St. Albert, Alberta
From Freepedia
St. Albert is a city in Alberta, located northwest of Edmonton, on the Sturgeon River. It was originally settled as a French-Catholic community, and is now an affluent, predominantly white suburb of Edmonton.
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Demographics
(according to Statistics Canada 2001 census)
- Population: 53,081
- Growth rate (1996-2001): 13.2%
- Total private dwellings: 18638
- Area: 34.61 sq. km.
- Density: 1533.7 people per sq. km.
Culture and History
St. Albert was founded in 1861 by Father Albert Lacombe, who built a chapel in the Sturgeon river valley. The settlement flourished; a few years after its founding, a group of Grey Nuns moved to St. Albert from Lac Ste. Anne and although the city has since grown and diversified, it maintains an image as a French Catholic neighbourhood.
At present, the city plays host to the International Children's Festival, the annual Rainmaker Rodeo, various plays and musical performance at the Arden Theatre (which is part of the same complex as the St. Albert city hall and library, in a building designed by Douglas Cardinal) as well as a thriving weekly farmers' market outside City Hall in the summer months.
Hockey in St. Albert
In 2004, the team's Alberta Junior Hockey League team, the St. Albert Saints, which had been one of the most prestigious teams in the league during its life and produced players such as Mark Messier and Mike Comrie, moved to nearby Spruce Grove. This move, allegedly due to the age and small size of Akinsdale Arena, caused some consternation amongst the citizens. Despite a brief effort from fans to save the team, in August 2004 the newly re-named Spruce Grove Saints played their first game in Spruce Grove's Grant Fuhr Arena.
Famous NHL hockey star Jarome Iginla, captain of the Calgary Flames, is from St. Albert.
Mayor: Paul Chalifoux
Surrounding municipalities:
Edmonton, Alberta
Sturgeon Municipal District, Alberta
City Population is 56,318 (Source City of St. Albert Census 2005)
