Taber, Alberta

Taber /ˈteɪbər/ is a town in southern Alberta, Canada within the Municipal District of Taber. It is located approximately 51 km (32 mi) east of the City of Lethbridge at the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 36.

For the municipal district, see Municipal District of Taber.
Taber
Town
Town of Taber
Taber town centre
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
"Unity, Growth, Prosperity"
Taber
Location of Taber in Alberta
Coordinates: 49°47′05″N 112°09′03″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionSouthern Alberta
Census division2
Municipal districtMunicipal District of Taber
Incorporated[1] 
 • VillageMarch 15, 1905
 • TownJuly 1, 1907
Government
 • MayorAndrew Prokop
 • Governing body
 • CAOCory Armfelt
 • MLAGrant Hunter (UCP)
Area
 (2016)[3]
 • Land15.67 km2 (6.05 sq mi)
Elevation815 m (2,674 ft)
Population
 (2016)[3]
 • Total8,428
 • Density537.9/km2 (1,393/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
Forward sortation area
T1G
HighwaysHighway 3
Highway 36
WaterwayOldman River
WebsiteOfficial website

Taber is famous for its corn due to the large amounts of sunshine the area receives. It is therefore known as the Corn Capital of Canada and holds an annual "Cornfest" in the last week of August.

History

Originally, Taber was known as "Tank No. 77," and was used by the railway to fill up on water. In 1903, it is said that the first Mormon settlers from the U.S. were the ones to establish a hamlet at the Tank. After the town's post office was built in 1907, the CPR decided to call the town "Tabor," probably after Mount Tabor in the Holy Land. However, various letters and station heads came out printed "Taber," so the CPR changed the name to make it match the records.

An alternate version of the towns name origin is that the first part of the word tabernacle was used by Mormon settlers in the vicinity, and the next Canadian Pacific Railway station was named Elcan (nacle spelled backwards).

After time, Taber became a successful coal mining town. Coal mining declined in the late 1920s, but picked up in the 1930s after extensive irrigation in the area.

During the Second World War Japanese Canadians were forcibly relocated to Alberta where some were employed in sugar beet cultivation for the duration of the war.

Irrigation helped not only the coal-miners, it also brought with it the production of sugar beets. In 1950, a sugar beet processing plant (Roger's Sugar) was built, which has become a vital part of the town's economy.

A number of archaeological discoveries were made in the vicinity of Taber, including that of extinct buffalo,[5] and the so-called "Taber child" in 1961 by the head of a Geological Survey of Canada team Dr. Archie Stalker in the glacial deposits along the east bank of the Oldman River.[6]

On April 28, 1999, Taber gained notoriety due to the W. R. Myers High School shooting[7] in which a 14-year-old entered W. R. Myers High School and shot two students, killing one and wounding another.

Geography

Climate

Taber experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk). The highest temperature ever recorded in Taber was 40.6 °C (105 °F) on 17 July 1936. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −43.3 °C (−46 °F) on 23 January 1969.[8]

Climate data for Taber, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1907–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 18.0
(64.4)		 24.0
(75.2)		 28.0
(82.4)		 31.1
(88.0)		 36.1
(97.0)		 39.4
(102.9)		 40.6
(105.1)		 38.5
(101.3)		 35.6
(96.1)		 31.1
(88.0)		 23.5
(74.3)		 19.0
(66.2)		 40.6
(105.1)
Average high °C (°F) −0.7
(30.7)		 2.6
(36.7)		 5.6
(42.1)		 13.6
(56.5)		 18.7
(65.7)		 22.2
(72.0)		 27.1
(80.8)		 27.2
(81.0)		 20.7
(69.3)		 13.6
(56.5)		 5.3
(41.5)		 0.2
(32.4)		 13.0
(55.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −6.6
(20.1)		 −3.4
(25.9)		 −0.6
(30.9)		 6.6
(43.9)		 11.8
(53.2)		 15.7
(60.3)		 19.5
(67.1)		 19.1
(66.4)		 13.2
(55.8)		 7.0
(44.6)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 −5.2
(22.6)		 6.4
(43.5)
Average low °C (°F) −12.4
(9.7)		 −9.5
(14.9)		 −6.9
(19.6)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 4.8
(40.6)		 9.1
(48.4)		 11.9
(53.4)		 11.0
(51.8)		 5.6
(42.1)		 0.3
(32.5)		 −6.1
(21.0)		 −10.7
(12.7)		 −0.3
(31.5)
Record low °C (°F) −43.3
(−45.9)		 −38.0
(−36.4)		 −36.7
(−34.1)		 −21.1
(−6.0)		 −11.7
(10.9)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 2.8
(37.0)		 −0.6
(30.9)		 −7.8
(18.0)		 −26.5
(−15.7)		 −33.0
(−27.4)		 −42.2
(−44.0)		 −43.3
(−45.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 16.8
(0.66)		 13.6
(0.54)		 24.1
(0.95)		 31.9
(1.26)		 47.8
(1.88)		 90.9
(3.58)		 29.0
(1.14)		 38.9
(1.53)		 36.9
(1.45)		 18.9
(0.74)		 17.3
(0.68)		 15.0
(0.59)		 381.0
(15.00)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.3
(0.01)		 0.4
(0.02)		 5.3
(0.21)		 23.1
(0.91)		 43.5
(1.71)		 90.9
(3.58)		 29.0
(1.14)		 38.5
(1.52)		 36.4
(1.43)		 12.1
(0.48)		 3.2
(0.13)		 1.3
(0.05)		 283.8
(11.17)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 16.5
(6.5)		 13.3
(5.2)		 19.1
(7.5)		 8.8
(3.5)		 4.3
(1.7)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.2
(0.1)		 0.5
(0.2)		 6.8
(2.7)		 14.1
(5.6)		 13.8
(5.4)		 97.4
(38.3)
Source: Environment Canada[8][9]

