Dead Man's Flats Pigeon Mountain | |
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 Welcome sign | |
  Dead Man's Flats Location of Pigeon Mountain Show map of Alberta Dead Man's Flats Dead Man's Flats (Canada) Show map of Canada | |
| Coordinates:51°2′24″N115°15′50″W / 51.04000°N 115.26389°W /51.04000; -115.26389 | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Alberta's Rockies |
| Census division | 15 |
| Municipal district | Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8 |
| Government | |
| • Reeve | Lisa Rosvold |
| • Governing body | Municipal District of Bighorn council
|
| • CAO | Shaina Tutt |
| • MP | Blake Richards (CPC) |
| • MLA | Sarah Elmeligi (NDP) |
| Area (2021)[2] | |
| • Land | 1.23 km2 (0.47 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[2] | |
• Total | 377 |
| • Density | 305.9/km2 (792/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| Forward sortation area | |
| Area codes | +1 403,+1 587, +1 825 |
| Highways |  Highway 1 (TCH)Trans-Canada Highway Highway 1A Highway 742 |
| Waterways | Bow River |
Dead Man's Flats is ahamlet within theMunicipal District of Bighorn No. 8.[3]Statistics Canada also recognizes it as adesignated place under the name ofPigeon Mountain.[4] It is located withinAlberta's Rockies atHighway 1 exit 98, approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) southeast ofCanmore[5] and 78 kilometres (48 mi) west ofCalgary.
A variety of explanations account for the origin of the hamlet's name. One explanation associates it with a murder which took place in 1904 at a dairy farm situated on the flats of theBow River. Francois Marret stood trial in Calgary for killing his brother Jean, whose body he had disposed of in the Bow River, but the jury acquitted him by reason of insanity.[6] Another account states that two or threeFirst Nations people who were illegally trapping beaver noticed a warden approaching in the distance. Knowing that they did not have time to flee without being spotted, they smeared themselves with beaver blood and pretended to be dead. The warden, fooled by their deception, ran for help. Meanwhile, the trappers took their beaver pelts and escaped. This account is regarded as dubious; for example, no known description of this incident appears in the official wardens' reports.[6]
In 1954, theCalgary Herald wrote that it was "named only 10 to 12 years ago after a man was found shot in a cabin in the area."[7] However, the phrase "Dead Man's flat" (lower-case "f" without the plural "s" at the end) is used in the August 25th, 1924 edition of the Calgary Herald. In an article that describes some recent events in Canmore it is stated that "A party of Canmore boys...returned last week from a seven days' outing at Dead Man's flat." They went on the outing for the purpose of fishing.[8]
From 1974 to 1985 the hamlet was officially called Pigeon Mountain Service Centre, but it changed its name to Dead Man's Flats in 1985 to encourage tourism.[9] The new name had been unofficially used to designate the hamlet for several decades prior.[9]
Before theTrans-Canada highway was constructed through the area in the 1950s, it was sparsely populatedCrown land; among the only structures in the area were a corral and a camper's cabin.[7] Proximity to the new national highway spurred the hamlet's development as a commercial service centre and rest stop for travelers and truck drivers. Businesses currently operating include motels, aHusky truck stop with a 24-hour diner and aShell gas station with aU-Haul Neighborhood Dealer.
In the 2010's, the area was the subject of proposed developments which would involve the construction of a new residential neighbourhood and a light industrial park.[10][11]
There is aCSA-standard playground in the River's Bend subdivision. The community sets up and maintains a temporary outdoor ice surface during winter in River's Bend. An asphalt-surfaced trail runs along the south and west boundaries of Pigeon Creek Condominiums.[12]
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, Dead Man’s Flats had a population of 377 living in 128 of its 162 total private dwellings, a change of201.6% from its 2016 population of 125. With a land area of 1.23 km2 (0.47 sq mi), it had a population density of306.5/km2 (793.8/sq mi) in 2021.[2]
As a designated place in the2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Dead Man’s Flats (Pigeon Mountain) had a population of 125 living in 57 of its 96 total private dwellings, a change of3.3% from its 2011 population of 121. With a land area of 1.07 km2 (0.41 sq mi), it had a population density of116.8/km2 (302.6/sq mi) in 2016.[21]
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