# Airdrie, Alberta

Airdrie (/ˈɛərdri/ AIR-dree) is a city in Alberta, Canada, within the Calgary Region and the Calgary Metropolitan Area, It is located north of Calgary within the Calgary–Edmonton Corridor at the intersection of Queen Elizabeth II Highway (Highway 2) and Highway 567.
The City of Airdrie is part of the Calgary census metropolitan area and a member municipality of the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB). The city is surrounded by Rocky View County.
Airdrie has a population of around 86,000 people, making it the 5th largest city in Alberta, after Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, and Red Deer. The average age in 2023 was 35 years old.

## History

Airdrie was first established as a railway siding in 1889 during the construction of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway, named for Airdrie, Scotland. Airdrie originated as a stopping point for steam trains next to Nose Creek. Only railway buildings existed until 1901 when the first farmhouse and barn was built, followed by a post office and store in that same year. The village of Airdrie was incorporated in 1909. The Nose Creek Valley Museum offers an overview of Airdrie's past and history.

## Geography

The annexation of 12,640 acres of land by Airdrie from Rocky View County in 2012 is designed to accommodate anticipated growth until 2062. Airdrie's southern and Calgary's northern city boundaries are within a few kilometres of each other.

### Neighbourhoods

Airdrie is divided into four civic addressing quadrants. As of the 2023, the City of Airdrie recognized the following neighbourhoods, not including rural and annexation land.
* Airdrie Meadows
* Bayside/Baysprings/Bayview
* Big Springs
* Buffalo Rub
* Canals
* Chinook Gate
* Cobblestone Creek
* Coopers Crossing
* Davy Creek
* Downtown
* East Lake Industrial
* Edgewater
* Edmonton Trail
* Fairways
* Gateway Commercial
* Highland
* Hillcrest
* Jensen
* Key Ranch
* King's Heights
* Lanark
* Luxstone
* Meadowbrook
* Midtown
* Morningside
* Old Town
* Prairie Springs
* Ravenswood
* Reunion
* Reynolds
* Ridgegate
* Sagewood
* Sawgrass Park
* Sierra Springs Commercial
* Silver Creek
* South Pointe Commercial
* Southwinds
* Stonegate
* Summerhill
* Sun Ridge
* The Village
* Thorburn
* Vantage Rise
* Waterstone
* Wildflower
* Williamstown
* Willow Brook
* Windsong
* Woodside
* Yankee Valley Crossing
* Yankee Valley Estates

## Demographics

Source:
In the 2023 Municipal Census conducted by the City of Airdrie, the City had a population of 80,649. Between April 2019 and to the end of March 2023, 2,534 new homes were added in Airdrie, an increase of 9.67 per cent for a total of 28,744 dwellings.
The population grew 14% from the last municipal census in 2019. Due to Covid-19 there were no municipal censuses done between 2020 and 2022.
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the City of Airdrie had a population of 61,581 living in 21,661 of its 22,398 total private dwellings, a change of 42.3% from its 2011 population of 43,271. With a land area of 84.57 km$^2$ (32.65 sq mi), it had a population density of 728.2/km$^2$ (1,885.9/sq mi) in 2016.

### Ethnicity

In 2021, 74.7% of residents were white/European, 20.4% were visible minorities and 4.9% were Indigenous.
Panethnic groups in the City of Airdrie (2001−2021) :
| Panethnic group | 2021 | 2021 | 2016 | 2016 | 2011 | 2011 | 2006 | 2006 | 2001 | 2001 |
| Panethnic group | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % |
| European | 55,110 | 74.68% | 50,435 | 82.42% | 37,050 | 87.63% | 27,035 | 93.89% | 19,320 | 95.36% |
| South Asian | 3,825 | 5.18% | 1,840 | 3.01% | 680 | 1.61% | 190 | 0.66% | 80 | 0.39% |
| Indigenous | 3,630 | 4.92% | 2,855 | 4.67% | 1,580 | 3.74% | 870 | 3.02% | 425 | 2.1% |
| African | 3,530 | 4.78% | 1,755 | 2.87% | 745 | 1.76% | 95 | 0.33% | 130 | 0.64% |
| Southeast Asian | 3,180 | 4.31% | 1,725 | 2.82% | 885 | 2.09% | 135 | 0.47% | 100 | 0.49% |
| Latin American | 1,595 | 2.16% | 825 | 1.35% | 505 | 1.19% | 50 | 0.17% | 10 | 0.05% |
| East Asian | 1,130 | 1.53% | 890 | 1.45% | 540 | 1.28% | 330 | 1.15% | 180 | 0.89% |
| Middle Eastern | 980 | 1.33% | 385 | 0.63% | 60 | 0.14% | 55 | 0.17% | 20 | 0.1% |
| Other/multiracial | 810 | 1.1% | 475 | 0.78% | 235 | 0.56% | 35 | 0.12% | 0 | 0% |
| Total responses | 73,795 | 99.59% | 61,190 | 99.37% | 42,280 | 97.71% | 28,795 | 99.54% | 20,260 | 99.28% |
| Total population | 74,100 | 100% | 61,581 | 100% | 43,271 | 100% | 28,927 | 100% | 20,407 | 100% |
| Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses |||||||||||

