Taber, Alberta

History

Originally, Taber was known as "Tank No. 77," and was used by the railway to fill up on water. In 1903, it is said that the first Mormon settlers from the U.S. were the ones to establish a hamlet at the Tank. After the town's post office was built in 1907, the CPR decided to call the town "Tabor," probably after Mount Tabor in the Holy Land. However, various letters and station heads came out printed "Taber," so the CPR changed the name to make it match the records.

An alternate version of the town's name origin is that the first part of the word tabernacle was used by Mormon settlers in the vicinity, and the next Canadian Pacific Railway station was named Elcan (nacle spelled backwards).

After time, Taber became a successful coal mining town. Coal mining declined in the late 1920s, but picked up in the 1930s after extensive irrigation in the area.

During the Second World War, Japanese Canadians were forcibly relocated to Alberta where some were compelled into forced labor, many in sugar beet cultivation, for the duration of the war.

Irrigation helped not only the coal miners, it also brought with it the production of sugar beets. In 1950, a sugar beet processing plant (Roger's Sugar) was built, which has become a vital part of the town's economy.

A number of archaeological discoveries were made in the vicinity of Taber, including that of extinct buffalo, and the so-called "Taber child" in 1961 by the head of a Geological Survey of Canada team Dr. Archie Stalker in the glacial deposits along the east bank of the Oldman River.

Geography

Climate

Taber experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk). The highest temperature ever recorded in Taber was 40.6 C on 17 July 1936. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -43.3 C on 23 January 1969.

|Jan record high C = 18.0 |Feb record high C = 24.0 |Mar record high C = 28.0 |Apr record high C = 31.1 |May record high C = 36.1 |Jun record high C = 39.4 |Jul record high C = 40.6 |Aug record high C = 38.5 |Sep record high C = 35.6 |Oct record high C = 31.1 |Nov record high C = 23.5 |Dec record high C = 19.0 |year record high C = 40.6 |Jan record low C = −43.3 |Feb record low C = −38.0 |Mar record low C = −36.7 |Apr record low C = −21.1 |May record low C = −11.7 |Jun record low C = −1.1 |Jul record low C = 2.8 |Aug record low C = −0.6 |Sep record low C = −7.8 |Oct record low C = −26.5 |Nov record low C = −33.0 |Dec record low C = −42.2 |year record low C = −43.3 | url-status = dead | access-date = 12 September 2016}}{{cite web

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Taber had a population of 8,862 living in 3,347 of its 3,481 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 8,428. With a land area of 19.32 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.

The population of the Town of Taber according to its 2020 municipal census is 8,711, a change from its 2015 municipal census population of 8,380.

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Taber recorded a population of 8,428 living in 3,159 of its 3,384 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 8,104. With a land area of 15.67 km2, it had a population density of in 2016.

Economy

Taber's economy is largely based on agriculture. Local produce includes pigs, beef, sheep, poultry, sugar beets, potatoes, peas, carrots, wheat, flax, barley, corn, beans, sunflowers, oats, onions, canola and mustard.

Roger's Sugar is Taber's sugar beet processing plant, built in 1950. Lantic Inc., owns and operates the factory. There are several food processing companies based in the town, including a Frito-Lay factory, which produces various snack products for much of Western Canada. As well, sand and gravel are mined here. To a lesser extent, there is also a significant oil and gas component to the economy.

Arts and culture

Cornfest

Cornfest is an annual summer festival held on the last full weekend in August, and includes a midway (rides, booths, and tests of skill) and a stage with performers. It is the largest free family festival in Western Canada, and is organized by the Taber and District Chamber of Commerce. There are a number of corn-based activities, such as corn tasting and stuffing. Corn stuffing involves two people, one wearing an oversized coverall. One of the contestants attempts to stuff as much corn as possible into the other's coverall. Whichever team can put the most corn in the coveralls in the allotted time wins. During Cornfest, large-scale, local corn producers enter their best varieties in the 'Best Corn of the Year' award.

Taber is home to one of the Canada 150 Mosaic murals. It depicts Tank 77 within a field of corn, and the tiles were painted by members of the community. The mural was unveiled in December 2016, and is housed within the Taber Health Clinic.

