Brooks, Alberta

Brooks is a city in southeast Alberta, Canada, surrounded by the County of Newell. It is located on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) and the Canadian Pacific Railway, approximately 186 km (116 mi) southeast of Calgary, and 110 km (68 mi) northwest of Medicine Hat. The city has an elevation of 760 m (2,490 ft).

Brooks
City
City of Brooks
Brooks from the air
Nickname(s): 
Alberta's Centennial City[1]
Motto(s): 
Beautiful and Bountiful
City boundaries
Brooks
Location in Alberta
Brooks
Location in Canada
Brooks
Location in the County of Newell
Coordinates: 50°33′51″N 111°53′56″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionSouthern Alberta
Planning regionSouth Saskatchewan
Municipal districtCounty of Newell
Incorporated[2] 
  VillageJuly 14, 1910
  TownSeptember 8, 1911
  CitySeptember 1, 2005
Government
  MayorBarry Morishita
  Governing body
  CAOAlan Martens
  MPMartin Shields (ConsBow River)
  MLAMichaela Glasgo (UCPBrooks-Medicine Hat)
Area
 (2016)[4]
  Land18.59 km2 (7.18 sq mi)
Elevation760 m (2,490 ft)
Population
 (2016)[4]
  Total14,451
  Density777.3/km2 (2,013/sq mi)
  Municipal census (2015)
14,185[6]
  Agglomeration
23,430
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
  Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Forward sortation area
T1R
Area code(s)+1-403, +1-587
HighwaysTrans-Canada Highway
Highway 36
RailwaysCanadian Pacific Railway
WebsiteOfficial website

History

The area that is now Brooks was used as a bison-hunting ground for the Blackfoot and Crow. After Treaty 7 was signed in 1877, homesteaders moved into the area to begin farming. Before 1904, the area still did not have a name. Through a contest sponsored by the Postmaster General, the area was named after Noel Edgell Brooks, a Canadian Pacific Railway Divisional Engineer from Calgary.[7]

Brooks was incorporated as a village on July 14, 1910, and then as a town on September 8, 1911.[2] Its population in the 1911 Census of Canada was 486.[8]

In the 1996 Census, the population of Brooks reached 10,093[9] making it eligible for city status.[10] Brooks incorporated as a city on September 1, 2005[2] when its official population was 11,604.[11]

In 2010, Brooks celebrated the centennial of its incorporation as a village in 1910.[2][12]

Demographics

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the City of Brooks recorded a population of 14,451 living in 5,046 of its 5,412 total private dwellings, a change of 5.7% from its 2011 population of 13,676. With a land area of 18.59 km2 (7.18 sq mi), it had a population density of 777.4/km2 (2,013.3/sq mi) in 2016.[4]

The population of the City of Brooks according to its 2015 municipal census is 14,185,[6] a change of 4.4% from its 2007 municipal census population of 13,581.[13]

In the 2011 Census, the City of Brooks had a population of 13,676 living in 5,037 of its 5,509 total dwellings, a change of 9.3% from its 2006 adjusted population of 12,508. With a land area of 18.19 km2 (7.02 sq mi), it had a population density of 751.8/km2 (1,947.3/sq mi) in 2011.[14]

A multicultural community, Brooks has been referred to as "The City of 100 Hellos" as a result of a documentary by Brandy Yanchyk profiling the community's significant immigrant, refugee and temporary foreign worker populations. The documentary was called Brooks – The City of 100 Hellos and was created in 2010 for Omni Television.[15] The community's multicultural character was also the subject of a 2007 National Film Board of Canada documentary, 24 Days in Brooks, directed by Dana Inkster.[16]

