Forestburg
http://www.forestburg.ca
Welcome
Welcome to the Village of Forestburg National Champion Communities in Bloom. Locating in Forestburg makes good sense these days.
Forestburg is a vibrant friendly community which offers an exciting blend of recreational and cultural opportunities and business services.
The quality of living is great. Minutes from your doorstep you can curl, golf, play rec hockey, slowpitch, baseball, paint pictures, work out at the fitness centre, make pottery, join a drama or choral music group. Your kids can play minor hockey, figure skate, minor ball, soccer, dance, or swim competitively. Housing prices are reasonable, as are property taxes and utilities. The Village of Forestburg owns its own natural gas system, so rates are consistently well under those charged by large gas companies. Plus there are a lot of friendly people here who participate actively in making Forestburg a great place to live!
Interested? Contact the Village Office [780-582-3668] for further information.
Yours truly,
Bob Coutts
Mayor of Forestburg
Forestburg Village Office
Area Overview
The Village of Forestburg is located 80 km southeast of Camrose on Highway 53, next to the beautiful Battle River Valley, Big Knife Provincial Park and North America's oldest stripping shovel at the Diplomat Mine Interpretive Site.The rich farmland of the area was settled by British, Scandinavian and German homesteaders in 1905. Coal mining has been a part of the area almost as long as agriculture, as enterprising homesteaders opened the first of many small underground "gopher hole" mines in the banks of the Battle River in 1907. After the coming of the railway in 1916, a townsite was surveyed, and Forestburg was incorporated as a Village in 1919.
The 2005 population of Forestburg is 863. Forestburg has a large proportion of young families for such a small community. A planning survey found that what Forestburg residents like most about their community was "the friendly people". Small town values of caring and working together abound [no small town could exist without volunteers!]. Forestburg residents have a progressive attitude and a lot of pride in their community. This is evident in the many beautiful yards and well-maintained homes and commercial buildings and being chosen National Champion Communities in Bloom.
Come stay for a while.Camp at Big Knife Provincial Park 5 miles west and 6 miles south of Forestburg.Stay at the Kinsmen RV Park - for reservations call 582-2409 or 385-5900 - Joanne or Bill, or stay at the Golf Course Camp Ground - for reservations call Clarence @ 582-3919
National Champions of Communities in Bloom
Location
Where in the world is Forestburg!
Economic Base
The main economic base of the Forestburg area includes agriculture, coal mining, power generation, oil & gas activity, and business and retail services.
Economic Facts
The main economic base of the Forestburg area includes agriculture, coal mining, power generation, oil and gas activity, and business and retail services.
Major Businesses, Products, Services
- Atco Electric - Power generation
- Battle River Research Group - Agricultural Business
- Forestburg Meat Processing - Abbatoir
- Husky - Oil & Gas
- Prairie Mines & Royalty Ltd. - Coal mining
- McNabb Construction - Construction services
- Renaissance Energy - Oil & Gas
- Poco Petroleum - Oil & Gas
- Prism Integrated Solutions Inc. - Mfg.
- Envirochem - Welding, Backhoe service, Mfg. of Roto Shear
- Paintearth Energy Service Inc. - Mfg.
Financial Institutions
- Bank of Montreal
- Alberta Treasury Branch
Businesses and Services
- Accountants
- Lawyers
- Insurance and Registries
- Groceries & Hardware
- Medical Clinc, Chiropractic, & Massage Therapy
- Pharmacy
Utilities
Electrical Power
Direct Energy Inc. (billing)
Atco Electric Ltd. (power delivery)
Tel: 1-877-282-2922
Natural Gas
Village of Forestburg
Box 210
Forestburg, Alberta
T0B 1N0
Tel: 780-582-3668
Phoenix Gas 1-888-842-2667
Telephone
Telus Communications Ltd.
Telephone: 780-310-2255
High Speed Internet and Cable TV
Persona Communications Ltd.
Telephone: 1-866-737-7662
Water Supply
Water is obtained from three wells, with a system capacity able to serve a population of approximately 1,200 people.
