Didsbury
http://www.didsbury.ca
Welcome
Welcome to our community. We hope the information contained within this profile is useful. If additional information is required, please contact:
Colleen Gustavson,
Economic Development Coordinator
Town of Didsbury
403-335-7362
Area Overview
As a major agriculture service centre located in the heart of mixed farming country,
Didsbury is ideally situated to provide the luxury of country living with outstanding up to date, "urban" facilities.
Didsbury's prime location near Highway 2 and close proximity to Calgary and Red Deer is
viewed very favourably by business and residents. The Town offers a good lifestyle as well as lower costs
than major urban centres.
Excellent education and recreation facilities are available. A one hour drive will take
fishermen to the best rivers and lakes in Alberta, rafters and canoeists to wild or
moderate rivers, and campers to some of the most scenic spots in the country.
Location
The Town of Didsbury is located in Mountain View County. It is just west of Highway #2
some 72 km north of Calgary and 72 km south of Red Deer.
Location is the key word when describing Didsbury. Its central location in the David
Thompson Tourist Zone provides the visitor with easy access to a host of exciting
outdoor activities - fishing, hiking and excellent photo opportunities. Some of Alberta's
most beautiful areas are a short one hour drive away in the Rocky Mountain Foothills.
The area's wildlife, rivers and campground facilities provide a complete range of sights
and experiences to satisfy all tastes. Just west of Highway 2, 45 minutes from Calgary
[south], and Red Deer [north], with many interesting things to do and see in all
directions, Didsbury is the ideal location from which to base an Alberta holiday, reside or start a business.
Economic Base
Agriculture, Oil & Gas, and Tourism are three of the most important industries in the area.
Economic Facts
Major Businesses Products/Services
Shur Gain Feeds [livestock], Oat Groats, Dog Food,
Tara Oilfield Services Ltd. [Oilfield Construction]
Didsbury Truss [Truss Construction/Supply]
Reimer International [Manufacturing Concrete Mixers for Export]
Jed Oil Inc. [Oil & Gas Producer]
Champion Hay Processors - Cubed Hay [Exporter to Japan]
Contemporary Graphics Ltd. Commercial Printing, Weekly Newspaper
Financial Institutions:
Alberta Treasury Branch
Royal Bank of Canada
Mountain View Credit Union
Utilities
Electrical Power
Epcor
Tel: 310-4300
Natural Gas
Direct Energy
Residential: 1-888-305-3828
Commercial: 1-877-877-3268
Telephone
Telus
Tel: 1-888-223-0300
Water Supply
The source of water is the Red Deer River. The town has a reservoir capacity for
treated water of 2,273 cubic metres [80,270.00 cubic feet] and a design capacity of
1,900 cubic metres [67,098.50 cubic feet].
The cost is $1.62 for the first 12.24 cubic feet
and $1.90 for every cubic foot after that.
There is a monthly $3.00 infrastructure fee and $11.52 base fee
Didsbury's Water Tower holds 600,000 gallons.
Waste Management
Didsbury has 4 short and 3 long treatment lagoons. The sewer treatment usage rate is $56.5 % of water usage Dec - May, and 43.5% for June - Nov. There is a monthly $3.00 infrastructure fee.
Garbage/Compost pick-up costs are as follows: Residential - $19.83/month.
PLEASE NOTE: The statistics listed below will be updated in Spring of 2009.
Taxation
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Municipal Tax Rate |
6.84 |
8.00 |
| Seniors Lodge Accommodation Tax Rate |
0.0817 |
0.0817 |
|
Education - Alberta School Foundation Fund Tax Rate
|
2.1022 |
4.0225 |
Transportation
Air Service
The local airport has all weather facilities and is located 6 km north of the Town.. Its
runway is 899.40 metres long and it can accommodate many different sized aircraft.
The Calgary Airport is less then 40 minutes away.
Rail Service
Canadian Pacific provides rail service. Spur trackage is developed on industrial land in
Didsbury. If additional spur trackage is required, Didsbury has suitable sites in its
boundaries.
Highways
Didsbury is located on Highway 582, six kilometres west of Highway #2.
Bus Services
Greyhound Lines of Canada provides regular service.
Cardinal Coachlines provides a daily commuter service to and from Calgary. http://www.cardinal-cal.com/Commuter_files/sheet004.htm
The Lions Handi-Bus provides a taxi service within the town for the elderly and the handicapped.
A community bus is available for rental by community groups.
Couriers and Taxis
Loomis, Purolator, United Parcel Service, Fedex provide a courier service.
Community Lifestyle
Recreation
The Didsbury Aquatic Centre has a 4-lane indoor pool with a 150 foot waterslide and hot
tub. The Memorial Complex has two ice surfaces[ 1 regulation and 1 leisure] and the
Curling Club has 4 sheets of ice, 2 viewing areas, kitchen/concession area, bar/lounge,
and 2 meeting rooms.
