Blairmore, Alberta
Encyclopedia
Blairmore is an urban community in the Rocky Mountains
within the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass
in southwest Alberta
, Canada
. It was formerly incorporated as a town prior to 1979 when it amalgamated with four other municipalities to form Crowsnest Pass. Blairmore currently is now the principal commercial centre of Crowsnest Pass.
stop called Tenth Siding or The Springs (for the cold sulphur spring to the east), the settlement was renamed Blairmore in November 1898. A ten-year dispute over land ownership between the CPR station agent and the section foreman stunted early development. Blairmore’s principal industry was lumber and, after 1907, coal. Other industries followed and on September 29, 1911 Blairmore was incorporated as a town. With the declining fortunes of the nearby town of Frank
, Blairmore soon became the region’s economic centre.
One of the town’s early characters was Emil Picariello (1875 – 1923). “Emperor Pic” settled in Blairmore in 1918 and operated several businesses, but also illegally imported alcohol from nearby British Columbia
during prohibition
. Picariello and Florence Lossandra were hanged after the shooting death of Alberta Provincial Police
constable Steve Lawson in 1921.
Like many Canadian industrial towns in the 1930s, Blairmore had some sympathies with Communism
. Canada's first Communist town council and school board were elected in Blairmore in 1933, which reformed the tax system, and refused to observe Remembrance Day
as an Imperialist holiday and honoured the Russian Revolution
instead. A street was named after the leader of the Communist Party of Canada
, Tim Buck
, a decision that was reversed by the next town council.
Blairmore amalgamated with four other municipalities to form the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass
in 1979.
s in the Blairmore area are related to the well-known Crowsnest Formation
. As a geological unit, the volcanics improved some attention in the late 1980s when geologists stated they had found trace amounts of gold
in certain units of the volcanics.
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
within the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass
Crowsnest Pass, Alberta
The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass is a specialized municipality located in the Crowsnest Pass of the Rocky Mountains in southwest Alberta, Canada. The municipality formed as a result of the amalgamation of five municipalities – the Village of Bellevue, the Town of Blairmore, Town of Coleman, the...
in southwest Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was formerly incorporated as a town prior to 1979 when it amalgamated with four other municipalities to form Crowsnest Pass. Blairmore currently is now the principal commercial centre of Crowsnest Pass.
History
Originally a Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
stop called Tenth Siding or The Springs (for the cold sulphur spring to the east), the settlement was renamed Blairmore in November 1898. A ten-year dispute over land ownership between the CPR station agent and the section foreman stunted early development. Blairmore’s principal industry was lumber and, after 1907, coal. Other industries followed and on September 29, 1911 Blairmore was incorporated as a town. With the declining fortunes of the nearby town of Frank
Frank, Alberta
Frank is an urban community in the Rocky Mountains within the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass in southwest Alberta, Canada. It was formerly incorporated as a village prior to 1979 when it amalgamated with four other municipalities to form Crowsnest Pass....
, Blairmore soon became the region’s economic centre.
One of the town’s early characters was Emil Picariello (1875 – 1923). “Emperor Pic” settled in Blairmore in 1918 and operated several businesses, but also illegally imported alcohol from nearby British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
during prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
. Picariello and Florence Lossandra were hanged after the shooting death of Alberta Provincial Police
Alberta Provincial Police
The Alberta Provincial Police was a police force active in Alberta, Canada between 1917 and 1932. In 1917, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police left Alberta due to a lack of sufficient resources in light of its increased responsibilities for national security during World War I...
constable Steve Lawson in 1921.
Like many Canadian industrial towns in the 1930s, Blairmore had some sympathies with Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
. Canada's first Communist town council and school board were elected in Blairmore in 1933, which reformed the tax system, and refused to observe Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
as an Imperialist holiday and honoured the Russian Revolution
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
instead. A street was named after the leader of the Communist Party of Canada
Communist Party of Canada
The Communist Party of Canada is a communist political party in Canada. Although is it currently a minor or small political party without representation in the Federal Parliament or in provincial legislatures, historically the Party has elected representatives in Federal Parliament, Ontario...
, Tim Buck
Tim Buck
Timothy "Tim" Buck was a long-time leader of the Communist Party of Canada...
, a decision that was reversed by the next town council.
Blairmore amalgamated with four other municipalities to form the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass
Crowsnest Pass, Alberta
The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass is a specialized municipality located in the Crowsnest Pass of the Rocky Mountains in southwest Alberta, Canada. The municipality formed as a result of the amalgamation of five municipalities – the Village of Bellevue, the Town of Blairmore, Town of Coleman, the...
in 1979.
Demographics
According to the 2006 Census of Canada, the population of Blairmore is 2,088, which represents 36% of the overall population of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass (5,749).Geography
Volcanic rockVolcanic rock
Volcanic rock is a rock formed from magma erupted from a volcano. In other words, it is an igneous rock of volcanic origin...
s in the Blairmore area are related to the well-known Crowsnest Formation
Crowsnest Formation
The Crowsnest Formation, also called the Crowsnest Volcanics, is a well-known outcroping of volcanic rock in southwestern Alberta, Canada. These volcanics were formed about 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous period and is estimated to cover a volume of...
. As a geological unit, the volcanics improved some attention in the late 1980s when geologists stated they had found trace amounts of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
in certain units of the volcanics.