Chestermere Chestermere Lake (1977–1993) | |
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| City of Chestermere | |
 Aerial view of Chestermere | |
 Logo | |
 Location within Rocky View County | |
  Chestermere Location of Chestermere inAlberta | |
| Coordinates:51°03′00″N113°49′21″W / 51.05000°N 113.82250°W /51.05000; -113.82250 | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Calgary Region |
| Census division | 6 |
| Adjacentmunicipal district | Rocky View County |
| Founded | 1884 |
| Incorporated[1] | |
| • Summer village | April 1, 1977 |
| • Town | March 1, 1993 |
| • City | January 1, 2015 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Shannon Dean |
| • Governing body | Chestermere City Council
|
| • CAO | Kent Edney |
| • MP | Martin Shields |
| • MLA | Chantelle de Jonge |
| Area (2021)[3] | |
| • Land | 32.83 km2 (12.68 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,030 m (3,380 ft) |
| Population (2021)[3] | |
• Total | 22,163 |
| • Density | 675/km2 (1,750/sq mi) |
| • Municipal census (2016) | 19,715[4] |
| • Estimate (2020) | 22,744[5] |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| Forward sortation area | |
| Area code(s) | 403,587, 825, 368 |
| Highways | Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) |
| Website | chestermere |
Chestermere, originally namedChestermere Lake is a city in the Canadian province ofAlberta, withinRocky View County. It is largely acommuter town ofCalgary and is a member municipality of theCalgary Region. The city, which surroundsChestermere Lake, was known as Chestermere Lake from 1977 to 1993.[6]
Prior to the 20th century, the area around what is now Chestermere Lake was settled by only a few farmers. When theCanadian Pacific Railway was established in the 1880s, more and more people came to settle in the west. To make farming more productive, settlers began to determine ways to irrigate their land. As a natural wetland, Chestermere Lake was considered to be perfect for use as a balancing pool for the Western Irrigation Block.[7] By 1907, a dam and canal system had been built, the wetland developed into a lake, and farmers began using the water for irrigation.
Following the irrigation development, the lake began to be used for recreation. People would lease land from the Western Irrigation District (WID) (which took control of the land from CPR in 1944),[8] build cabins and stay on the lake during the summer months. In 1959, the Chestermere Cabin Owners Association (CCOA) was incorporated with approximately 50 members.[9] The CCOA held events, bought a fire truck for the community, worked to reduce pollution in the lake, planted trees, and arranged for electricity and natural gas for the cabins.
As more people began to live around Chestermere Lake, residents wanted to secure long-term leases. In 1975, the CCOA bought the land from the WID and then transferred it to the residents. By 1977, the lake boasted 120 permanent homes[citation needed] and gained official status as theSummer Village of Chestermere Lake on April 1, 1977.[10][11] As asummer village, the residents of Chestermere gained more political influence and were able to begin adding services and amenities or encouraging infrastructure and developments such as fire and protection services, improved roads, a community hall, street lights, a recreation centre, local businesses and a golf course.
