Bowden

Welcome

Welcome to the Town of Bowden Albertafirst.com community profile! The Town of
Bowden offers a wonderful array of reasons to consider locating either yourself and/or
you business here!

Climate

Alberta has a continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. The average
date of first fall frost has traditionally been September 8. The average date of last
spring frost is May 23, with an average frost-free period of 108 days. Hours of daylight
range from a low of 7 ½ hours in Winter Solstice to almost 17 hours in Summer.

Temperature ranges in summer (June to August) from 15° C to 23° C (60° F to 73° F).
Temperature ranges in winter (November to February) from -8° C to -25° C (18° F to -
13° F). Our warmest month is July with an average high of 23.2°C; coldest, January
with an average high of -3.6°C. We get about 1900 hours of sunshine annually. Bowden
experiences between 130 and 135 cm of snowfall each year.

SOURCE: Environment Canada, Stats Canada

Community Services

RECREATION FACILITIES
Bowden has a wide range of recreation facilities available including the Igloo Ice Arena,
two baseball diamonds, and several soccer fields. Amenities that both visitors and
residents will enjoy include the Bowden Pioneer Museum, Community Hall and
campground. Located throughout town there are several parks and playgrounds with
modern playground equipment.

The Bowden Hi-Way Golf Course is a very popular 9 hole golf course with area residents
and travelers along Highway 2. Right in Bowden this course offers many challenges for
all golfers yet, the average round can still be completed in less than two hours. The
course also caters to the young golfer with a junior golf program for ages five and up.

The Town of Bowden offers a bus-in program to the Innisfail Aquatic Centre's Red
Cross/Lifesaving Swim program each August. For more information, contact Town Office.

COMMUNITY SERVICES
Bowden has all the social amenities you can imagine, with service clubs and volunteer
organizations providing entertainment, events and activities in the community. Please
feel free to contact any of the following organizations for more information.

Alcoholics Anonymous 556-9415
Bereavement Facilitator 224-3928
Bowden Art Club 224-2263
Bowden Ag Society 224-2154
Bowden Historical Society 224-2393
Bowden Lions Club 224-2857
Bowden Friendship Club 224-2114
Bowden Light Horse 224-3450
Bowden Municipal Library Board 224-3688
Bowden Team Roping 224-3784
Bow-Glen Court 224-2691 |
Citizens on Patrol 224-2354
Frozen Meals for Seniors 224-7569
Antler Hill Silver Stirrups 4-H 227-2880
Bowden Figure Skating 224-2340
Bowden Minor Hockey 224-2750
Bowden Soccer 224-2011
Bow Inn Beef 4-H 227-1681
Cottonwood Kayaking Club 227-2833
Thundering Hoofbeats 4-H 227-2194
Olds Air Cadet Squadron 556-7630
Innisfail Food Bank 224-3359

BOWDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Bowden Public Library is a member of the Parkland Library System, a regional library
system that helps libraries provide the best possible service for library users. Located at
1700 - 23 St, the library is also online with the Alberta Library. This means that with
your library card, you can use any library in Parkland, or any of up to 300 libraries
around the province that are participating in the Alberta Public Library Electronic
Network. The books you want to borrow will be sent to and can be returned to the
Bowden Public Library.

You will also be able to access your library and the Alberta Library through the internet
using your library card and PIN number. This will also give you access to a number of
databases, such as magazines and journals, newspapers and newswires - without a trip
to the library.

Effective Sept 1, 2005:
Sunday - Closed
Monday - 6 - 9 pm
Tuesday - 10 am - 5 pm
Wednesday - 6 - 9 pm
Thursday - 10 am - 5 pm
Friday - Closed
Saturday - 1 - 4 pm

The Bowden Public Library has four computers that can be used for the internet and e-
mail as well as many programs of interest to the public. Come in and check them out.
Need help? The knowledgeable staff will help you get started, or find what you need.

