Millet, Alberta

History

The Town of Millet was named in honour of August Millet, who was believed to be a canoeist for Father Lacombe. (Another possible source of the name is that it is named after French painter Jean-François Millet, a favourite of railway tycoon William Cornelius Van Horne, who also named nearby Hobbema after Dutch painter Meindert Hobbema.)

On June 17, 1903, Millet was proclaimed a village by an Order-in-Council of the Northwest Territories. By 1908, Millet's first councillors were elected.

In October 1927, a disastrous fire destroyed many of the buildings along the east side of Railway Street.

In 1950, the Board of Trade built a community hall and gave it to the Village. The hall is still being used today. In 1953, Northwestern Utilities brought natural gas to the Village. Griffiths Scott School was built in 1982, and a Senior Citizens Apartment was completed in 1983. On September 1, 1983, Millet was declared a town, and "Coming to Town" celebrations were held on October 15, 1983.

Australian woman Allyson McConnell murdered her two children, Connor and Jayden, in Millet in 2010. The case received press coverage in both Canada and Australia. The Canadian Press wrote that the case "shocked and rallied the community" in Millet.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Millet had a population of 1,890 living in 800 of its 839 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 1,955. With a land area of 6.62 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Millet recorded a population of 1,945 living in 822 of its 866 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 2,092. With a land area of 3.72 km2, it had a population density of in 2016.

Economy

Millet focuses on agriculture and recreation.

Arts and culture

In May, Millet hosts the Millet Massacre, which includes live bands and a beer garden. In June of every year, a Millet Days celebration takes place, which includes a parade, trade show, softball tournament, fireworks, and a soccer tournament.

Attractions

The Millet and District Museum, Archives and Visitor Information Centre was established in 1985. It is located at the north end of town on the west side of Highway 2A.

Education

Wetaskiwin Regional Division No. 11 operates public schools. Millet has one school - Griffiths-Scott School, which serves grades EC-8. Wetaskiwin Composite High School serves Millet for high school.

Pipestone School does not serve Millet, and is in nearby Pipestone.

Media

The town is the home of the official County of Wetaskiwin weekly newspaper, and the Leduc County weekly newspaper, The Leduc-Wetaskiwin Pipestone Flyer. Due to its proximity to two cities, the town's news is also covered in the Wetaskiwin Times and the Leduc Representative.

In the Wetaskiwin area, a community channel (Northern Cablevision Channel 10) is broadcast out of the city of Wetaskiwin, as well as two radio stations. Other major radio stations are picked up from Edmonton. The Edmonton Sun and Edmonton Journal are also distributed in Millet.

References

References

1. {{AMOS
2. (October 7, 2016). "Location and History Profile: Town of Millet". [[Alberta Municipal Affairs]].
3. (February 9, 2022). "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and population centres". [[Statistics Canada]].
4. (January 2012). "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)". Safety Codes Council.
5. Place Names of Alberta, volume 3
6. (2010-02-06). "Hundreds attend funerals for slain Alberta boys". [[The Globe and Mail]].
7. (February 9, 2022). "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". [[Statistics Canada]].
8. (February 8, 2017). "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". [[Statistics Canada]].
9. AlbertaFirst. [http://www.albertafirst.com/profiles/statspack/20441.html Millet's Economic Community Profile]
10. [http://www.hdotu.com/ Heat Death official webpage] {{webarchive. link. (2014-04-13)
11. [http://www.milletliving.com/ Millet Living Community Website] {{webarchive. link. (2007-10-09)
12. [http://www.milletsoccer.com/ Millet Soccer Homepage] {{webarchive. link. (2006-01-02)
13. "[https://www.wrps11.ca/schools/our-schools/142 Griffiths-Scott School]." [[Wetaskiwin Regional Division No. 11]]. Retrieved on September 13, 2018.
14. "[https://www.wrps11.ca/schools/our-schools/150 Pipestone School]." [[Wetaskiwin Regional Division No. 11]]. Retrieved on September 13, 2018.
15. Media: The Pipestone Flyer, Wetaskiwin Times, Leduc Representative