Morinville is a town in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region of Alberta, Canada. It is approximately 34 kilometres (21 mi) north of Edmonton along Highway 2.

Morinville
Town
Town of Morinville
The Provincial Building in downtown Morinville
The Provincial Building in downtown Morinville
Coat of arms of Morinville
Official logo of Morinville
Motto(s): 
"We Listen, We Serve, We Achieve"
Morinville is located in Sturgeon County
Morinville
Morinville
Location in Sturgeon County
Morinville is located in Alberta
Morinville
Morinville
Location in Alberta
Coordinates: 53°48′08″N 113°38′59″W / 53.80222°N 113.64972°W / 53.80222; -113.64972
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionEdmonton Metropolitan Region
Census division11
Municipal districtSturgeon County
Founded1892
Incorporated[1] 
 • VillageAugust 24, 1901
 • TownApril 18, 1911
Named forJean-Baptiste Morin
Government
 • MayorSimon Boersma
 • Governing body
Morinville Town Council
  • Maurice St.Denis
  • Stephen Dafoe
  • Rebecca Balanko
  • Jenn Anheliger
  • Ray White
  • Scott Richardson
 • CAONaleen Narayan
 • MPDane Lloyd
 • MLADale Nally
Area
 (2021)[3]
 • Land11.15 km2 (4.31 sq mi)
Elevation700 m (2,300 ft)
Population
 (2021)[3][7]
 • Total10,385
 • Density931/km2 (2,410/sq mi)
 • Municipal census (2020)
10,578[5]
 • Estimate (2020)
10,571[6]
DemonymMorinvillian
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Forward sortation area
Area code(s)780, 587, 825
Websitemorinville.ca Edit this at Wikidata

History edit

 
The former St Jean Baptiste Church in downtown Morinville.

Morinville was settled by Jean-Baptiste Morin, a priest and missionary of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who brought many French settlers in the late 1800s, followed by several German pioneers.

The monument located in St. Jean Baptiste Park lists the many names of pioneers and settlers to Morinville. Once situated on the street at 100 Avenue and 100 Street, the monument was moved to its present location in 2000, as it was a safety hazard and very difficult to enjoy with all the traffic at the intersection.

The first post-office opened in 1894.[8]

The Roman Catholic Church of the St. Jean Baptiste Parish was built in 1907. The church, along with its adjacent but now inoperative convent Morinville Convent, was declared a historical site in 1975. In 2005, the grounds of the church were landscaped with a clock tower, new grass, trees and shrubs, in celebration of Alberta's 100th anniversary as a province. On June 30 2021, the church was completely destroyed by a suspicious fire, still under investigation.[9]

Morinville has a long history of successful business ventures as one of the first locations in Western Canada to open a Royal Bank of Canada in 1910 and a credit union in 1940. A series of successful international business ventures include Champion Pet Foods, which exports around the world.

Demographics edit

Population history
YearPop.±%
19966,226—    
20016,540+5.0%
20066,775+3.6%
20118,569+26.5%
20169,848+14.9%
Source: Statistics Canada
[10][11][12]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Morinville had a population of 10,385 living in 3,768 of its 3,981 total private dwellings, a change of 5.5% from its 2016 population of 9,848. With a land area of 11.15 km2 (4.31 sq mi), it had a population density of 931.4/km2 (2,412.3/sq mi) in 2021.[3]

The population of the Town of Morinville according to its 2020 municipal census is 10,578,[5] a 6.9% change from its 2016 municipal census population of 9,893.[13]

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Morinville recorded a population of 9,848 living in 3,491 of its 3,611 total private dwellings, a 14.9% change from its 2011 population of 8,569. With a land area of 11.15 km2 (4.31 sq mi), it had a population density of 883.2/km2 (2,287.6/sq mi) in 2016.[12]

Economy edit

As of 2010, 93% of Morinville's tax base is residential in nature.[14] One of the town's larger businesses, Champion Pet Foods, employs approximately 50 people.[15]

Attractions edit

Recreation amenities in Morinville include walking trails, a splash park, a trout pond, a skateboard park, a hockey arena, a curling rink, numerous parks and playgrounds, and outdoor fitness equipment stations along the trail system and at the splash park among other amenities.[16] Other recreation amenities are available in St. Albert and Edmonton to the south.

The Morinville Leisure Centre (MLC) opened in May 2019. The facility contains an arena, a multi-use court space and a small gym. Future expansion of this facility is in consideration.[17]

Education edit

The Sturgeon Public School Division operates 2 schools in Morinville – École Morinville Public (ECE to Grade 4) and Four Winds Public School (Grade 5–9). Greater St. Albert Catholic Regional Division offers faith-based education in three schools – École Notre Dame Elementary, Georges H. Primeau Middle School and Morinville Community High School.[18] Prior to 2011, Morinville had only Catholic schools, and no secular or Protestant schools. This led to non-Catholic parents starting an advocacy campaign to introduce a secular option for education in Morinville.[19][20] In response, Sturgeon School Division and the Town of Morinville agreed to provide space for a secular education program for grades 1–4 for the 2011–2012 school year.[21] Further, the Government of Alberta committed to conducting a census in Morinville, Legal, St. Albert and a portion of Sturgeon County to determine the minority faith in the area as a precursor to developing a long-term solution to address secular education in Morinville.[22]

Media edit

Morinville is served by four local weekly newspapers — The Free Press,[23] Farm 'n' Friends,[24] the St. Albert Gazette, and The Morinville News.[25]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Location and History Profile: Town of Morinville". Alberta Municipal Affairs. March 13, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  2. ^ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "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). Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Kevin Ma (September 18, 2020). "Morinville cracks 10,000 residents". St. Albert Gazette. Great West Newspapers. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  6. ^ "Census Subdivision (Municipal) Population Estimates, July 1, 2016 to 2020, Alberta". Alberta Municipal Affairs. March 23, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  7. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and population centres". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  8. ^ Trottier, Alice (1991). Faith and Tenacity : History of Morinville, 1891-1991. Morinville: Saint-Jean-Baptiste Parish. p. 113. ISBN 1-55056-085-9.
  9. ^ "Century-old Catholic church in Morinville, Alta., destroyed by fire". CBC News. June 30, 2021.
  10. ^ "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  12. ^ a b "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  13. ^ 2016 Municipal Affairs Population List (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. ISBN 978-1-4601-3127-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  14. ^ Stephen Dafoe (August 16, 2010). "Ask-A-Candidate Question 7". Morinville News. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  15. ^ "BBB Reliability Report for Champion Foods LP". Better Business Bureau Edmonton. October 6, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  16. ^ Town of Morinville. "Community Amenities and Recreation". Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  17. ^ "Morinville Leisure Centre is now open". Morinville News - Morinville Online. 2019-05-27. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  18. ^ "Morinville Schools". Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  19. ^ Hammer, Kate (2011-03-04). "In an Alberta town, parents fight for a secular education". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  20. ^ Ibrahim, Mariam (2011-03-07). "Parents want secular school". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on 2011-03-17. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  21. ^ Stephen Dafoe (2011-05-11). "Sturgeon School Division ready to roll with secular education in September". Morinville News. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  22. ^ "Census to be held in St. Albert, Morinville and Legal". Government of Alberta. 2011-09-06. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  23. ^ "The Free Press". Cowley Newspapers. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  24. ^ "Farm n Friends". Cowley Newspapers. Archived from the original on 2013-03-28. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  25. ^ "Morinville News". Art of Conversation Morinville Ltd. Retrieved 2012-07-18.

External links edit