OGO Camrose | OGO Wetaskiwin | OGO Alberta North West
The area in and around the present city of Camrose, once rich in furs, was at one time the home of the Cree Indians. These wandering people were often found along the banks of Stoney Creek down to the Battle River, along the shores of Dried Meat Lake and in the environs of the nearby vicinity. One of the most commonly known Cree, who was present at the time Camrose was established, was PE-O-Kis.
The first home on the present site of Camrose, originally known as Sparling, after the Reverend Dr. Sparling, a physician from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was built in 1893 by Ole Bakken. The home was kept in immaculate condition and was always open to visitors. The first merchant in the Hamlet of Sparling was Duncan Sampson, who had come from Ontario. In May 1904, Sampson erected a small store near the present Sparling School, with his dwelling upstairs. Mail of Sparling settlers was left in a soap box in Sampson’s store.
The Hamlet of Sparling was incorporated as the Village of Sparling on May 4, 1905. Because the name was often confused with the towns of Sperling and Stirling in Western Canada, village council, in 1906, changed the name to Camrose. There is no factual evidence available to indicate the reason for the selection of the name of Camrose, but it is generally accepted that it was named after a town in South Wales.
By June 1905, Canadian Pacific Railway had completed a railway grade east from Wetaskiwin to Sparling, complete with a bridge over Stoney Creek. A train originating from Wetaskiwin came to the village in the afternoon three times a week.
Today, the city is fortunate to have the Canadian National and Pacific providing excellent rail facilities to business and industry. Camrose is one of the few Alberta centres outside of Edmonton and Calgary to have free interchange between the two railways. Greyhound Bus Lines services Camrose, providing links to many major centres. The City of Camrose is within a short drive of Wetaskiwin and Leduc, and is located within 45 minutes of the City of Edmonton and Edmonton International Airport.
In the original survey of the town site, the main street’s 100-foot width came into being largely through the farsighted planning of pioneer citizen and first Justice of the Peace, Francois Adam, generally referred to today as “Father of Camrose”. His foresight is much in evidence as the main street of Camrose is a great source of pride to the local citizenry. The “uncluttered” look that downtown has is due to its wide main street. This, combined with the orderly development throughout the city, has resulted in Camrose earning the enviable reputation of being one of the “nicest” cities in western Canada. In 2000, Camrose was the National Communities in Bloom Champion for its population category.
Since 2000, the Camrose Main Street Project has undertaken, with owners, the restoration and enhancement of the facades of more than a dozen buildings in the Downtown. Every year in August the city’s pioneers are celebrated during Camrose Founders Days.
One of the things that truly sets Camrose apart is its incredible system of parks and natural areas. Bisecting the community is the beautiful Stoney Creek Valley which provides a natural pristine environment for both residents and local wildlife. Camrose takes great pride in its reputation as a clean attractive city and special care is taken to ensure that public areas are kept in immaculate condition.
The beautiful Golden Jubilee Park is at the heart of Camrose’s exceptional park system. Nestled in a gently sloping valley, it is an ideal outdoor recreation area with a wandering stream, lush grassy areas, and beautiful trees. It also offers sheltered barbecue and picnic facilities and a children’s playground.
The focal point of the Camrose urban park system is Mirror Lake Park. Located on the south shore of the lake is a play area and the site of the Bill Fowler Centre, which contains the Chamber of Commerce office and the tourist information centre. It is also home to a famous Viking ship and is highlighted by an exquisite nature mural featuring many of the birds and animals indigenous to the Mirror Lake area. The mural is carved from a special brick called Mirror Lake Red. Bill Fowler Centre overlooks an elegant arbor next to the lake, connecting with walking paths encircling the lake and linking the various elements of the urban park system.
Initiated in 2002, the Camrose Wildlife and Greenspace Stewardship Project works toward a future in which Camrose is recognized for its abundant wildlife and greenspace and whose residents support related stewardship activities. It was a Alberta Emerald Award finalist in 2007.
Camrose is located in the central parkland region, a transitional zone between the grassland of the plains, the coniferous forest of the boreal region and the Rocky mountains. The Stoney Creek Valley runs through the City of Camrose in a north south direction and the Four Seasons Environmental Centre is located in the valley directly opposite the ski jump. The interpretive centre offers information about the cultural and natural history of this unique portion of our community for you to explore, to learn about and enjoy.
