List of towns in Alberta
A town is an urban municipality status type used in the Canadian Province of Alberta. Alberta towns are created when communities with populations of at least 1,000 people, where a majority of their buildings are on parcels of land smaller than 1,850 m², apply to Alberta Municipal Affairs for town status under the authority of the Municipal Government Act.[1] Applications for town status are approved via orders in council made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council under recommendation from the Minister of Municipal Affairs.[1]
Alberta has 108 towns with a cumulative population of 444,906 and an average population of 4,120.[2] Alberta's largest and smallest towns are Okotoks and Granum with populations of 23,981 and 445 respectively.[2]
When a town's population exceeds 10,000 people, the council may request a change to city status, but the change in incorporated status is not mandatory.[3] Towns with populations less than 1,000, whether their populations have declined below 1,000 or they were incorporated as towns prior to the minimum 1,000 population requirement, are permitted to retain town status.
720 elected town officials (108 mayors and 612 councillors) ensure town governance throughout the province.[4]
The highest frequency of towns in Alberta is found in the Queen Elizabeth II Highway/Highway 2A corridor between Calgary and Edmonton corridor including, from south to north, Crossfield, Carstairs, Didsbury, Olds, Bowden, Innisfail, Penhold, Blackfalds, Ponoka and Millet.
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[edit] Administration
Pursuant to Part 5, Division 1 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), each municipality created under the authority of the MGA is governed by a council. As a requirement of the MGA, a town council consists of an odd number of councillors, one of which is the town's chief elected official (CEO) or mayor. A town council consists of seven councillors by default, but it can consist of a higher or lower odd number if council passes a bylaw altering its size (so long as it does not consist of fewer than three councillors).[1] For the 2010-2013 term, 90 towns have a council of seven, and 18 have a council of five.[5]
Town councils are governed by a mayor and an even number of councillors that are elected by popular vote, resulting in a total odd number of members to avoid tie votes on council matters.[1] All council members are elected under the provisions of the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA).[6] Mayoral or councillor candidates are required to be residents of their municipality for a minimum of six consecutive months prior to nomination day. The last municipal election was October 18, 2010.
Alberta Municipal Affairs, a ministry of the Cabinet of Alberta, is charged with coordination of all levels of local government.
Administrative duties of towns include public safety, local transit, roads, water service, drainage and waste collection, as well as coordination of infrastructure with provincial and regional authorities (including road construction, education, and health).
[edit] List of towns
The below table is a list of only those urban municipalities in Alberta that are incorporated as towns.
The municipalities of Crowsnest Pass and Jasper are not listed because they are incorporated as specialized municipalities, not towns. For more information on specialized municipalities, see Specialized municipalities of Alberta.
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- Towns are listed alphabetically; click the sort buttons in the column headers to switch listing order
[edit] New towns
New town is a former urban municipal status in Alberta that is no longer in use. The authority to incorporate a community as a new town came from The New Towns Act, which was chapter 39 of the Statutes of Alberta, 1956.
At least 11 communities incorporated as a new town between 1956 and 1967. After only six months of incorporation as a village, Drayton Valley was the first community in Alberta to incorporate as a new town on June 1, 1956. [16] Drayton Valley was also the community that operated under new town status for the shortest period – eight months from June 1, 1956 to February 1, 1957. [17]
The last community to incorporate as a new town was Fox Creek on July 19, 1967. [18] Fox Creek was previously unincorporated prior to this date. It remained a new town for just over sixteen years until September 1, 1983 when it changed to town status. [19]
Rainbow Lake was the last community to be recognized as a new town. Its status was changed to that of a town in 1994 when numerous former acts under the authority of Alberta Municipal Affairs were transitioned into the current Municipal Government Act. [20] Rainbow Lake was also the community that operated under new town status for the longest period – nearly 28 years from September 1, 1966 to May 2, 1994.
