Fort Saskatchewan

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City of Fort Saskatchewan
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Fort Saskatchewan in Alberta
Coordinates: 53°42′46″N 113°12′48″W / 53.71278°N 113.21333°W / 53.71278; -113.21333
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Edmonton Region
Census division	11
Incorporated	1899 (village)
	1904 (town)
	1985 (city)
Government [1]
- Mayor	Jim Sheasgreen (Past mayors)
- Governing body	Fort Saskatchewan City Council
- MP	Tim Uppal
- MLA	Ed Stelmach
Area
- Total	48.12 km2 (18.6 sq mi)
Elevation	624 m (2,047 ft)
Population (2006)[2]
- Total	14,957
- Density	310.8/km2 (805/sq mi)
Time zone	MST (UTC-7)
Postal code span	T8L
Area code(s)	+1-780
Highways	Highway 15 Highway 21
Waterways	North Saskatchewan River
Website	City of Fort Saskatchewan

Fort Saskatchewan is a city of 14,957 (2006 federal census) in Alberta, Canada, located 25 kilometres (16 mi) northeast of downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, along the North Saskatchewan River. Fort Saskatchewan is part of Edmonton's Census Metropolitan Area (population 1,034,945 per the 2006 census) and is one of 25 municipalities on the Capital Region Board (CRB). According to the City of Fort Saskatchewan's 2008 municipal census, the city's population has grown to 16,793.^[3]

Fort Saskatchewan is bordered by Strathcona County (south, east) and by Sturgeon County (north) and Edmonton (west) across the North Saskatchewan River.

The city is most well-known for its proximity to petrochemical facilities, including Dow Chemical, Sherritt International, Agrium and Shell Canada. It is also known for its flock of 50 sheep that roam its downtown park throughout the summer months eating the grass. The city mascot is a sheep named Auggie.^[4]

Contents 1 History 2 Demographics 3 Government 4 Economy 5 Recreation & Culture 6 Education 7 Sports 8 Media 9 Notable residents 10 References 11 External links

[edit] History

In 1875, under the command of Inspector W.D. Jarvis, the North West Mounted Police established Fort Saskatchewan as a fort on the North Saskatchewan River. The fort was later incorporated as a village in 1899, a town in 1904, and a city in 1985.

Since Fort Saskatchewan was incorporated as a town in 1904, it has had 29 residents serve as its mayor.

[edit] Demographics

In 2006, Fort Saskatchewan had a population of 14,957 living in 5,825 dwellings, a 14.0% increase from 2001. The median income for private households in 2005 was $89,699 but the median earnings for individuals over the age of 15 was $33,947.^[2]

The city has a land area of 48.12 km² (18.6 sq mi) and a population density of 310.8/km² (805/sq mi).^[2]

Residents work mostly in trades (2,130), retail (1,840) or business/finance (1,575).^[2]

According to the 2006 census, the largest visible minorities in the community were Chinese with 95 residents followed by Filipino with 55 residents.^[2]

English is the first language of 91.7% of the population. French (2.2%) is the second most common first language.^[2]

[edit] Government

Fort Saskatchewan is directly governed by a city council consisting of one mayor and six councillors.

Municipal elections occur every three years on the third Monday in October. The next election is scheduled for 2010. The mayor is elected separately from the councillors, who are elected at-large (as opposed to the ward system).

Currently the city council consists of:

• Mayor Jim Sheasgreen (second term as mayor)
• Coun. Don Westman (fourth term)
• Coun. Tom Hutchison (third term)
• Coun. Stew Hennig (first term)
• Coun. Howard Johnson (first term)
• Coun. Gale Katchur (first term)
• Coun. Ed van Delden (first term)

On the provincial level of government, Fort Saskatchewan is part of the riding called Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville. It is represented by Premier Ed Stelmach (Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta).

On the federal level, Fort Saskatchewan is part of the Edmonton—Sherwood Park riding and is represented by Tim Uppal (Conservative Party of Canada).

[edit] Economy

Fort Saskatchewan's main industries are agriculture and heavy industry. Fort Saskatchewan is part of Alberta's Industrial Heartland, the largest Canadian industrial area west of Toronto. Companies with operations in the area include Dow Chemical, Sherritt International, Agrium, Shell Canada, and Westaim. These plants are major employers for residents of Fort Saskatchewan and the surrounding area.

[edit] Recreation & Culture

The centrepiece of Fort Saskatchewan's recreation and culture is the Dow Centennial Centre (DCC), a multi-use facility that includes an ice arena, gymnasium, fieldhouse, indoor track and fitness centre. The facility, which opened in September 2004, also features a 500-seat performing arts theatre, a permanent art gallery with monthly shows, a banquet hall and the local Pottery Guild.