Demographics

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Taber recorded a population of 8,428 living in 3,159 of its 3,384 total private dwellings, a 4% change from its 2011 population of 8,104. With a land area of 15.67 km2 (6.05 sq mi), it had a population density of 537.8/km2 (1,393.0/sq mi) in 2016.[3]

The population of the Town of Taber according to its 2015 municipal census is 8,380,[10] a 5.6% change from its 2011 municipal census population of 7,935.[11]

In the Canada 2011 Census, the Town of Taber had a population of 8,104 living in 3,086 of its 3,279 total dwellings, a 6.8% change from its 2006 population of 7,591. With a land area of 15.09 km2 (5.83 sq mi), it had a population density of 537.0/km2 (1,390.9/sq mi) in 2011.[12]

Economy

Taber's economy is largely based on agriculture. Local produce includes hogs, beef, sheep, poultry, sugar beets, potatoes, peas, carrots, wheat, flax, barley, corn, beans, sunflowers, oats, onions, canola and mustard.

Roger's Sugar is Taber's sugar beet processing plant which was built in 1950. The factory is owned and operated by Lantic Inc. There are several food processing companies based in the town, including a Frito-Lay factory, which produces various snack products for much of Western Canada. As well, sand and gravel are mined here. To a smaller extent, there is also a significant oil and gas component to the economy.

Arts and culture

Cornfest

Cornfest is an annual summer festival held on the last full weekend in August, and includes a midway (rides, booths, and tests of skill) and a stage with performers.[13] It is the largest free family festival in Western Canada, and is organized by the Taber and District Chamber of Commerce. There are a number of corn-based activities, such as corn tasting and stuffing. Corn stuffing involves two people, one wearing an oversized coverall. One of the contestants attempts to stuff as much corn as possible into the other's coverall. Whichever team can put the most corn in the coveralls in the allotted time wins. During Cornfest, large-scale, local corn producers enter their best varieties in the 'Best Corn of the Year' award.

Taber is home to one of the Canada 150 Mosaic murals.[14] It depicts Tank 77 within a field of corn, and the tiles were painted by members of the community. The mural was unveiled in December 2016, and is housed within the Taber Health Clinic.

Government

The Taber Police Service is the only town municipal police service in Alberta[15] and was established in 1904.

The Town of Taber gained notoriety when it adopted a bylaw on February 23, 2015 that granted the police and bylaw officials the authority to levy fines for controversial actions including swearing, public assembly, spitting and applying graffiti on one's own private property. The bylaw also implemented a curfew.[16][17] The adoption met criticism over its appearance of being unconstitutional; violating freedoms of expression and association protected under Section Two of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.[18] The town defended its adoption stating the bylaw "is intended to consolidate existing municipal regulations and allow enforcement under a municipal bylaw rather than the Criminal Code" and citing concerns about unnecessary prosecutions clogging the court.[19] Mayor Henk De Vlieger supported the bylaw while stating that town council would review the bylaw after a six-month trial.[16]

Education

Kindergarten through grade 12 education is administered in Taber by the Horizon School Division and Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Division. Taber has a Christian School for kindergarten through grade 9. Other education systems include Community Adult Learning Council, ACE Place Learning Center and a Career Resource Centre.[20]

Sister cities

Taber and Higashiomi are sister towns.[21] In 1981, the Town of Taber and Notogawa, Japan signed the original Twinned Municipalities Agreement. When Notogawa was merged into the City of Higashiomi in 2006, the two municipalities re-signed the Twinning Agreement.

Notable people
  • Cenotaph in Downtown Taber

See also

References
  1. "Location and History Profile: Town of Taber" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. June 17, 2016. p. 639. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  2. "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  3. "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.
  4. "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 9, 2013.
  5. C. Trylich and L.A. Bayrock, "Bison occidcntalis Lucas Found at Taber, Alberta, Canada.", Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 3 (1966), pp. 987–95.
  6. Francis, R. Douglas, Palmer, Howard, The Prairie West: historical readings, The University of Alberta Press, 2nd (Revised) ed., 1992, p.50
  7. CBC News. Taber school shooting information
  8. "Taber". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  9. "Taber". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  10. "2015 Municipal Affairs Population List" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. ISBN 978-1-4601-2630-1. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  11. "2011 Municipal Affairs Population List" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 5, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  12. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  13. Taber Chamber of Commerce. Cornfest 2004 website
  14. "Canada 150 Mosaic: Taber". Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  15. Mabell, Dave (July 18, 2014). "Not everyone's happy with Coaldale policing plans". Lethbridge Herald. Archived from the original on December 19, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  16. "Taber bylaw bans public swearing, spitting and yelling in Alberta town". CBC News. March 10, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  17. "Town of Taber Bylaw 4-2015". Town of Taber. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  18. Stark, Erika (March 10, 2015). "Forget washing your mouth out with soap, Taber establishes $150 fine for potty mouths". Edmonton Journal. Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  19. "Media Release on Community Standards Bylaw". Town of Taber. March 10, 2015. Archived from the original on March 13, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  20. "Taber School List". Archived from the original on 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  21. "Town of Taber Official Website". Town of Taber. Town of Taber. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.