Foremost, Alberta
The industry in Foremost is mainly agricultural. Recreational facilities include an ice arena, swimming pool, curling rink, and baseball diamonds. Fishing, including winter ice fishing, is a popular activity at the Foremost Irrigation Reservoir at the western edge of the village. Every June, the residents hold a parade, rodeo, and a "Tough Truck" competition. Hockey is an important part of the culture in Foremost, with a local minor hockey team called the Foremost Flyers holding multiple provincial and regional titles.
Foremost School, the local K-12 public school, has a long history of successful sports teams. The Foremost Falcons and Forettes have won many provincial titles in basketball, volleyball, track and field and cross country running.
The village also has a strong arts community presenting community theatre as well as a school drama department.
Geography
Climate
Foremost experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk).
| Climate data for Foremost, Alberta | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 19.1 (66.4) |
22.0 (71.6) |
27.0 (80.6) |
31.1 (88.0) |
35.0 (95.0) |
38.9 (102.0) |
41.1 (106.0) |
40.6 (105.1) |
36.7 (98.1) |
32.2 (90.0) |
25.0 (77.0) |
17.8 (64.0) |
41.1 (106.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −1.0 (30.2) |
1.6 (34.9) |
6.4 (43.5) |
13.6 (56.5) |
18.9 (66.0) |
23.0 (73.4) |
26.8 (80.2) |
26.8 (80.2) |
20.5 (68.9) |
13.7 (56.7) |
4.2 (39.6) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
12.8 (55.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.0 (19.4) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
0.0 (32.0) |
6.4 (43.5) |
11.6 (52.9) |
15.8 (60.4) |
18.8 (65.8) |
18.7 (65.7) |
12.8 (55.0) |
6.5 (43.7) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
5.9 (42.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −13.1 (8.4) |
−11.1 (12.0) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
−0.8 (30.6) |
4.3 (39.7) |
8.6 (47.5) |
10.8 (51.4) |
10.6 (51.1) |
5.2 (41.4) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
−7.7 (18.1) |
−12.3 (9.9) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −42.0 (−43.6) |
−40.0 (−40.0) |
−35.0 (−31.0) |
−22.2 (−8.0) |
−11.1 (12.0) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−12.2 (10.0) |
−28.0 (−18.4) |
−38.0 (−36.4) |
−43.3 (−45.9) |
−43.3 (−45.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 19.8 (0.78) |
13.7 (0.54) |
29.0 (1.14) |
26.0 (1.02) |
55.1 (2.17) |
73.0 (2.87) |
39.7 (1.56) |
40.2 (1.58) |
44.0 (1.73) |
17.4 (0.69) |
18.3 (0.72) |
19.7 (0.78) |
396.0 (15.59) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.1 (0.00) |
0.0 (0.0) |
3.2 (0.13) |
17.1 (0.67) |
49.4 (1.94) |
73.0 (2.87) |
39.7 (1.56) |
39.8 (1.57) |
43.6 (1.72) |
12.1 (0.48) |
1.3 (0.05) |
0.6 (0.02) |
279.9 (11.02) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 19.7 (7.8) |
13.7 (5.4) |
25.8 (10.2) |
8.9 (3.5) |
5.7 (2.2) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.1) |
0.4 (0.2) |
5.4 (2.1) |
17.0 (6.7) |
19.1 (7.5) |
116.1 (45.7) |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Foremost had a population of 501 living in 212 of its 222 total private dwellings, a change of -7.4% from its 2016 population of 541. With a land area of 2.13 km (0.82 sq mi), it had a population density of 235.2/km (609.2/sq mi) in 2021.
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Foremost recorded a population of 541 living in 229 of its 257 total private dwellings, a 2.9% change from its 2011 population of 526. With a land area of 2.16 km (0.83 sq mi), it had a population density of 250.5/km (648.7/sq mi) in 2016.
Economy
Foremost Centre for Unmanned Systems
Foremost hosts the Foremost UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Test Range at the Foremost Aerodrome. Established by the Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems (CCUVS) in 2008, the Foremost Centre supports training for pilots in Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights - the only one in Canada. The location was selected for reasons including number of sunny days, low population density, flat prairie terrain, low number of dwellings and minimal man-made obstructions. The site's range stretches across the County of 40 Mile, encompassing almost 700 square nautical miles and reaches up to 18,000 feet above sea level.
The site received Transport Canada's approval as Canada's "first permanent restricted airspace for Unmanned Air Systems (UAS, drone)" in November, 2016. Drone Delivery Canada began testing at the site in 2017 with the goal of commercially rolling out drone delivery in 2018.
The community, noted former mayor Ken Kultgen, expects the Centre "will be used by national and international businesses, universities and manufacturing companies."
See also
References
- ^ "Location and History Profile: Village of Foremost" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 21, 2016. p. 295. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 25, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- ^ "Alberta Municipal Affairs: Municipal Officials Search". Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Archived from the original on February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Population and dwelling count amendments, 2021 Census". Statistics Canada. December 1, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
- ^ "Foremost, Alberta". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 (in English and French). Environment Canada. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
- ^ "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. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
- ^ "Drone company to begin testing at Foremost, Canada's first approved UAV test range". Calgary Herald. January 11, 2017. Archived from the original on June 11, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "Foremost Centre For Unmanned Systems". Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "'It's the future': Small prairie village pins economic fortunes on drones". CBC News. June 6, 2017. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "FOREMOST UNMANNED AIR SYSTEMS RANGE RECEIVES FINAL TRANSPORT CANADA AUTHORIZATION". November 3, 2016. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "Drone Delivery Canada Advances Toward Compliant Operator Certificate at the First Transport Canada Approved Drone Test Range". January 10, 2017. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "Foremost about to be in the Forefront of Unmanned Air Systems Testing". June 20, 2016. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