Library Manager - Diane Berggren
Library Manager’s Assistant - Julie Brown
E-Mail: bowdenlibrary@libs.prl.ab.ca

WE WELCOME VOLUNTEERS TO THE LIBRARY!
The Library runs various Children's Programs throughout the year and promotes visits to the
library. A Senior's Day is held in conjunction with Alberta Seniors Week. The Library
is an active participant in the annual Bowden Daze celebrations in July. We also have
ongoing Sales of Used Books.

Bowden Public Library presents a summer program each year, using a different theme
each year. This year we are teaming up with Neighbourhood Place, having a swim
program in the morning, and the Library in the afternoon. There will be crafts, stories
and games. The age group is 4-12 years for the Library program. The theme this year is
"Quest for Heroes".

Community Lifestyle

Conveniently located on Highway 2, this bedroom community of almost 1,200 people is
located approximately 25 minutes south of Red Deer and 50 minutes north of Calgary.

With affordable housing and amenities of a much larger centre, the Town has benefitted
from Alberta’s strong economy as indicated by 16% population growth over the last five
years. Bowden’s future growth remains positive as the Town has begun working with a
developer to add over 200 new residential lots with several being located just off the
Golf Course.

Bowden has a long history dating back to 1887 when homesteaders arrived and
constructed the Brewster House hotel. Incorporated as a village in 1904 and, as a Town
in 1981, the Town of Bowden celebrated its Centennial in 2004.

Bowden offers an enviable quality of life for all ages. An abundance of parks and new
playgrounds offer families recreational opportunities right at their doorstep. Minor sports
teams continue to succeed at levels far higher than most communities this size. The
fair, but challenging 9 hole golf course remains very popular with both residents and
visitors.

For school aged children, the Bowden Grandview School continues to achieve high
academic standards and rates very high in the Provincial rating system.

Residents have several choices of medical facilities located within 10 minutes, at the
Town in Olds or Innisfail and a first class facility in Red Deer 25 minutes away.

For seniors, the Town has two manors offering affordable housing and, with regular trips
in the community van, easy access to many regional amenities.

Education

Bowden Grandview School is a public education facility offering kindergarten through
grade twelve. It is included in the Chinook's Edge School Division. The school has a
capacity of approximately 550 students and consistently achieves a high academic
standing for graduating students. This is evidenced by the school consistently ranking in the
top three for Alberta Departmental Exams.

The school also strives to introduce modern technology, into its classroom environment,
starting with the Grade two model technology classroom. The Grade one students even
have their own web page! For the higher grades the school has a fully functioning CTS
lab where students learn media productions and web page development.

Some students prefer the Off Campus Learning Centre. For more information, call 224-
3992.

For parents with younger children the Bowden Playschool runs concurrently with the
school year and has classes for children who are three and four years old.

Emergency Services

9-1-1 is the official national emergency number in Canada. Dialing 911 quickly connects
you to a dispatcher trained to route your call to local emergency medical, fire, and law
enforcement agencies. 9-1-1 lines are reserved for emergency calls to report a crime in
progress, or a fire, or to request an Ambulance. Using 9-1-1 for non-emergency calls
may delay the arrival of help for people caught in real emergencies. For any emergency i
n Bowden, dial 9-1-1.

VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Bowden Fire Hall is located at 2114 - 2Oth Avenue. The Volunteer Fire Department
provides primary fire and emergency medical services to the Town of Bowden and
surrounding area. This Department has a volunteer fire department with approximately
20 active volunteer members. The Department runs 1 tank truck, 2 pumpers, and 2
support vehicles. Volunteer membership is available to citizens at least 18 years of age,
have a clean criminal record, live close to the Town of Bowden and are physically fit.
Individuals who are willing to donate their time and talents to helping the community are
essential to the success of the fire department. For more information, phone 224-2246
or send an E-Mail to bvfd@telusplanet.net.

