Jump to content

St. Isidore, Alberta

Coordinates: 56°12′17″N 117°06′24″W / 56.2047°N 117.1067°W / 56.2047; -117.1067
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

St. Isidore
Hamlet
St. Isidore Carnaval Super Z’héros in 2009
St. Isidore Carnaval Super Z’héros in 2009
St. Isidore, Alberta is located in Alberta
St. Isidore, Alberta
Location of St. Isidore in Alberta
Coordinates: 56°12′17″N 117°06′24″W / 56.2047°N 117.1067°W / 56.2047; -117.1067
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
Census divisionNo. 19
Municipal districtNorthern Sunrise County
Founded1953
Government
 • TypeUnincorporated
 • Governing bodyNorthern Sunrise County Council
 • Ward 4 CouncillorEvens Lavoie
Area
 (2021)[1]
 • Land1.08 km2 (0.42 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total236
 • Density218.9/km2 (567/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)

St. Isidore is a hamlet in northwest Alberta, Canada within Northern Sunrise County.[2] It is located approximately 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) east of the Town of Peace River on Range Road 204 off Highway 688. St. Isidore is flanked by deep ravines cut by Pat's Creek to the north and Pat's Creek tributary to the south. The ravines are surrounded by pine forests.

In 2007, the St. Isidore Development Committee organized the St. Isidore Cultural Marketing Project that involved a lot reservation draw. There were eight applicants for the sixteen lots that were made available in the southeast end of the community.[3]

History

[edit]

The Hamlet of St. Isidore is named after St. Isidore, a patron saint of farm workers who was known to be a model worker.[4] It was founded in 1953 by seven families from the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec.[5] The group was aided by the Union des Cultivateurs Catholiques[6] (Group of Catholic Farmers) of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Quebec, a rural agricultural organization that promoted a cooperative approach to agriculture and rural living. Being the last community to be settled in a wave of migration from Quebec after the Second World War, it has managed to maintain much of its original cultural vibrancy. Over half a century later, the community still reflects the cultural, cooperative, and family spirit at the heart of this community.

Demographics

[edit]
Population history
of St. Isidore
YearPop.±%
197651—    
198155+7.8%
198690+63.6%
1991180+100.0%
1996183+1.7%
2001162−11.5%
2006211+30.2%
2011218+3.3%
2016266+22.0%
2021236−11.3%
Source: Statistics Canada
[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][1]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, St Isidore had a population of 236 living in 87 of its 99 total private dwellings, a change of -11.3% from its 2016 population of 266. With a land area of 1.08 km2 (0.42 sq mi), it had a population density of 218.5/km2 (566.0/sq mi) in 2021.[1]

As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, St Isidore had a population of 266 living in 94 of its 97 total private dwellings, a change of 22% from its 2011 population of 218. With a land area of 1.09 km2 (0.42 sq mi), it had a population density of 244.0/km2 (632.1/sq mi) in 2016.[15]

Culture

[edit]

During the third weekend of February each year, the hamlet hosts the Carnaval de St. Isidore in and around the St. Isidore Cultural Centre. Modeled after the Quebec Winter Carnival, this event celebrates the community's French-Canadian heritage through a variety of events while retaining the Albertan nature of the surrounding French communities. Among the major events is the snow sculpting competition in which the organizers, the St. Isidore Cultural Centre, sets a theme for the sculpting. Some themes over the years include Asterix & Obelix, Super Z’héros, Tropical, Orange, Western, and Vegas for the 30th edition in 2012.[16] In addition to the professional category, the snow sculpting event also includes amateur and youth categories.

The Carnaval also features a mixture of traditional French folk and contemporary music, local talent, traditional French cooking, sleigh rides, log sawing, and other Franco-Canadian activities.[17]

Carnaval de St. Isidore crowns the "ducs et duchesses" (its teenaged volunteers) King and Queen of the Carnaval. The volunteers are required to sell tickets in order to be entered into a draw that crowns the King and Queen.[18]

Amenities

[edit]

St. Isidore offers a number of services to residents and tourists, including: the St. Isidore Co-op, a library, le Conseil Scolaire du Nord-Ouest, St. Isidore Housing Cooperative, le Domaine des aînés (seniors residence), la Société des Compagnons, le Club du Bon Temps, le Club Barbar, the Weavers' Guild, a cultural centre, dance troupe Plein Soleil, St. Isidore Museum, Family Community Support Services, a summer camp, a skating rink, and a Catholic church.

The roads in St. Isidore are both numbered and named, with avenues running east–west and streets (rues) running north–south.

Economy

[edit]

The economy of St. Isidore is predominantly agricultural in nature. Entreprises Macay is a family farming business that runs a Timothy hay drying and processing operation for export to Asian markets. There are beekeeping operations as well as dairy farming, both of which employ mostly seasonal workers. Residents of the hamlet also work in the nearby DMI Peace River Pulp Mill, Shell Peace River Complex, and the Town of Peace River.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and designated places". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "Specialized and Rural Municipalities and Their Communities" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  3. ^ "St. Isidore set to welcome new residents after lot draw". Peace River Record Gazette. October 2, 2007.
  4. ^ "Hamlets Within Northern Sunrise County". Northern Sunrise County. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
  5. ^ "History". St-Isidore Culturel Committee. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  6. ^ Jean-Pierre Girard in collaboration with Suzi Brière (October 2, 2007). "An identity to be asserted, a gap to be filled - Historical overview of the Co-operative Movement in French Canada : 1850-2000" (PDF). Chaire de coopération Guy-Bernier/UQAM, IRECUS.
  7. ^ "Geographical Identification and Population for Unincorporated Places of 25 persons and over, 1971 and 1976". 1976 Census of Canada (PDF). Supplementary Bulletins: Geographic and Demographic (Population of Unincorporated Places—Canada). Vol. Bulletin 8SG.1. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1978. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  8. ^ 1981 Census of Canada (PDF). Place name reference list. Vol. Western provinces and the Territories. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1983. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  9. ^ 1986 Census of Canada (PDF). Population. Vol. Unincorporated Places. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1988. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  10. ^ 91 Census (PDF). Population and Dwelling Counts. Vol. Unincorporated Places. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1993. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  11. ^ 96 Census (PDF). A National Overivew: Population and Dwelling Counts. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1997. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  12. ^ "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. August 15, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  13. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. July 20, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  14. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  16. ^ "Mighty Peace", Travel Alberta, retrieved October 27, 2010
  17. ^ St Isidore Carnaval
  18. ^ "Carnaval de St. Isidore goes orange this year". Peace County Sun. February 13, 2008.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St._Isidore,_Alberta&oldid=1249816055"