Waste Management
The sewage treatment system has a capacity to serve a population of approximately 1,500 people.
Solid waste collection is administered by Flagstaff Waste Management.
Taxation
Tax Rates [2007]
- Residential -0.016301
- Non-Residential - 0.025965
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| Municipal Tax Rate |
.012900 |
.019600 |
| Education - Alberta School Foundation Fund Tax Rate |
.003214 |
.006178 |
| Seniors Lodge Accommodation Tax Rate |
.000187 |
.000187 |
Transportation
Air Services
Forestburg has its own local airport, located 1 km west of town on Highway 53.
Rail Services
Forestburg is served by Canadian National Railways.
Highways
The main connecting highways include Highway 53, leading west to Bashaw and Highway 53 & 608 east to north turn to Hardisty and S.H. 856 north to Highway 13.
Bus Services
.
Couriers
HDL and Purolator Couriers
Community Lifestyle
Recreation
Forestburg has numerous recreational and cultural groups which make good use of the various facilities. There is a 9-hole golf course with grass greens and driving range, tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool, curling rink, arena, ball diamonds, a soccer pitch, and several playgrounds. Our modern Seniors Drop In Centre features two floor curling sheets, numerous card tables, pool tables, piano, and shuffle board. Our Seniors Lodge welcomes visitors to weekly events, and provides seniors transportation to appointments and touring excursions. The Lions Club hosts a weekly bingo. There are youth groups such as 4-H, library program.
The community centre provides a permanent base for the drama, dance and choral music groups and also features a professional concert series annually. Other cultural groups and facilities include the art club, public library, pottery club, ceramics club, museum, and Curtain Call Community Theatrer>Camping is available at the Kinsmen RV Park or Golf Course RV Park located in the village and Big Knife Provincial Park [20 km southwest of Forestburg].
Community Organizations
Recreation organizations include swimming, curling, figure skating, minor-ladies- and senior hockey, minor and senior baseball, soccer, golf, slowpitch, tennis, aerobics, fitness centre, skiing, and dance.
Cultural organizations include the Battle River Playmakers, Diplomat Mine Museum Society, Art Club, Dance Society, Choral Society, Historical Society, Hastings Coulee Hall Board, Pleasington Historical Society, and Ceramics Club and Pottery Club.
Service organizations include the 4-H Multi-club, Hastings Coulee 4-H Beef Club, Community Catering Committee, Lions Club, Meals on Wheels, Golden Age Club, Agricultural Society, Communities in Bloom, Community Hall Board, Library Board, and Arena Association.
Religious Services
- Lutheran Church
- United Church
- Baptist Church
- Catholic Church (located in Heisler)
- Seventh Day Adventist (located in Merna)
- Presbyterian (located in Galahad)
Special Annual Events/Attractions
- The Diplomat Mine Interpretive Site, located just north of Big Knife Provincial Park, has the Marion 360 stripping shovel, which was built in 1927. The site provides an opportunity to learn about coal mining in the area from early "gopher hole" mines to the present day.Attend the open house & tour, the last Sunday of June.
- Community Christmas, including Farmers Market Christmas Market, last Saturday of November in the Community Centre.
- Mud Bog - June 13, 2009
- Battle River Cash Scramble Golf Tournament - Thanksgiving Weekend
- Communities in Bloom annual local and rural yard competition - July/August
- Golf Club Sunday Breakfasts - May through September
- Curtain Call Community Theatre- looking for interested actors/actresses and stagehands for the upcoming presentation
Hospitality
- The Glass Inn and Artists Studio Bed and Breakfast
Accommodation
- Forestburg Motor Inn
- Forestburg Hotel
- J.'s Motel
Restaurants
- C.J.'s Delicatessen
- Harvest Garden
- Forest Tree Restaurant and Lounge
- Cedar's Pizza & Steakhouse
- Forestburg Golf Club Lounge (Apr 15-Oct. 15) <
Enjoy the Golf Course!