Federal census
population history
YearPop.±%
1911486    
1916290−40.3%
1921499+72.1%
1926511+2.4%
1931708+38.6%
1936697−1.6%
1941888+27.4%
19461,091+22.9%
19511,648+51.1%
19562,320+40.8%
19612,827+21.9%
19663,354+18.6%
19713,986+18.8%
19766,339+59.0%
19819,421+48.6%
19869,464+0.5%
19919,433−0.3%
199610,093+7.0%
200111,604+15.0%
200612,498+7.7%
201113,676+9.4%
201614,451+5.7%
Source: Statistics Canada
[8][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]
[27][28][29][30][31][32][9][33][14][34][4]
Visible minorities and Aboriginal population
Canada 2006 CensusPopulation% of Total Population
Visible minority group
Source:[35]
South Asian1751.4%
Chinese1951.6%
Black1,1108.9%
Filipino750.6%
Latin American550.4%
Arab800.6%
Southeast Asian2652.1%
West Asian550.4%
Korean400.3%
Japanese700.6%
Other visible minority00%
Mixed visible minority200.2%
Total visible minority population2,13517.1%
Aboriginal group
Source:[36]
First Nations1551.2%
Métis1351.1%
Inuit100.1%
Total Aboriginal population3102.5%
White10,05080.4%
Total population12,495100%

Geography

Prairie southwest of Brooks

Brooks is located in the Grassland Natural Region of Alberta. The area surrounding Brooks is dry mixed grass/shortgrass prairie.[37]

Climate

Located in the steppe region known as the Palliser's Triangle, Brooks has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk).[38] Winters are extremely dry and cold, with little snowfall compared to the rest of Canada.[39] Chinook winds, 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. Wide diurnal temperature ranges are regular, due to the aridity and moderately high elevation. Low humidity is prevalent throughout the year. Most of the relatively scant annual precipitation occurs in late spring and summer, often in the form of thunderstorms. On average, the coldest month is January, with a mean temperature of −10.1 °C (13.8 °F), while the warmest is July, with a mean temperature of 19.6 °C (67.3 °F). The driest month is February, with an average monthly precipitation of 9.1 mm (0.36 in), while the wettest month is June, with an average of 74.2 mm (2.92 in). Annual precipitation is low, with an average of 301.3 mm (11.86 in).[40]

Climate data for Brooks, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1912–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.8
(64.0)
18.3
(64.9)
26.6
(79.9)
31.1
(88.0)
35.6
(96.1)
37.2
(99.0)
40.0
(104.0)
38.9
(102.0)
36.1
(97.0)
33.3
(91.9)
24.4
(75.9)
20.0
(68.0)
40.0
(104.0)
Average high °C (°F) −4.0
(24.8)
0.0
(32.0)
4.4
(39.9)
13.2
(55.8)
18.5
(65.3)
22.4
(72.3)
27.5
(81.5)
26.2
(79.2)
20.5
(68.9)
13.2
(55.8)
4.0
(39.2)
−1.2
(29.8)
12.1
(53.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) −10.1
(13.8)
−6.6
(20.1)
−1.9
(28.6)
5.9
(42.6)
11.3
(52.3)
15.7
(60.3)
19.6
(67.3)
18.3
(64.9)
12.8
(55.0)
5.8
(42.4)
−2.1
(28.2)
−7.3
(18.9)
5.1
(41.2)
Average low °C (°F) −16.2
(2.8)
−13.1
(8.4)
−8.3
(17.1)
−1.4
(29.5)
3.9
(39.0)
8.9
(48.0)
11.7
(53.1)
10.3
(50.5)
5.0
(41.0)
−1.6
(29.1)
−8.2
(17.2)
−13.4
(7.9)
−1.9
(28.6)
Record low °C (°F) −46.7
(−52.1)
−43.9
(−47.0)
−40.6
(−41.1)
−25.0
(−13.0)
−11.1
(12.0)
−2.2
(28.0)
1.7
(35.1)
−1.1
(30.0)
−11.1
(12.0)
−24.4
(−11.9)
−36.1
(−33.0)
−47.2
(−53.0)
−47.2
(−53.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 12.8
(0.50)
9.1
(0.36)
19.0
(0.75)
22.3
(0.88)
34.9
(1.37)
74.2
(2.92)
26.2
(1.03)
37.7
(1.48)
29.2
(1.15)
11.4
(0.45)
12.8
(0.50)
11.7
(0.46)
301.3
(11.86)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.2
(0.01)
0.2
(0.01)
2.8
(0.11)
17.8
(0.70)
32.2
(1.27)
74.2
(2.92)
26.2
(1.03)
37.7
(1.48)
29.0
(1.14)
7.5
(0.30)
2.2
(0.09)
1.0
(0.04)
231.0
(9.09)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 12.9
(5.1)
9.4
(3.7)
16.9
(6.7)
4.6
(1.8)
2.7
(1.1)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.3
(0.1)
3.8
(1.5)
10.6
(4.2)
10.6
(4.2)
71.7
(28.2)
Average relative humidity (%) (at 15:00 LST) 70.4 64.9 54.0 40.3 39.8 46.5 39.6 39.7 42.5 47.6 58.9 68.9 51.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 91.6 114.9 158.3 215.1 266.3 290.2 338.8 302.1 200.9 169.7 105.8 75.1 2,328.9
Percent possible sunshine 34.7 41.1 43.1 52.1 55.6 59.1 68.4 67.1 52.8 50.8 39.0 30.0 49.5
Source: Environment Canada,[40][41][42] (Sunshine 1961–1990)[43]

