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Chestermere
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Chestermere, originally named Chestermere Lake is a city in the Canadian province of Alberta, within Rocky View County. It is largely a commuter town of Calgary and is a member municipality of the Calgary Region. The city, which surrounds Chestermere Lake, was known as Chestermere Lake from 1977 to 1993.[6]
Key Information
History
[edit]Early settlement
[edit]Prior to the 20th century, the area around what is now Chestermere Lake was settled by only a few farmers. When the Canadian Pacific Railway was established in the 1880s, more and more people came to settle in the west. To make farming more productive, settlers began to determine ways to irrigate their land. As a natural wetland, Chestermere Lake was considered to be perfect for use as a balancing pool for the Western Irrigation Block.[7] By 1907, a dam and canal system had been built, the wetland developed into a lake, and farmers began using the water for irrigation.
Summer village
[edit]Following the irrigation development, the lake began to be used for recreation. People would lease land from the Western Irrigation District (WID) (which took control of the land from CPR in 1944),[8] build cabins and stay on the lake during the summer months. In 1959, the Chestermere Cabin Owners Association (CCOA) was incorporated with approximately 50 members.[9] The CCOA held events, bought a fire truck for the community, worked to reduce pollution in the lake, planted trees, and arranged for electricity and natural gas for the cabins.
As more people began to live around Chestermere Lake, residents wanted to secure long-term leases. In 1975, the CCOA bought the land from the WID and then transferred it to the residents. By 1977, the lake boasted 120 permanent homes[citation needed] and gained official status as the Summer Village of Chestermere Lake on April 1, 1977.[10][11] As a summer village, the residents of Chestermere gained more political influence and were able to begin adding services and amenities or encouraging infrastructure and developments such as fire and protection services, improved roads, a community hall, street lights, a recreation centre, local businesses and a golf course.
Town
[edit]By 1992, Chestermere's population had increased to 1,043 permanent residents. On March 1, 1993, the Summer Village of Chestermere Lake officially changed its status and name to the Town of Chestermere.[12] Becoming a town gave the residents more local and political authority. The town continued developing amenities and services for residents and its population has grown to 17,203 residents as recorded by its 2014 municipal census.[13] In late 2014, town council voted in favour of pursuing city status, which became effective January 1, 2015.[14]
City
[edit]Chestermere's town council voted to apply for city status on September 29, 2014 when it was the fastest growing Town in Alberta.[15] It became Alberta's 18th city on January 1, 2015.[14]
In December 2023, mayor Jeff Colvin, three of the six city councillors, and three administrators were removed from office by Alberta Municipal Affairs minister Ric McIver, after the city failed to comply with recommendations in a 2022 third party report. As of December 4, 2023, the city is governed by a provincially-appointed administrator.[16][17]
Geography
[edit]Neighbourhoods
[edit]The city is organized into the following neighbourhoods.[18]
|
Demographics
[edit]In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the City of Chestermere had a population of 22,163 living in 6,733 of its 6,925 total private dwellings, a change of 11.4% from its 2016 population of 19,887. With a land area of 32.83 km2 (12.68 sq mi), it had a population density of 675.1/km2 (1,748.5/sq mi) in 2021.[3]
The population of the City of Chestermere according to its 2017 municipal census is 20,331,[27] a change of 3.1% from its 2016 municipal census population of 19,715.[4]
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the City of Chestermere had a population of 19,887 living in 6,112 of its 6,250 total private dwellings, a change of 34.2% from its 2011 population of 14,824. With a land area of 32.94 km2 (12.72 sq mi), it had a population density of 603.7/km2 (1,563.7/sq mi) in 2016.[26]
Ethnicity
[edit]| Panethnic group | 2021[28] | 2016[29] | 2011[30] | 2006[31] | 2001[32] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| European[a] | 12,185 | 55.01% | 12,290 | 61.9% | 10,180 | 68.69% | 7,575 | 79.24% | 3,115 | 91.22% |
| South Asian | 4,485 | 20.25% | 2,830 | 14.25% | 1,465 | 9.89% | 445 | 4.65% | 30 | 0.88% |
