Champion, Alberta: Difference between revisions

{{otherOther uses|Champion (disambiguation)}}

|pushpin_map = Canada Alberta#Canada

|subdivision_name = {{flag|Canada}}

|subdivision_name1 = {{flag|[[Alberta}}]]

|government_type = Mayor–council government

| area_footnotes = &nbsp;(20162021)<ref name=2016censusABmunis2021census/>

|area_total_km2 area_land_km2 = 0.88

|area_land_km2 population_as_of = 0.892021

|area_water_km2 population_footnotes = <ref name=2021census/>

|area_total_sq_mi population_note =

|area_water_sq_mi population_density_km2 = 400.7

|area_water_percentpopulation_blank1_title = =

|area_urban_km2population_blank1 = =

|area_metro_sq_mitimezone = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]

|population_as_ofutc_offset = 2016−7

|population_footnotestimezone_DST = <ref name=2016censusABmunis/> MDT

|population_noteutc_offset_DST = −6

|postal_code_type = [[Canadian postal code#Forward sortation areas|Forward sortation area]]

|postal_code = [[List of T postal codes of Canada|T0L 0R0]]

|area_code = [[Area code 403|403]], [[Area codes 587 and 825|587, 825]]

|blank_name = [[List of Alberta provincial highways|Highways]]

|website = {{official URL}}

'''Champion''' is a village in [[southern Alberta]], [[Canada]] within [[Vulcan County]]. It is located on [[Alberta Highway 23|Highway 23]], approximately {{convert|74|km|mi}} north of [[Lethbridge, Alberta|Lethbridge]] and {{convert|147|km|mi}} south of [[Calgary, Alberta]].

[[DominionHomestead Lands Actprinciple|Homesteaders]] began arriving in the Champion area in 1904 and 1905, mainly from the USAUS, Eastern Canada, and [[United Kingdom|Britain]]. The vast [[prairie]] [[grassland]]s, cut through by the [[Little Bow River]], provided ideal country for farming and [[ranching]]. One of these settlers was Martin G. Clever, who arrived in 1905. He homesteaded on the [[quarter section]] of land (160 acres) where the town of Champion is currently located.

In 1910 the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] (CPR) reached the area, although it became apparent that the rails themselves would not run directly past Cleverville. As a result, the townspeople decided to move, using horses and skids and wagons, all of the buildings of the town to a new location closer to the railway. This new settlement required a new name, and so the relocated Cleverville became the new Village of Champion. Although there are several stories regarding how Champion got its name, the most likely (or at least the one most commonly retold) is that it was named after H.T. Champion, a banker in the Winnipeg firm Alloway and Champion, well-known bankers and loaners throughout the period of settlement of the west. The Alloway and Champion Bank in [[Winnipeg, Manitoba]] built in 1905 is on the Registry of Historical Places of Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicplaces.ca/visit-visite/affichage-display.aspx?id%3D7346 |title=ArchivedHistoricPlaces.ca - copyRecherche |accessdate=2010-05-07 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323074723/http://www.historicplaces.ca/visit-visite/affichage-display.aspx?id=7346 |archivedate=2012-03-23 |df= }} Alloway and Champion Bank</ref> When the town of Champion was relocated, so the story goes, a Winnipeg C.P.R. man named the town after the prominent banker.

[[Agriculture]] sustained the growth of the Champion area. In 1915 Champion became known as the “Million"Million Bushel Town,”" as one million bushels of wheat were shipped that year. The Champion Board of Trade was eager to promote the village as a land of opportunity, and in 1913 published the promotional pamphlet “"[http://www.ourroots.ca/toc.aspx?id=1469&amp;qryID=a79ff29e-961a-47d3-9965-02ee6bb5309a Grain Golden Champion],”" which was sent around the world to entice settlers and [[entrepreneur]]s to move to the area. Claiming that “of"of all the thriving towns and cities in Western Canada, destined to become the industrial centres of the future, none has established its position, or grown to such importance, in so brief a space of time, as Champion,”" the Board of Trade invited people to take up opportunities in, of course, grain farming, but also in [[poultry]]- and stock-raising, railway work, brick- and cement-making, and the development of the natural gas and coal resources in the area.

Since its founding, the Village of Champion has celebrated its anniversary every five years, traditionally on the July 1st long weekend. In 2011, the town will celebratecelebrated its 100th anniversary, an important celebration for which planning has been underway for some years.

In the [[Canada2021 2016Canadian Censuscensus|20162021 Census of Population]] conducted by [[Statistics Canada]], the Village of Champion recordedhad a population of 317351 living in 164 of its 185192 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:317351-378317}}|378317|1}} change from its 20112016 population of 378317. With a land area of {{convertcvt|0.8988|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|317351|0.8988|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 20162021.<ref name=2016censusABmunis2021census>{{cite web | url=httphttps://www12www150.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensementt1/2016tbl1/dp-pden/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Tabletv.cfmaction?Lang=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=86&O=A&RPPpid=99999810000202&PRgeocode=48A000248 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=February 89, 20172022 | accessdate=February 89, 20172022}}</ref>

In the [[Canada 20112016 Census|20112016 Census of Population]] conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Champion hadrecorded a population of 378317 living in 159164 of its 177185 total private dwellings, a 3.8%{{percentage|{{#expr:317-378}}|378|1}} change from its 20062011 population of 364378. With a land area of {{convert|0.8889|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|378317|0.8889|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 20112016.<ref name=2011censusABmunis2016censusABmunis>{{cite web | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/20112016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANGLang=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=5186&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48&CMA=0 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 20112016 and 20062011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=2012-02-08February 8, 2017 | accessdate=2012-02-08February 8, 2017}}</ref>

The village is governed by a council consisting of a [[mayor]] and four councillors, and is administratedadministered by a chief administrative officer.

Champion is home to two schools, the [https://web.archive.org/web/20110706171854/http://www.championschool.ca/index.php Champion Community School] (11570 students in grades 1-91–9, plus a parent-run kindergarten), and the Hope Christian School (grades K-12).

Retail services and businesses in Champion include a [https://web.archive.org/web/20090819043936/http://www.championinn.com:80/ restaurant/bar], a grocery/liquor/lottery store, a self-serve gas station, a thrift store, a bank, a post office, and various other locally owned businesses.

In terms of emergency response, the Village of Champion is served by the RCMP detachment and EMS services in neighbouring [[Vulcan, Alberta|Vulcan]], as well as the Champion Volunteer Fire Department.

The village is home tohas several churches, including St. Mary's Catholic Church, the Champion Congregational Church, and a local [[meetinghouse]] of [[Thethe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]. Champion serves as a gateway to [[Little Bow Provincial Park]], which is located {{convert|15|km|mi}} east of the village and provides camping and many other outdoor recreational activities.

* Champion History Committee, ''[https://archive.today/20130115113750/http://www.ourfutureourpast.ca/loc_hist/toc.aspx?id=7557 Cleverville/Champion, 1905-1970: A History of Champion and Area]'', (Friesen and Sons, 1977).

[[Category:Populated places established in 19051911]]