POLICE
The Town of Bowden is serviced by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Olds
Department (556-3323). The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is the Canadian national
police service and an agency of the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency
Preparedness Canada. The RCMP is unique in the world since it is a national, federal,
provincial and municipal policing body. They provide a total federal policing service to all
Canadians and policing services under contract to the three territories, eight provinces
(except Ontario and Quebec), approximately 198 municipalities and, under 172 individual
agreements, to 192 First Nations communities.

Contact Information:
911 Emergency Calls Only
556-3323 Complaints
556-3324 Administration
556-1540 Fax 5110 - 65 Ave, Olds Alberta, T4H 1L8
Hours: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Friday

CITIZENS ON PATROL
It is a concept that originated in Western Canada. Ordinary citizens supplement police
patrols to help reduce crime by keeping a neighbourly watch over their communities.
Patrols watch for any unusual and/or criminal activity, and report such incidents to the
police for any necessary follow-up.

Citizens on Patrol have neither the authority nor the mandate to make arrests, nor to
take any action that might jeopardize their own safety or that of the public. The role of
Citizens on Patrol is to simply observe and report.

To volunteer for Citizens on Patrol, applicants must be 18 years of age or older, have a
clear record, and be able to pass an R.C.M.P. security screening. All necessary training
and equipment (aside from personal vehicles) is provided by Citizens on Patrol or the
R.C.M.P. Contact 224-2354.

SEARCH & RESCUE
Olds Search and Rescue handles search and rescue emergencies for the Town of
Bowden and area. OSAR is also a resource for the Town of Olds, Mountain View County
and the Province of Alberta. For more information, call 556-6617, 556-3839 or 507-3368
or check out their website at www.telusplanet.net/public/osar.

Community services have included initiation and collaboration on such programs as the
Breakfast Program, Summer Fun, Bowden Youth Project, Pick A Passion Day, and the
BLAST Being Belonging and Becoming youth conference.

For more information, please call 403-224-2264.

EMERGENCY CONTACTS
The Town of Bowden is committed to ensuring our residents are aware of the programs
and services in town, have good social support networks, and have a chance to become
connected to, and part of the community life. Please feel free to contact any of the
Emergency or Social Services organizations provided here.

AREA CODE FOR BOWDEN IS 403
24 Hour Emergency - Power 310-9473
24 Hour Emergency - Gas 1-800-511-3447
Poison Control Centre 1-800-332-1414
Alberta Mental Health Board 1-877-303-2642
Alcoholics Anonymous 556-9415
Block Parents 224-2980
Central Alberta Women's Emergency Shelter 403-346-5643
Crimestoppers 1-800-222-8477
Distress/Crisis Line (24 hours) 340-1120
Gambling Help Line 1-800-665-9676
Kids Help Phone Line 1-800-668-6868
Lifeline 227-1561
Neighbourhood Place 224-3319
Parent Helpline 1-800-603-9100

Health Care

HEALTH CENTRES
The Town of Bowden is part of the David Thompson Regional Health Authority. Third
largest health region by population, the DTHR serves 282,900 residents, covers 60
thousand sq km of territory and employs about 8000 staff. There are over 350
practicing physicians in the region. Bowden residents can utilize the services provided
by the Innisfail Hospital & Health Centre at 5023 - 42 St (Ph: 227-7800), or the Olds
Hospital & Care Centre at 3901 - 57 Ave (Ph: 556-3381).

AREA CODE FOR OLDS & INNISFAIL IS 403
Innisfail Health Centre/Hospital 5023 - 42 St 227-7800
Innisfail Community Home Care 5023 - 42 St 227-7020
Innisfail Public Health Nurse 5023 - 42 St 227-7820
Olds Hospital & Care Centre 3901 - 57 Ave 556-3381
Olds Community Health Centre 556-8441

FAMILY WELLNESS
Bowden Family Wellness offers support services to families with children from birth to 18
years. Services may include: parenting assistance, access to resources (financial,
mental health, intervention), parenting library, and short term solution focussed
counselling. Bowden Family Wellness is adept at addressing issues of bullying, peer
groups, adolescent addictions, divorce, grief and conflict/anger. All contact is
CONFIDENTIAL.

