Okotoks

Okotoks is a town situated 18 kilometres south of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The town is a member of the Calgary Regional Partnership, a cooperative of communities within Greater Calgary.

The name was originally pronounced [ˈɑ.kə.tɑks] but is now largely pronounced as [ˈo.kə.toks]. The town celebrated its centennial in 2004.

History

The Blackfoot First Nation called the site Okotoks meaning “rock” named after the world's largest known glacial erratic rock. The 15,000 tonne (16,500 short ton) rock was transported far from its place of origin by glacial ice. When the ice melted approximately 10,000 years ago, it left the rock behind.

Before European settlement, journeying First Nations used the rock as a marker to find the river crossing situated at Okotoks. The tribes were nomadic and often followed large buffalo herds for their sustenance. David Thompson explored the area as early as 1800. Soon trading posts sprang up, including one established in 1874 at the Sheep River crossing on the current Okotoks town site. At that time, there was a trade route called the Macleod Trail. It lead all the way from Fort Benton, Montana to Calgary.

In 1879, the area saw the killing of the last buffalo. Government leasing of land for one cent per acre ($2.47/km²) began in 1880. This created a major change in the region.

Geography and climate

• Elevation: 3601 ft (1098 m)
• Average hours of sunshine per day: 6.34
• Chinook average: 25 days
• Frost free days: 112
• Mean rainfall per year: 11.8 in (300 mm)
• Mean snowfall per year: 60 in (153 cm)
• Mean total precipitation: 16.7 in (424 mm)
• Number of days with precipitation: 113
• Distance to Calgary City Centre: 32 km

Water conservation

The Sheep River runs through Okotoks year round. Artesian wells near the river supply the town with its water. In September 1998, Okotoks became one of the first communities in Canada to recognize its environmental limits to growth were restricted by the carrying capacity of the local watershed. In concern for the supply of water, the town announced a unique and controversial suggestion of capping its population at 25,000 residents. On several occasions the town has had to put up with a surplus of water, such as in June 2005 when heavy rains caused extensive flooding in the town.

Historical conservation

Residents of the town are proud of their heritage. Numerous old buildings have been restored, and one house was even resituated blocks away to avoid destruction by the widening of the highway through the town site.

Transportation

The last stagecoach stopped in Okotoks in 1891 when rail service between Calgary and Fort Macleod replaced horse-drawn travel. By 1897 the community name had changed three times: from Sheep Creek to Dewdney to Okotoks, assigned by the Canadian Pacific Railway. The rail line is still a main line south to the U.S. border, but the last of the passenger service (Dayliner units) ended in 1971.

Industry

Okotoks had its own lumber mill. Established in 1891, for 25 years John Lineham's sawmill was a major part of the local economy. At one time it employed 135 people, producing an average of 30,000 feet (9,000 m) of lumber per day. The growth of the Canadian Pacific Railway created a demand for railway ties and the mill helped meet that demand. Logs were brought down from the west via the Sheep River. The mill has long since shut down, but the building (one of the oldest remaining in the township) still stands. It housed an award-winning (butter) dairy from the 1920s to the 1940s. It currently houses as a law office and restaurant.

In 1900, just west of Okotoks, four brick making plants were opened. Many of the first brick buildings in Okotoks (of which a number still exist) were constructed using locally-made brick. When the little industry had reached its peak in 1912, twelve million bricks were manufactured that year. The outbreak of WWI caused the shutdown of “Sandstone” as it was known.

By 1906 the population had hit 1900, a figure that would not be reached again until 1977.

Oil was discovered west of Okotoks in 1913. Okotoks became the supply centre. In its heyday, from 1913 to the 1960s, Okotoks was busy with horses, wagons, and transports hauling all types of equipment to the oil fields, and crude oil back through town to refineries in Calgary.

Commerce

The Texas Gulf sulphur plant (known as CanOxy) opened in 1959, employing 45 people. It was not unusual to see the bright yellow, three-story high, block-long, block-wide sulphur storage waiting to be melted or ground up and poured into railway cars.

Since the 1974, Okotoks has been hosting a collector car auction in late May. It is the longest running collector car auction in Canada.

Okotoks was one of the few communities its size to have its own airport. A number of small air shows were held there over the years. It was the home of an aircraft charter company, flight school, and a helicopter flying school. The site has now evolved into an airpark community called the Okotoks Air Ranch, where the property owners, if they wish, can build homes with attached hangers for their private plane.

Population: 11,664 (2005) Businesses: 450

The town of Okotoks became a case study for the Microsoft Corporation and earned a page on Microsoft’s website

Sport and recreation

Okotoks is home of the following sports teams:

Hockey

• Okotoks Oilers AJHL hockey team
• Bisons junior hockey team
• The Oilers minor hockey team

Swimming

• Okotoks Stingrays swim club

Lacrosse teams

• Okotoks Glacier
• Okotoks Mustang

In July of 2004 Okotoks, High River, and the Municipal District of Foothills hosted the Alberta Summer Games. More than 3,200 athletes competed in 17 sports. In the three-day competition, the largest in its 30 year history, 512 medals were handed out.

Golf courses

D'Arcy Ranch Golf Course

The D'Arcy Ranch Golf Course is one of Western Canada’s most unique golf courses. The terrain has been left in the most natural state possible, providing both novices and experts alike with an exciting and challenging game.

The River's Edge Golf Course

The River's Edge Golf Course is a 18-hole, grass-green course on the banks of the Sheep River. Located 5 km east of Okotoks, even the best will lose a ball or two on the challenging layout.

BMX bike track

The town has its own BMX bike track maintained by local volunteers.

Camping

• Okotoks Lions Sheep River Campground
• Country Lane RV Park
• Okotoks Wilderness Campgrounds
• Riverbend Campground

Fishing

The Sheep River offers some excellent spots to catch fish.