Below is a list of the 11 communities that were once incorporated as a new town. All but one of them are resource communities in northern or west central Alberta and were recently founded communities at their dates of incorporation as new towns. St. Albert was the only community that was not in northern or west central Alberta and had been incorporated as its own municipality since December 7, 1899. [21]
| Community | Date of New Town Incorporation |
Previous Municipal Status |
Date of Subsequent Status Change |
Subsequent Municipal Status |
Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drayton Valley | June 1, 1956 [16] | Village | February 1, 1957 [17] | Town | |
| Fort McMurray | June 30, 1964 [22] | Town | September 1, 1980 [22] | City | Later dissolved from city status on April 1, 1995 and is now designated as an urban service area [23] |
| Fox Creek | July 19, 1967 [18] | Unincorporated | September 1, 1983 [19] | Town | |
| Grande Cache | September 1, 1966 [24] | Unincorporated | September 1, 1983 [25] | Town | |
| High Level | June 1, 1965 [26] | Hamlet | September 1, 1983 [27] | Town | |
| Hinton | November 1, 1956 [28] | Hamlet | December 29, 1958 [29] | Town | |
| Lodgepole | July 1, 1956 [30] | Unincorporated | March 1, 1970 [31] | Hamlet | Dissolved as development in Lodgepole "did not materialize sufficiently to qualify under the provisions of the Municipal Government Act for the formation of a town or village" [31] |
| Rainbow Lake | September 1, 1966 [32] | Unincorporated | May 2, 1994 [20] | Town | |
| St. Albert | January 1, 1957 [21] | Town | July 3, 1962 [21] | Town | Later incorporated as a city on January 1, 1977 [33] |
| Swan Hills | September 1, 1959 [34] | Unincorporated | January 1, 1967 [35] | Town | |
| Whitecourt | June 1, 1956 [36] | Village | February 1, 1957 [37] | Town |
[edit] Town status eligibility
There is currently one village – Stirling – that is eligible for town status having a population of 1,157,[2] while the Village of Thorsby may consider town status if its next census reports a population of 1,000 or more.[38]
There are also at least six hamlets – Clairmont, Fort Chipewyan, La Crete, Lac La Biche, Langdon and Wabasca – that are eligible for town status.
[edit] City status eligibility
There are currently nine towns – Beaumont, Canmore, Chestermere, Cochrane, High River, Okotoks, Stony Plain, Strathmore, and Sylvan Lake – that are eligible for city status having populations in excess of 10,000.
Strathmore surveyed its residents on becoming a city in its 2010 municipal census.[39] Of a total of 4,912 dwelling units surveyed, 1,784 (36%) expressed support for changing to city status during the town's centennial, while 1,434 (29%) expressed opposition.[40] Its town council approved initiation of extensive public consultation on changing to city status in July 2011.[41]
The Town of Hinton has recently expressed interest in incorporating as a city once it surpasses 10,000 people (its population in 2009 was 9,825).[42]
[edit] See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mainstreets Alberta |
- List of communities in Alberta
- List of cities in Alberta
- List of villages in Alberta
- List of summer villages in Alberta
- List of hamlets in Alberta
- List of census divisions of Alberta
- List of urban areas in Alberta
- List of municipal districts in Alberta
- List of mayors in Alberta
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "Municipal Government Act". Alberta Queen's Printer. http://www.qp.alberta.ca/574.cfm?page=m26.cfm&leg_type=Acts&isbncln=9780779745739. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
- ^ a b c d e "2011 Municipal Affairs Population List". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 2010-10-05. http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/documents/msb/2011_pop.pdf. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
- ^ "Types of Municipalities in Alberta". Alberta Municipal Affairs. http://municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/am_types_of_municipalities_in_alberta.cfm. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
- ^ a b "Municipal Profiles (Towns)". Alberta Municipal Affairs. http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/MunicipalProfiles/basicReport/TOWN.PDF. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
- ^ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/mc_municipal_officials_search.cfm. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
- ^ "Local Authorities Election Act". Alberta Queen's Printer. http://www.qp.alberta.ca/574.cfm?page=L21.cfm&leg_type=Acts&isbncln=9780779747795. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
- ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs (2009-07). "Communities Within Specialized and Rural Municipalities". http://municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/documents/ms/commRul.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
- ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs (2009-12-01). "2009 Municipal Codes". http://municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/documents/ms/2009code.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
- ^ "2006 Community Profiles - Alberta". Statistics Canada. 2006. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/search-recherche/lst/page.cfm?Lang=E&GeoCode=48. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
- ^ "The Alberta Gazette - Notice". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 1913-08-04. http://www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0011/Athabasca_Gaz_Notice_Name_%20change_to_Town_of_Athabasca_1913_No17.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
- ^ "Order in Council (O.C.) 115/93 - Formation of the Summer Village of Chestermere Lake into a Town". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 1993-02-10. http://www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0356/Chestermere_OC_115_93_1993_No6.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
- ^ "Location and History Profile – Town of Drumheller". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 2009-12-25. http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/MunicipalProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=BasicReport&MunicipalityType=TOWN&stakeholder=532&profileType=HIST. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
- ^ "Ministerial Order - Change of Name of Town of Macleod to Town of Fort Macleod". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 1952-02-29. http://www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0115/Fort_MacLeod_Gaz_MO_Change_of_Name_to_Fort_MacLeod_1952_No5.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