Economy

The base of the economy of the City of Brooks is energy (oil and gas) and agriculture,[44] with other sectors including metal manufacturing,[45] food processing and construction.[44] It is also a retail and service centre for the surrounding area.[44]

Canada's second largest beef-processing facility, owned by JBS Canada,[46] is located in Brooks and ships meat across the country and internationally. In 2012, while the plant was owned by XL Foods, it released meat contaminated with E. coli, and was shut down for a month.[47][48] The plant has over 2000 employees.[49]

Attractions

The JBS Leisure Centre is the area's main recreation centre. It includes one arena, 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 and again in 2016. Now the Brooks Public Library is within the JBS Leisure Centre.

In 2010, the Duke of Sutherland Park was redeveloped. It features baseball diamonds, a soccer field, a playground and a 3,200 sq ft (300 m2) 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 ft × 85 ft (61 m × 26 m) surface. The arena is home to several user groups, including the Brooks Bandits. The arena also hosted the 2019 National Junior A Championship.

There are three provincial parks in the area: Dinosaur Provincial Park, a World Heritage Site, to the northeast, Tillebrook Provincial Park to the east and Kinbrook Island Provincial Park 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 southeast of Brooks was built to transport irrigation water across the Eastern Irrigation District. It spans across a 3.2 km (2.0 mi) valley, about 20 m (66 ft) above the ground.

Sports

Brooks is home to the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.[50] The ice hockey team was awarded to Brooks in 1998 and embarked on its first season in 2000.[50] They have helped produce current NHL players such as Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche) and Chad Johnson. The Bandits won the league championship in 2012,[51] 2013,[52] 2016,[53] 2017[54] and 2019.[55] They won their first National Championship (The Royal Bank Cup) in 2013[52] and repeated again by winning the National Junior A Championship in 2019.[56] They

There are two football teams in Brooks: the Roadrunners and the Buffalos. The teams comprise players from the local junior and senior high schools respectively. The Buffalos represented Brooks at provincial championships in 1989, 1995, 1997, and 2009, winning in the title in its last three appearances. The Roadrunners appeared at provincial championships in 1995, 2004, 2007, 2014, and 2016 . And in Brooks Composite High School their basketball team came 4th in the province in 2017 and 3rd in the province in 2018, led by players Deng Dak, Amir Aliye and Dylan Wandler.

Brooks is home to a Western Canadian Baseball League franchise named the Brooks Bombers. They play at Elks Field in the Quad Ball Diamond Complex.[57]

Government

Brooks City Council consists of one mayor and six councillors.[3] The last election was held in October 2017. Barry Morishita has been mayor since 2016.