The city also has two other indoor ice arenas -- the Jubilee Recreation Centre and the Sportsplex -- that are used during the winter months by hockey, ringette and figure skating associations. In the summer months, the lacrosse association uses them.

Fort Saskatchewan also has Harbour Pool, which is an indoor swimming pool that includes a hot-tub, sauna and slide.

Over 30 km of paved trails meander through the city's dozen parks, including Legacy Park, which is the city's main gathering place and hosts festivals in the summer.

There is one nine-hole golf course located within the city's boundaries with three others within a 10-minute drive.

The Fort Saskatchewan Museum (c. 1909) is on the Canadian Register of Historic Places. ^[5] The museum, which sits adjacent to Legacy Park along 101 Street, features a red brick courthouse, a historic school, church and house that were relocated to the site from their respective locations around the region.

The city's west end features a boat launch into the North Saskatchewan River, called Red Coat Landing, and a provincially preserved natural area, called the Fort Saskatchewan Prairie.

Elk Island National Park is located immediately southeast of the city.

[edit] Education

Fort Saskatchewan currently has no post-secondary schools. Most residents commute or move into Edmonton to attend post-secondary classes.

Fort Saskatchewan's schools are governed by two different school boards -- Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) and Elk Island Catholic Schools (EICS). Both school boards have their head offices located in Sherwood Park.

Fort Saskatchewan's elected trustees on the EIPS board are Pat McLauchlan and Glen Buchan. Gerald Mykytiuk is the lone Fort Saskatchewan trustee on the EICS board.

The following schools are located in Fort Saskatchewan:

Elementary Schools

• Fort Saskatchewan Elementary School (Grades K-6)
• James Mowat Elementary School (Grades K-6)
• Ecole Rudolph Hennig (French Immersion K-6)
• Win Ferguson Community School (Grades K-6)
• Fort Saskatchewan Christian School (Grades K-8)
• Pope John XXIII Catholic School (Grades K-4)
• Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School (Grades 5-8)

Junior High Schools

• Fort Saskatchewan Junior High (Grades 7-9)
• Rudolph Hennig School (Grades 7-9, in either English or French)
• Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School (Grades 5-8)
• Fort Saskatchewan Christian School (Grades K-8)

High Schools

• Fort Saskatchewan High School (Grades 10-12)
• John Paul II High School (Grades 9-12)
• Next Step Outreach School (Alternative)

[edit] Sports

The Fort Saskatchewan Traders, of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, were long a part of the city. After the 2006-07 season, the team relocated to St. Albert and was renamed the St. Albert Steel.

The Pyramid Corp. Hawks of the Capital Junior Hockey League and the McEwen Chiefs of the Chinook Hockey League are currently the only professional hockey teams in the city. Both use the Jubilee Recreation Centre as their home rink. The Edmonton Chimos female hockey team of the Western Womens Hockey League also played some home games at the JRC during the 2008-09 season.

Fort Saskatchewan is also home to the Fort Saskatchewan Athletics of the Sunburst Baseball League. Former college and professional baseball players make up the core of the baseball club.

Fort Saskatchewan has youth sports associations for hockey, soccer (indoor and outdoor), baseball, ringette, indoor lacrosse, figure skating, cross-country skiing and swimming.

[edit] Media

Fort Saskatchewan has two local newspapers. Both are free.

The Fort Record, which is a weekly newspaper with home delivery, was first published Wednesday, Apr. 5, 1922. It took over the offices and plant of The Conservator, the previous weekly newspaper.

The Sturgeon Creek Post, which is a weekly newspaper available from local businesses, was established in 1997.

Other newspapers commonly read in Fort Saskatchewan are the Edmonton Journal and the Edmonton Sun. Fort Saskatchewan has no television or radio stations of its own due to its close proximity to the Edmonton broadcasting market.

[edit] Notable residents

• Evangeline Lilly - Actress, notably from the television series Lost, was born in Fort Saskatchewan.
• Ray Whitney - Current NHL player, Stanley Cup Champion (2006)
• Richard Matvichuk - Current NHL player, Stanley Cup Champion (1999)
• Mike Commodore - Current NHL player, Stanley Cup Champion (2006)
• Joffrey Lupul - Current NHL player
• Allen Pedersen - Retired NHL player
• Carl Mokosak - Retired NHL player
• Travis Sware - Retired BCHL player

See also the category People from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• City of Fort Saskatchewan
• Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce
• Fort Air Partnership

	Morinville	Gibbons	Bruderheim	v • d • e
	St. Albert		Lamont
		Fort Saskatchewan
	Edmonton	Sherwood Park	Tofield

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