area (2011)
• Total	27.28 km2 (10.53 sq mi)
Elevation	970 m (3,180 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	12,305
• Density	451.0/km2 (1,168/sq mi)
Time zone	MST (UTC-7)
Postal code span
Highways	Trans-Canada Highway Highway 817
Waterways	Eagle Lake WID Canal
Website	Town of Strathmore

Strathmore is a town located along the Trans-Canada Highway in southern Alberta, Canada, 40 kilometres (25 mi) east of the city of Calgary, within the boundaries of Wheatland County.

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 June 1939. In 1905 the CPR moved the Hamlet of Strathmore 4 miles (6.4 km) north to its current location.

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.

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

Census History [citation needed]
Year	Population
1941	560
1981	2,986
1991	4,185
2001	7,621
2006	10,225
2011	12,305

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 population of 10,280. With a land area of 27.28 km² (10.53 sq mi), it had a population density of 451.06/km² (1,168.25/sq mi) in 2011.

The population of the Town of Strathmore according to its 2010 municipal census is 12,139, a 2.5% increase over its 2009 municipal census population of 11,838. 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 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).

Industry and employment

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 the Golden Hills School Division.

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.

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 Lutheran Christian Academy, opened at the former Covenant Bible College property. Trinity Lutheran is a Christian school providing Kindergarten through grade 9 and is publicly funded.

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; most notably starting Center Sean Seafoot of the St. Mary's University Huskies.

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

See also

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

External links

• Town of Strathmore
• Strathmore on Google Maps