Brooks, Alberta
Encyclopedia
Brooks is a city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in southeast Alberta
Southern Alberta
Southern Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta. As of the year 2004, the region's population was approximately 272,017. The primary cities are Lethbridge and Medicine Hat...
, 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...
surrounded by the County of Newell. It is located on Highway 1 (Trans Canada Highway) and the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian 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...
, approximately 186 kilometres (115.6 mi) southeast of Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, and 110 kilometres (68.4 mi) northwest of Medicine Hat. The city has an elevation of 760 m (2,493.4 ft).
History
The area that is now Brooks was originally used as a bisonPlains Bison
The Plains Bison or Common bison is one of two subspecies/ecotypes of the American Bison, the other being the Wood Bison . Furthermore, it has been suggested that the Plains Bison consists of a northern and a southern subspecies, bringing the total to three...
hunting ground for the Blackfoot
Blackfoot
The Blackfoot Confederacy or Niitsítapi is the collective name of three First Nations in Alberta and one Native American tribe in Montana....
and Crow
Crow Nation
The Crow, also called the Absaroka or Apsáalooke, are a Siouan people of Native Americans who historically lived in the Yellowstone River valley, which extends from present-day Wyoming, through Montana and into North Dakota. They now live on a reservation south of Billings, Montana and in several...
. After Treaty 7
Treaty 7
Treaty 7 was an agreement between Queen Victoria and several mainly Blackfoot First Nations tribes in what is today the southern portion of Alberta. It was concluded on September 22, 1877. The agreement was signed at the Blackfoot Crossing of the Bow River, at the present-day Siksika Nation...
was signed in 1877, homesteaders
Homesteading
Broadly defined, homesteading is a lifestyle of simple self-sufficiency.-Current practice:The term may apply to anyone who follows the back-to-the-land movement by adopting a sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle. While land is no longer freely available in most areas of the world, homesteading...
moved into the area to begin farming. Before 1904, the area still did not have a name. Through a Canada Post
Canada Post
Canada Post Corporation, known more simply as Canada Post , is the Canadian crown corporation which functions as the country's primary postal operator...
sponsored contest, the area was named after Noel Edgell Brooks, a Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian 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...
Divisional Engineer from Calgary.
On July 14, 1910, the Village of Brooks was created, which became a town a year later. In the late 20th century, Brooks experienced growth thanks to the oil and gas industry. In the early 1980s, its population grew from 5000 to 8000. In 1996, the population exceeded 10,000 due to expansion at Lakeside IBP meat packing plant. In 2005, Brooks became a city, with a population of about 13,000.
In 2010, Brooks celebrated its 100th year as a municipality since originally incorporating as a village on July 14, 1910.
Geography
Brooks is located in the Grassland Natural Region of Alberta. The area surrounding Brooks is dry mixed grassMixed grass prairie
A Mixed grass prairie is an ecotone which located between the tall grass and short grass prairies, the mixed grass prairie is richer in ecological diversity than either the tall or short grass prairie...
/shortgrass prairie
Shortgrass prairie
The shortgrass prairie ecosystem of the North American Great Plains is a prairie that includes lands from the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains east to Nebraska and Saskatchewan, including rangelands in Alberta, Wyoming, Montana, North, South Dakota, and Kansas, and extending to the south...
.
Climate
Located in the steppeSteppe
In physical geography, steppe is an ecoregion, in the montane grasslands and shrublands and temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biomes, characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes...
region known as the Palliser's Triangle
Palliser's Triangle
Palliser's Triangle, or the Palliser Triangle, is a largely semi-arid steppe region in the Prairie Provinces of Western Canada that was determined to be unsuitable for agriculture because of its unfavourable climate. The soil in this area is dark brown or black in color and is very nutrient-rich....
