Spruce Grove

History

Homesteaders in the area date back to 1879. Spruce Grove originally incorporated as a village on March 14, 1907, but it subsequently dissolved on August 30, 1916. Spruce Grove then re-incorporated as a village on January 1, 1955 and subsequently incorporated as a town on January 1, 1971, and as a city on March 1, 1986.

Geography

Spruce Grove is located near the province's geographical centre, at 30 kilometres (19 mi) from downtown Edmonton and 14 km (8.7 mi) from Edmonton's city limits. It is part of the Edmonton Capital Region.

Demographics

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the City of Spruce Grove recorded a population of 34,066 living in 12,552 of its 13,109 total private dwellings, a change of 7001302000000000000♠30.2% from its 2011 population of 26,171. With a land area of 32.2 km² (12.4 sq mi), it had a population density of 1,058.0/km² (2,740.1/sq mi) in 2016.

The City of Spruce Grove's 2016 municipal census counted a population of 33,640, a change of 7000500000000000000♠5% from its 2015 municipal census population of 32,036.

In the 2011 Census, the City of Spruce Grove had a population of 26,171 living in 9,619 of its 10,105 total dwellings, a change of 33.9% from its 2006 adjusted population of 19,541. With a land area of 32.37 km² (12.50 sq mi), it had a population density of 808.5/km² (2,094.0/sq mi) in 2011.

Arts and culture

The Spruce Grove Art Gallery is located in the Melcor Cultural Centre and is operated by the Allied Arts Council of Spruce Grove. The gallery hosts ongoing shows for original art created by its members, made up of artists from mainly the Spruce Grove, Stony Plain and Parkland County area.

Horizon Stage hosts many plays and acts throughout the year, as well as a lot of community theatre. Spruce Grove also has a 7 screen theatre complex which opened in the fall of 2007.

Another cultural facility within the city is the Spruce Grove Grain Elevator Museum.

Attractions

The TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre, opened in 2002, provides a pool, soccer fields, a gymnasium, workout gym, and ice rinks to the people of Parkland County. Spruce Grove has bike trails winding throughout the city, called the Heritage Grove Trail, where bike riders can ride for hours through lush forest. On June 7, 2008, Spruce Grove held the grand opening of the West District Park, which features two full artificial surface fields for football, soccer and other activities. The Edmonton Eskimos donated $10,000 towards the event and held practice at the facility as part of the first day activities.

Sports

Spruce Grove has an abundant number of youths and adults involved in amateur sports, that run year round. Box lacrosse runs from March to July under the organization Parkland Posse [1], which pulls young people from the Tri communities of Spruce Grove, Stony Plain and Parkland County. Hockey runs from September to April, soccer and rugby run from May to October, football runs from July to December and baseball runs from March to October. The Spruce Grove Saints are a Junior A hockey team that play in the AJHL.

Transportation

Highways

Two highways pass through Spruce Grove, Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) and Highway 16A. Highway 16 has no traffic lights but has two exits into Spruce Grove, while Highway 16A has several traffic intersections. Travelling east of either of these highways will lead to Edmonton. Travelling west on Highway 16A will lead to Stony Plain, and going west on either highway will lead to Edson, Hinton, and eventually Jasper.

Local streets

The majority of the streets in Spruce Grove use a standard naming system. Their names share a first letter with that of its subdivision. For example, all streets start with M in Millgrove subdivision; in Woodhaven, they all start with W. Only in the original subdivision of Broxton Park and the downtown core is this naming convention not utilized.

Rail

The Canadian passenger train travels through the city three times a week, in each direction, between Vancouver and Toronto. However, the nearest stop is at Edmonton.

Transit

Edmonton Transit System offers a commuter transit route from Spruce Grove to Edmonton, peak hours only.

Air

Local air travel is provided by Parkland Airport and Villeneuve Airport.

Education

Public schools

Spruce Grove is part of the Parkland School Division No. 70. The following public schools are located in Spruce Grove.

Brookwood School

École Broxton Park School

Greystone Centennial Middle School

Millgrove School

Parkland Village School

Spruce Grove Composite High School

Woodhaven Middle School

Separate schools

Spruce Grove is part of the Evergreen Catholic Separate Regional Division No. 2. The following separate schools are located in Spruce Grove.

St. Joseph's Catholic School

St. Marguerite Catholic School

St. Peter the Apostle Catholic High School

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School

Private schools

Living Waters Christian Academy

Media

Spruce Grove receives almost all of its print, radio, and television media from Edmonton.

However, Spruce Grove has its own weekly newspaper, the Spruce Grove Examiner, delivered to all homes every Friday. This newspaper holds almost exclusively local news. The area has a radio station, 88.1 The One is dedicated to Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, and area.

Notable people

Stu Barnes (former professional hockey player)

Nathan Dempsey (former professional hockey player)

Grant Fuhr (former professional hockey player, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame)

Jennifer Heil (former Olympic moguls skier)

Carla MacLeod (former Olympic hockey player)

Howie Schumm and Herb Schumm (brothers, both former professional Canadian football players)

Ben Scrivens (professional hockey player)

Keith Shologan (professional Canadian football player)

Grant Stevenson (professional hockey player)