### Religion

46.8% of Airdrie residents were Christians, down from 62.1% in 2011. 18.4% were Catholic, 11.3% were Protestant, and 11.8% were Christian n.o.s. 5.3% were other Christian denominations or Christian-related traditions, including 1.3% Latter Day Saints believers. 45.9% were non-religious or secular, up from 35.5% in 2011. 7.2% of the population belonged to other religions, up from 2.3% in 2011. The largest non-Christian religions were Islam (3.0%), Sikhism (2.1%) and Hinduism (1.0%).
| Religion | 2021 | 2021 | 2011 | 2011 |
| Religion | Population | Percent | Population | Percent |
| Christian | 34,555 | 46.8% | 26,275 | 62.1% |
| No religion | 33,880 | 45.9% | 15,030 | 35.5% |
| Muslim | 2,250 | 3.0% | 315 | 0.7% |
| Sikh | 1,515 | 2.1% | 205 | 0.5% |
| Hindu | 710 | 1.0% | 60 | 0.1% |
| Buddhist | 215 | 0.3% | 140 | 0.3% |
| Jewish | 70 | 0.1% | 0 | - |
| Other | 590 | 0.8% | 245 | 0.6% |

## Arts and culture

Nose Creek Regional Park hosts the annual Airdrie Festival of Lights during the Christmas season, usually lasting for the whole month of December. Other annual festivals include the Canada Day Parade and the Airdrie Pro Rodeo. Airdrie's primary cultural venues include the Nose Creek Valley Museum and the Bert Church Live Theatre. Bert Church Live Theatre hosts the Annual Airdrie Mayor's Night of the Arts.

## Attractions

* Nose Creek Regional Park includes, within its natural prairie habitat area, the bronze sculpture Iethka Grandmother's Teachings created by Don and Shirley Begg of Bronze Studio West in Cochrane, Alberta. It was donated to the city in 2023 by a local family and depicts a Stoney grandmother in 1909 teaching three of her grandchildren about uses of the local wolf willow. Created as part of Airdrie's efforts for Truth and Reconciliation, it was spurred by the archaeological evidence in this park of several teepee and hearth rings.
* The first monument in Alberta to Philippine National Hero, José Rizal, which was inaugurated in October 2021, is also located in this Park.
* Battle of Gapyeong Victory, Korean War monument
* Nose Creek Valley Museum
* Bert Church Live Theatre
* Iron Horse Park
* Airdrie Festival of Lights
* Airdrie Pro Rodeo
* Airdrie Family Fall Fair

## Sports

Airdrie is the home of several sporting franchises. Major teams include the Knights of Airdrie, a senior men's lacrosse team that plays in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League. As well they have a Jr. B level hockey Team, the Airdrie Thunder, that competes in the Heritage Junior B Hockey League, and Team Airdrie, a Jr. C level hockey team that competes in the Calgary Jr. C Hockey League. They are also home to the CFR Chemical Bisons, a AAA Midget hockey team, playing out of the AMHL (Alberta AAA Midget Hockey League).
Airdrie is home to two competitive swimming clubs, Airdrie Phoenix Swim Club (Airdrie based, Airdrie Phoenix Swim Club Home) and Nose Creek Swim Association (Calgary based), many athletes reaching provincial championships, and national competitions as well. Both clubs operate in Genesis Place.
Airdrie is also the home of the Airdrie Irish (Airdrie Irish) a SR MENS Semi Pro Alberta Football League. The Irish were formed in 2015 and play all home games at Airdrie's Genesis Place in summer months.
There is also a number of competitive junior and amateur sports with the largest being soccer, that call Airdrie home. Airdrie District Soccer Association (ADSA) has over 2000 children between the ages of 3 and 18 registered to its ever-growing program (www.airdriesoccer.com). With Airdrie being one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada, it is also home to eight competitive adult soccer teams playing within the Calgary Soccer Associations competition.

## Infrastructure
### Transportation

Airdrie is situated on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway (Highway 2), which links Calgary and Edmonton. Highway 567 provides access to Cochrane to the west and Irricana to the east.
Airdrie is served by the Airdrie Airport, with the closest major airport being the Calgary International Airport.
Airdrie launched the InterCity Express (ICE) in the fall of 2010, connecting Airdrie and Calgary transit hubs by a two-way express bus service. Local bus service is provided by Airdrie Transit.

## Education

Rocky View Schools provides public education in Airdrie, and operates 18 schools in the city:
* A.E. Bowers Elementary School
* Bert Church High School
* C.W. Perry School
* Cooper's Crossing School
* Ecole Airdrie Middle School
* Ecole Edwards Elementary School
* George McDougall High School
* Heloise Lorimer School
* Heron's Crossing School
* Meadowbrook School
* Muriel Clayton Middle School
* Northcott Prairie School
* Nose Creek School
* R.J. Hawkey Elementary School
* Ralph McCall School
* RVS Community Learning Centre
* W.H. Croxford High School
* Windsong Heights School
Calgary Catholic School District operates four schools in Airdrie:
* St. Martin de Porres High School (8-12)
* Good Shepherd School (K-7)
* Our Lady Queen of Peace (K-9)
* St Veronica School (K-7)
Private schools in the city include Airdrie Koinonia Christian School, Footprints for Learning Academy and Atlas Academy.
Airdrie has one fully francophone school, operated by the FrancoSud school board: École Francophone d’Airdrie, which is a K-12 school. It was renamed L’École des Hautes-Plaines in September 2023.

## Media

Due to its proximity to Calgary, Airdrie receives radio and television broadcasts from the city (see Media of Calgary). It at present has no local television broadcasters but has a radio station, Air 106.1 FM and an accompanying community internet portal, DiscoverAirdrie.com. The city has a local newspaper the Airdrie City View . A community newsletter, Here's the Scoop, was also published weekly and delivered door to door as part of a larger flyer package throughout the city until July 2020, at which time it was purchased by Airdrie City View. A quarterly magazine, AirdrieLIFE, is also available.

## Sister cities

* Gwacheon, South Korea since 1997
* Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland

## Notable people

* Kyle McKearney, singer-songwriter
* Grant McLean, former mayor
* Jake Neighbours, National Hockey League player
* Katie Rox, singer-songwriter