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Halkirk is a village in central Alberta, Canada within the County of Paintearth No. 18. It is located 122 kilometres (76 mi) east of Red Deer at the intersection of Highway 12 and Highway 855.
Halkirk | |
|---|---|
| Village of Halkirk | |
 Halkirk Grain Elevator 2007 | |
  Halkirk  Halkirk | |
| Coordinates: 52°16′53″N 112°08′52″W / 52.28139°N 112.14778°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Central Alberta |
| Census division | 7 |
| Municipal district | County of Paintearth No. 18 |
| Incorporated[1] | |
| • Village | February 10, 1912 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Dale Kent |
| • Governing body | Halkirk Village Council |
| • MP | Damien Kurek |
| • MLA | Nate Horner |
| Area (2021)[2] | |
| • Land | 0.61 km2 (0.24 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 835 m (2,740 ft) |
| Population (2021)[2] | |
• Total | 92 |
| • Density | 151.9/km2 (393/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| Area code | 403 |
| Highways | Highway 12 |
| Website | Official website |
History
editFounded in 1912, Halkirk was named after Halkirk, Scotland.[3] Following a vote in October 2024,[4] the village of Halkirk will dissolve to form a hamlet in the County of Paintearth No. 18 on January 1, 2025.[5]
Geography
editHalkirk is located in an area surrounded by prairies, farmland, and badlands.
Demographics
editIn the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Halkirk had a population of 92 living in 50 of its 58 total private dwellings, a change of -17.9% from its 2016 population of 112. With a land area of 0.61 km2 (0.24 sq mi), it had a population density of 150.8/km2 (390.6/sq mi) in 2021.[2]
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Halkirk recorded a population of 112 living in 55 of its 56 total private dwellings, a -7.4% change from its 2011 population of 121. With a land area of 0.61 km2 (0.24 sq mi), it had a population density of 183.6/km2 (475.5/sq mi) in 2016.[6]
Economy
editHalkirk is within an agricultural region that yields a cross-section of products. In addition, there are several industrial operations located near Halkirk, including a mining operation, a power generating station, and oilfield support services among others.[citation needed] With commercial operations beginning on December 1, 2012, Capital Power Corporation operates Alberta's third largest wind farm (largest until May 2013, when the Blackspring projects reached full operation), with 83 Vestas V90 Wind Turbines in the area totalling 150MW capacity.[7]
Attractions and amenities
editLandmarks within Halkirk include its water tower and grain elevator. The grain elevator, formerly owned by Alberta Wheat Pool and later Agricore, is now owned by a local family.[citation needed]
Recreation facilities within the village include a curling rink, baseball diamonds, camping facilities, and rodeo grounds. The rodeo grounds host the annual Halkirk Bullarama – a rodeo-style bull riding competition.[citation needed]
Other facilities include the Halkirk Community Hall, the Halkirk Senior Centre, and an interdenominational church. The community hall hosts numerous private and public social events throughout the year.[citation needed]
Infrastructure and services
editTransportation
editHalkirk is served by several transport companies that travel along Highway 12.
Utilities
editThe natural gas system is owned by the Village of Halkirk and is supplied by The Paintearth Gas Co-op. Municipal water is supplied by the Shirley McClellan Regional Water Commission. The sanitation system is owned and operated by the village. Power is supplied by ATCO Electric.[citation needed]
Health care
editHospital services are located in nearby Castor. Additional diagnostic services are available in Stettler or Red Deer.[citation needed]
Emergency response
editThe Village of Halkirk has a volunteer fire department. Emergency medical service is linked to the Stettler network, and East Central Ambulance dispatches ambulances from both Castor and Stettler as needed.[citation needed]
Community organizations
editTwo service clubs in Halkirk include the ELKS Club and the Halkirk Seniors club, both of which host several events throughout the year.[citation needed]
Education
editThe Village of Halkirk was home to the Mother Teresa Halkirk Catholic School until 2016. It was decided by the East Central Alberta Catholic Separate School Board in March, 2016 to close the school indefinitely due to a decline in numbers of students.[8]
Notable people
edit- Shane Doan - former professional hockey player with the NHL's Arizona Coyotes
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Location and History Profile: Village of Halkirk" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 21, 2016. p. 337. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ Place-names of Alberta. Ottawa: Geographic Board of Canada. 1928. p. 61.
- ^ Sabo, Kevin (October 10, 2024). "Village of Halkirk to dissolve". Red Deer Advocate. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ "O.C. 362/2024". Alberta King's Printer. December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Halkirk Wind". Archived from the original on 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
- ^ "Mother Teresa School in Halkirk to close". Ecareniew.com. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