By 1992, Chestermere's population had increased to 1,043 permanent residents. On March 1, 1993, theSummer Village of Chestermere Lake officially changed its status and name to theTown of Chestermere.[12] Becoming atown gave the residents more local and political authority. The town continued developing amenities and services for residents and its population has grown to 17,203 residents as recorded by its 2014 municipal census.[13] In late 2014, town council voted in favour of pursuing city status, which became effective January 1, 2015.[14]
Chestermere's town council voted to apply for city status on September 29, 2014 when it was the fastest growing Town in Alberta.[15] It became Alberta's18th city on January 1, 2015.[14]
In December 2023, mayor Jeff Colvin, three of the six city councillors, and three administrators were removed from office byAlberta Municipal Affairs ministerRic McIver, after the city failed to comply with recommendations in a 2022 third party report. As of December 4, 2023, the city is governed by a provincially-appointed administrator.[16][17]
The city is organized into the following neighbourhoods.[18]
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In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, the City of Chestermere had a population of 22,163 living in 6,733 of its 6,925 total private dwellings, a change of11.4% from its 2016 population of 19,887. With a land area of 32.83 km2 (12.68 sq mi), it had a population density of675.1/km2 (1,748.5/sq mi) in 2021.[3]
The population of the City of Chestermere according to its2017 municipal census is 20,331,[27] a change of3.1% from its2016 municipal census population of 19,715.[4]
In the2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the City of Chestermere had a population of 19,887 living in 6,112 of its 6,250 total private dwellings, a change of34.2% from its 2011 population of 14,824. With a land area of 32.94 km2 (12.72 sq mi), it had a population density of603.7/km2 (1,563.7/sq mi) in 2016.[26]
| Panethnic group | 2021[28] | 2016[29] | 2011[30] | 2006[31] | 2001[32] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| European[a] | 12,185 | 55.01% | 12,290 | 61.9% | 10,180 | 68.69% | 7,575 | 79.24% | 3,115 | 91.22% |
| South Asian | 4,485 | 20.25% | 2,830 | 14.25% | 1,465 | 9.89% | 445 | 4.65% | 30 | 0.88% |
| Southeast Asian[b] | 2,030 | 9.16% | 1,905 | 9.59% | 1,720 | 11.61% | 510 | 5.33% | 95 | 2.78% |
| Indigenous | 570 | 2.57% | 610 | 3.07% | 315 | 2.13% | 295 | 3.09% | 35 | 1.02% |
| Middle Eastern[c] | 750 | 3.39% | 675 | 3.4% | 245 | 1.65% | 175 | 1.83% | 0 | 0% |
| African | 535 | 2.42% | 430 | 2.17% | 180 | 1.21% | 95 | 0.99% | 45 | 1.32% |
| East Asian[d] | 505 | 2.28% | 535 | 2.69% | 355 | 2.4% | 220 | 2.3% | 55 | 1.61% |
| Latin American | 420 | 1.9% | 250 | 1.26% | 100 | 0.67% | 155 | 1.62% | 10 | 0.29% |
| Other/multiracial[e] | 660 | 2.98% | 335 | 1.69% | 245 | 1.65% | 90 | 0.94% | 25 | 0.73% |
| Total responses | 22,150 | 99.94% | 19,855 | 99.84% | 14,820 | 99.97% | 9,560 | 99.96% | 3,415 | 88.56% |
| Total population | 22,163 | 100% | 19,887 | 100% | 14,824 | 100% | 9,564 | 100% | 3,856 | 100% |
| Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses | ||||||||||
According to the2021 census, religious groups in Chestermere included:[28]
Chestermere is accessible on land throughTrans-Canada Highway (Alberta Highway 1) andChestermere Boulevard / 17 Avenue SE (formerly signed asAlberta Highway 1A). By air, the city is accessible throughChestermere (Kirkby Field) Airport.Calgary Transit provides bus service into Chestermere during the morning and evening rush hours.[33]
Thepublic schools in the city areChestermere High School,[35] Chestermere Lake Middle School, Prairie Waters Elementary School, East Lake School and Rainbow Creek Elementary School. Public schools in the city are run by theRocky View School Division, which includes several other communities surrounding Calgary.
For publicly funded Catholic education, the city falls within the jurisdiction of theCalgary Catholic School District, which runs the St. Gabriel the Archangel school for grades 8-12 (as of September 2024) and Our Lady of Wisdom school for grade K-6.
Most educational needs beyond this (e.g. post-secondary education) are met within Calgary.
On August 1, 2007, the City of Calgary annexed an extensive tract of land from Rocky View County, which placed Calgary's eastern city limits one section (1.6 km or 1 mi) from the Chestermere's western city limits.[36]
Meanwhile, Chestermere's March 2007 Growth Study proposed annexation of, among other areas, the intervening land between Chestermere and the newly expanded Calgary boundaries.[37] On March 13, 2009, Chestermere's annexation was approved resulting in a shared municipal boundary with Calgary.[38]
Places adjacent to Chestermere | |
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Subdivisions ofAlberta | |
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| Subdivisions | |
| Communities | |
| Cities andurban service areas | |