| Southeast Asian[b] | 2,030 | 9.16% | 1,905 | 9.59% | 1,720 | 11.61% | 510 | 5.33% | 95 | 2.78% |
| Indigenous | 570 | 2.57% | 610 | 3.07% | 315 | 2.13% | 295 | 3.09% | 35 | 1.02% |
| Middle Eastern[c] | 750 | 3.39% | 675 | 3.4% | 245 | 1.65% | 175 | 1.83% | 0 | 0% |
| African | 535 | 2.42% | 430 | 2.17% | 180 | 1.21% | 95 | 0.99% | 45 | 1.32% |
| East Asian[d] | 505 | 2.28% | 535 | 2.69% | 355 | 2.4% | 220 | 2.3% | 55 | 1.61% |
| Latin American | 420 | 1.9% | 250 | 1.26% | 100 | 0.67% | 155 | 1.62% | 10 | 0.29% |
| Other/multiracial[e] | 660 | 2.98% | 335 | 1.69% | 245 | 1.65% | 90 | 0.94% | 25 | 0.73% |
| Total responses | 22,150 | 99.94% | 19,855 | 99.84% | 14,820 | 99.97% | 9,560 | 99.96% | 3,415 | 88.56% |
| Total population | 22,163 | 100% | 19,887 | 100% | 14,824 | 100% | 9,564 | 100% | 3,856 | 100% |
| Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses | ||||||||||
Religion
[edit]According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Chestermere included:[28]
- Christianity (9,000 persons or 40.6%)
- Irreligion (7,130 persons or 32.2%)
- Sikhism (3,155 persons or 14.2%)
- Islam (1,615 persons or 7.3%)
- Buddhism (760 persons or 3.4%)
- Hinduism (400 persons or 1.8%)
- Judaism (30 persons or 0.1%)
- Other (40 persons or 0.2%)
Transportation
[edit]Chestermere is accessible on land through Trans-Canada Highway (Alberta Highway 1) and Chestermere Boulevard / 17 Avenue SE (formerly signed as Alberta Highway 1A). By air, the city is accessible through Chestermere (Kirkby Field) Airport. Calgary Transit provides bus service into Chestermere during the morning and evening rush hours.[33]
Attractions
[edit]- Chestermere Lake – Chestermere is well known for its lake. In the summer, it is used for waterskiing, wakeboarding, fishing and a variety of other water sports. It also provides day use parks for launching boats and family areas for the enjoyment of the outdoors.[34] Chestermere Lake is also home to the Calgary Yacht Club.
- Chestermere Water Festival – The Chestermere Water Festival is an annual celebration of summer at the lake.
- Biking and skateboarding – Chestermere is connected to the Calgary bicycle pathway system at the south end of West Chestermere
- Winter Festival – The Chestermere Winter Festival is an annual celebration of winter in a small city.
- Chestermere Drive (by the canal) and has bike trails surrounding the lake, a BMX park and a skate park.
- Lakeside Greens Golf Course in Chestermere is a semi-private 18 hole golf course.
- Camp Chestermere is a Christian camp located on the southeast end of Chestermere Lake.
Education
[edit]The public schools in the city are Chestermere High School,[35] Chestermere Lake Middle School, Prairie Waters Elementary School, East Lake School and Rainbow Creek Elementary School. Public schools in the city are run by the Rocky View School Division, which includes several other communities surrounding Calgary.
For publicly funded Catholic education, the city falls within the jurisdiction of the Calgary Catholic School District, which runs the St. Gabriel the Archangel school for grades 8-12 (as of September 2024) and Our Lady of Wisdom school for grade K-6.
Most educational needs beyond this (e.g. post-secondary education) are met within Calgary.
Contemporary issues
[edit]On August 1, 2007, the City of Calgary annexed an extensive tract of land from Rocky View County, which placed Calgary's eastern city limits one section (1.6 km or 1 mi) from the Chestermere's western city limits.[36]
Meanwhile, Chestermere's March 2007 Growth Study proposed annexation of, among other areas, the intervening land between Chestermere and the newly expanded Calgary boundaries.[37] On March 13, 2009, Chestermere's annexation was approved resulting in a shared municipal boundary with Calgary.[38]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.
References
[edit]- ^ "Location and History Profile: City of Chestermere" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. April 17, 2020. p. 36. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
- ^ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ a b 2016 Municipal Affairs Population List (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. ISBN 978-1-4601-3127-5. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- ^ "Census Subdivision (Municipal) Population Estimates, July 1, 2016 to 2020, Alberta". Alberta Municipal Affairs. March 23, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ "Location and History Profile: Town of Chestermere". Alberta Municipal Affairs. June 14, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
- ^ Jennifer Peddlesden, "Chestermere Lake and Its Beginnings" in Chestermere, A Home for All Seasons, (Chestermere, Town of Chestermere, 2005), 3-5.