The Stoney Creek Valley has been set aside by the City of Camrose for the use and enjoyment of all residents and contains walking trails, cross country ski trails, and other areas for the public to enjoy. The City of Camrose offers a comprehensive network of trails throughout the community, including 21 km of paved and shale trails in an urban park system and 15 km of natural grass trails used for hiking/jogging in the warmer months and cross-country skiing in the winter. A national caliber track and field facility that includes an eight-lane running track with rubberized surface and 100 metre capabilities was constructed in Camrose for the Alberta Games.
The Edgeworth Centre, featuring two ice rinks and multiple fitness and community service facilities, connects the existing Camrose Recreation Centre (arena and curling rink) and the present Aquatic Centre, forming a larger unified sport and leisure complex.
Located within 100 metres of the Edgeworth Sport Development Centre, is the Camrose Community Centre and Field House which offers an indoor running/walking track. This facility also houses a multi-use indoor soccer field that can be used for lacrosse, basketball, volleyball and badminton. The Camrose Aquatic Centre offers two waterslides and a spray park. The centre is home to several swim clubs and provides aquatic instruction for the community.
The Camrose Golf Course is a quality CPGA public 18-hole course situated within the city limits. There is also two driving ranges and a par-3 course. A 27-hole course is located 15 minutes SW of Camrose and there is another 9-hole course at Daysland, 45 km east.
Throughout its history, Camrose has been proud to host athletic competitions at provincial, national and international levels. Since 1981, Camrose and Augustana Faculty of the University of Alberta have hosted the biennial Viking Cup International Tournament featuring teams from across North America and Europe. During the 26-year history of this World Prospects tournament, some 30 Viking Cup alumni have been drafted into the NHL.
Camrose has hosted major events in hockey, soccer, cross country skiing, baseball, fastball, luge, volleyball, basketball, biathlon, curling, precision skating, and in 2002, Camrose hosted the Alberta Summer Games (3000 athletes).
Summer in Camrose means great concerts and cultural events in the area. Big Valley Jamboree Country Music Festival has been held in Camrose for 15 years. Building on a strong musical heritage, other concerts, such as Stage 13, have enjoyed success in Camrose.
The University of Alberta, Augustana Faculty has a 450-seat University Chapel which serves as its primary concert venue. Constructed in 1990, the University Chapel has excellent acoustics and is in demand as a concert, rehearsal and recording space. The University Chapel’s resident instruments include a 1993 Steinway 7-foot grand piano and the Lede Memorial Pipe Organ (built in 1987 by Gabriel Kney).
The Bailey Theatre is one of the oldest buildings in Camrose and area. This Main Street landmark was home to terrific movies, live stage shows, remarkable musicals for many years. The theatre began its life with vaudeville, and then moved onto silent movies in the 1920s and 1930s. The first “talkie”, movie with sound, was “Peacock Alley” in 1935, five years after it was released in the USA. And now, the Bailey Theatre will soon have a brand new beginning. The members of the Bailey Theatre Society and their supporters, who have their own fond memories of the Bailey, are working hard to restore this one hundred year old landmark building to its former status and grandeur.
The Chuck MacLean Arts Centre is located by Beautiful Mirror Lake and often features local and visiting artists. It also hosts a creative summer program for children and drop-ins are welcome. Also, downtown Camrose features an annual Art Walk throughout the summer with a dozen venues and approximately 60 artists.
The City of Camrose is a progressive community of 16,000 residents with a strategic priority to pursue and expand a vision as “the Regional Centre for East Central Alberta.” Camrose County is a stable agricultural district with strong rural traditions, increasing developments in the oil and gas sector and over 7,300 residents. As a regional service centre, Camrose provides regional programs, services and facilities for its citizens. Camrosians are able to access preventative, emergency, acute and long-term health care; primary, secondary, post secondary education and extended learning programs; and business, retail and professional services and opportunities.
Living and working in Camrose really does mean you can have it all. Local residents receive a high level of service and facilities while still being able to enjoy the safety of a small town.