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Summer villages in Alberta are incorporated communities that have permanent populations generally less than 300 permanent inhabitants, as well as seasonal (non-permanent) inhabitants.
Contents
Alberta has a total of 51 summer villages that had a cumulative population of 4,605 and an average population of 90 in the 2011 Census. Alberta's largest summer village is Island Lake with a population of 243, while Betula Beach and Kapasiwin are the smallest each with a population of 10.
History
A summer village is a type of municipal status used in Alberta, Canada founded in 1913. It was used in resort areas that were mainly active in the summer and where most residents were seasonal. Cottage owners did not want to pay for municipal services that they didn't need but wished to have a voice in local government of the resort area.
Changes were made to the provincial laws to allow elections to be held in July and to allow seasonal residents to run for office and vote in the summer village without losing these same rights in their place of permanent residence.
In 1995, provincial legislation was changed to prevent the formation of new summer villages. The 54 summer villages that existed at the time were permitted to continue to operate as before.
Former summer villages
Four other communities in Alberta have previously held summer village status – Alberta Beach, Chestermere Lake (now Chestermere), Edmonton Beach (now Spring Lake), and White Gull.