Brooks, Alberta

History

The area that is now Brooks was originally used as a bison hunting ground for the Blackfoot and Crow. After Treaty 7 was signed in 1877, homesteaders moved into the area to begin farming. Before 1904, the area still did not have a name. Through a Postmaster General-sponsored contest, the area was named after Noel Edgell Brooks, a Canadian Pacific Railway Divisional Engineer from Calgary.

Brooks incorporated as a village on July 14, 1910, and then as a town on September 8, 1911. Its population in the 1911 Census of Canada was 486.

In the 1996 Census, the population of Brooks reached 10,093 making it eligible for city status. Brooks incorporated as a city on September 1, 2005 when its official population was 11,604.

In 2010, Brooks celebrated its centennial as a municipality since originally incorporating as a village in 1910.

Demographics

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the City of Brooks recorded a population of 14,451 living in 5,046 of its 5,412 total private dwellings, a change of 7000570000000000000♠5.7% from its 2011 population of 13,676. With a land area of 18.59 km² (7.18 sq mi), it had a population density of 777.4/km² (2,013.3/sq mi) in 2016.

The population of the City of Brooks according to its 2015 municipal census is 14,185, a change of 7000440000000000000♠4.4% from its 2007 municipal census population of 13,581.

In the 2011 Census, the City of Brooks had a population of 13,676 living in 5,037 of its 5,509 total dwellings, a change of 9.3% from its 2006 adjusted population of 12,508. With a land area of 18.19 km² (7.02 sq mi), it had a population density of 751.8/km² (1,947.3/sq mi) in 2011.

A multicultural community, Brooks has been referred to as "The City of 100 Hellos" as a result of a documentary by Brandy Yanchyk profiling the community's significant immigrant, refugee and temporary foreign worker populations. The documentary was called Brooks – The City of 100 Hellos and was created in 2010 for Omni Television. The community's multicultural character was also the subject of a 2007 National Film Board of Canada documentary, 24 Days in Brooks, directed by Dana Inkster.

Geography

Brooks is located in the Grassland Natural Region of Alberta. The area surrounding Brooks is dry mixed grass/shortgrass prairie.

Climate

Located in the steppe region known as the Palliser's Triangle, Brooks has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk). Winters are dry and cold, with little snowfall compared to the rest of Canada. Chinook winds, though less common than in areas west and especially southwest of Brooks, are not uncommon, and ameliorate the cold winter temperatures temporarily when they pass over. Wide diurnal temperature ranges are regular, due to the aridity and moderately high elevation. Low humidity is prevalent throughout the year. Most of the relatively scant annual precipitation occurs in late spring and summer, often in the form of thunderstorms. On average, the coldest month is January, with a mean temperature of −10.1 °C (13.8 °F), while the warmest is July, with a mean temperature of 19.6 °C (67.3 °F). The driest month is February, with an average monthly precipitation of 9.1 mm (0.36 in), while the wettest month is June, with an average of 74.2 mm (2.92 in). Annual precipitation is low, with an average of 301.3 mm (11.86 in).

Economy

The base of the economy of the City of Brooks is energy (oil and gas) and agriculture, with other sectors including metal manufacturing, food processing and construction. It is also a retail and service centre for the surrounding area.

Canada's second largest beef-processing facility, owned by JBS Canada, is located in Brooks and ships meat across the country and internationally. In 2012, while the plant was owned by XL Foods, it released meat contaminated with E. coli, and was shut down for a month. The plant has over 2000 employees.

Arts and culture

Brooks has won the Communities in Bloom competition four times in a row. Brooks has won Tidiness and Community Involvement Awards at a national level.

The Brooks Public Library, with a collection of over 50,000 items, serves both the City of Brooks and the County of Newell.

Attractions

The Lakeside Leisure Centre is the area's main recreation centre. It includes one arena, a curling rink, an aquatic centre with a waterslide and wave pool, a gymnasium, a fitness centre, and multipurpose rooms. The complex was renovated in 2005.

In 2010, the Duke of Sutherland Park was redeveloped. It features baseball diamonds, a soccer field, a playground and a 3,200 ft (980 m)² waterpark with spray features for toddlers and a play structure for older children.

Also in 2010, the Centennial Regional Arena was completed after nearly a decade of planning and 18 months of construction. The multi-purpose facility seats 1,704 people. It includes corporate boxes, a running track, concessions, and a 200 ft × 85 ft (61 m × 26 m) surface. The arena is home to several user groups, including the Brooks Bandits.

There are three provincial parks in the area: Dinosaur Provincial Park, a World Heritage Site, to the northeast, Tillebrook Provincial Park to the east and Kinbrook Island Provincial Park to the south. In addition, there are several other recreational sites in the area including the Rolling Hills Reservoir, Crawling Valley Reservoir, and Emerson Bridge.

The Brooks Aqueduct southeast of Brooks was built to transport irrigation water across the Eastern Irrigation District. It spans across a 3.2 km (2.0 mi) valley, about 20 m (66 ft) above the ground.

Sports

Brooks is home to the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The team was awarded to Brooks in 1998 and embarked on its first season in 2000. The Bandits won the league championship in 2012 and 2013. After repeating as league champions, the team went on to win its first Royal Bank Cup championship in 2013.

There are two football teams in Brooks: the Roadrunners and the Buffalos. The teams comprise players from the local junior and senior high schools respectively. The Buffalos represented Brooks at provincial championships in 1989, 1995, 1997, and 2009, winning in the title in its last three appearances. The Roadrunners appeared at provincial championships in 1995, 2004, and 2007.

Brooks is also home to a Western Major Baseball League franchise named the Brooks Bombers. They will begin play in May 2016 at Elks Field in the Quad Ball Diamond Complex.

Government

Brooks City Council consists of one mayor and six councillors. The last election was held in October 2013. A by-election for mayor and one city council post was held in January 2015.

Education

Brooks has two high schools, two junior high schools, four elementary schools, two primary schools, and two alternative schools. The schools are operated by Grasslands Public Schools and Christ the Redeemer School Division. Brooks also has a satellite campus of Medicine Hat College.

Health care

Acute medical care is provided at the Brooks Health Centre.

Media

Brooks is served by two radio stations, CIBQ-FM (Q105.7FM), and CIXF-FM (The One at 101.1). Both stations are owned by Newcap Broadcasting.

Brooks has two distinct newspapers. The Brooks Bulletin is published every Tuesday, and has served Brooks and the County of Newell since 1910. It has a weekly circulation of 4,332 and is a paid subscription product.

The Weekend Regional is a second paper the Bulletin established in 2004 and it is published on Fridays. As of January 2010, it became a total market coverage product with a weekly circulation of 11,235.

Notable people