- ^ Read, Tracy (1983). Acres and Empires : a history of the Municipal District of Rocky View no. 44. p. 64. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
- ^ Audrey McDonald, "Chestermere Cabin Owners Association" in Chestermere, A Home for All Seasons, (Chestermere, Town of Chestermere, 2005), 18.
- ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs. "Order in Council (O.C.) 298/77" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-05-27.
- ^ Town of Chestermere Website. "The Town of Chestermere » the History of Chestermere". Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
- ^ "Order in Council (O.C.) 115/93" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
- ^ "Demographics & Population". Town of Chestermere. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
- ^ a b Markusoff, Jason (December 19, 2014). "Chestermere to uncork city status on January 1". Calgary Herald. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- ^ Bergen, Patrick. "Where Are The Top Ten Most Expensive Average House Prices in Alberta Canada?". TheTopTen.ca. www.URTech.ca. Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ Bennett, Dean (2023-12-04). "Chestermere councillors and managers fired by province, citing failure to fix dysfunction". Global News. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ "Province dismisses Chestermere councillors and managers, citing failure to fix dysfunction". CBC News. 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ "Town Map". Town of Chestermere. March 30, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
- ^ "Table 4: Population and Total Occupied Dwellings, for Census Divisions and Subdivisions, 1976 and 1981". 1981 Census of Canada. Vol. II: Provincial series, Population, Geographic distributions (Alberta). Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1982. p. 4.1–4.10. ISBN 0-660-51095-2.
- ^ "Table 2: Census Divisions and Subdivisions – Population and Occupied Private Dwellings, 1981 and 1986". Census Canada 1986. Vol. Population and Dwelling Counts – Provinces and Territories (Alberta). Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1987. p. 2.1–2.10. ISBN 0-660-53463-0.
- ^ "Table 2: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 and 1991 – 100% Data". 91 Census. Vol. Population and Dwelling Counts – Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1992. pp. 100–108. ISBN 0-660-57115-3.
- ^ "Table 10: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions, Census Subdivisions (Municipalities) and Designated Places, 1991 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data". 96 Census. Vol. A National Overview – Population and Dwelling Counts. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1997. pp. 136–146. ISBN 0-660-59283-5.
- ^ "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. January 6, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- ^ a b "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
- ^ 2017 Municipal Affairs Population List (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. ISBN 978-1-4601-3652-2. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2021-10-27). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-08-20). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ "Chestermere – MAX Purple extension". calgarytransit.com. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ Town of Chestermere. Chestermere Regional Recreation Centre Archived November 24, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Municipal District of Rockyview. Chestermere High School Archived November 4, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Province of Alberta Order in Council 333/2007 (Calgary 2007 Annexation)
- ^ Town of Chestermere Growth Study Archived August 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine March 2007, p. 26. Accessed July 5, 2008
- ^ Province of Alberta Order in Council 130/2009 (Chestermere 2009 Annexation)
External links
[edit]Chestermere
View on GrokipediaHistory
Early settlement and origins
The region encompassing modern Chestermere was part of the traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy, including the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani nations, who relied on the surrounding plains for buffalo hunting through methods such as jumps, pounds, and, after acquiring horses and firearms, surround drives.[8] Archaeological artifacts, like a stone hammer found on the west shore of what became Chestermere Lake, indicate Indigenous presence predating European contact.[4] The area served as a gathering place for multiple First Nations, with the Blackfoot Trail facilitating trade and movement across the prairies.[9] Treaty 7, signed on September 22, 1877, at Crowfoot Crossing near Gleichen, formalized land cessions and reserve allocations with representatives including Chief Crowfoot and interpreter Jerry Potts, establishing a framework for subsequent European settlement.[8] European exploration of the area began in the late 18th century, with fur trader Peter Fidler passing through during his 1792–1793 expeditions scouting Hudson's Bay Company routes.[8] The Palliser Expedition in 1859 surveyed southern Alberta, including lands near Chestermere, designating the region within the arid Palliser Triangle as marginally suitable for agriculture due to low precipitation and soil challenges.