Education

Brooks has three high schools, three junior high schools, five elementary schools, three primary schools, and two alternative schools.[58] The schools are operated by Grasslands Public Schools, Christ the Redeemer School Division (Catholic) and Francosud (Francophone). Brooks also has a satellite campus of Medicine Hat College.

Health care

Acute medical care is provided at the Brooks Health Centre.

Media

Brooks is served by two radio stations, CIBQ-FM (105.7 Real Country), and CIXF-FM (Boom 101.1). Both stations are owned by Stingray Group.

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.[59]

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.[59]

Notable people

See also

References

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  2. "Location and History Profile: City of Brooks" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. June 17, 2016. p. 8. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  3. "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  4. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  5. "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)" (PDF) (PDF). Safety Codes Council. January 2012. pp. 212–215 (PDF pages 226–229). Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  6. 2015 Municipal Affairs Population List (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. ISBN 978-1-4601-2630-1. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
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  11. "2005 Official Population List" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. November 28, 2005. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
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  15. "Brooks Hosts Premiere of Documentary". City of Brooks. August 26, 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  16. "24 Days in Brooks" (48 min.). Documentary film. National Film Board of Canada. 2007. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
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  30. "Table 4: Population and Total Occupied Dwellings, for Census Divisions and Subdivisions, 1976 and 1981". 1981 Census of Canada. Volume II: Provincial series, Population, Geographic distributions (Alberta). Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1982. p. 4.1–4.10. ISBN 0-660-51095-2.
  31. "Table 2: Census Divisions and Subdivisions – Population and Occupied Private Dwellings, 1981 and 1986". Census Canada 1986. Population and Dwelling Counts – Provinces and Territories (Alberta). Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1987. p. 2.1–2.10. ISBN 0-660-53463-0.
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  36. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (January 15, 2008). "Statistics Canada: Aboriginal Peoples Highlight Tables, 2006 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
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  38. "Köppen Climate Classification Map of North America". Archived from the original on September 10, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  39. "Atlas of Canada Map: Annual Average Snowfall in Canada". Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  40. "Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010". Environment Canada. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
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  42. "Brooks 1". Environment Canada. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
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  44. "City of Brooks Business & Community Profile: Economy". City of Brooks. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  45. "City of Brooks Business & Community Profile: Manufacturing Industry". City of Brooks. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  46. "JBS to buy XL Foods plant in Brooks, Alta". CBC News. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  47. D'Aliesio, Renata (October 23, 2012). "XL Foods back in business with air of guarded optimism". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  48. McClure, Matt (October 25, 2012). "Operations to resume at XL plant next week". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  49. "Morale good as 2,000 XL Foods employees go back to work | Food Safety First". Foodsafetyfirst.ca. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  50. "The "Bandits" Beginning". Alberta Junior Hockey League. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
  51. "Brooks Bandits Win 2012 Enerflex Cup Finals". Alberta Junior Hockey League. April 12, 2012. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
  52. "Bandits Win 2013 RBC Cup National Championship". Alberta Junior Hockey League. May 19, 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  53. "Brooks Bandits Win 2016 Gas Drive Cup". www.ajhl.ca. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  54. "Brooks Bandits Repeat as League Champions, Makar Named MVP". www.ajhl.ca. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  55. "Brooks Bandits Win 2019 Inter Pipeline Cup as AJHL Champions". www.ajhl.ca. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  56. "Brooks Bandits Win 2019 National Jr A Championship". www.ajhl.ca. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  57. brooksbombers.com
  58. Sanchez, Rose (October 25, 2012). "Progress being made on planning for new school in Brooks". Prairie Post. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  59. "Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association". Awna.com. March 23, 2004. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  60. "Sheri Forde official bio". TSN. November 8, 2009. Archived from the original on August 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
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