Diamond Valley
Town
Town of Diamond Valley
Highway 22 in downtown Black Diamond
Highway 22 in downtown Black Diamond
Diamond Valley is located in Alberta
Diamond Valley
Diamond Valley
Location of Diamond Valley
Diamond Valley is located in Canada
Diamond Valley
Diamond Valley
Diamond Valley (Canada)
Coordinates: 50°40′34″N 114°15′36″W / 50.676°N 114.260°W / 50.676; -114.260
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionCalgary Metropolitan Region
Census division6
Municipal districtFoothills County
Village (BD)[1]May 8, 1929
Village (TV)[1]February 23, 1930
Town (BD)[1]January 1, 1956
Town (TV)[1]September 1, 1977
Amalgamated[2]January 1, 2023
Government
 • MayorBarry Crane
 • Governing bodyDiamond Valley Town Council
 • CAO[2]Shawn Patience
Area
 (2021)[3]
 • Land12.57 km2 (4.85 sq mi)
Elevation
[4]
1,159–1,215 m (3,802–3,986 ft)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total5,341
Time zoneUTC−07:00 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−06:00 (MDT)
Postal code span
T0L
Area code+1-403
HighwaysHighway 22
Highway 7
WaterwaysSheep River
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata
Looking south in Turner Valley

Diamond Valley is a town in the Calgary Metropolitan Region of Alberta, Canada within Foothills County. It is at the intersection of Highway 22 (Cowboy Trail) and Highway 7. It was established through the provincially approved amalgamation of the former towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley on January 1, 2023.

History

Turner Valley, 1932

Black Diamond and Turner Valley incorporated as villages on May 8, 1929 and February 23, 1930 respectively.[1] After nearly 26 years as a village, Black Diamond incorporated as a town on January 1, 1956.[1] Turner Valley incorporated as a town on September 1, 1977 after 47 years of village status.[1]

The thought of amalgamating the towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley first surfaced in the mid-1980s. Turner Valley withdrew from the discussions after Alberta Municipal Affairs completed a feasibility report on the amalgamation in 1986.[5]

The possibility resurfaced in 2006 when the towns initiated discussions on a possible amalgamation of the two municipalities.[6] The discussions culminated in a plebiscite held on October 15, 2007, concurrently with their municipal elections, in which the question asked of voters was "Do you support an amalgamation of the Town of Black Diamond and the Town of Turner Valley to form one municipality?"[7] The results of the plebiscite were 66% of Turner Valley voters were in favour of amalgamation, while 71% of Black Diamond voters were against amalgamation.[7]

A third amalgamation investigation began in early 2016 through a joint request of Black Diamond and Turner Valley for a provincial grant to undertake a feasibility study.[8] Following negotiations and engagement, the two town councils decided to proceed with an amalgamation application in September 2021.[9] The name of the amalgamated municipality was proposed to be the Town of Diamond Valley.[9] Among over 200 name suggestions, Diamond Valley received the majority of responses in a survey of three shortlisted suggestions; the other two being Sheep River and Black Valley.[9] The proposed effective date of the amalgamation was January 1, 2023.[10] On May 25, 2022, the Government of Alberta approved the amalgamation application with the municipality name and effective date as originally proposed.[2]

Demographics

The combined population of the towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley, according to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, is 5,341, and 5264 in 2016. The two towns have a combined land area of 12.57 km2 (4.85 sq mi).[3]

Black Diamond
In 2021, the Town of Black Diamond had a population of 2,730 living in 1,178 of its 1,233 total private dwellings, a change of 0.9% from its 2016 population of 2,705. With a land area of 6.82 km2 (2.63 sq mi), it had a population density of 400.3/km2 (1,036.8/sq mi) in 2021.[3]

Turner Valley
In 2021, the Town of Turner Valley had a population of 2,611 living in 1,073 of its 1,133 total private dwellings, a change of 2% from its 2016 population of 2,559. With a land area of 5.75 km2 (2.22 sq mi), it had a population density of 454.1/km2 (1,176.1/sq mi) in 2021.[3]

Government

The Town of Diamond Valley will have a seven-person council comprising a mayor and six councillors all elected at-large.[2] The first election is scheduled for November 28, 2022.[11] Its chief administrative officer (CAO) will be Shawn Patience, who is currently the CAO of the Town of Turner Valley.[2]

The first council of Diamond Valley, based on the official results of the election, held November 28, 2022:

  • Mayor, Barry Crane
  • Councillor, Jonathan Gordon
  • Councillor, Cindy Holladay
  • Councillor, Brendan Kelly
  • Councillor, Veronica Kloiber
  • Councillor, Hazel Martin
  • Councillor, Heather Thomson

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Municipal Profiles: Towns" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. August 13, 2021. pp. 50–52 and 661–663. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "O.C. 156/2022". Government of Alberta. May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  4. ↑ "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). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  5. ↑ Jack K. Masson & Edward C. LeSage (1994). Alberta's Local Governments: Politics and Democracy. University of Alberta. ISBN 9780888642516. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held March 20, 2006" (PDF). Town of Turner Valley. March 20, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 20, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Black Diamond Turner Valley Amalgamation Grant – Final Report". Alberta Municipal Affairs. Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Black Diamond and Turner Valley Agree to Explore Amalgamation" (PDF). Town of Black Diamond and Town of Turner Valley. February 19, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 "Proposed Amalgamation". Town of Turner Valley. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Amalgamation Update" (PDF). Town of Turner Valley and Town of Black Diamond Joint Friendship Agreement Committee. June 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Ministerial Order No. MSD:035/22". Government of Alberta. May 25, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
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