, Brooks has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk). Winters are long, dry and cold, with little snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
fall compared to the rest of Canada. Chinook wind
Chinook wind
Chinook winds , often called chinooks, commonly refers to foehn winds in the interior West of North America, where the Canadian Prairies and Great Plains meet various mountain ranges, although the original usage is in reference to wet, warm coastal winds in the Pacific Northwest.Chinook is claimed...
s, though less common than in areas west and especially southwest of Brooks, are not uncommon, and ameliorate the cold winter temperatures temporarily when they pass over. Summers are short, with average daytime highs that are warm to hot, though nighttime lows are cool. Spring
Spring (season)
Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and...
and autumn are quite short, essentially transition periods between winter and summer. Wide diurnal temperature ranges are regular, due to the aridity and moderately high elevation. Low humidity
Humidity
Humidity is a term for the amount of water vapor in the air, and can refer to any one of several measurements of humidity. Formally, humid air is not "moist air" but a mixture of water vapor and other constituents of air, and humidity is defined in terms of the water content of this mixture,...
is prevalent throughout the year. Most of the relatively scant annual precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
occurs in late spring and summer, often in the form of thunderstorm
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
s. On average, the coldest month is January, with a mean temperature of -11 °C, while the warmest is July, with a mean temperature of 18 °C (64.4 °F). The driest month is February, with an average monthly precipitation of 12 millimetre (0.47244094488189 in), while the wettest month is June, with an average of 59 millimetres (2.3 in). Annual precipitation is low, with an average of 348 millimetres (13.7 in).
Demographics
| Census History |
|
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1911 | 486 |
| 1941 | 888 |
| 1951 | 1,648 |
| 1961 | 2,827 |
| 1971 | 3,986 |
| 1981 | 9,421 |
| 1991 | 9,433 |
| 2001 | 11,604 |
| 2006 | 12,498 |
| 2007 | 13,581 |
The population of the City of Brooks according to its 2007 municipal census is 13,581.
In 2006, Brooks had a population of 12,498 living in 5,051 dwellings
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
, a 7.7% increase from 2001. The city has a land area of 17.7 km² (6.8 sq mi) and a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 706 /km2.
A multicultural
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
community, Brooks has been referred to as "The City of 100 Hellos" as a result of a documentary profiling the community's significant immigrant, refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
and temporary foreign worker
Foreign worker
A foreign worker is a person who works in a country other than the one of which he or she is a citizen. The term migrant worker as discussed in the migrant worker page is used in a particular UN resolution as a synonym for "foreign worker"...
populations.
Culture
Brooks has won the Communities in Bloom competition four times in a row. Brooks has won Tidiness and Community Involvement Awards at a national level.The Brooks Public Library
Brooks Public Library
The Brooks Public Library is a public library located in Brooks, Alberta, Canada and is a part of the Shortgrass Library System and The Alberta Library . Established in 1951, the library now serves residents of the City of Brooks and the County of Newell...
, with a collection of over 50,000 items, serves both the City of Brooks and the County of Newell.
Attractions
The Lakeside Leisure CentreLakeside Leisure Centre
The Lakeside Leisure Centre is a recreation complex in Brooks, Alberta. It is home to the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL, who play in the Centennial Arena, which seats 900....
is the area's main recreation centre. It includes two arenas, a curling rink, an aquatic centre with a waterslide and wave pool, a gymnasium, a fitness centre, and multipurpose rooms. The complex was renovated in 2005.
In 2010, the Duke of Sutherland Park was redeveloped. It features baseball diamonds, a soccer field, a playground and a 3200 ft (975.4 m)² waterpark with spray features for toddlers and a play structure for older children.
Also in 2010, the Centennial Regional Arena was completed after nearly a decade of planning and 18 months of construction. The multi-purpose facility seats 1,704 people. It includes corporate boxes, a running track, concessions, and a 200' x 85' surface. The arena is home to several user groups, including the Brooks Bandits
Brooks Bandits
The Brooks Bandits are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Brooks, Alberta at the Centennial Regional Arena, capacity 1,704....
.
There are three provincial parks in the area: Dinosaur Provincial Park
Dinosaur Provincial Park
Dinosaur Provincial Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about two and a half hours drive southeast of Calgary, Alberta, Canada or , about a half hour drive, northeast of Brooks....