MEDICAL CLINICS
Bowden has a massage therapist and physiotherapy clinic. There are excellent facilities
just ten minutes south of Bowden at Olds, and ten minutes north of Bowden at Innisfail.

AREA CODE IS 403
Bowden Massage Therapy 224-3929
Bowden Physiotherapy Clinic 224-3929
Innisfail Associate Clinic 227-3301
Innisfail Medical Clinic 227-3356
Innisfail Mental Health Clinic 227-4601
Olds Associate Clinic 556-3355
Wildrose Medical Centre, Olds 556-7130

FAMILY & COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES (FCSS)
The municipal government of Bowden and the provincial government fund programs
offered through Family & Community Support Services. FCSS has the objective of
building strong communities through prevention, self-help, and volunteerism. The
strength of FCSS is community development.

What is FCSS?
FCSS is a program between the province and local municipalities with the objective of
building strong communities through prevention, self-help and volunteerism.

FCSS Programs:
Are preventative in nature
Promote citizen participation
Enables local decision making
Programs which have been or continue to be offered by FCSS:
Referrals and Information
Volunteer Coordination and Support
Community Directory
Welcome to Bowden Packages
Tools for Schools
Volunteer Appreciation
Community Registration Night
Mother Goose
The Bowden FCSS Worker is Marie Fredrickson.
Office is located in Neighborhood Place: 2016-20 Ave
Phone: 403-224-3319 ... Fax: 403-224-3318
E-Mail: bowdenfcss@telus.net
Regular hours of operation are:
Mondays and Tuesdays: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Thursdays: 9 am - Noon

As the Community Worker is frequently out of the office at meetings or community
visits, please leave a message and I will return your call as soon as possible.

Key Contacts for Business Development

MUNICIPAL (Updated April 2006)
Town of Bowden
2110 20 Avenue
Box 338
Bowden, AB, T0M 0K0
Phone: 403-224-3395
Fax: 403-224-2244
Email: cao@town.bowden.ab.ca

Council:
Mayor Cody Berggren
Councillor Shirley Adams
Councillor Sheila Church
Councillor Mildred Lane
Councillor Andy Plummer
Councillor Robb Stuart
Councillor Bernice Willsie

Chief Administrative Officer Dan Proctor

PROVINCIAL (Updated April 2006)
Honourable Luke Ouellette (PC)
MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake
Eastgate Mall #18, 4804 42 Avenue
Innisfail, AB
T4G 1T4
Phone: (403) 227-1500
Toll Free: 1-888-655-2535
Fax: (403) 227-5350
innisfail.sylvanlake@assembly.ab.ca

Legislature Office
#319 Legislature Building
10800 - 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T5K 2B6
Phone: (780) 422-7355
Fax: (780) 422-5279

FEDERAL (Updated April 2006)
THOMPSON, Myron (Conservative)
Wild Rose, Alberta
213 Main Street, Bay 3, P.O. Box 3816
Airdrie, Alberta
T4B 2B9
Telephone: (403) 948-5103
Fax: (403) 948-0879
E-Mail: ThompM1@parl.gc.ca

Location

The Town of Bowden is located directly adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII)
Highway, approximately 80km (45 minutes) North of the City of Calgary and 40km (22.5
minutes) South of the City of Red Deer. Centrally located with direct access to Alberta's
power corridor, Bowden offers residents and businesses alike a small town atmosphere
and prices only a short drive from major urban centres. Highway 587 which also goes
through Bowden provides easy access for residents to the beautiful west country and
all of its numerous recreational possibilities and for businesses to the busy logging and
oil & gas operations located there.

Post Secondary Education

Post secondary opportunities also exist within short driving distance at Olds College and
Red Deer College. The University of Calgary is within an hour of the Town.

