Bearspaw, Alberta

The Canadian Pacific Railway Station was built in 1909, when the area was officially named Bearspaw. The origin of the name derives from the head of the Stoney Nations, Chief Masgwaahsid, also known as Bears Paw.[5] Masgwaahsid is famous for his significance as a delegate along with other First Nations people for when they met with representatives of the Queen of Britain[6] on the 22nd September 1877 to sign Treaty No.7.[7] There was a total of five different First Nations tribes involved these were, Stoney-Nakoda, Piikani (Peigan), Kainnai (Blood), Tsuut'ina (Sarcee) and the Siksika (Blackfoot).[8] The treaty included terms which agreed to portions of land given to the native people, varying on the size of each family, payments were also made to every individual, both immediately and annually. The government also provided tools and cattle to each family.[9]

Dairy farmers initially established the location of Bearspaw. It wasn't until 1920 when Bearspaw had its first schoolhouse constructed, containing a single classroom which was functional for forty-five years until being closed in 1965.[5] Bearspaw gradually attracted an increasing amount of residents through the combination of ranches, farms, planned subdivisions and large private acreages.[4]

Bearspaw has an annual average temperature of 3.1 °C (37.6 °F). On average the warmest month is July, when Bearspaw has an average of 14.8 °C (58.6 °F), and the coldest month on average is January, with an average temperature of 8.2 °C (46.8 °F).[10]

In Bearspaw, overall the average precipitation in a year is 469.9 mm (18.50 in). The highest average amount of precipitation for one month occurs in June with 106.7 mm (4.20 in) and the lowest average amount of precipitation for one month occurs in January with 10.2 mm (0.40 in). Bearspaw also has an average of 125cm of snow, with the most snowfall occurring in March with an average of 21.6 mm (0.85 in).[10]

In 1954 Bearspaw has a hydroelectric power plant built, the main objective was to prevent the City of Calgary's Bow River from flooding during winter and ice packing. On average the plant produces around 70,000 megawatt hours per year.[11]

The hydroelectric facility was developed by TransAlta and was the final expansion downstream on the Bow River in Alberta. The Bow River has a total of four hydro plants run by TransAlta, making up the Bow Rivers Electric System. This provides steadiness of electricity at phases of the highest electrical requirements, decreasing effects of shortages.[11]

The RGE RD 30 provides an entrance into the Bearspaw loop which is a natural civic reserve location which has a constructed pathway for walking, it follows along the natural habitats of the local area. Big Hill Springs Provincial Park is position in a northeast direction of Cochrane along Range Road 34A off Highway 567, it has natural areas of foothills, parklands and a large swing with a sequence of waterfalls. Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park is made up of over 1,300 hectares of foothills parkland, it is found between Calgary and Cochrane, along the North edge of the Bow River. Situated far to the northwest of Calgary at Tuscany is the twelve mile Coulee, it is a total of 190 hectares of natural park with several hiking tracks.[5]

Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana)[12] is a shrub-like tree about 5-10m in height, but at times can reach up to 20m in height depending on surroundings. The bark of a Jack Pine is a reddish brown colour which separates into either furrows or irregular scaly ridges. The leaves are between 2-4cm long of a yellowish-green colour and of an atypical shape, generally curled.[13]

Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo)[12] grows up to 12m tall, possess coarse grey bark and its trunk quickly separates into widely distributing branches. Its trigs are covered with fine soft hairs and of a light green colour. The Manitoba Maple has leaflets which are seen before the leaves from lateral buds.[13]

Laurel Leaf Willow (Salix pentandra)[12] either seen as a small or medium sized tree that commonly appears shrub-like. It has bark of a greyish-brown colour with branches that are elastic, long and ascend upwards. Laurel Leaf Willow is known to leaf out in early Spring, typically it is one of the first trees to do so, and the last in Autumn to go through abscission.[14]

Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) can reach up to 18m tall, its leaves are between 18-25mm long with the apex of the leaves being jagged or rounded.[13]

Baked Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta)[12] is a 1-3m shrub, its leaves are ovate-oblong to oblong-obovate, while being circular to relatively heart-shaped at the base. They are known to flower in early Spring.[13]

Tamarack (Larix laricina)[12] generally grows to around 20m and considered to be of medium size. An adult Tamarack has scaly, reddish-brown bark, compared to a young Tamarack which has bark that is smooth and grey. Its leaves tend to reach between 10-25mm in length and are a pale green colour, except during fall when they become bright yellow.[15]

Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta)[12] is a tall tree, normally of between 20-30m but can exceed this height. Leaves tend to form thick groups when reaching the ends of the twigs and are normally less curled and longer than that of the Jack Pine.[13]

Pink False Dandelion (Agoseris lackschewitzii) is a pink colour both while in bud and when flowering, they can grow anywhere between 6-35cm tall and have hairs along their entire length.[16]

Long-Leaved Arnica (Arinca longifolia) is an orange or yellow, 8-11 petalled flower head with a diameter of 2cm, the Long-Leaved Arnica grows leaves in pairs that are on opposite sides to each other with the largest growing towards the middle of the stem. It can grow anywhere between 30-60cm when fully grown.[16]