[8] The Dominion Land Survey, initiated in 1872 under the Dominion Lands Act, systematically divided the prairies into townships and sections, incorporating road allowances every mile to facilitate future settlement and rail development; this grid laid the groundwork for land patents in the Chestermere vicinity.[8] Chestermere Lake itself originated as an artificial reservoir, constructed in the early 1900s as part of the Canadian Pacific Railway's (CPR) irrigation initiatives under the 1894 Northwest Irrigation Act, with a 28-kilometer canal diverting Bow River water from a weir near Calgary to support dryland farming between Calgary and Strathmore.[4] Overseen by figures like J.S. Dennis Jr. of the Department of the Interior's Irrigation Branch, the lake—known initially as Reservoir #1—formed an "oasis" that attracted early recreational use for picnics, boating, and fishing by the 1906 construction completion.[4] The name "Chestermere" likely combines "chester" (from Latin for camp) and "mere" (Old English for lake or pond), though alternative theories attribute it to picnickers from Chesterville or CPR director Lord Chester; no single origin is definitively documented.[4] Initial non-Indigenous habitation remained sparse, with reports of a few homesteaders like Patrick and Mary Sullivan arriving around 1882 prior to the CPR mainline reaching Calgary in 1883, followed by seven families by 1890, drawn initially by rail-accessible grazing lands rather than intensive farming.[1] Basic infrastructure, including rail sidings at nearby Langdon and Shepard, supported limited access, while surveyed road allowances enabled rudimentary trails connecting to the Blackfoot Trail remnants.[8]Summer village era
The Summer Village of Chestermere Lake was incorporated on April 1, 1977, at the initiative of cabin owners leasing land from the Western Irrigation District along the lake's shores.[10] This municipal status provided a framework for self-governance, enabling the community to manage essential services such as road maintenance and recreational infrastructure amid growing seasonal use.[11] At incorporation, the village encompassed around 120 lakeside properties, predominantly modest cabins developed since the mid-20th century for recreational purposes.[12] The village's operations emphasized its role as a seasonal haven for Calgarians seeking respite from urban life, with activities centered on Chestermere Lake's waters for boating, fishing, and shoreline leisure.[13] Properties were largely occupied during warmer months, reflecting Alberta's summer village model designed for cottage communities rather than full-time habitation. Local bylaws prioritized environmental and recreational preservation, limiting commercial ventures and infrastructure to support tourism without encouraging year-round settlement.[14] Economically, the village depended on visitor-driven revenue from lake access and related amenities, including early beach areas and basic docking facilities that catered to weekend anglers and boaters.[15] Municipal records from the era indicate modest assessments tied to seasonal properties, with governance focused on sustaining the lake's appeal as a low-density retreat rather than fostering permanent growth.[16] This period solidified Chestermere Lake's identity as a commuter-accessible escape, drawing primarily from Calgary's proximity just 20 kilometers east.[1]Incorporation and growth as a town
On March 1, 1993, the Summer Village of Chestermere Lake was reincorporated as the Town of Chestermere, shifting its legal status from a seasonal recreational enclave to a permanent municipality capable of year-round administration.[17] This transition dissolved the prior limitations on governance, allowing the new town council to levy taxes for expanded services, including full-time utilities, road maintenance, and land-use planning tailored to residential expansion rather than cottage-based recreation.[13] The incorporation catalyzed suburban development as Calgary's metropolitan sprawl extended eastward, attracting commuters drawn to affordable single-family housing near urban employment centers. With a permanent population of 1,043 residents in 1992, Chestermere saw steady influxes through the 1990s and 2000s, supported by zoning amendments that prioritized low-density subdivisions over seasonal cabins.[18] A key example was the 1998 Southwest Chestermere Area Structure Plan, which designated land for residential densities of 10 to 15 units per hectare, emphasizing detached homes to accommodate family-oriented growth.[19] Initial infrastructure to underpin this expansion included educational facilities, such as the new Chestermere school building opened in fall 2000 to serve the burgeoning student population from incoming families.[20] These developments reflected pragmatic adaptations to demographic pressures, enabling the town to manage water distribution and waste services independently while relying on regional ties for broader utilities.[21]Transition to city status and rapid expansion
