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*[[Rocky Thompson]], former professional ice hockey player
*[[Rocky Thompson]], former professional ice hockey player
*[[George VanderBurg]], MLA for [[Whitecourt-Ste. Anne]], former mayor
*[[George VanderBurg]], MLA for [[Whitecourt-Ste. Anne]], former mayor
*[[Curtis Tulloch (local electrician)http://www.facebook.com/curtis.tulloch?ref=tn_tnmn]]
*[[Curtis Tulloch (Local talented Electrician)]]


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 22:19, 12 April 2013

This article is about the town in Alberta, Canada. For the community in England, see White Court.
Whitecourt
Town
Town of Whitecourt
Town Hall
Town Hall
Official logo of Whitecourt
Entrance feature
Motto: 
Let's Go...[1]
Map
Country Canada
Province Alberta
RegionCentral Alberta
Census division13
Municipal districtWoodlands County
Founded [3]1910
Incorporated: [4]
 - Village 
January 1, 1959
 - TownAugust 15, 1961
Government
[2]
 • MayorTrevor Thain
 • Governing body
Whitecourt Town Council
  • Darlene Chartrand
  • Maryann Chichak
  • Norman Peter Hodgson
  • Bill McAree
  • Derek Schlosser
  • Williard Strebchuk
 • CAOPeter Smyl
 • MPRob Merrifield
 • MLAGeorge VanderBurg
Area
 (2011)[5]
 • Total26.14 km2 (10.09 sq mi)
Elevation
700 m (2,300 ft)
Population
 (2011)[5]
 • Total9,605
 • Density367.4/km2 (952/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Postal code span
T7S
Area code+1-780
HighwaysHighway 43
Highway 32
WaterwaysAthabasca River
McLeod River
Sakwatamau River
Beaver Creek
WebsiteTown of Whitecourt

Whitecourt is a town in central Alberta, Canada within Woodlands County.[6] It is located approximately 177 km (110 mi) northwest of Edmonton and 279 km (173 mi) southeast of Grande Prairie at the junction of Highway 43 and Highway 32, and has an elevation of 690 m (2,260 ft). The Whitecourt meteor impact crater is found on nearby Whitecourt Mountain.

Whitecourt is also located at the confluence of four waterways – the Athabasca River, McLeod River, Sakwatamau River and Beaver Creek.[3] A Canadian National rail line runs through the town.

The Town has branded itself as the Snowmobile Capital of Alberta[7] and its motto is Let's Go....[1]

History

The community was formed in the place known by the Cree as Sagitawah (the place where the rivers meet). While the first Hudson's Bay Company trading post was established in 1897, the first permanent resident on the present day town site was John Goodwin, who settled here in 1905. In 1910, with the expansion of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, immigrants were encouraged by Premier Arthur Lewis Sifton to settle in the vast scarcely inhabited area between Edmonton and the Peace River Country.[8] The name "Whitecourt" was chosen in 1910 by the postmaster of the newly established community.

Geography

Whitecourt has three identifiable geographic components:

  • the Valley that includes the town centre, the Athabasca Flats residential area, Millar Western’s sawmill and pulp mill, and three manufactured home parks;
  • the Hilltop that includes the Hilltop and Southlands Estates residential areas, the Hilltop industrial area, a 2.5 km highway commercial strip along Highway 43 and two manufactured home parks; and
  • West Whitecourt, between the McLeod and Athabasca Rivers, includes an industrial area, a 1.0 km highway commercial strip along Highway 43, and a manufactured home park.

Demographics

In the 2011 Census, the Town of Whitecourt had a population of 9,605 living in 3,629 of its 3,893 total dwellings, a 7.1% change from its 2006 population of 8,971. With a land area of 26.14 km2 (10.09 sq mi), it had a population density of 367.44/km2 (951.68/sq mi) in 2011.[5]

The population of the Town of Whitecourt according to its 2008 municipal census is 9,202.[9]

In the 2006 federal census, Whitecourt had a population of 8,971 living in 3,448 dwellings, a 7.6% increase from its 2001 population of 8,334. The town has a land area of 26.14 km2 (10.09 sq mi) and a population density of 343.1/km2 (889/sq mi).[10]

In the 2001 federal census, Whitecourt was among the 25 youngest municipalities in Canada with a population of 5,000 or more with a median age of 29.3 years. It also was among the top 25 with the highest men-to-women ratios at 110.2 men per 100 women.[11] By the 2006 census, the median age and men-to-women ratios increased to 30.1 years and 112.3 men to 100 women respectively.[10]

Also in 2001 census, the town had a median family income of $68,960, and an average value of dwelling of $126,600.[12]

Economy

Template:Dx Whitecourt's economy is largely driven by three major industries – forestry, oil and gas industry and tourism.[13] With some farm land to the south and east of Whitecourt, agriculture plays a minor role in the town's economy.