Government

The Town of Taber gained notoriety when it adopted a bylaw on February 23, 2015, that granted the police and bylaw officials the authority to levy fines for controversial actions including swearing, public assembly, spitting and applying graffiti on one's own private property. The bylaw also implemented a curfew. The adoption met criticism over its appearance of being unconstitutional; violating freedoms of expression and association protected under Section Two of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The town defended its adoption stating the bylaw "is intended to consolidate existing municipal regulations and allow enforcement under a municipal bylaw rather than the Criminal Code" and citing concerns about unnecessary prosecutions clogging the court. Mayor Henk De Vlieger supported the bylaw while stating that town council would review the bylaw after a six-month trial.

Taber Police Service

The Taber Police Service (TPS) is the municipal police force for the Town of Taber. Graham Abela is the current chief of police. The TPS was established in 1904. As of 2023, TPS had 19 serving officers.

Education

Kindergarten through grade 12 education is administered in Taber by the Horizon School Division and Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Division. The two high schools in Taber are W.R. Myers High School and St. Mary's School. Taber has a Christian School for kindergarten through grade 9. Other education systems include Community Adult Learning Council, ACE Place Learning Center and a Career Resource Centre.

Sister cities

Taber and Higashiomi are sister towns. In 1981, the Town of Taber and Notogawa, Japan signed the original Twinned Municipalities Agreement. When Notogawa was merged into the City of Higashiomi in 2006, the two municipalities re-signed the Twinning Agreement.

Notable people

• Gavin Crawford, actor and comedian (This Hour Has 22 Minutes)
• Brandon Davidson, professional ice hockey player
• Sally Ito, writer
• Sharon Kinne, international fugitive from justice and suspected serial killer, who lived in Taber under an assumed name from 1973 to her death in 2022
• Ron Lloyd, Commander Royal Canadian Navy 2016-2019
• Corb Lund, Musician
• Johnny Longden, jockey and horse trainer
• Rob Miyashiro, MLA for Lethbridge-West 2024–present
• Devin Setoguchi, professional ice hockey player
• Kenneth B. Storey, biology professor at Carleton University, among the top 2% of highly cited scientists in the world.

Notes

References

References

1. "Mayor & Council | Town of Taber".
2. (June 17, 2016). "Location and History Profile: Town of Taber". [[Alberta Municipal Affairs]].
3. (February 9, 2022). "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and population centres". [[Statistics Canada]].
4. (January 2012). "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)". Safety Codes Council.
5. C. Trylich and L.A. Bayrock, "''Bison occidcntalis Lucas'' Found at Taber, Alberta, Canada.", ''Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences'', 3 (1966), pp. 987–95.
6. Francis, R. Douglas, Palmer, Howard, ''The Prairie West: historical readings'', The University of Alberta Press, 2nd (Revised) ed., 1992, p.50
7. (February 9, 2022). "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". [[Statistics Canada]].
8. "2020 Municipal Census". Town of Taber.
9. "2015 Municipal Affairs Population List". [[Alberta Municipal Affairs]].
10. (February 8, 2017). "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". [[Statistics Canada]].
11. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population".
12. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2021-10-27). "Census Profile, 2016 Census".
13. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile".
14. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2019-08-20). "2006 Community Profiles".
15. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles".
16. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2019-07-04). "Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions, 1996 Census".
17. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2019-03-29). "1991 Census Area Profiles Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions - Part B".
18. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2019-03-29). "Data tables, 1991 Census Population by Ethnic Origin (24), Showing Single and Multiple Origins (2) - Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions".
19. Taber Chamber of Commerce. [http://www.taberchamber.com/Cornfest/home.htm Cornfest 2004 website]
20. "Canada 150 Mosaic: Taber".
21. (April 7, 2022). "Official Voting Results Raw Data (poll by poll results in Taber)". Elections Canada.
22. "Official Voting Results by polling station (poll by poll results in Taber)". Elections Alberta.
23. (March 10, 2015). "Taber bylaw bans public swearing, spitting and yelling in Alberta town". CBC News.
24. "Town of Taber Bylaw 4-2015". Town of Taber.
25. Stark, Erika. (March 10, 2015). "Forget washing your mouth out with soap, Taber establishes $150 fine for potty mouths". [[Postmedia Network Inc.]].
26. (March 10, 2015). "Media Release on Community Standards Bylaw". Town of Taber.
27. "Taber Police Service". Town of Taber.
28. "History". Town of Taber.
29. "Annual Report 2023".
30. "W.R. Myers High School". [[W. R. Myers High School]].
31. "St. Mary's School".
32. "Taber School List".
33. "Town of Taber Official Website".
34. "Johnny Longden | the Canadian Encyclopedia".
35. (2020). "Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators.". PLOS Biology.