Chestermere transitioned from town to city status effective January 1, 2015, after its council voted on September 29, 2014, to pursue the change under Alberta's Municipal Government Act, which stipulates a minimum population of 10,000 residents for incorporation as a city.[17][13] This elevation to Alberta's 18th city reflected the community's surging scale, enabling expanded administrative powers for infrastructure and services amid accelerating suburbanization east of Calgary.[22] The shift aligned with explosive demographic expansion, as Chestermere's population grew from 19,887 in the 2016 census to 22,163 by 2021, before municipal estimates reached 28,129 in 2024—a near tripling from early 2010s levels driven by relatively low housing costs compared to Calgary and demand for lakefront properties.[23][24] This influx, fueled by commuters seeking proximity to Calgary's employment hubs, strained existing capacities and prompted proactive land acquisition, including a 2009 annexation of 2,225 hectares to accommodate residential and commercial development.[25] Urban planning adaptations emphasized sustainable scaling, with building permit issuances reflecting heightened construction activity: 1,273 permits in 2023 escalated to 1,754 in 2024, predominantly for single-family (425 in 2022) and semi-detached dwellings, underscoring a focus on housing supply.[26][27] In response, Chestermere adopted a revised Municipal Development Plan in 2025, projecting growth through 2050 with designated areas for schools, infrastructure, and mixed-use zones to mitigate pressures from a 30% population rise since 2016.[28][29] Earlier annexation proposals, such as a 2015 bid for 25,000 acres from Rocky View County, highlighted tensions over regional boundaries but supported long-term capacity building.[30]Geography
Location and physical features
Chestermere lies in southern Alberta, Canada, immediately east of Calgary and within Rocky View County.[31] Its central coordinates are 51°03′N 113°49′W, with the municipality encompassing a land area of 32.94 km².[31] [32] The city is centered on Chestermere Lake, a man-made reservoir developed in the early 1900s for irrigation to support regional agriculture.[33] The lake spans a surface area of 2.65 km², with a maximum depth of 7 m, though over 50% of its area remains shallow at less than 2 m deep.[34] [35] Surrounding topography features flat prairie terrain characteristic of the Alberta plains, situated at an average elevation of 1,030 m above sea level.[36] Municipal boundaries adjoin Calgary to the west and are integrated within Rocky View County's jurisdiction, with natural drainage patterns directing southern flows toward Shepard Slough.[37] Provincial flood hazard mapping identifies low-lying areas prone to overland flooding and stormwater surcharge, as evidenced by basement inundations during heavy precipitation events such as in June 2013, when approximately 300 homes were affected by overland flow, sewer backups, or sump failures.[38] [39]Climate and environmental considerations
Chestermere lies within a humid continental climate zone (Köppen Dfb), featuring pronounced seasonal variations typical of the Canadian Prairies, with cold, dry winters and mild, relatively short summers influenced by chinook winds that can cause rapid temperature fluctuations. Long-term normals from the nearby Calgary International Airport station, representative of the region due to Chestermere's proximity (approximately 20 km east), record a January mean temperature of -9.4°C and a July mean of 17.3°C, with extremes reaching as low as -45°C in winter and up to 36°C in summer.[40] [41] Annual precipitation averages 418.8 mm, predominantly as convective summer thunderstorms (about 70% from May to September), supplemented by occasional winter snowfall totaling around 127 cm.[40] This modest rainfall supports surrounding dryland agriculture but contributes to variable lake levels in Chestermere Lake, an irrigation reservoir fed by the Bow River diversion, where inflows and outflows are regulated to maintain recreational and agricultural uses amid seasonal deficits.[42] Ecological factors in Chestermere Lake include nutrient enrichment from agricultural and urban runoff, leading to elevated phosphorus levels that promote algal growth; 2022 monitoring reported average total phosphorus at 7 μg/L and chlorophyll-a at 4.6 μg/L, indicative of mesotrophic conditions prone to blooms under warm, stagnant summer conditions.[43] The lake's shallow depth (average 3.7 m) exacerbates these risks by limiting oxygen replenishment and increasing susceptibility to sediment resuspension, though provincial water quality assessments emphasize management through inflow controls rather than inherent eutrophication.[42] [44]Demographics
Population trends and growth
Chestermere's population has grown rapidly from 3,977 residents in the 1996 census to 22,163 in the 2021 census, reflecting sustained expansion as a bedroom community adjacent to Calgary.[45][46] This trajectory continued post-2021, with municipal estimates reaching 28,938 by 2024, driven primarily by net in-migration rather than natural increase.[47]| Census Year | Population | Five-Year Growth Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 3,977 | - |
| 2006 | 9,920 | 149.4 |
| 2011 | 14,824 | 49.4 |
| 2016 | 19,887 | 34.2 |
| 2021 | 22,163 | 11.4 |