Whitecourt is the site of three forestry-related mills:

  • Blue Ridge Lumber Sawmill / Ranger Board MDF (owned by West Fraser)
  • Millar Western Sawmill / Pulp Mill (owned by Millar Western Forest Products)
  • Alberta Newsprint Company Pulp & Paper Mill.

Whitecourt is also home to many service companies in the oil and gas industry.

Attractions

The Allan & Jean Millar Centre

Template:Dx Attractions within Whitecourt include the Allan & Jean Millar Centre, Rotary Park, the Forest Interpretive Centre and Heritage Park, and a variety of other facilities and parks.[14]

The Allan & Jean Millar Centre consists of both an aquatic facility, a fieldhouse, a fitness facility, a children's indoor playground area, and boardroom and classroom rental spaces. The aquatic facility comprises a main pool, a children's pool, a leisure pool, a lazy river, a water slide, a hot tub, and a steam room. The fieldhouse includes a configurable multi-sport area, a track, and racquetball and squash courts. The fitness centre provides cardio training equipment, weight training equipment, and a fitness studio. Overall, this recreation venue also provides a variety of programming including lessons, classes, and personal training.[15]

Rotary Park, located in the river valley adjacent to downtown, is a multi-use outdoor park facility consisting of a pond stocked with fish that is cleared for skating in the winter, trails, sports fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, an off-leash dog park, and a river slide attraction featuring two flowing artificial creeks with drops for tubing.[14] A splash park with 19 water features opened within Rotary Park in 2012.[16]

The Forest Interpretive Centre includes a multi-media museum that presents the forestry industry's role in Whitecourt's history.[14] It also features meeting rooms and hosts the local chamber of commerce, a tourist information centre, and town council meetings.[14][17] The Forest Interpretive Centre's associated Heritage Park includes antique vehicles and farm equipment, a barn, and an interpretive trail among other features.[14]

Sports

Template:Dx

Club League Sport Venue Established League championships Provincial championships
Whitecourt Wolverines
NWJHL
Ice hockey Scott Safety Centre
2007
4
1
Whitecourt Wolverines
AJHL
Ice hockey Scott Safety Centre
2012
 
 

Infrastructure

The Whitecourt Healthcare Centre located on Sunset Boulevard

Health care

Acute and non-acute medical care is provided at the Whitecourt Healthcare Centre.[18]

Transportation

Air

The full air-service Whitecourt Airport is located west of Whitecourt on the north side of Highway 32, approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Highway 43. It is Alberta's ninth busiest airport with up to 32,000 aircraft using the airport annually. The airstrip is 5,800 ft (1,800 m) in length and 100 ft (30 m) wide and can accommodate 747 jets. Numerous carriers offer scheduled charter flights out of the airport.[19]

Bus

Greyhound Canada provides regular bus passenger services to Whitecourt on a daily basis.[19] The bus stop is located at a gas station at the intersection of 52 Avenue and Dahl Drive.[20]

Rail

A Canadian National rail line, known as the Sangudo Subdivision, provides rail service through Whitecourt from Edmonton to numerous gas plants south of Fox Creek. A spur within the town serves the Millar Western Sawmill / Pulp Mill. A spur just west of town serves the Alberta Newsprint Company Pulp & Paper Mill.[21]

Roads

The Town of Whitecourt is served by two highways. Highway 43, which is part of the CANAMEX Corridor, is a twinned highway that provides connection to Edmonton to the southeast and Grande Prairie to the northwest.

Highway 32 provides Whitecourt with a direct link to the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16) to the south, which connects the town to Edson and Hinton to the southwest. Another segment of Highway 32 begins approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) northwest of the town, providing a link from Highway 43 to Swan Hills and Slave Lake.

