Airdrie, Alberta
Airdrie is a city of 18,000 residents is about 30 km north of Calgary on Highway 2, fast becomeing a bedroom community for Calgary. Many Calgarians for its automobile dealers on its "low overhead" Auto Mile, and the place where the RCMP blocks off the highway to Edmonton for bad winter snowstorms.Airdrie was named by William McKenzie, the construction engineer for the Calgary and Edmonton Railway. The town was just a mail stop on the rail line to Edmonton. He named the new town in 1899 after his birthplace, a small village north east of Glasgow. The name "Airdrie" is Scottish for "The King's Height" and namdes for The Battle of Ardryth (in 577 AD). The first home was built in 1901, and by 1909 Airdrie was a village. By the mid-sixties, Airdrie had 1,000 residents. During the 70s and 80s Alberta oil boom, Airdrie quickly topped the 10,000 mark. In 1985, Airdrie became Alberta's 14th city. 
Each year ends and begins with the Airdrie Festival of Lights. During this event, thousands of lights illuminate the winter sky celebrating the Christmas season. Throughout December over 149,000 people stroll through the light display or skate on Nose Creek while festive music plays in the background. July is an exciting month in Airdrie with the Canada Day parade and annual Pro Rodeo both occurring on the Canada Day long weekend. Each year the parade gets bigger with more and more floats eager to participate. In fact, 1998 was the biggest parade ever. The Airdrie Professional Rodeo is a memorable event to visit because the same cowboys, who participate in the Calgary Stampede, compete in the Airdrie and District Rodeo. Visitors at this event have the added advantage of getting ringside. Each day of the Rodeo ends with a dance and chances are you will meet a professional cowboy at the dance who competed in the Rodeo that afternoon. Recreation When the chill of winter has left the air, many Airdrie residents spend their evenings and weekends enjoying the miles of pathways that wind through the City. Occasionally a couple enjoying a bike ride will stop to watch an evening soccer or baseball game. As the day ends, couples are often found sitting on a bench in Nose Creek Park enjoying the sunset over the rolling prairies. Woodside Golf Course offers a challenging 18-hole golf course for the golf enthusiasts. This popular course is located on the edge of the City giving golfers the advantage of playing on a high quality course while enjoying the breathtaking view of the countryside. The East Lake Aquatic Centre is a place where the whole family can have fun in either the 25 meter six lane pool, diving tank, or teach pool. Daily classes are offered in aerobics and a full facility gym is available for weigh and strength training. Annual events include the Airdrie Chute-Out Pro Rodeo (late June)City info: http://www.airdrie.com/ |
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