Provost, Alberta

History

The town was originally named "Lakeview" but renamed by the Canadian Pacific Railway Land Department in 1907; the first train to the town was in 1910. Post office established in 1908, and in the same year the original Methodist Church was built, followed by the Anglican Church. Another Church, the largest rural neo-gothic church in Alberta, would be built in 1922.

A white supremacist event, called an “Aryan Fest” by the Church of Jesus Christ Christian-Aryan Nations, took place at a farm nearby, on September 8 and 9, 1990. The event was a national scandal due to its brutality and made the headlines and made into court with the "Kane v. Church of Jesus Christ Christian-Aryan Nations (No. 3) (1992), 18 CHRR D/268" legal initiative.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Provost had a population of 1,900 living in 764 of its 862 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 1,998. With a land area of 4.75 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Provost recorded a population of 1,998 living in 779 of its 843 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 2,041. With a land area of 4.72 km2, it had a population density of in 2016.

Economy

The economic bases of Provost are agriculture and oilfield.

Education

There are two schools in Provost: Provost Public and St. Thomas Aquinas. Provost Public School has a student population of about 400 and is part of the Buffalo Trail Regional Division No. 28. St. Thomas Aquinas School has approximately 246 students and is part of the East Central Alberta Catholic Schools Regional Division No. 16.

Media

The local newspaper that covers the town is The Provost News. The East Central Alberta Review also regularly covers the town and its surrounding areas.

Notable people

• Mary Borgstrom, potter and artist.
• Lance Bouma, professional hockey player.
• Curtis Glencross, professional hockey player.
• Don C. Laubman, commander Canadian Forces Europe.
• Norm Ullman, former professional hockey player.

References

References

1. (October 7, 2016). "Location and History Profile: Town of Provost". [[Alberta Municipal Affairs]].
2. (February 9, 2022). "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and population centres". [[Statistics Canada]].
3. (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.
4. Senior Citizens Club of Provost. (1977). "Early furrows : a story of our early pioneers in Provost, Hayter, Bodo, Alberta and surrounding districts".
5. Hamilton, William. (1978). "The Macmillan Book of Canadian Place Names". Macmillan.
6. "History of Provost".
7. "Town of Provost".
8. "A shocking racist event in Alberta's history: the “Aryan Fest”".
9. (February 9, 2022). "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". [[Statistics Canada]].
10. (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]].
11. "The Provost News". The Provost News.
12. "The ECA Review".