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The
Region
The making of Canada, since Confederation in 1867, has been about the
struggle to bridge regional differences based on geography, language and
culture. Even within a province such as Alberta, community identity can have
regional variations. The Women of Aspenland Virtual Exhibit explores
women’s history within a specific region of Alberta. With respect to Natural
Regions, the area is known as the Parkland Region. “Aspenland” is a term used
to describe central Alberta, the “big middle” of the province situated between
the cities of Calgary to the south and Edmonton to the north. From east to
west, Aspenland stretches from the Alberta/Saskatchewan provincial border to
the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. It is a region covering over 50,000
square kilometres and is home to approximately 225,000 people. The City of Red
Deer is the largest centre in the region, with a population of nearly 70,000
people.
The Aspen Parkland: A
Biological Preserve by W. Bruce McGillivray
Aspenland Region refers to the trembling aspen or poplar (Populus
tremuloides)—the dominant tree of the region. For biologists, the Aspen
Parkland is a transitional zone between the arid grasslands to the south and the
wetter, cooler Boreal Forest to the North. It marks the zone between Foothills
and Prairie from West to East. It is a uniquely Canadian landscape, also found
in parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba and is a natural region as well as an
ecosystem. It is a part of the Great Plains that supported the hunter/gatherer
societies of the First Nations of the central part of North America. With
respect to the settlement of the Province of Alberta, it shaped the kind of
agricultural and other economic activity that took place in the region, and also
gave a unique flavour to the settlement history.
Discover this unique region of Alberta through an exploration of the
following facets:
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Physical Geography —Central
Alberta is characterized by its rich soils and plentiful water. These made it
a desirable location for settlement and also have shaped the economy of the
region. |
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History and Development —The
Government of Canada’s promotion of western settlement to break the land
brought individuals and groups to the area. The character of communities in
the region has been shaped by them. |
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Social and Economic Life —Collective
activity is a characteristic of the region. Many religious denominations were
drawn to the region by its physical geography and have shaped and continue to
shape community life. |
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Rural Life —The region has strong
rural roots and, as with other parts of the West, has experienced the movement
of people from farms to towns with the consolidation of small land holdings to
larger farms. As well, intensive farming operations (for example, cow-calf and
pig farms) are challenging communities in the region as well as impacting
adversely on the environment. |
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Cities and Towns —While Red Deer is
the region’s primary city, there are many surrounding towns with their own
strong identities. This is evident through the number of community museums in
the region and their role in preserving historic buildings and artifacts. |
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