, a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
, to the northeast, Tillebrook Provincial Park to the east and Kinbrook Island Provincial Park
Kinbrook Island Provincial Park
Kinbrook Island Provincial Park is a provincial park in Alberta, Canada.The park is situated at an elevation of and has a surface of . It was established on November 14, 1951 and is maintained by Alberta Community Development....
to the south. In addition, there are several other recreational sites in the area including the Rolling Hills Reservoir, Crawling Valley Reservoir, and Emerson Bridge.
The Brooks Aqueduct
Brooks Aqueduct
The Brooks Aqueduct is a now defunct aqueduct built by the irrigation division of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company during the 1910s. The aqueduct stands approximately 8 kilometres south of the town of Brooks, Alberta.- Overview :...
south-east of Brooks was built to transport irrigation water across the Eastern Irrigation District. It spans across a 3.2 km valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
, about 20m above the ground.
Sports
During the winter months, the Brooks BanditsBrooks Bandits
The Brooks Bandits are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Brooks, Alberta at the Centennial Regional Arena, capacity 1,704....
play in the Alberta Junior Hockey League
Alberta Junior Hockey League
The Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy...
They joined the league in 2000 and have become more and more popular over the years. During the spring of 2005, The AJHL's Brooks Bandits advanced to the playoffs for the first time, but lost to the Camrose Kodiaks
Camrose Kodiaks
The Camrose Kodiaks are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Camrose, Alberta, Canada at the Edgeworth Centre's Encana Arena, capacity 2500+....
.
There are two football teams in Brooks: the Roadrunners and the Buffalos, which are made up of players from the local junior and senior high schools respectively. Brooks has had a lot of success in the past in football. The Buffalos have had four teams go to provincials, in 1989, 1995, 1997, and 2009 winning in 1995, 1997, and 2009. The Roadrunners have gone to provincials three times, in 1995, 2004 and most recently, 2007.
Government
Brooks City Council consists of one mayor and six councillors. The last election was held in October 2010.- Mayor Martin Shields
- Councillor Norman Gerestein
- Councillor Barry Morishita
- Councillor Noel Moriyama
- Councillor Bill Prentice
- Councillor Kimberly Sharkey
- Councillor Ronald Yewchuk
Education
Brooks has two high schools, two junior high schools, three elementary schools, and two primary schools. It also has a satellite campus of the Medicine Hat CollegeMedicine Hat College
Medicine Hat College is a public, board governed, comprehensive community college serving a large region of southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada....
.
Media
Brooks is served by two radio stations, CIBQ-FM (Q105.7FM), and CIXF-FMCIXF-FM
CIXF-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting in Brooks, Alberta at 101.1 MHz FM. The station plays a hot adult contemporary format branded as The One at 101.1 .-History:...
(The One at 101.1). Both stations are owned by Newcap Broadcasting
Newcap Broadcasting
Newfoundland Capital Corporation Limited is a major Canadian broadcasting company, majority-owned by Harold R. Steele. Newfoundland Capital is the parent company of Newcap Inc. . It is currently the number two private-sector radio broadcaster in Canada, just behind Astral Media...
.
Brooks has two distinct newspapers. The Brooks Bulletin is published every Tuesday, and has served Brooks and the County of Newell since 1910. It has a weekly circulation of 4,332 and is a paid subscription product. The Brooks and County Chronicle is published Sundays. It is a free, total market coverage product established in 1995 with a weekly circulation of 11,628.
The Weekend Regional is a second paper the Bulletin established in 2004 and it is published on Fridays. As of January 2010, it became a total market coverage product with a weekly circulation of 11,235.
Notable residents
- Sheri FordeSheri FordeSheri Forde is a Canadian reporter for TSN based in Toronto, Ontario. She reports on the various Toronto sports teams. She joined TSN in 1998 from Calgary, Alberta. She moved to Toronto in 2002 to work for CFTO then went back to TSN in 2003...
, TSN Toronto reporter - Ryan Peake, lead guitarist of NickelbackNickelbackNickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta. Since 1995 the band has included guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist and back-up vocalist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger.. The band's current drummer and percussionist is Daniel Adair who has been with the band since 2005....
- Sherraine Schalm, Olympic fencer
See also
- List of communities in Alberta
- List of cities in Alberta
- Canada's Stonehenge