There are 13 parks and playgrounds, 9 ball diamonds, 4 tennis courts, a 9-hole golf coarse with grass greens, putting greens, a club house with a Pro-shop, kitchen/restaurant, and a bar/lounge. There are 8 lanes of lawn bowling greens with a clubhouse, kitchen and meeting area. There are also 3 fields for soccer.
Memorial Park provides a paved walking path, 3 ball diamonds, a concert bowl with stage as well as green space with valley views.
Rosebud Campground has 28 stalls, 21 of which have electricity. It is operated by the
Town of Didsbury.
Community Organizations
Community organizations include, but are not limited to:
Didsbury Chamber of Commerce
Didsbury Family & Community Support Services
Didsbury Lifeline Committee
Family & Adult Literacy
Didsbury Volunteer Fire Department
Didsbury Elks
Didsbury Lions
Didsbury Free Masons
Didsbury Royal Purple
Employment Services
Mountain View Regional Emergency Services
Didsbury Municipal Library
Didsbury and District Historical Society- Museum
Agricultural Society
Religious Services
Bergthal Mennonite Church
Zion Evangelical Missionary Church
Koinonia Christian Education Society
Redeemer Lutheran Church
St. Anthony's Catholic Church
Knox United Church
Chinook Winds Christian Centre
St. Cyprian's Anglican Church
Special Annual Events/Attractions
Show 'n Shine
Ag Fair and Rodeo
Rosebud Dogsled Run
Lion's Soap Box Derby
Mountain View Music Fest and Concert Club
Didsbury Trade Show
Didsbury Museum
Restored Train Station
Numerous Sporting and Agricultural Events
Hospitality
Accommodation
The Didsbury Inn
The Didsbury Motel
Didsbury Country Inn
Westway Hideaway- Bed & Breakfast
Restaurants
Macy's Family Restaurant
Didsbury Inn Dinning Room
Country Nook Restaurant
Golden River Chinese Restaurant
JD's Resaraunt and Pub
Green Bamboo Chinese Restaurant
K & W Drive In
Subway
Marco's Bistro and Bakery
Mug's Coffee House & Bistro
Education
Didsbury is part of the Chinook's Edge School Division #73, located in Innisfail [ Tel:
403-227-7070]
Daycare/Nursery
Kidsbury Daycare
Kidz Play House
Public
Schools in Didsbury include:
Ross Ford Elementary School [1-4],
Westglen School [5-8],
and Didsbury High School [9-12].
Private
Koinonia Christian Education Society
Post Secondary
Olds College, one of Canada's top agricultural institutes, is a ten minute commute from
Didsbury.
Calgary's post- secondary education facilities[ University of Calgary, Southern Alberta
Institute of Technology and Mount Royal College] are within easy commuting distance.
Red Deer's post - secondary education, Red Deer College, is within easy commuting distance.
Health Care
Didsbury is located in Regional Health Authority 5.
The Didsbury Hospital, built in 1982, serves the southern portion of Mountain View
County. It provides 24-hour medical, nursing, emergency and pediatric
service as well as elective surgery. The 110 bed hospital employs 225 health care
professionals, has acute care beds, 60 auxiliary care beds and 40 nursing home beds.
Extended health care is provided through the Mountain View Health Unit under the
coordinated home care program. The Health Unit also provides pre and postnatal care
and speech pathology.
In addition to these larger institutions, access to care is augmented by the Didsbury
Dental Clinic, Didsbury Chiropractic, as well as three private medical clinics.
Aspen Ridge Lodge provides regular, assisted and homecare for the elderly with a total of 80 beds.
Kinsmen Manor is a senior citizen residence with a number of self-contained units for
independent living. Other senior citizen homes include College Green Apartments,
Didsbury Manor, Mount View Foundation and Villas on the Green.
Emergency Services
Fire Protection
Didsbury has a volunteer fire department with 28 members, two pump trucks, one tanker, one bush buggy, one personnel carrier and an emergency rescue unit [Tel: 403-335-3333].
Police Services
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police [RCMP] has an 10-member local detachment [Tel:
403-335-3382].
Ambulance Services
Mountain View Regional Emergency Services provides emergency services to Didsbury
and Mountain View County. Emergency air ambulance services are available from Calgary
[Tel: 403-335-3300].
Community Services
Municipal
Town of Didsbury
Box 790
Didsbury, Alberta
T0M 0W0
Tel: 403-335-3391
Fax: 403-335-9794
Municipal Library
Alberta Hail & Crop Insurance
Provincial Court
Federal
Post Office
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Google Map
Didsbury, Alberta, Canada