Taxation

	Residential/Farmland	Non-Residential
2005
Municipal Tax Rate	10.1500	14.0000
Education - Alberta School Foundation Fund Tax Rate	4.2300	6.8600
Seniors Lodge Accommodation Tax Rate

Utilities

RECYCLING, GARBAGE AND WASTE
The Town of Bowden is committed to responsible distribution of waste. The Public Works
Department picks up household garbage every Wednesday. In order to ensure your
garbage is picked up, please have it placed at the back laneway or front curb (if your
property doesn't have a back laneway) by 8 am. Cardboard will be picked up after the
household garbage run has completed. Usually, this is Wednesday afternoon or
Thursday. Burnable materials (i.e. small trees & branches) can be picked up by the
Town. Materials must be in manageable lengths and size. Please contact the Town
Office to schedule pick up of burnables.

The Town only picks up garbage and burnables. Grass clippings (no trees or branches)
must be hauled by the property owner/occupant, to designated compost bins located
throughout town. Paper products must be hauled by the property owner/occupant, to
the Paper Recycling trailer located across from Town Office. It is the responsibility of
the property owner/occupant to haul old furniture, mattresses, and appliances to a
Regional Landfill Commission transfer station in Innisfail.

There are seven compost bins located at convenient locations throughout Town.
Compost bins are painted either blue or white and are open at one end.

The Town operates the Recycling Trailer located on Main Street across from the Post
Office. The Recycling Trailer has bins for paper. The Trailer is open Monday through
Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm. There is, however, a blue box for paper to be deposited
after hours or by individuals who cannot climb the paper trailer stairs. Occasionally,
when the trailer is full and the Town is waiting for paper pick up, the trailer will be
closed and a sign hung advising of that closure.

The Town belongs to a regional landfill commission, and all garbage is hauled to a landfill
site in Red Deer. The commission has located a transfer station in Innisfail for garbage
which would not normally be picked up by town crews.

Thanks to the Alberta Dairy Council, there is also one bin for cardboard milk containers
and one for plastic milk containers on Main Street. Residents are asked to wash out all
milk containers and crush them before bringing them to the Trailer. As well, the Town
hauls all materials, from blue and white compost bins, to a composting pile just outside
of Town. With a successful grant application, the Town is expanding its recycling in
2004, to include tin cans, glass, plastic and cardboard.

WATER, SEWER, AND OTHER UTILITIES
Bowden receives its water from the Red Deer River, from the Anthony Henday Water
Treatment Plant at Innisfail. Along with Carstairs, Crossfield, Didsbury, Olds and Innisfail,
the Town of Bowden belongs to the Mountain View Regional Water Services Commission.
The Town of Bowden provides water and wastewater (sewer) services. When you move
to Bowden, you need to apply at Town Office to receive these services.

Water bills are sent out every two months. Water usage is determined by the number of
people in your household, the number of water saving devices in your home and how
often you water your lawn in the summer. Your bi-monthly invoice includes garbage
pickup fees and water/sewer charges. For more information, call the Town Office at
224-3395.

NOTE: - Mountain View Regional Water Services Commission has increased its water
distribution rates by 5 cents per cubic meter to all member municipalities effective April
1, 2006. As per Town of Bowden Bylaw 01-2006, this increase will be reflected on your
utility bill effective May 1, 2006.

AREA CODE FOR BOWDEN IS 403
Gas ATCO 310-5678 www.atcogas.com
Power FortisAlberta 310-4300 www.fortisalberta.com
Phone, Residential Telus 310-2255 www.telus.com
TV Cable SHAW 340-6400 www.shaw.ca

Population

Total Population 1991-2001

Bowden Population by Age Group (2001)

Education Statistics

Bowden Highest Level of Schooling 2001

Labour Force

Bowden Labour Force By Industry - 2001

Income

Family Expenditure

Bowden Family Expenditures (1996)

Building Permits

Total Housing Starts

Value of Building Permits

Dwellings

Projects

Summary of Projects in Bowden as of September 2006

Value of Projects by Sector (as of September 2006)

Largest Projects in Bowden as of September 2006