- ^ "Leavings to Granum - Alteration of Name of Village". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 1908-03-31. http://www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0135/Granum_Gaz_Alteration_of_Name_of_Village_from_Leavings_to_Granum_1908_No7%20.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
- ^ "The Alberta Gazette, Vol. 12, No. 10 – Change in Name of Village". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 1916-05-31. http://www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0247/Peace_River_Gaz_Change_of_Name_from_Peace_River_Crossing_to_Peace_River_1916_No29.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
- ^ a b Province of Alberta (1956-05-09). "Order in Council (O.C.) 601/56". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0091/Drayton_Valley_Gaz_OC_601_56_1957_No27.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ a b Province of Alberta (1957-03-11). "Order in Council (O.C.) 403/57". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0091/Drayton_Valley_Gaz_OC_403_57_1957_No22.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ a b Province of Alberta (1967-07-19). "Order in Council (O.C.) 1405/67". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0119/Fox_Creek_Gaz_OC_1405_67_1967_No6.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ a b Province of Alberta (1983-01-12). "Order in Council (O.C.) 40/83". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0119/Fox_Creek_Gaz_OC_40_83_1983_No4.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ a b Province of Alberta (1994-05-02). "Transitional Provisions, Consequental Amendments, Repeal and Commencement, Transition from Former Acts to this Act". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0361/Crowsnest_Pass_Transitional_from_Former_to_this_Act_1994.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ a b c Arlene Borgstede (1985). "The Black Robe's Vision : A History of St. Albert & District (Volume 2)". St. Albert Historical Society. p. 681. http://www.ourroots.ca/page.aspx?id=915501&&qryID=79069dac-ed59-4446-99b5-8a736cdd5ecb. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ a b "Order in Council (O.C.) 930/64". Province of Alberta. 1964-06-30.
- ^ Province of Alberta (1994-12-21). "Order in Council (O.C.) 817/94". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/SMUN/0508/Regional_Municipality_of_Wood_Buffalo_Gaz_OC_817_94_1995_No6%20.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Province of Alberta (1966-08-30). "Order in Council (O.C.) 1605/66". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0131/Grande_Cache_OC_160_66_1966_No7.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Province of Alberta (1983-08-31). "Order in Council (O.C.) 749/83". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0131/Grande_Cache_OC_749_83_1983_No2.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Province of Alberta (1965-06-01). "Order in Council (O.C.) 967/65". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0146/High_Level_Gaz_OC_967_65_1965_No3.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Province of Alberta (1983-08-31). "Order in Council (O.C.) 750/83". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0146/High_Level_OC_750_83_No2.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Province of Alberta (1956-11-06). "Order in Council (O.C.) 1547/56". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0151/Hinton_Gaz_OC_1547_56_1956_No14.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Province of Alberta (1958-11-14). "Order in Council (O.C.) 1661/58". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0151/Hinton_Gaz_OC_1661_58_1958_No10.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Province of Alberta (1956-07-31). "Order in Council (O.C.) 1034/56". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/HMLT/0764/Lodgepole_Gaz_OC_1034_56_1956_No2.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ a b Province of Alberta (1956-07-31). "Order in Council (O.C.) 325/70". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/HMLT/0764/Lodgepole_Gaz_OC_325_70_1970_No1.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Province of Alberta (1966-08-30). "Order in Council (O.C.) 1606/66". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0260/Rainbow_Lake_OC_1666_66_1966_No2.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Province of Alberta (1976-12-01). "Order in Council (O.C.) 1284/76". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/CITY/0292/St_Albert_OC_1284_76_No24.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Province of Alberta (1959-08-18). "Order in Council (O.C.) 1242/59". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0309/Swan_Hills_Gaz_OC_1242_59_1959_No9.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Province of Alberta (1966-11-15). "Order in Council (O.C.) 2145/66". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0309/Swan_Hills_OC_2145_66_1967_No8.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Province of Alberta (1961-08-15). "Order in Council (O.C.) 1253/61". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0350/Whitecourt_OC_1253_61_1961_No8.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Province of Alberta (1971-11-10). "Order in Council (O.C.) 1917/71". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0350/Whitecourt_Gaz_OC_1917_71_1971_New_Town_Formed_Into_Town_No5.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ "Thorsby ponders public mayoral election". Leduc Representative. 2009-11-06. http://www.leducrep.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=2161371. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
- ^ "The benefits of being a city". Strathmore Standard. 2010-06-09. http://www.strathmorestandard.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2615658. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
- ^ "2010 Census Responses". Town of Strathmore. 2010-08-30. http://www.strathmore.ca/news.php?viewStoryPrinter=541. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ Mundy, Kirsten (2011-07-28). "City status question set for public consultation". Strathmore Standard. http://www.strathmorestandard.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=3235165. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
- ^ "Town of Hinton Regular Meeting of Council Agenda (see page 113 of 157)". Town of Hinton. 2009-04-21. http://hinton.fileprosite.com/contentengine/browseview.asp?URL=documentframe%2Easp%3FResult%3D40&ID=5222&Action=Search. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
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