Education
Forestburg is part of the Battle River Regional Division No. 31, headquartered in Camrose [Tel: 780-672-6131].
Daycare/Nursery
A playschool for 3-4 year olds is available in their own facility.
Public
Forestburg School provides education for Grades K to 12 in a newly renovated, modernized school. New playground installed in 2004. 582-3563
Separate
N/A
Private
N/A
Forestburg School houses Grades K-12
Post Secondary
A variety of courses are offered each year by Flagstaff Community Adult Learning.
Augustana University College, located in Camrose, has over 1,000 students, a campus residence and degree granting status in 21 disciplines [arts and sciences].
Health Care
Forestburg has a medical clinic. Doctors come from Daysland twice a week on a rotating basis. A dentist, a massage therapist,and a chiropractor are at the professional building every Wednesday.Hospital Services are available in Daysland and Killam, 25 km from Forestburg. Health unit services and a well baby clinic are available once a month.
Facilities for seniors include Big Knife Villa, comprised of a lodge, self-contained apartments and a drop-in centre.
Big Knife Villa
Emergency Services
Fire Protection
Forestburg is served by a local volunteer fire department [Tel: 780-582-3666], or for emergency call 911.
Police Services
Forestburg is served by the Killam/Forestburg detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police [RCMP] [Tel: 780-385-3502]. Also for emergencies call 911.
Ambulance Services
Ambulance service is available from Forestburg by calling 911. Flagstaff Ambulance Service maintains an office and qualified full time staff in Forestburg. 582-2225
Forestburg Fire Hall
Community Services
Municipal
Village of Forestburg
Box 210
Forestburg, Alberta
T0B 1N0
Tel: 780-582-3668
Fax: 780-582-2233
e-mail: forestburg@persona.ca
website: www. forestburg.ca
Administration
Public Works 582-4195
Provincial
Driver Examiner
Motor Vehicle Registration/Licensing 582-3560
Federal
Canada Post
Municipal
Forestburg Public Library is located in the Farvolden Centre
Hours:
Tues & Thur - 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 2 - 8 pm> Wed & Fri - 2 - 5 pm.
Sat 10 am - 1 p.m.
Pre-school Story Hour: Last Wednesday of the month @ 1:00 pm
Services Available:
Alberta Library Card member library. Shut-In Service, Inter-Library Loan, Talking Books, Large Print Books, Books in other languages, Videos, Sound Film Strips.
Summer Reading Program:
July and August
Marion Riise-Oberg, Librarian
Phone: 780-582-4110
E-mail:forestburglibrary@libs.prl.ab.ca
Schools
Forestburg School offers Kindergarten through Grade 12. For further information, call 780-582-3792.
Playschool is offered from Oct. - May for 3 and 4 year olds . Classes are Tues. and Thurs. , either morning or afternoon.
Contact Robin Hillman @ 780-582-2207 or Lisa Gallon @ 780-582-3555
Flagstaff Community Adult Learning - Phone (780) 385-3900 (Killam)
Churches
Hope Lutheran
Pastor Rick Laurendeau
Worship times:contact Rick @ 403-883-2290
Bethel United
Rev. Jope Langejans
Worship & Sunday School: 11:30 a.m. Sunday Phone 780-582-3796
Forestburg Community Church
Pastor Heinz Janzen c/o Killam Baptist Church - Phone 780-385-3607
Seventh Day Adventist, Merna District
Pastor Bob Burke - Phone 780-889-3776
Worship times: Saturday Sabbath School 9:45 a.m.
Church service to follow at 11 a.m.
St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Galahad
Rev. Steve Haughland, 780-583-2200 or 780-385-2147
Worship times: Sunday 9:20 a.m.
St. Martin's Catholic Church, Heisler
Mass times - 1st Sunday of month - 11 a.m.
2nd Sunday - 7 p.m. Sat.
3rd Sunday - 9 a.m.
4th Sunday - 7 p.m. Sat.
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Bethel United Church
Google Map
Forestburg, Alberta, Canada