Vermilion, Alberta

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Not to be confused with Fort Vermilion.
Vermilion
Town
Town of Vermilion
Vermilion is located in Alberta
Vermilion
Vermilion
Location of Vermilion in Alberta
Coordinates: 53°21′15″N 110°51′10″W / 53.35417°N 110.85278°W / 53.35417; -110.85278
Country Canada
Province Alberta
RegionCentral Alberta
Census division10
Municipal districtCounty of Vermilion River
Founded1902
Incorporated1906
Government
[1]
 • MayorCaroline McAuley
 • Governing bodyVermilion Town Council
Area
 (2016)[2]
 • Land12.93 km2 (4.99 sq mi)
Elevation
[3]
580 m (1,900 ft)
Population
 (2016)[2]
 • Total4,084
 • Density315.8/km2 (818/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Forward sortation area
T9X
Area code(s)+1-780
HighwaysHighway 16
Highway 41
WaterwayVermilion River
WebsiteOfficial website

Vermilion is a town in central Alberta, Canada within the County of Vermilion River. It is located at the intersection of Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) and Highway 41 (Buffalo Trail), approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) west of Lloydminster and 192 kilometres (119 mi) east of Edmonton.

History[]

The 1912 Imperial Block in Vermilion

It was not until 1902 that a significant number of settlers arrived in this area of Alberta, mostly of British ethnic background coming from the east. Just west of Vermilion is the line between British and those of Ukrainian ethnic background having travelled mostly from the west.

In 1904, a post office was established at Breage approximately 5 km (3.1 mi) east of the present townsite.[4]

In 1905, the Canadian Northern Railway arrived and a station was built. The post office was relocated from Breage. Throughout the days of steam, the railway was important to Vermilion. Vermilion was used as a divisional point. It had a water tower to resupply engines, a large roundhouse, an extensive yard, a wye, a turntable, and a bunkhouse for engine crews. With the decline of steam power in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the railway became less important.

In early 1906, Vermilion was incorporated as a village and then as a town later in the same year. The name Vermilion comes from the red clay found in the river valley. In fact, one of the first businesses in Vermilion was the brick factory which operated from 1906 until 1914. Some Vermilion buildings built from brick from this factory are still standing.

The first newspaper to publish in the Vermilion area was the Vermilion Signal which was founded and edited by William Bleasdell Cameron. (a survivor of the Frog Lake Massacre).[5] In 1909, S.R.P. Cooper established the Vermilion Standard, which continues to publish to this day.

In 1911, the provincial government established three demonstration farms near Olds, Fairview, and just west of the Vermilion townsite. The Vermilion Board of Trade had lobbied the government for a demonstration farm and or college. When the Vermilion School of Agriculture officially opened on November 17, 1913, it became the first of the provincial agricultural colleges to open its door. The Vermilion School of Agriculture has had several name changes in the intervening years including Vermilion Agricultural and Vocational College and Vermilion College before becoming Lakeland College in 1975.[citation needed]

Looking northeast along 49th Avenue, 1912

Like other communities on the prairies in the early years of the 20th century, Vermilion experienced an extensive fire. Occurring on April 10, 1918, the fire destroyed 28 stores and business blocks.[4]

Two Vermilion businesses have operated since before the town was incorporated. Craig's, a department store, and Long's, a drugstore, have been at the same downtown locations since 1905.[citation needed]

Demographics[]

The population of the Town of Vermilion according to its 2017 municipal census is 4,150,[6] a change of -8.7% from its 2012 municipal census population of 4,545.[7]

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Vermilion recorded a population of 4,084 living in 1,753 of its 1,988 total private dwellings, a 3.9% change from its 2011 population of 3,930. With a land area of 12.93 km2 (4.99 sq mi), it had a population density of 315.9/km2 (818.1/sq mi) in 2016.[2]

In the 2011 Census, the Town of Vermilion had a population of 3,930 living in 1,651 of its 1,845 total dwellings, a −2.6% change from its 2006 population of 4,036. With a land area of 13.69 km2 (5.29 sq mi), it had a population density of 287.1/km2 (743.5/sq mi) in 2011.[8]

Mayor and council[]

The Mayor of Vermilion is Caroline McAuley.[9]

Economy[]

The economy is largely service industry to agriculture.