Numerous local roads provide connections from Whitecourt to surrounding rural areas within Woodlands County. Within the McLeod River valley, Govenlock Road feeds two rural roads – West Mountain Road (Range Road 122) and Tower Road (Range Road 121A) – that provide access to numerous country residential subdivisions and some agricultural operations to the south.

Within the Athabasca River valley, Flats Road (Township Road 600), which exits the town following its northern boundary, serves numerous agricultural operations to the east.

On the Hilltop, 41 Avenue (Township Road 594A), which was the original highway alignment into Whitecourt, exits the town eastbound for the Hamlet of Blue Ridge. This road is commonly referred to as Blue Ridge Road.

Education

Hilltop High School main entrance

Media

Newspapers

Whitecourt is served by the weekly Whitecourt Press[24] and Whitecourt Star[25] and the monthly Community Advisor.[26]

Radio

Two FM radio stations broadcast from Whitecourt. The Rig (FM 96.7, CFXW-FM)[27] and XM 105 (FM 105.3, CIXM-FM)[28] broadcast active rock and contemporary country formats respectively.

Sister cities

Whitecourt has been twinned with Yūbetsu, Hokkaido, Japan, since 1998.[29][30]

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Town of Whitecourt (2009-05-26). "May 26, 2009 Whitecourt Town Council Update" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-06-24.
  2. ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs: Municipal Officials Search
  3. ^ a b Town of Whitecourt. "Whitecourt History". Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  4. ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs (2010-08-13). "Whitecourt Municipal Profile". Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  5. ^ a b c "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.
  6. ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs (2010-04-01). "Specialized and Rural Municipalities and Their Communities" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  7. ^ "Grande Alberta Economic Region – Whitecourt". Grande Alberta Economic Region. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  8. ^ Olecko, Doreen - Sagitawah Saga - The story of Whitecourt, 2006, University of Calgary, Université Laval
  9. ^ "Alberta 2009 Official Population List" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. 2009-09-15. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  10. ^ a b "Whitecourt - Community Profile". Statistics Canada. 2006 Census. Retrieved 2007-06-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  11. ^ "Profile of the Canadian population by age and sex: Canada ages" (PDF). Statistics Canada. 2002. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
  12. ^ "Whitecourt - 2001 Community Profile". Statistics Canada. 2001 Census. Retrieved 2010-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  13. ^ Alberta First. "Whitecourt Community Profile". Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Facilities, Parks and Playgrounds". Town of Whitecourt. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  15. ^ "Facility Information". Town of Whitecourt. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  16. ^ "Whitecourt Splash Park To Open Saturday June 30". Town of Whitecourt. 2012-06-29. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  17. ^ "Council Meeting Information and Schedule". Town of Whitecourt. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  18. ^ "Whitecourt Healthcare Centre". Alberta Health Services. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  19. ^ a b Town of Whitecourt. "Connected to the World (Whitecourt Economic Development Package)". Retrieved 2010-09-05.
  20. ^ Greyhound Canada. "Greyhound Lines: Whitecourt AB". Retrieved 2010-09-05.
  21. ^ Town of Whitecourt (2008-11). "Imagine Whitecourt – Whitecourt's Municipal Development Plan (part 1 of 2)" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-09-05. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Northern Gateway Public Schools (2010-07-26). "Northern Gateway's Schools". Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  23. ^ Living Waters Catholic Schools Regional Division No. 42. "Living Waters Catholic Schools – Our Schools". Retrieved 2010-08-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ "Whitecourt Press". Whitecourt Press. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  25. ^ "Whitecourt Star". Canoe Sun Media. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  26. ^ "Community Advisor". WhitecourtWeb.com. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  27. ^ "96.7 The Rig". 96.7 The Rig. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  28. ^ "XM 105 FM". Fabmar Communications Ltd. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  29. ^ "Alberta/Japan Twinned Municipalities Association – Whitecourt". Government of Alberta, International and Intergovernmental Affairs. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
  30. ^ "Twin Town Agreement". Town of Whitecourt. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
  31. ^ "Raj Pannu fonds". Archives Canada. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
  32. ^ "Businesses - 1950s to 1960s". Whitecourt Web. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
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