Arts and culture[]

The Vermilion Agricultural Society hosts an annual fair which started in 1906. The fair begins with a parade on Thursday morning. The fair lasts a total of three days the last weekend in July.[10]

Attractions[]

The Vermilion Provincial Park is located on the northwest side of the town. It includes camping, fishing, canoeing and trails for hiking, cycling and cross-country skiing.[11]

Education[]

The town has two public schools: Vermilion Elementary (K-6) and J.R. Robson Secondary (7-12), and one Catholic school, St. Jerome's School[12] (K-12). The School of Hope, a home school, has its central office in Vermilion.[citation needed]

The town also attracts students from throughout Canada to Lakeland College.[13] Lakeland offers certificate, diploma, applied degree, university transfer, apprenticeship, and pre-employment programs. Programming at the Vermilion campus includes agricultural sciences, business, environmental sciences, fire and emergency response, human services, interior design technology, and trades and technology. Lakeland's residence village is home to more than 500 students.

Media[]

Vermilion's local weekly newspapers are the Vermilion Standard[14] and the Vermilion and Area Voice.[15]

Media coverage[]

On March 12, 2021 Global News report called attention to hateful, racist, and misogynistic messages posted on a homeowner's property for years.[16] In response to complaints brought before the town council, Mayor McAuley said at a March 2 meeting that the "decorative signage" concerned her. McAuley said that, "[o]ur challenge always is personal freedoms and personal rights of individuals and how we address that in a greater community."[9] Vermilion community services director, Kevin Lucas, said that McAuley had "intended for her comment to be tongue-in-cheek." Vermilion "has been quite proactive in their approach with this individual. We've been trying to work with him and it seems, just like the seasons, we have peaks and valleys, and I believe right now we’re in a bit of a peak."[9] In 2017, Alberta Crown prosecutors did not lay charges following a criminal complaint because they "did not believe a conviction was likely".[9] A police investigation is ongoing.[9] A day after the Global News report, the owner of the house had been served with a cease and desist order and all the signs had been removed, according to an email from Mayor McAuley.[16] The complainant had expressed concerns to the RCMP, on social media and to the Vermilion for Equity Foundation (VEUF), an organization that formed in June 2020, during the Black Lives Matter protests.[17] In an interview with Global News, MacEwan University's Irfan Chaudhry—a hate crimes researcher—said that, the "threshold (for criminal hate speech) is really high in Canada. There’s a number of conditions that have to be met."[16] Chaudhry said that the town of Vermilion, along with criminal charges, could also file a civil suit if "any of the signs are libellous or defamatory" and/or pass a bylaw prohibiting such signage. Chaudry said that there is a potential for the town to be sued under the under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms so they should be proactive. The town of Vermilion could become a "starting place for other municipalities across the province to consider similar actions".[9] Lucas said that, he did not "believe this is reflective of the town of Vermilion...a very progressive and welcoming community … this is a one-off....It's hurtful to the community, but it also brings to the forefront how we’re not immune to anything. Even though we're a small community, we're not immune to this type of behaviour."[16]

Notable people[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Town of Vermilion. "Mayor's Message". Archived from the original on 2007-08-12. Retrieved 2007-08-04.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "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.
  3. ^ "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)" (PDF) (PDF). Safety Codes Council. January 2012. pp. 212–215 (PDF pages 226–229). Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Town of Vermilion Archived October 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine – History
  5. ^ "Vermilion Signal, 27 February 1908 (Peel's Prairie Provinces)". Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  6. ^ 2017 Municipal Affairs Population List (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. ISBN 978-1-4601-3652-2. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  7. ^ 2016 Municipal Affairs Population List (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. ISBN 978-1-4601-3127-5. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  8. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Heidenreich, Phil. "Racist signs greet those who walk past a home in an Alberta town — can anything be done about it? Racist signs greet those who walk past a home in an Alberta town — can anything be done about it?". Global News. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  10. ^ "Vermilion Agricultural Society". Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  11. ^ "Vermilion Provincial Park". Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  12. ^ East Central Alberta Catholic Schools Archived August 20, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Lakeland College
  14. ^ "Vermilion Standard". Canoe Sun Media. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  15. ^ "Vermilion and Area Voice". Vermilion Voice. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Bench, Allison (March 14, 2021). "All signs removed: Racist display pulled from property in Vermilion, Alta". Global News. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  17. ^ Soul, Dan (March 26, 2020). "Vermilion Unites for Equality holds anti-discrimination rally in Lloydminster". My Lloydminster Now. Retrieved March 21, 2021.

External links[]

Coordinates: 53°21′15″N 110°51′10″W / 53.35417°N 110.85278°W / 53.35417; -110.85278 (Vermilion)

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